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A Handbook of London Bankers

May 18, 2010

PREFACE

During the time I set myself the pleasurable task of investigating the early history of Child’s Bank, I had occasion to look through a vast quantity of old cheques, bills, and cash-notes, extending in time over close upon two centuries; when I observed that all drafts passing through the hands of a gold-smith or banker were endorsed by such goldsmith or banker, and that in most cases the endorsements were witnessed by one of the clerks.

I applied myself, therefore, to the collection of all these drafts, or a fair sample of them, with a view to seeing how far they would throw light upon the early history of bankers. This done, the next step was to refer to the List of Goldsmiths keeping running cashes, published in the “Little London Directory” of 1677, and to extract lists of all goldsmiths and bankers from the London Directories at the British Museum. The first of the set — a thin volume — was published in 1677; the second did not appear until 1736 ; and the next dates were 1738, 1740, 1754, 1759, 1763, and so on, with occasional intervals of a few years, down to the present date. Upon turning again to the documents at my disposal, however, I discovered that the missing data, not to be obtained from the British Museum, Guildhall Library, and other likely sources, could be supplied by the endorsements to the old drafts and cash-notes in the possession of Messrs. Child and Co. In addition to these materials, I have been enabled to obtain information respecting early goldsmiths and bankers from other quarters, of which due acknowledgment is made in the course of these pages.

My design further is to give the complete series of Lists of Bankers as published in the various London Directories. These Lists generally have been obtained from the British Museum — individual media are specified at foot of Lists otherwise derived. It is a matter of regret to me that an unbroken sequence of dates cannot be obtained owing to the Directories for many years not having been preserved in the National Library.

Having regard to greater convenience for reference, I have elected to compile this little volume after the style rather of a dictionary than of a running chronological account. The names of goldsmiths and bankers of whom no information can be gathered are omitted, unless such goldsmiths or bankers’ names do not appear in the lists at the end of the volume, as it would simply amount to needless repetition.

The various firms are described under the styles by which such banks last flourished or were familiarly known, the names of the firms being from time to time mentioned with references to the heads under which they are recorded. It is possible that in some instances I may have described a firm from insufficient data. I shall, therefore, esteem it a favour if bankers, and others interested in the subject, having authentic information qualified to correct or supplement that already given, would communicate the same either to me or to Messrs. Chatto and Windus, in case it should be deemed desirable to issue a second edition.

R G. H. PRICE.
Temple Bar,

March, 1876.

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