1643, from the calamity of the time, when the seditious spirit was incited by the acts of the parliamentary leaders. The merchants and tradesmen, who before trusted their cash to their servants and apprentices, found that no longer safe, neither did they dare to leave it in the Mints at the Tower, by reason of the distresses of majesty itself, which before was a place of public deposit. In the year 1645, they first placed their cash in the hands of goldsmiths, who began publicly to exercise both professions. Even in my days, continues Pennant, were several eminent bankers who kept the goldsmith's shop, but they were more frequently separated. The first regular banker was Mr Francis Child, goldsmith, who began business soon after the Restoration. He was the father of the profession, a person of large fortune, and most respectable character. He married between the years 1665 and 1675, Martha, only daughter of Robert Blanchard, citizen and goldsmith, by whom he had twelve children. Mr. Child was afterwards knighted. He lived in Fleet Street, where the shop still continues in a state of the highest respectability. Mr. Granger, in his Biographical History of England, mentions Mr. Child as successor to the shop of alderman Backwel, a banker, in the time of Charles II., noted for his integrity, abilities, and industry, who was ruined by the shutting up of the Exchequer, in 1672. His books were placed in the hands of Mr. Child, and still remain in the family. The next ancient shop was that pos sessed by Messrs. Snowe and Benne, a few doors to the west of Mr. Child's, who were goldsmiths of consequence, in the latter part of the same reign. Mr. Gay celebrates the predecessor of these gentlemen, for his sagacity in escaping the ruins of the fatal year 1720, in his Epistle to Mr. Thomas Snow, goldsmith, near Temple Bar: O thou, whose penetrative wisdom found The South-Sea rocks, and shelves where thousands drown'd,* Thou stood'st, nor sent one bill unpaid away. To the west of Temple Bar, the only one was that of Messrs. Middleton and Campbel, goldsmiths, who flourished in 1622, and is now continued with great credit by Mr. Coutts. From thence to the extremity of the western end of the town, there was none till the year 1756, when the respectable name of Backwel rose again, conjoined to those of Darel, Hart, and Croft, who with great reputation, opened their shop in Pall Mall. BANK OF ENGLAND. This national bank was first established in 1694, in the reign of William and Mary. It was projected by one Patterson, and its original capital was 1,200,0001. The style of the firm is The Governor and Company of the Bank of England. EAST INDIA COMPANY. The East India Company of England, was first established in 1600; their stock then consisting of 72,0001., when they fitted out four ships; and, meeting with success, they have continued ever since; India Stock sold from 360 to 500 per cent. 1683; a new * See article on South Sea Bubble. company was established, 1698; the old one re-established, and the two united, 1700; agreed to give government 400,0001. per annum, for four years, on condition that they might continue unmolested, 1769; in great confusion, and applied to parliament for assistance, 1773; judges sent from England to administer the laws there, by the government, April 2d. 1774; Board of Controul instituted, 1784; Charter renewed, 1813, SECTION III. DISCOVERIES AND INVENTIONS. MANUFACTURE OF EDGE TOOLS. "He cutteth, as with an edge tool."—B. Jonson. Parkes, in his Essay on Edge Tools, says, the history of the in vention of edge tools is involved in much obscurity. The materials employed by the ancients for making them were various; but the metal in general use in modern times, and among civilized nations for the fabrication of such instruments, is iron, though this metal varies in its nature, and is differently prepared according to the purposes to which the instrument or weapon is applicable. Although iron was known before the deluge, yet there is reason to believe that the method of making it was afterwards lost. Tubal Cain, who lived nearly 4000 years before the commencement of the Christian era, was 66 an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron;" and we are told, that Abraham took a knife to slay his son Isaac. In these early times mention is also made of shears, and of shearing of sheep; and yet many of the ancient nations knew nothing of iron, but used stones, flints, the horns and bones of va. rious animals, the bones and shells of fish, reeds and thorns, for every purpose in which the moderns now use edge tools of iron and steel. Hesiod, who