The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-20 00:00:00

BANKS.

Coutts's bank was made by himself; it sprung from
a very small beginning, and was raised to its present
height by the frugality and perseverance of a very
humble individual; a man of no education beyond
that of common arithmetic, and of no manner of
talents beyond those of personal frugality, steady in-
dustry, and never losing sight of what he deemed the
main chance. The house still continues what he ori-
ginally mad* it : a bank of deposit, little discount,
and no accommodation, except upon ample security.
Coutts's has for years been the bank of the moneyed
portion of the nobility; of persons whose deposits
vary from 10,0001. to 100,000/. ; it is the bank of the
Royal Family, and enormous balances are thus accu-
mulated. Two peeresses, the Duchess of St. Albans
and Lady
two firms of Coutts's and Child's. The late Duchess,
Jersey, were respectively the heads of the
a bustling woman, used frequently to go and look into
her own
Child's once a year, when the partners all meet in an
upper room,
concerns ; Lady Jersey still attends at
and the accounts are balanced and profits
struck. On this occasion the parties dine together at
the bank, and the Countess, as the principal partner,
takes the head of the table. Old Mr. Fuller, the
father of another member of the House of Commons,
the late Jack Fuller, as he was familiarly called, of
Rose Hill, Surrey, used to manage the matter in a
different way. He was the founder of the eminent
bank in Moorgate -street, and when the clerks used to
tell him on a certain day, in every year, that it was
his birth-day, and they hoped they should have the
pleasure of drinking his health; " To be sure, lads,"
he would say, "to be sure, very proper, but stop a
minute." Ie would then leave the bank, go to the
it
teaorn the vaults,vest\icnoeunter,say, "There it, is for you ; but
and buy a single bottle of wine,
with which he would return to the bank, and placing
mind you be steady, and no excess.
i

A very fine specimen of that rare fish the " lump
sucker," the " Cyclopterus Lanipus" of Linnaeus. was
last week drawn on shore in a net, by some fishermen,
on Portland beach. The grotesque shape of this fish,
with respect both as to depth and thickness in reference
to its length, renders it quite a natural curiosity ; it is
very seldom seen on our coast, but is plentiful north-
ward. Pennant says, that on placing a fish of this spe-
cies, just caught, into a pail of water, it fixed itself so
firmly to the bottom that, on taking it by the tail, the
whole pail by that means was lifted, though it held some
gallons, and that without removing the fish from its
hold.—Somerset County Gazette,

