Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-03-03
A Bank of England Story


The first person l met on entering the
Bank of England was venerable por-
ter in quaint uniform, which dates
back, I think, a hundred years or more
it left a green-and-buff impression on
me, but cannot accurately describe its
details. The porter led me to room
where the executive officer of the bank
was to be found This officer, Mr.. Gray
is entitled "Chief Accountant" and his
position corresponds very much to that
of cashier of one of our banks. Mr.
Gray, who sat at his desk surrounded
by corps of busy clerks, and who is a
gentleman Of the most courteous and
unassuming manners, gave me cordial
welcome, and under his guidance | visi.
ted every department of the bank and
had everything, which | did not under
stand at a glance explained tC The. The
capital Of the bank is fourteen and one
halt millions sterling; its deposits, on no
portion of which is interest paid, aver
age in these days about thirty-two mil
lions sterling. With its custo-
mers it has two kinds OF
account, deposit and discount. I was
told that in order to get discount at the
bank it was absolutely necessary to have
a deposit account, but it can hardly be
possible that banking institution with
such an enormous working capital
amounting to nearly 1926, 100000; IS ever
obliged to biiy piper in the open market
IN order TO keep up loans. The bank
discounts no bill having over three
months to run; the smallest city bill
which it discounts ir r!G1, SIN lllest
country bill, fz0. 1tcirculates no smaller
note than Is, but this seems to be the
only limit to denominations; in fram
in the building i Cancelled note of the
bank. of England for 81 600, 600 sterling;
and il | remember rightly, the banker
poet, Rogers, had hanging In his library
a cancelled note OF the same institution
for 10000
I have heard that a note for 10000
once had singular history. Tt was paid
out to one of the directors of the bank
who soon after lostit under such circrm-
stances that he was satisfied, and SUE
ceeded in satisfying the bank, hat It had
fallen nto his fireplace and been de-
stroye !. He was given iiew note, for
which he returned d propef re ceipt and
guarantee. Many years aftet the orig
nal ttots presented for payment; the
bank endeavored to disownit, but cotild
not, for it was GENT ne and Ill the hahns
of ali ipncnsn. person, and the bank had
to pay it. It's history was then looked
into, and it was ascertained that, instead
Of being burned. it had been carried up
the chimney by a draught, and had found
a safe Judgment In some GRANNY in the
fine Here 1T had rpn1aiited tinfil the al
formations in the house tecessitated tile
removal IF the chimney; then 1t was dis
covered by workman, why regarded i
as legitimate find and who presented It
for payment. Right here may "a well
relate another story Of the bank, of
which there are many, both in print and
as legends, but of which will let these
two serve as Specimens. A sewer work
fnan, ,whilepoktng around Under grotifid,
found that by raising d hagstohe lie sonld
penetrate into thA bhlliofi -f6diii df the
bank. Amazed at the discovery, he
pondered over It and finally concluded
that he would UTILIZE ii to bis benefit
without stealing. lie therefore wrote
to the directors, asking what reward he
would receive If he should meet them .at
any appointed hottr of the night In THE
billion-rett aho thus reveal to them
a mode of ingress of which they were
entirely ignorant. They named sum
which would make him independent fot
life, and to their overwhelming surprise
he kept his promise by popping up
through the sewer, for which he received
5000 or SO. This is supposed to have
long ago.-Corr 1spondence
Boston Journal.