probably lived a thousand years before the time of Christ, says plainly, that the plough share was made with a species of very hard oak; and from his manner of describing the ploughs that were then employed, there is no reason to suppose that any iron was used in constructing them. The following is Elton's translation of the passage :— "If hill or field supply an ilex bough, Of bending figure like the downward plough, Bear it away; this durable remains, While thy strong steers in ridges cleave the plains; Affix the share-beam, and adapt the pole." Though the Britons had some iron when they were first invaded by the Romans, yet, as Cæsar observes," they had it only in small * Genesis iv. 22. + Ibid xxii, 10. Ibid xxxviii. 12, 13. quantities, hardly sufficient for home consumption, and none to spare for exportation." But, after the Romans had been some time settled in this island, this most useful metal became very plentiful, and made a part of the British exports. On the arrival of the Saxons in Great Britain, our ancestors were still in a low state of civilization. One of their laws enacts, that no man should undertake to guide a plough who could not make one; and that the cords with which it is drawn should be formed of twisted willows * From this period edge tools gradually made their appearance, but centuries elapsed, even in Britain, or England, as it is now called, before they were brought to any kind of perfection. We read but little of swords in the beginning of the 15th century, though no doubt they were then in use, since there is the evidence of Geoffrey Chaucer, who died only two years before the memorable battle of Ha milton was fought, that Sheffield was, even then, famous for its cutlery: "A dagger hanging at his belt he had, Made of an ancient sword's well-tempered blade; Chronology informs us, iron was first discovered by the burning of Mount Ida, 1406 B. C. In England by the Romans soou after the landing of Julius Cæsar. First discovered in America, in Virginia, 1715. First cast in England, at Blackstead, Sussex, 1544. KNIVES. It is difficult to ascertain the date of the introduction of every kind of cutting or pointed instruments; but when the utility and convenience of these domestic implements were once experienced, there can be no doubt that the practice of using them quickly became very general, and that manufactories of knives and other edge tools were consequently soon established in various parts of the kingdom. Table knives were first made in London in the year 1563, by one Thomas Matthews of Fleet Bridge. They were probably not in use in the time of Chaucer. FORKS. "I dine with forks that have but two prongs."-Swift. Neither the Greeks nor the Romans have any name for forks; they were not used by the ancients, they used the ligula, similar to our spoons. Formerly, persons of rank kept in their houses a carThe Chinese use no forks, but have small sticks of ivory of very beautiful workmanship, inlaid with gold and silver. The use of forks was first known in Italy towards the end of the fifteenth century, but at that time they were not very common. ver. In France, at the end of the sixteenth century, even at Court, they were entirely new. Coryate, the traveller, is said to be the first person who used forks in England, on which account, says Beckmann, he was called, by way of joke, Furcifer. In many parts of Spain, at present, forks are rarieties. Among the Scotch Highlanders, knives have been introduced at table only since the revolution. Before that period every man had a * Leges Wallice, p. 283. + Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. knife of his own, as a companion to his dirk or dagger. The men cut the meat for the women into small morsels, who then put them into their mouths with their fingers The use of forks, at table, was at first considered as a superfluous luxury; and, therefore, they were forbidden to convents, as was the case in regard to the congregation of St. Mawe. RAZORS. "He is as keen as a razor." The term Razor, as applied to the instrument that we shave with, is supposed to be derived from the word raze, to cut or pull down, to leave nothing standing. Razors are mentioned by Homer. Before English manufactures excelled in cutlery, Fosbroke says, razors were imported from Palermo in Italy, or rather Sicily. PINS. The pin was not known in England till towards the middle or latter end of the reign of Henry VIII.; the ladies until then using ribbands, loops, skewers made of wood, of brass, silver, or gold, At first the pin was so ill made, that in the 34th year of the king, parliament enacted