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HO USE.
A lad named Thoma.s Baker, betweea 16 and 17 years
of age, was charged upon suspicion of having robbed the
house of Mr. Bentham, who resides near Abchurch-
yard.
The prisoner had been in the employment of Mr. Ben-
tham, whose house was entered by thieves last month,
and plundered of some cheeses and other property. It
was evident, from the description given of the manner in
which the entry had been effected, as well as from other
circumstances, that a person who well knew the house
must have been concerned in the robbery. Two servant
girls of the family stated that at half-past twelve on the
night of the robbery all was safe, and that at an early
hour on the next morning it was found that the wood
work of the area door had begin broken away, and that
the bell, which had been fixed-near the bolt so as to give
alarm upon being disturbed, had been skilfully. removed.
They also found a pair of shoes upon the premises which
they knew to be the prisoner's from the peculiar marks
his feet made in treading in them. A sharp dog, too,
which was kept in the house failed to give notice of the
presence of any unwelcome visitor, in consequence, it
was presumed, of having known one at least of the
thieves. .
Alderman Gums asked whether any suspicion had
been entertained of the prisoner's honesty before this
time.
The girls replied, that several things had been missed
while he was in the service of Mr. Bentham, which it
was suspected he had taken. After one robbery he dis-
appeared altogether, although, if he bad remained till the
end of the quarter, wages would have been due to him.
The prisoner, upon being asked what account he could
give of himself, said he knew nothing of the robbery or
the shoes, and that having no home he slept under the
arches of the various bridges, which afforded ac?.ommo-
dation to many other persons similarly circumstanced.
He was remanded for further examination.
A young fellow, named John Tarbutt, was charged
with having lurked about a shop in Threadneedle-street,
for the purpose of committing a robbery.
One of the men employed in the shop had been
robbed of a workman's diamond, some time ago, by a
boy, whom he believed to be the prisoner, having ob-
served the prisoner watching about the neighbourhood
for some time before he missed his property. A few days
ago he saw the prisoner looking in at him, and watching
him narrowly every time he laid the diamond out of
his hand. At last he went out and collared the prisoner,
who was forthwith conveyed to the Compter, where he
Was recognised as an experienced offender.
The prisoner—Well; if a person is to be taken into
custody for looking at a print in a window, things are
cone to a pretty pass.
Alderman GIBBS—How often have you been in the
Compter? Boy—Often ! never since I was born, before
this time.
Alderman Ginns—Why, I have been told the turn-
keys know you well ? Boy—Know me I never saw
any of them before ; upon my soul, it is a fact. lam a
harding working industrious lad, willing to put my hand
to anything for an honest penny.
Gooch (the turnkey of the Compter)—He has been
frequently in the Compter, and half a dozen times in
Bridewell. He is one of the worst characters in the City.
Boy—l'll be on my oath that I never was in Bridewell,
and that I was never in the Compter before. You mis-
take me for some thief I have the misfortune to resem-
ble.—(A laugh.)
Gooch—His poor father is here, and will tell the truth.
Boy—Yes, my father is here ; he can give me a cha-
racter. (Here the father appeared.) Now, father, an't
I a good, hardworking fellow ? The Father—Yes,
sometimes • but you'd rather keep holidays than work.
Boy—Well, but these people say I was in prison many
times. The Father—Why so you have been. Haven't you?
Boy—You mean that I was was away from you. But
you don't know that I was in Bridewell. The Father-
-0 yes, I do know it.
Alderman Gums—What have you to say to that ?
Boy—Say • S'elp me God I never was in a prison before
in all my life.
Alderman Gums—Then your father tells a falsehood ?
Boy—No, I don't say that ; but he is mistaken, as well
as other people.
Gooch—He always denies his knowledge of a prison
in this manner. a
Boy—But yen know nothing about me, man.
The prosecutor—He kept watching me half an hour,
determined, I am sure, to slip into the shop if I happened
to turn my head aside, and to whip away the diamond.
I lost all patience, and caught hold of him at last.
Boy—Aye, and you had no more right to seize me
than I had to seize you. Why, I could pull you up by
the law.—(A laugh.)
Alderman Gimis said it was evident the prisoner was
incorrigible, and remanded him for further examination.
A woman, named Matilda Thatford, was charged with
having broken eleven panes of glass in the lower win-
dow of the Mansion-house.
A policeman said that the prisoner had been com-
mitted to Bridewell for a month from the Justice Room,
for smashing windows in her drunkenness, and she told
the Magistrates that the moment she came out of Bride-
well she should visit the windows of the Mansion House
with her fists for a little bit of revenge. She accordingly
began on the preceding day to demolish the glass, and
before the policeman could secure her she succeeded in
smashing eleven panes.
Alderman GlBBs—She has been frequently in Bride-
well, I suppose ? Defendant—Oh dear, yes I very often
indeed.
Alderman Ginus—Why do you persevere in a course
by which you are sure of going back to the place of
punishment ? Defendant—Because I was committed
for merely getting drunk. I suffered so much in Bride-
well that I determined to give the Lord Mayor a treat
when I came out.
Mr. Hobler—You have got nothing by it but cut
fingers.
Defendant—l don't care about that a pin.
Alderman GIBBS—You shall have a little more of
Bridewell now. I fine you 31., or three months in
Bridcwell.
Defendant—You do, do you ? Oh, very well I
have no money ; of course it is the other thing.
Committed to Bridewell for three months.