The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-03-20
Nathan Rothschild.
HIS LITTLE sCRIMMAGE WITH THE
BANK OF ENGLAND

Some| here near score OF years ago,
think, read story, then fresh. Ii
has been recalled TO my mind by It's
telling IN my presence to an English
gentleman, who assured Us tina, be
could personally vouch fer its truth, he
having had business with the Oil lady
OF Thread needle street while the trans
action was in progress; and. from this
assurance Of an old eyewitness, | deem
the thing worth repeating. l think
remember it a. it was told To me.
A bill Of exchange. for large
amount. was drawn by Auseim Roths-
child of London. When the gentleman
who held it arrived in London, Nathan
was away. and be took the bit of pa
per to the Bank of England, and asked
them there 10 discount it The man
ayers there were very stiff With
naughty assurance they informed the
holder that they discounted only their
own bills; they wanted nothing to do
with the bills of private persons.
They did not stop to reflect with who,n
they had 10 deal. Those shrewd old
fellows in charge Of the change of the
realm should have known and remem-
bered that that bit of paper bore the
sign manual of man more powerful
than they-more powerful because in
dependent Of the thousand and-one
hampers that rested upon them.
"Cmph." exclaimed Nathan Roths-
child, when the answer of the bank
was repeated to him. Private per-
sons | will give these important gen
tlemen to know with what sort of pri-
vate persons they have to deal -
And then Nathan Rothschild weat at
work He bad an object in view-to
humble the Bank Of England and he
meant to do it. He sent agents upon
the Continent. and through the United
Kingdom. aud three weeks were spent
in gathering up notes of the smaller
denomination of the banks own issue.
One merning, bright and early, Nathan
Rothschild presented himself at the
bank at the opening of the teilers de
partment, and threw down from his
pocket book five pound note, which he
/ desired TO have csshed Five sovereigns
were counted out to hlm, the officer
! looking with astonishm ent upon seeing
the Baron Rothschild troubling himself
personally about ST. trivial a matter.
The Bar.s examined the coins one by
one. and having satisfied himself of
their honesty in quality and weight. he
slipped them into canvass bag. and
drew out aud presented another five
pound note. The same operation was
gone through again. save that this time
| the Baron took the trouble TO take n
small pair of scales from his pocket aud
weigh one of the pieces. for the law
gave him that right. Two-three-ten
--twenty--a hundred-tive hundred
pound notes were presented and cashed
When one pocket book had been ex-
hsusted another was brought FORTH and
| when a canvas bag had been filled with
gold IL was passed to servant who was
ia waiting And so he went Oh until
the hour arrived for the closing OF the
bank; and at the same time he had nine
OF his employees of the house engaged
in the same work. So 1t resulted that
ten men OF the house of Rot schiid had
/ htDk tttsy ttliti vi pNH WV ~
hours. aud had exchanged somewhere
about e22 600. Not another customer
had been able to get his wants attended
TO.
The English like oddity. Let any
man 10 something original and piluant,
and they will applaud even though
their own flesh is pricked. So the peo-
ole contrived 10 smile at the ecccntrici-
| ty of Baron Rothschild and when the
time came tor closing the bank, they
were not tenth part So much annoyed
as were the customers flom abroad,
whose business had not been attended
10. The bank officials smiled tha,
evening. but
On thc following morning. when the
bank opened, Nathan Rothschlid ap-
pelrei again. accompanied hy his nine
faithful helpers. this time bringing with
him as tar as the street entrance tour
heavy two-horse drays for III,
purpose of cartlng away the gold
for to-day the Baron had bills o'
large denomination All. the oihce'
Of the bank smiled TO more. and f
trembling seized them when ths banker
monarch said, with stern simplicity and
dir, ctuess
Al, these gentlemen refuse t" tak'
my bills. BE it So. am fcSoi ted that
will keep not one az theirs. II Is tb'
house Of Rathschild against the Bans
of England -
The Bank of England opened ii
eyes very wide Within week tll'
house Of Roth>chili could he demand
ing gold hich it dri not possess TIE
/ gentleman AZ the heal of affairs 50"
very plainly that in Determined til
+ the hank mus, - 10 the wall. Ther'
was bu, one way cat If the Scrsp", an
they took il Notice WAS ~ one" pnh
= liciy given that theueeforth the kan'
of England wonl1 cash the bills o
Ro,hschild as we'll as ~ own Il ?
change.