The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-28

|
ment 10 the country that the Bank Charter
Act OF 1874 was passed. Sir Rober, Peel entered
heartily INTO the work. thinking that thus he |
would complete the financial reform began by
his act ol 1919, and in some of the yealthest
bank directors he had very eloquent and per.
suasIve guides. Part OF the new charter vas un-
questonably beneficial. BY 1t the Bank was
separated into two distinct establishments one
solely FOR issuing bank notes, the other for
iransactlng ordinary business. The banking
department is only huge joint-stock bank, aud |
deals with the public Just III the same way us do I
the London ana Westminster, or Coutt? or
Chllds banks. The Issue department sdbsldiZed
Dy government, receives all the bullion INTENDED
to be held in reserve, and promuIgates an exact
equivalent Tor II IN bank notes, issuing also
PAGER money, for which there is no correspond
ing bullion, to the extent of Ali.650, 900 on the
SECURITY Oh government debts and other secnrl-
ties produced by Government Whether the
Bank Charter has on the whole been helpful to
the progress of commerce need not here be dis
cussed; 1t has been, beyond all question, very
helpful TO the Bank and TO the many wealthy
nen whose wealth has brought them into con-
neCt1on with il.
Among these, though as wealthy as any,
Samuel Gurney was not reckoned. His house
was too much in rivalry with one branch OF
the Bank OF England's business tor him
to have more connection with 1t than was ueCes-
sary. He took no prominent part, therefore,
either in favor or in disapproval of the recon
structon of the Bank Charter in 1874. But he
was as Jealous as any OF the men 10 office in
ThleRdneedle street in his opposition to the
1t may be that in this he was somewhat in
fiuenced by hs anticipations of the rivalry that
would come through them TO the vast business
that he had formed. The only rivals that ap-
pearcd during his lifetime, however were pri-
yate Spectators. or these, the first was Richard
Sanderson, originally a clerk Of his own. After
leaning the mystery of successful money lend
ing in the house OF ONcrend, Gurney n Com
pany. SandersOn started in business for himself.
He married a daughter Of Lord Canterbury's
| and became member OF Parliament, thus ad-
vancing bis ocialipostion, but perhaps damag-
ING his uODdi.v' Gal prospects. lie Jailed in
| lS47; soon revived The business in partnership
| with a Mir SH4Cuan, and therein prospered tor
| a few years. IL, again in 1857 More uni
| tormly suCcG "tul was another and younger bill
| broker, a Mr.. Alexander, who had for some time
| been a clerk IN the banking house of BOoarts.
| curtis u Company. Ia 1885, the year OF Samuel
GuTneys death, 1t was estimator that 0Verend,
| Quincy d Company held deposits amounting to
1 fS,O00,00O, while Alexander Company we're in
possession of documents valued at f4,C0000
| and SandersOn Sandeman OF f3,500 900 worth
| OF paper; the wealth OF the three houses toee-
| ther beng no less than l5,500,O00.
During many years before that, Samuel Cur
| ney mad had very litte to do with the business,
| its chief management being then in the hands of
| Mr.. David Barclay Chapman. While he was
| young and vigorous, Quincy made mOney-get-
| ting his one grand business. 1t is said OF him
| that when once an elder friend warned him
| against too close attention to the things of this
| world, he replied that he could not help him
| self; he could not live without his business
| During the last Ten or twelve years of his life
| however he lett nearly all the management in
| the hands OF Others and found his occupation
| in enjoyment OF his prlncey fortune and appli-
| cation TO various charitable and philanthropic
| undertakings. Charitable he had been all
| through his life. "Aany are the solid remem
| brances OF the more prominent features of Mr
| GuIneys charities" saws his friendly biographer;
but besides those deeds more generally known
| to the public, there were many lesser streams
of silent beneyolence still flowing from the
| fountain OF love TO God and man, which spread
| reireshment around. We have already alluded
| to his kindly aid to many members of his
large family connection, but it might he SAID
that not only there, but elsewhere, he was won
dertully gifted, not only with the will but
with the power TO help. Besides his efficiency
| in faction, his very presence seemed to Impart
strength, courage, and calm in any emergency,
whilst his practical wisdom, his clear and deci-
sive mind and noble spirit OF charity, led many
to bril- & cases OF difficulty before him. knowing
from experience how sure, effective was his aid.
1t may be truly said of Samuel Quincy that he
loved to do good service, whether by advice OF
money-by his sound judgment or wel-appor
toned aid. He really took trouble to serve his
tellowcreatures, and narration of his mere
alms-giVing, extensive as it was, would give
very hmiled idea OF the good he effected durin.
the journey Of life" During many years of hi
lie lie IS reported 10 have spent $1,000 yea
il charities, and in oney yearit is said the amour
eNteroc, $4,000.
h. ~. ttne records of bis kindly disposition
sl@ Vii M .yue ways and great.
90 . afternoon" says one of his clerks
'as NJ Gurney was leaving Lombard street
| saw him taking up large hamper o
game to carry to his carriage. | imme
dlately came forward and took it from HIM
| He looked pleased, and in his powerful anC
hearty voice exclaimed, Dost thou know
H-'s in Leadenhall Market? / replied il
the affirmative. Then 60 there and order thy
self a right down good turkey, and put it dow
J to my account"
A more important instance of his generosit
! is in the circumstance that when, on one occa
| sion, forgery had been committed to the injur
| OF his Lombard street house, and the culpuJ la
/ in prison with clear proof OF guilt GurAey re
I fused to prosecute him and so obtained hi
! release. AT another time, we are told, zone G
the first silversmiths i'll the city, and man @
high esteem or his upriahtness, was accused O
forgery. The excitement as to the prObabl
result of this inquiry was intense, and tn
opinions of men differed widely. On tn
morning Of the decisive day." says tn
merchant who tells the story, 81 chances
to hear that my friend Gurney was prepare
TO stand by the prisoner IN the dock. immC
dlately proceeded to Lombard street. where
found HIM occupied with the vast interests 0
hs business, and asked him hastily whethe
common report were true. Upon which he said
after a most anxious investigation OF the mat
ter, am firmly convinced Of that mans innC
CenCe. | deem it my duty TO express this con
vlction publicly, and will join him in the ielon'
uoCk.' And most assuredly he went; nor cOult
any one easily forget the intense sensation pro
duced IN the crowd of spectators when, on th
prisoner being conducted TO his place, the state
figure of Samuel GuIney presented itself 10 thu
public gaze ty the side OF the innocent silver
smith,
in company with his brother-in-aW, Thoma
FOwell Buxton, Samuel Quincy first showed
himself to the world as philanthTopist. HC
also took a lively interest in all plans for i'm
proving and increasing refugees and retormato