106 BANKS. [ART. 11,

its dealings, or purchased at sales upon judgments which shall
have been obtained for such debts; provided, however, that it
shall not be lawful for any such corporation to hold any real
estate purchased at sales upon judgments as aforesaid, for more
than three years, from and after the time of such purchase, when
judicious sale thereof may be effected within the said three years.

Art. 14. The corporation shall not deal or trade in anything
except bills of exchange, promissory notes and bullion, or in the
produce of its lands or of such goods and effects as shall have
been bona fide pledged or mortgaged to it by way of security, or
conveyed to it in satisfaction of debts contracted in the course of
its dealings, or purchased at sales upon judgments, which shall
have been obtained for such debts; provided, however, that
nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the said
corporation from making temporary investments of its funds in
the purchase of the public debt of the United States, or any one-
of the United States, or of the city of Baltimore, or of the county
or other city in which said corporation may be located, as the-
president and directors for the time being may deem safe and
beneficial.

Art. 15. All bills or notes which may be issued by order of
the said corporation, signed by the president, and countersigned
by the cashier or treasurer thereof, promising the payment of
money to any person or persons, his, her, or their order, or
bearer, though not under the seal of the corporation shall be
binding and obligatory upon the same, in the like manner, and
with the like force and effect, as upon any private person or-
persons, if issued by him or them, in his, her, or their private or
natural capacity or capacities; and shall be assignable and nego-
tiable in like manner as if they were so issued by such private
person or persons; that is to say, those which shall be payable to
any person or persons, his, her, or their order, shall be assignable
by endorsement in like manner and with the like effect as for-
eign bills of exchange now are; and those which are payable to
bearer, shall be negotiable, or assignable by delivery only.

Art. 16. The shares of capital stock of the corporation shall
be transferable on the books of the corporation only, according