that none should be sold unless they be double-headed, and have the headdes soudered faste to the shanke of the pynne," &c. But this interference had such an influence on the manufacture, that the public could obtain no supply until the obnoxious act was repealed. On referring to the statute book, the act of repeal, which passed in the 37th year of the same reign, contains the following clauses, which tends to shew how cautious the legislature ought to be not to interfere with any manufactory which they do not perfectly understand. The act of repeal having recited the former act, it then goes on to say, "At which tyme the pynners playnly promised to serve the kynge's liege people wel and sufficiently, and at a reasonable price. And for as much sens the makying of the saide act there hath ben scarcitee of pynnes within this realme that the kynge's liege people have not ben wel nor competetly served of such pynnes nor ar like to be served nor the pynners of this realm, (as it doeth nowe manifestly appere) be hable to serve the people of this realme accordyng to their saied promise. In consideracion whereof it maie please the kyng, &c. that it maie be adjudged and demed from hensforth frustrated and nihilated and to be repealed for ever." Stat. Henrici. Octavi xxxvii. cap. 13. NEEDLES. Stowe says, that Needles were first sold in Cheapside in the reign of Queen Mary, and then they were made by a Spanish negro, who refused to discover the secret of his art. It will be recollected, that many Spanish artizans came over to England, on the marriage of Philip the Second with the said princess. So that we may fairly suppose the needle to be of Spanish origin. Needles were first manufactured in England 1566, by Elias Grouse, a German. SAWS, &c. The invention of this instrument is ascribed to the nephew of Dædalus, who, as they say, having accidently met with the jaw of a serpent, which he used with success to divide a small piece of wood, thus acquired the first idea of such an implement, and soon afterwards formed a metallic instrument in imitation of it. It is also said, that from the saw originated the idea of the file. A saw mill was first fitted up in London in 1633, but afterwards demolished, that it might not deprive the poor of employ. TOURNIQUET. This instrument, used by surgeons to benumb the limb prior to amputation, was invented by one Morell, at the siege of Besancon, in 1674. Petit, of France, invented the Skrew Tourniquet in 1718. ANCHORS. The data of the invention of the anchor is somewhat obscure. The first anchors, however, were not made of iron, but of stone, and sometimes of wood. These latter were loaded with lead. Several writers relate that the Phoenecians, in their first voyages into Spain, having amassed more silver than their ships could contain, took the lead from their anchors, and supplied its place with silver. -Goguet's Origin of Laws, &c. vol. i. ра. 292. TELEGRAPHS Were first invented, 1687; put into practice by the French in 1794; by the English, January 28, 1796. TELESCOPES Were first invented by Z. Jansen, a spectacle-maker at Middleburgh, 1590; the first reflecting one, made on the principles of Sir Isaac Newton, was in the year 1692. TIME MEASURE BAROMETER Was introduced by Scipio Nasica, 159; King Alfred's timekeeper was six large wax tapers, each 12 inches long; as they burnt unequally, owing to the wind, he invented a lanthern, made of wood, and then scraped plates of ox-horns, glass being a great rarity, (887). The ancients had three sorts of time measures; hour glasses, sun dials, and a vessel full of water with a hole in its bottom. SAILING COACHES. "A mere invention." We have heard much of propelling coaches by steam, but it appears from the following article, that sailing coaches, or coaches propelled along by the wind, were known to our neighbours long ago. They were invented by Simon Sterinius, a Fleming. 66 Purposing to visit Grotius (saith Gassendus), Peireskius went to Scheveling, that he might satisfy himself of the carriage and swiftness of a coach, a few years before invented, and made up with that artifice, that with expanded sails it would fly upon the shore as a ship upon the sea. He had formerly heard that Count Maurice, a little after his victory at Newport, had put himself thereinto, together with Francis Mendoza, his prisoner, on purpose to make trial thereof; and that within two hours they arrived at Putten, which is distant from Scheveling fourteen leagues, or two and forty miles. He had therefore a mind to make the experiment of it himself, and he would often tell us with what admiration he was seized, |