, 1873-06-08
A FAMOUS BANK.

ana QO8plkaULy nave gwen Oar WOTlQ-HIu6 leu-
utation; but few people know anything about
the family to which she was indebted, both for
her name aud her property. She WAS the daugh-
ter Of Sir Francis Burdett. the eminent Wing
statesman, who left a large family and a small
estate. He had married the daughter OF Thomas
Coutts, the founder OF the fortune now pos
sessed by his granddaughter, and Of the famous
banking house that bears his name; but, as the
old banker LETT his property to his widow, who
married again, his granddaughter chances Of
being a rich woman we're by no means flat
tering- Fortunately for her, Mrs. Coutta,
whose second husband Was the Duke OF st. Al
bans, secured her vast inheritance in her own
hands, and, at her death, showed her respect
for the memory Of old Thomas by leaving it to
his favorite granddaughter on condition that she
assumed the name Of Coutts.
Down In the Strand, nesr Temple Bar, is the
great banking house. Of Coutts 4 Co., as solid
and strong as in the lifetime OF its founder, and
retaining and increasing the aristocratic patron
age which ho first secured for it. The
building occupied by the firm is massive
and gloomy looking, and the smoke which
has b1ackened it's walls for more than
century has deepened the substantial aspect
Of the old pile. Inside and out. everything
about it is heavy and solid. Gliding aud fila
gree work may do for the bankers of the nou-
veaux riches, but the aristocracy Of something
besides wealth prefers substance to show. 30
thought Thomas Coutts when he built this
structure. The strong room where the safes
are kept cost him Ell, 900. The walls, floors,
and roofs are made OF solid blocks OF stone,
carefully dovetailed together, and the doors
and panels are OF wrought iron. Here are safes
within safes containing the title-deeds, rent
rolls, and priceless valuables OF the highest no.
bihty in England. More coronetted carriages
drive up to this smoky old building than all the
other banking houses in London. You may el-
bow Duke in these quarters, and brush royalty
itself, it you are not careful.
The first article deposited in these safes vas :
magnificent aigrette of diamonds which the
sultan Of Turkey took from his turban to place
in the hat OF Nelson Lady Bu1dett Coutts,
whose yaat fortune is mainly invested in the
bank, keeps here all her valuablea: Tom
Moore writes IN his diary, that. on calling one
splendors the night before, he found her pre-
pairing to send it all back to the bank. SIZE
asked him rhether he would like to see it by
daylight, and on his asserting, took him to Q
room upstairs where the treasure Was deposited
Among it YVES the famous tiara of Maria Antol-
nette. On the poets inquiry as to the total
value OF her dress, she answered in her quiet
way, II think about hundred thousand
pounds"
It is curious to know how Thomas Contts
first secured for his bnnkng-house the patron
age OF the aristocrAcy. Not long after bis estao-
lshment in business he determined to Increase
his own influence with moneyed men, ana, as
one means OF accomplishing his object, gave
regular dinners to the leading bankers and other
financial mngnates- At one OF these dinners,
city man, gossipping about his business, SAID
nobleman had applied to him that very day for
. loan Of E3o, ,6oo, which he refused to make.
because the security offered was not sufficient:
Coutts said nothing, but after his guests had
gone,. sent message to the nobleman, re-
questing the favor Of his Lordships attend
ance ut his banking-house in the Strand on
the following morning. The next day the
banker was gratifed by receiving call from
the Peer, who was himself equally pleased by
the tender of loan for the ESQ. Geo. As the
notes were handed to him, he asked: ~,
s'But what security am to give you?"
IT shall be satisfied answered Coutts,
"with you1 Lordship's note-of-hand-"
Tho astonished nobleman gave the note, and
said that at present he should require only
;e10, 600 and Wished the banker to open an ac-
count with him for the remaining E20, 600.
Coutts consented to this arrangement, and had
the satisfaction, not long after, OF receiving, IN
addition to tho amount borrowed, deposit OF
E2O0, 900, the proceeds Of the sale OF some faIn-
" estates, which the loan had enabled the noble
man to effect. At his recommendation, other
members Of the aTistocracy transferred their &C
counts to Coutts, who nov became the 1aVot1te
banker OF 1as1lOnaDle IondOn. 0eolbo LILO
Third banked with him till he found that -Coutts
had lent E100, 900 to his son-in-1aw, Sir Francis
Burdett, to pay tho expenses OF his election TO
Parliament -..
called, was tho daughter OF small Lanca-
shire farmer, and to good looks; added the
more valuable attractions Of good sense and
good humor. A few days before her mar
nage, she was scrubbing the stairs, when one OF
her masters clerks was about going up to change
his clothes. It was rainy, dirty day, and, be-
ing anxious to have the work look well, Bette
told the young man to take on his ahoes 90 as
not to soil tho stars. Instead OF doing SO. how
ever, the clerk took especial pains to stamp aud
much as possible. This WAS too much for Betty,
| who shouted after him:
"IM make you pull of your shoes, ana your
your stockings, too, whenever choose it."
Young man expected to be dismissed or made in
some way to suffer the consequences Of his IN
discretion. The young Mre. Coutts, however, so
far from showing her displeasure, was particu-
larly gracious and friendly to him..
Such WAS her tact and capacity that, notwith-
standing her deficiency in culture and refine
ment, she soon became tho equal in manners
| and intelligence Of the Indies to whom her for
| tunate marriage introduced her: Her daughters
we're go we'll brought up that they became the
ornaments of tho a1istocratio circles into which
| their liberal dowries helped to gain them ad-
mission. Sophia, the Oldest, married Sir Francis
Bu1dott Susan, The second became Countess ,s.as
| wife Of the first Marquis OF Bute
There was great excitement in the banking
house one day, caused BY the absence Of one OF
| the clerks whose duty it was to attend to the
| outdoor or bill-collecting busidess. The sum
with which he was intrusted exceeded E17,oo0 !;
| and, as he did not return at the usual
| hour. messengers wero sent to all the settling
houses, and to his private lodgings, to ascer-
tain what had become OF him. These inquiries
nj, EyAT