— 
1808.] 
that they may produce more extended 
Nustration, in some Future number of the 
Antiquary. 
The origin of bankers, say the French 
writers in general, eves as iar back as the 
invention of- bills of exchange, under 
Philip Augustus, who reigned in the 
year 1181. The Jews, driven from 
France, sought refuge in Normandy, 
where they yave merchant-strangers and 
travellers * Lettres secretes,” upou those 
to whom they had confided their effects 
in France, and which were acknowledged. 
The Ghibelines did the saine. when 
they were forced to quit Italy. - And 
from these the custom of bills of exchange 
and the establishment of bankers arose in 
cities of commerce. (See the Diction- 
naire des Origines, v. Banquicres. ) 
In our own country as early as the 
reign of Henry the ‘Third, we find the mo- 
nasteries used as the principal reposito- 
ries of treasure. Henry himself lodged 
his money at the New ‘Temple, by the 
Strand 5) (Pat. 29, Hen. LT. in./3, &c.) 
while that of William: de Valence, his 
' brother, appears to have been deposited 
at Waltham. Henry, by a patent dated 
1258, (livmer. Feed vol. (. p- 663) draws 
for three thousand marks of his brother’s 
money so deposited; and desires that 
the “ residue denariorum dicti fratris: 
nostri,” may be safely preserved. . 
In the next reign we find banking as- 
sume more of the appearance of a mercan- 
tile concern; and, apparently, engrossed 
by foreign traders. By ’ 
From Itymer, (Feed vol. IL. pp. 953, 
1051,) we learn that, at this period, a 
company of Florentine merchants, of the 
house ot the Friscobaldi, were the king’s 
bankers for foreign parts. Such also 
were the “ Societas de Spines,” who were 
the Pope’s bankers. The Causini formed 
another firm of some notoriety. And in 
> 
the Wardrobe Accounts of the 28th of — 
Edward the First, we read of the Mer- 
catores de Luk (perhaps Lucca) in the 
same capacity. (Compot. Garderobe 28, 
Edw. 1. pp. 317, 329.) 
The Bardi, another set of merchants, 
are mentioned jn the fourth year of Ed- 
ward the Third, to whoin the customs of 
the kingdom appear to have been farmed. 
(Pat 4, Edw. 3, p. 2. m. 10.) 
Lombard-street, where so many of our 
present bankers reside, in the metropolis, 
is satd originally to have received its name 
trom the numerous. foreign merchants, 
Lombards; who made it the quarter of 
their residence, and, if the satire of Piers 
Plowman may be relicd on, they must 
7 
. Benefit Societies. 
413 
have begun the practices of usury at a 
very early period, 
‘« ] learned amonge Lumberdes and Jewes a 
lesson 
To wey pence witha payes, and pare the hee 
Vilestay 
Pass. uv. sign. G. 1, edit, 1550. 
Specie, it will be remembered, was at 
that period the only wealth which could 
be deposited. 
With the subsequent history of bank- 
ing, or inwhat inanner it became a dis- 
tinct branch of trade, [ am not correcily 
acquainted, 1l have somewhere read that 
previous to the civil wars of Charles the 
First, superfluoussams of money were usu- 
ally lodged in the bands ef goldsmiths. Soon 
after the restoration, [ believe, the pre- 
sent mode of banking commenced. . Mr, 
Pennant points out one or two of the 
older firms, which still exist. fs 
Tam, Sir, Your’s,&c. 
N.S. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
NEVER take up your magazine but 
I derive both pleasure and profit from 
it; and there are two parts which I al- 
ways turn to with particular interest: the 
one is the Report of Diseases by Dr. 
Reid, which is generally given.in a way 
to stvike out new light ou the subject ; 
the other is, the Naturalis’s Monthly 
Report, which is written not only with 
great point, but with singular elegance. 
In your last month’s number, £ find 
amongst these and other valuable com- 
munications, one on the sulicct of Be= 
nefit Societies. Llaving hada good deal 
to do with these societies in revising their 
rules previous to enrolment, I may he 
able to give your correspondént some 
portion of the information he seeks. 
Tam happy to observe the attention 
of any individual turned towards these 
societies, being well persuaded that, 
established on good principles, and under 
proper regulations, they may be render- 
ed of great service to the community, 
The system of mutual aid and support, 
that prospective provident care for the 
future, which these institutions cherish 
and inculcate, cannot but be attended 
with considerable advantage, not only to 
the individuals concerned in them, but 
also to the state. It is with pleasure, 
therefore, that [see the subject brought 
before the public in your widely circu- 
lating Miscellany. yt 
‘In the populous neighbourhood in 
which 
