The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-11-27
SHIFTING GoLD.D
How Banks Got Their Remittance a
 Century and Half Ago.

Century and Half Ago.
 Banks clamoring for gold to be de- livered at the earliest possible moment gold rushing from Washington on spe- cial trains, flying up Broadway in au Itomobiles, and plunging through the ocean in new turbine steamers--these have been among the picturesque incl dents of the exciting finance of the day. This is the description of how $50,O00 gold was rushed to a bank in the British isles a century and half ago. The story is told In the published "reminiscences of pr. Thomas Somer- vile:
 T left London on the 18th of May. MT. Donaldson. the bookseller, being informed of my intended journey, call- ed upon me, and, after expressions of kindness, told me that he had it in his power to obtain for me free and safe i conveyance to Edinburgh, on the con- dition of my taking charge of a valu able parcel to be sent there in few days accepted this oner, which ap- peared to me so reasonable with my best thanks; but how much was surprised when, upon my arrival in the the city on the day was to begin my journey the value of the parcel com n1itted to my care was made known to me, and pair of loaded pistols put into my hands for defending 1t, with a paper of instructions relative to the Iplan of my journey. The parcel was a portmanteau covering a chest, which contained eight or ten thousand guin- eas for the old Bank of Scotland. The substance of the directions given me was to write twice every day while on the road to MT. Innes, Edinburgh, and Mr Henderson, London, to make only a short stop at every stage-not to travel after eight o'clock in the even ing-not to lodge during the night in any of the large towns-never to lose sight of the portmanteau, to he de- posted in my bedroom and the dooN to be locked.
 "The following is a copy of the route
 and instructions with which was fur
 nished; '25th May, 176o. From London to Barnett, 12 miles; Hatfield, 9; Stew
 enage, 12; Biggleswade IA; Bugden, 16; Stilton, IA Stamford, IA; Witham Com
 mon ii; Grantham, 10; Newark, IA;
 Taxford, 14: Barnaby Moor. 14; Dun
 caster, IA; Ferrybridge, 15 (between
 Doncaster and Ferrybridge is 6 very
 steep hill, which it is better to walk up for fear of traces giving way) Wealth.
 erby, 16; Buroughbidge, 12; Nothal-
 letno, 19; Darlington, 15; Durham, IS;
 Newcastle. 15 Git is now best to walk
 down the steep hill going into New
 castle, and if there is a draE-chain to
 the chaise cause the driver to fix it);
 Morpeth, IA; Whittenham, 19; Woller-
 haughead, il; Cornhill, 14; Greenlaw
 l2; Norton Moor, 12; Blackshiels. 10;
 Edinburgh, IA total, SS5.
 "It is requested that you keep the
 portmanteau always in sight, and have I 1t in the room where you sleep, which
 1t would be proper were two-bedded
 one. Please to write from Stilton, from Doncaster, Northallerton, Morpeth and
 Edinburgh, or so calculate it that we l may receive line by each London
 pest you meet on the road. When you arrive in Edinburgh please drive to the
 bottom of the Fishmarket Close; anG If one of you will be at theAtfouhle to , step up the close to the Royal Bank ; and acquaint MT. Campbell or MT. In. ness, the cashiers, of your having a portmanteau for the bank from Will
 liam Tod & Go. of London, they vii
 send two porters with you to bring i up. Please leave the pistols at Arbuth not & Guthrie's in the Exchange My journey was not by any means an agreeable one Apprehensionag of per , sonal danger were revived at every stage of my route; for as the weight of the parcel required the exertions ol two porters to remove 1t ffem one ear riage to another the nature and value , of the contents were palpable, not only
 to the bearers, but to the many idle hangers-on, often of suspicious aspect [ always to be found about the gates and
 stable yards of inns, and who did not spare their jeering and significant re-
 marks on the sub1ect--as, I wish tc God Jack, you and I had the corner of this box; The gentleman has need
 to be well armed The landlords, too
 cursed and complained of the weight
 of the clandestine burden, endangerine , the bottom of their carriages, and, 1T
 order to pacify them, I was under the necessity of driving with four horses ) in some of the long stages Haunted
 tion, enjoyed, no quiet, refreshing sleep from London to Edinburgh. I ar. rived In the bank close at 1 o'clock f 29th May, and delivered my parcel safe
 to Mir Innes at the expected hour. Oi twenty guineas allowed for the ex. ! penses of my journey, one remained 1T [ my pocket"