Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-01-24
For the Journal.
The Bank of England.

For the Journal.
The Bank of England.
MEssRs. EDITORS: Incessant occupation
while 1 was in Europe prevented me from
complying, as often as wished, with the
desire you expressed that should commu-
nicate to your paper notices of objects that
seemed likely to interest your readers. But
comparative leisure at present will enable
me to do something towards redeeming the
promise [ made you of furnishing your col
umns, occasionally, with articles which
may crafty their curiosity and. possibly,
provide them certain measure of instruc-
ton.
Of the many sights in London, the Bank
of England is deservedly reckoned one of
the chief. The banking house has it's front
on Threadneedle street, in the immediate
neighborhood of the Royal Exchange, the
mansion house (the Lord Mayors official
residence), the offices of the private banks
and Joint stock companies, and the princi-
pal warehouses and counting-rooms of
those merchant-princes who regulate the
commerce and exchange Of the world. 1t
covers an immense area, and is occupied
by more than thousand clerks and Off
GERS of different sorts, who, with some po-
licemen, guard it by day, while company
or soldiers is detailed every evening to
guard it by night. The building itself is
immense the outer wall measures in front,
or on the South side, $50 feet, on the West
side, 440 feet, on the North side, 41O feet,
and on the East side, 245 feet. which en-
braces nearly the whole of the old parish
Of st. Christopher. The area comprises
nine open courts the rotunda, or circular
room, several large public offices, COM
mittee-rooms, and private apartments for
the residence of officers and servants. -
The principal suite of rooms is on the
ground floor, and the chief offices
being furnished with lantern-lights
and domes, have no apartments over
them !; but beneath this floor, and even be-
low the surface of the ground, there is
more building, and a greater number of
rooms than above ground. The greater
part of this extensive edifce is of stone,
and the better to avoid danger from fire, the
newer portions have been constructed with
entirely incumbustible materials The vaults
in which the bullion, coin, bank notes,
&C., are deposited, are also indestructible
by fire. It has also the rare advantage in
the city of London, of standing detached
from other buildings. The more public
Offices may be entered by any one, but to
go into the rooms where the notes are pre-
pared, and the money and papers kept, re-
quires an order from Director. The pa
per on which the notes are printed is made
by the Bank itself, and it furnishes the
chief security against forgery. It would
seem that limitation of it is impossible,
for it is not even attempted. No note is
issued of q less value than five pounds, and
from this they advance to the value of a
thousand pounds. Many of these last, l
was told, are used mainly for remittances
We were shown one that was issued for the
use of the Government during the wars
with Napoleon, of the denomination of a
million of pounds. It is altogether unique
in its history, having no fellows or sue
cessors. The officers of the Bank, how
ever, will put in your hands a bundle of
81, 600 notes equal in value to million
The notes are printed in the Bank, and the
signatures are part of the printed matter,
Most OF this work was done by boys, whom
though engaged in manufacturing the
signs and representatives of almost
uncomfortable wealth, we found eat
ing their bread and cheese, and drink
ing their beer with as much unconcern as
if itwere SO much grocers' wrapping-paper,
for to them, indeed, it was no more.
The par value of the stock is914, 553, 900, and
it sells for about 248 per cent, so that its
actual value is about $3.50, O0O,O On the
18th of August last, it had notes in circula-
ton to the amount of e23, 693, $40 Public
Deposits to the amount of e7,35O. 218 =
other Deposits to the amount of SIS, $40, 100.
Il owned Government Debt. ELL obs, 100
government Securities ,:.;.:,..... 12,812,372
Other Securities including both the Is
sue and Banking Departments. 49,. 20, 961, 723
Notes ..................... 1891 ,5s5
coln ana Bullion. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1854, 1913
Add to the liabilities the amount of the
Capital Stock, and then deduct the sum of
kho- lsnl,a fs<ar& &C., L. IL