PRIVATE ACTS. 1323

estly execute the office of ......... agreeably to the provisions

of the law and the trust reposed in me to the best of my skill
and judgment;" said oath or affirmation to be taken before any
Justice of the Peace or other person having authority under
the laws of this State to administer oaths, and to be reduced to
writing, signed by the affiant and preserved among the records
of said corporation.

SEC. 7. And be it enacted, That the lands, tenements and
hereditaments which it shall be lawful for said corporation to
hold shall be only such as shall be requisite for its immediate
accommodation in relation to the convenient transaction of its
business, or such as shall have been bona fide mortgaged or
conveyed to it by way of security or in satisfaction of debts
contracted in the course of its dealings, or purchased at sales
upon judgments or decrees which shall have been obtained for
such debts or foreclosure of mortgages, or at mortgagee's sale
or sales in cases where mortgages conferring power on the
mortgagees or attorneys named therein to sell the real estate
mentioned therein, shall have been executed or assigned to such
corporation to secure such debts.

SEC. 8. And be it enacted, That all bills or notes that may
be issued by order of said corporation, signed by the president
and countersigned by the cashier thereof, promising the pay-
ment 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 corporation in like manner
and with the like force and effect as upon any private person
or persons, if issued by him, her or them in his, her or their
private or natural capacity or capacities, and shall be assign-
able and negotiable 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
like effect as foreign bills of exchange now are, and those
which are payable to bearer shall be negotiable or assignable
by delivery only.

SEC. 9. And be it enacted, That it shall not be lawful for the
said corporation to make discounts or to pay out any funds or
money other than gold or silver coin or certificates, or legal
tender notes, the lawful currency of the United States, notes is-
sued by the authority of this Act and of other banking institu-
tions received at their par value by the bank so paying them
out.

SEC. 10. And be it enacted, That if at any time the said cor-
poration shall neglect or refuse to pay in gold or silver coin
or certificates, or lawful money of the United States, any of its
notes, bills or obligations, or money received on deposit, in