The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-06-10
AFAMoUs BANK.
Where tho Eaglish Nobility Open
Accounts and Deposit their EaIua'
bIes-Anecdotos OF the Couttses-

Where tho English Nobility Open
Accounts and Deposit their VaIua
bIes-Anecdotes OF tho Couttses-
From the Boston Commercial Bultin.
Everybody has heard Of Lady Bur-
dett Coutts, the wealthy English wo-
man, whose munificence and hospital
ity have given her world wide repu-
tation; but few people know anything
about the family to which she was in
debted, both for her name and property.
She was the daughter Of Sir Francis
Burdett, the emsnent Whig statesman.
who left large family and a small
estate. lie had married the daughter
OF Thomas Coutts, the founder Of the
fortune now possessed by his grand
daughter, and of the famous banking
house that bears his name; but, as tie
old banker left his property TO his wid-
dow, who married again, his grand
daughters chances of being rich wo-
man were by no means fattering. For
tunstely for her, Mrs. Coutts, whose
second husband was the Duke Of St.
Albans, 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.
TIE RINViy1 UoUsR
Down on the Strand, near Temple
Bar, is the great banking house Of
Coutts & Co., as solid and strong as in
the lifetime of its founder, and retaining
and increasing the aristocrstic patronage
which he first secured for it. The build.
ing occupied by the bankers is massive
and gloomy looking, and the smoke
which has blackened its walls for more
than a century has deepened the sub.
stsutial aspect Of the old pile. Inside
and out, everything about it is heavy
aud solid. Gliding and filsgree work
may do for the bankers OF the nous
veaux riches, but the arristocracy oil
something besides wealth prefers snb-
stance to show. So thought Thomas
Coutts when he built this structure.
The strong room where the safes are
kept cost him 10000. 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 sales con-
tanning the title deeds, rent rolls and,
priceless valuables Of the highest no.
bilty in England. More coronet.ed
carriages drive up to this smoky old
building than all the other banking
houses of London. You may elbow
duke in these quarters, and brush roy>
atty itself, if you are not careful.
THE YIRsT pKPosrr.
The first article deposited in these
safes was magnificent aigrette OF dia-
monds which the Sultan OF Turkey took
from his turban to place it in the hat
OF Nelson. Lady Burdett Coutts, whose
vast fortune is mainly invested in the
bank, keeps here all her valusbles. Tom
Moore writes in his diary that on ealing
one day on the heiress whom he had
seen in all her splendors the night be-
fore, he found her preparing TO send
it all back to the bank. She
asked him whether he would like to
see it by daylight, and, on his assent.
ing took him to room up stairs, where
the treasure was deposited. Among it
was the famous tiara OF Marie AM
toinette. On the poets inquiry as
10 the total value OF her dress. she an.
swered in her quiet way, II think
about hundred thousand pounds"
A sHREwD MOVE.
1t is curious 10 know Thomas Coutts
first secured for his banking house the
patronage Of the aristocracy. Not long
after bis establishment in business he
determined to increase his own ipfu-
ence with the monied men, and, as
one means Of accomplishing his OBJ
ject, gave regular dinners to the leading
bankers and other financial magnstes.
at one OF these dinners city man, gos-
slipping about his business, said . no.
bleman had applied 10 him that very
day for a loan Of thirty thousand
pounds, which he refused to make, be-
cause the securities offered were not
sufficient. Coutts said nothing, but sf-
ter his guests had gone sent o message
to the nobleman, requesting the favor
OF his lordships attendance at bis bank.
ing house in the Strand on the following
morning. The next day the banker
was gratifed by receiving a call from
the peer, who was equally himself graf.
flied by the tender Of loan for the
thirty thousand pounds As the notes
were handed to him he asked:
But what security am I to give
you r
II shall be satisfied" answered
Coutt., with your lordship's pote-of-
hand"
The astonished nobleman gave the
note, and said that at present be should
require only ten thousand pounds, and
wished the banker TO open au account
with him for the remaining thirty |
thousand.
Coutts consented TO this arrangement,
and had the satisfaction, not long after, |
Of receiving. in addition to the amount |
borrowed, deposit CT f200. 900. the
proceeds Of the sale OF some family es-
tates. which the loan had enabled the |
nobleman TO effect. At bis recommen-
da,ion, other members ofthe aristoora-
cy transferred their accounts to Coutts, |
who nov became the fayorits banker of
LondoD. George the Third
banked with him till he found that |
Coutts had lent El00, 900 to bis son-in-
Law, Sir Frascis Burdett, to pay the ex-
pensss Of his election 10 Parliament