Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-10-06
Jurisprudence of'thc N. y. Commercial Advertiser.
THE BANK OF ENGLAND.


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The Bank Of England is an immense structure,
covering five acres Ot ground. having no windows
in either of its fronts, but receiving light from a
bOve, or from its courts. 1t is open for business at
nine IN the morning, and continues open until hve
IN the atternoon--empoying during these hours be-
tween nine hundred and one thousand persons AT
seven O'Clock in the evening detachment of sol
diers are marched from the Tower into the
Bank, where they mount guard until seven O'Clock
the next morning.
The Bank has capital of eighteen millions ster-
ling, and is managed by Governors, sc. It's notes
are never re-issued by the Bank, after being pre-
scented for payment. They may continue in circu-
1ation for any time and pass from one bank to ano-
Their but when presented to the Bank for specie,
the name OF the person presenting must be endors-
ed, with his residences then, after careful exam
inatlon, the note is paid and cancelled.
The printing, bindings SC. required by The Bank
and It's branches done within the building by
the most approved methods. The steam presses
and all tho machinery are the best that be OBJ
tanned in England or Scotland. So admirably ar
ranged is every thing, from the engine to the
"bank parlor," that every room resembles beauti-
full toy shop. No ''stoker" engine "drver" is
required to attend the fire or look after the engine
during the day. The fire is fed in the same man
ne- that wheat is ground. In the morning suili-
Client quantity is put into the hopper" and that
sends regular supply into the CRATES stoves, and
nothing farther is required. The water is supplied
in the same way and should there be any want of
water, by accident or otherwise, alarm is sound
ed by whistle. Each note is printed what is
called one sheet of paper the lowest denomination
rs five pounds, the highest one thousand. The pa
sper first counted to those whose duty it is TO ''wet
at down." This is done by 4 steam process AZ
ter the paper is IN proper state 30 be worked it is
locked up in boxes and sent TO an officer who re-
n - ION toll e
one hundred sheets, and put into boxes, which are
locked and placed in sliding case ready for the
preSSnen, who are nj work above. These sheets
are drawn up and printed, and returned in the same
manner; every sheet worked registers itself, and il
rs as well known in the room below what number
A Is. is printing above as by himself. IL by acct
dent A. b. "spoils sheet'' it must be marked as
such, and every particle of the spoiled sheet sent
down. Every note or bill passes through the hands
OF two sets of pressmen. First, they are printed
without the number and date Secondly, the mum
Der and date are added when they are ready for the
finishing touch, the signature of one of the cash
Iers. One Of the most ingenious pieces of mech
anlsm nave ever seen is that used To mark the
number on each bill. There is no change of num-
her by hand, but all is done by this machine and
by steam power.
When the bills have passed through the hands
OF the printers they sent to the driving room,
where they are again counted and dried they are
then put up into convenient packets and sent to the
cashiers room for signature. Thence they 90 to
the registers department, and from that office are
brought back to ''the treasury" Here they are
kept in fire proof iron cases. which cover all the
sides of the room. The room itself is fire-proof
there being only one thing that burn the coun-
ter On one side of this room the cases are filled
with gold, tied up In bags; and on the other the
bills in packages, convenient oI the paying ellers
There are two large locks TO each case and the
keys are kept by separate officers so that both must
be present before any sum can be removed held
in my hand while in this room t,co millions sterL
ing. all ready TO be put in circulation
Each day from thirty TO thirty-siX thousand bills
are printed. The ink is made in the Bank, and il
IS OF such peculiar composition that by its effect
together with that of the high-sized paper, the
BLANKETS" used on the presses require to be wash
ed by steam at least once day. The highest
number of the notes Is $1,000. When that number
is reached they return to number one, with a new
date. The pressmen and most of the machinists
receive t3 per week. The females in the bindinu
and ruling rooms from fifteen shlings TO one pound
per week.
The clerks are paid good salaries after they have
been some years in the service of the Bank They
commence, however, at low rate, but soon become
'higher graduates" with an increased salary in
the Bank, or are transferred to one of its branches
The plan of personal security is frequently observ
ed, as In the United States but | was informed
that there Is an institution called the ''guaranty
fund" by which an individual, paying so much per
month, becomes member, and this institution is
security for its members; thus securing the Bank
against loss, or the painful alternative of calling on
personal security in case of NAL administration
In one Of the rooms hihetv-seven clerks are en-
ployed, whose business is TO examine the notes by
register, and so minute and accurate is the concern
that 1t is known in the Bank what notes are ont
and who received them; and it is the practice of
all bankers, in town or country, to take the number
OF each note before il is paid and to whom paid
This is work of time, but itgves great security.
In the Bank there is department called the
weighing room Here two gentlemen are employ
ed weighing sovereigns by steam. The scales are
so constructed as to drop the light coin on the left
the full weight on the right. Those that fall on
the left are taken out and cut by a machine. and
returned to the local bank or individual from which
they came They are then sold to the Bank for
bullion, to be reconed.
There are several families residing i'm the Bank
who have very comfortable accommodations
There is also bank kitchen, as we'll as bank par
lor. This is for the accommodation of the direct
OTIS on duty, who may wish cup of coffee, or a
beef steak, &c.