The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-05-24
4 FEMALE BANKER.
MISS burdett CenffsfheG Great Woman
ean Bstnsscr Of England

-tsr Oh EnSlanQ.
The accounts published from time TO
tlme of the remarkable charitable dis
position of this estimable woman are
no doubt familiar to most of our read
ers, and as anything pertaining to her
Is OF great interest, We make room for
The following from the pen of Herbert
Radclyffe, and previously published in
the New York Mail:
The banking house of Coutts & Co
is the repository of all the old English
aristocracy, who, from the Queen down.
mostly bank there. There are rich old
dowagers, maiden ladies, and honor
ables, the rich old English baronet.
with his estates in the rich pastures of
berkshire and Kent, and his "shoot-
ing box" up i'll the north: the STATES
man, peer, and foreign ruler-they all
intrust the house of Coutts & Co. with
their funds. The Queen has banked
there for years, and indeed the i'm
mense wealth of Miss Coutts and of the
bank Is totally due to the patronage of
royalty bestowed upon her ancestors.
The founders of the bank. Her "pass-
book" Is a most handsome book. in
laid with god, bearing the royal arms.
IN which all the entries are made in the
handsomest and most ornamental of
writing. Indeed. it is one mans
work TO attend to her Maiesty's ac-
counts, which is superintendent by the
Keeper of tie Privy Purse. - The
Emperor Napoleon, too, much as he
would like us TO believe to the contra
ry, Kept an account here, and the
house, prior to the fall of the Empire,
was continually making purchases of
English consols TO his order. There
Is no doubt that Napoleon had short
time ago, considerable sum invested
IN these securities, as have most
European potentates at the present
time.
Another great feature with the house
of Coutts d Co. is the large deposits of
Jewelry, family papers, titles, and
other articles of value that are left in
their hands for safe keeping. There
are hundreds of large, heavy family
cases in their vaults, and during the
season, in London, ladies 90 daily "to
the bank" they like to make use of
that phrase) to take out some valuable
ornament for the opera, &C., or to re-
turn some after use. There are clerks
whose special duty it is to see to the
wants ofthese ladies.
The great success of Coutts' banking
house Il due almost to accident, as we
will see. Burdett Coutts, one of the
founders, was modest banker on the
Strand, London, in George III. IS reign,
and he made it a practice, as his bank
was situated some distance from the so
called "city," in order TO keep himself
posted" on the financial movements
going on there, to dine with some of
the leading city bankers and bank
managers as often as opportunity would
permit. 1t was during one of these
reunions that a bank official casually
remarked his surprise that Lord -
had been refused loan OF .el0,0O0 that
day at his bank. The circumstance
was lnoted by the West End banker,
and, the dinner over, he repaired at
once To the house of the nobleman, left
his card, requesting his lordship to call
at his office the following morning on
business of great Importance.
The next morning Lord - was an
nounced TO Mr.. Cuts, and, on inquiring
what business had necessitated his
visit, the banker at once informed him
thatas banker he had heard that his
Lordship desired a loan of el0, 900, and
he respectfully offered him his services.
But L can give you no security,
Mr.. Coutts," said his Lordship, as the
banker commenced counting a small
package Of crisp bank notes that were
on his desk.
Your Lordship's note Of hand will
be quite sufficient" calamity responded
the West End Banker, and he handed
him note to sign.
"But do notthink shall now want
aS much as ten thousand pounds"
hesitated the nobleman.
That is immaterial, your Lordship,
replied the banker.
On second. thought, l will take the
ten thousand, and, as | shall only need
five thousand, you will please place the
remainder to my credit as an opening
of an account with you in my name"
The banker thanked his new Gus
toner, escorted him with much polite
ness TO his carriage at the door, and
then babe him Good day.
The action of the banker was a long
sighted one. 1t was a good investment.
The balance was soon increased, the
loan returned, and the nobleman COM
menced TO tell the story round at the
Court of st. James of the wonderful
accommodating spirit of the West End
banker. Others soon deposited their
funds i'll his hands, and the story was
so well circulated at the palace that
the Kings curiosity was aroused, and
he informed the bankers patron of his
desire to meet the banker.
Coutts went finally. He was intro
duced to the King, and his quiet, mod
est manners won the favor of the
court. His presence al the court ere
ated sensation, for it was soon after
ward reported that the King had
given his private finances into the
keeping of Burdett Coutts. The rest
of the court soon followed the example
of the King, and thus was secured to
the house the wealthy patronage of
the aristocracy of England.
Miss Burdett Coutts has, as is well
known, the interest of the employees
of the bank much at heart. 1t is 4
hard matter TO get into the bank. No
blemen's sons now seek positions i'm
the establishment, and some of the
partners are noblemen. College edu-
Gated men are alone taken as clerks,
and then an examination is gone
through, which is conducted with the
same strictness as in the examination
into the family, reputation and general
recommendations ofthe applicant. For
every vacancy there are hundreds of
applicants. But when admitted clerk
has fine position. He will be told on
his being admitted that he must not
wear moustache, but simply side
whiskers; and ia his dress, although
nothing will be said to, him on
the subject, every modesty of style
will be expected of him. This is done
on account of the great dislike the
aristocracy of England have for the
gaudy, snowy. fop of the middle
classes, who SO often, in his ignorance
and self conceit, apes the gentleman.
The clerks are all supplied with din
ner in the establishment at the per-
sonal expense of Miss Burdett Coutts,
and they owe this good fortune flor the
dinner, lunch rs it is called, is first
class merely TO accident.
1t appears that on one occasion Miss
Burdett Coutts entered the bank
shortly after one o'clock, and remarked
=. Il. II