BANK OF ENGLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 292, 10 December 1936, Page 18

BANK OF ENGLAND.

ITS FIRST CHEQUE.

RELICS AT EXHIBITION. (Special.—By Air Mail.) LONDON", November 21. The first cash-book used at the Bank of England is included in the collection of business archives shown this week in a London exhibition. The first entry in the cash-book, which has been lent by the governor and company of the Bank of England, records the payment of £300,000 by the commissioners appointed for receiving subscriptions to the new bank. The lists for inaugurating the bank were opened on June 21, 1094, in the Mercers' Chapel. The entry shewn in the cash-book represents' the amount subscribed on the first day alone.

Some of the earliest Bank of England notes are also being displayed. The first, dated June 18, 1097, is entirely written by hand. It indicates an initial payment of £5 and subsequent payment of the balance. Publishers' records of particular interest include Longmans Green's cheque for £20,000 paid to Macaulay as advance royalties on his history of England. From the same company come their original agreement with Thomas Moore for the publication of "Lalla Rookh" and Moore's receipt for £3000. The oldest business document in the collection is the accountbook of Henry Tooley, an Ipswicli merchant.