BANKS FIRST CASH BOOK

Evening Star, Issue 22559, 29 January 1937, Page 12

BANKS FIRST CASH BOOK

The first cash book used at the BanK of England is included in the collection of business archives to be shown at the British Records Association’s reception at Merchant Taylors’ Hall,states the 4 Daily Telegraph.’ The collection has been arranged by the Council for the Preservation of Business Archives. 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 27, 1694. in the Mercers’ Chapel. The entry shown 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, 1697, is entirely written by hand. It indicates an initial payment of £5 and subsequent payment of the balance. Publishers’ records of particular in-' terest 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 4 Lallah Rookh ’ and Moore’s receipt for £3,000. The oldest business document in the collection is the account book ,of Henry Tooley, an Ipswich merchant, .It covers the years 1521-1550. The Hudson’s Bay Company has lent a minute book of the Governor and Committee for 1679-1684, during part of which time Prince Rupert was Governor, Another Hudson’s Bay document is the journal of Peter Fidler, a surveyor, describing his journeys in Western Canada between 1793 and 1800. Instructions, dated 1721, to the commander of a ship plying along the coast of Africa, indicate the value of men. women, and children as slaves reckoned in terms of guns, powder, and knives. Of the archives lent by Hoare and Co., bankers, one, kept. by Sir Richard Hoare from 1710 to 1716, is solely devoted to the account of Lady Masham, Keeper of Queen Anne’s Privy Purse. Other noteworthy documents include— The original list of the London As. surance for £1,200,000 for assuring ships and merchandise at sea (1719); the Day Book (1768-73). of John Murray, publisher. Daily time book kept by Herbert Spencer in 1838, when he was a survevor for the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway Company. Among the many archives relating companies which still exist, one of the most curious is that of the Old Plough Court Pharmacy, Lombard street. This is better known to-day as Allen and Hanbnrys Ltd. The monthly sales record for 1823-24 shows an analysis of daily business. Written and ruled entirely by hand, different columns .are reserved" for leeches, soda water, and bad coins.