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Show Barclays of London Great Banking House The history of Barclays bank and of the banking Institutions which from time to time have been brought under its control, and which make It one of the "Big Five" of Great Britain, Brit-ain, says the London Morning Post, extends over a period of from 200 to 300 years. Mr. V. W. Matthews, late c'lief Inspector In-spector of the London Bankers' Clearing Clear-ing house, who, with the assistance of A. W. Tuke, a local director of Barclays Bar-clays banks, has compiled the history, and succeeded in producing a monumental monu-mental work. In the period under review the character char-acter of banking lias completely changed. The early goldsmith-bankers and trader-bankers of the Seventeenth Seven-teenth and Eighteenth centuries, consisting con-sisting of individuals and smail r,r'-nerships. r,r'-nerships. have given place to the big institutions of today. "Townrc the end of the Eighteenth century the staff of Barclays consisted consist-ed of three clerks, and on the appear ance of the third as a new clerk coming com-ing to the oflice for the lint l I mo he was dressed In the following fashion: He wore a long flapped coat with large pockets, the sleeves ha I broad cuffs with three large buttons, somewhat some-what like the coat? worn by Ibe Greenwich Green-wich pensioners of Ibe present day. an embroidered waistcoat roachinr nearly down to the knees with nn enormous bouquet In the buttonhole ; j a cocked hat. powdered hair wilh pigtail, pig-tail, a bag wig, and a golden headed cane similar to those subsequently carried by the footmen of women of rank." There Is n recorded legend nltach Ing to David I'.evan, the father of liobert Cooper I.ee I'.evan, one of Barclays Bar-clays directors In lS. who died two years later tit Trent park. It was said of the father that he fell asleep during a sale by auction and. nodding at the psychological moment, awoke to lind himself the owner of Trent park. There Is n story of another director, direc-tor, Douglas Kijinalrd. He was "a conspicuous figure In Hie political and literary circles of London." and a close friend of Lord Byron, who made blm his trustee and dedicated to blm his "Hebrew Melodies." n h paid that Hie poet once asked the banker to n't as his second In a duel with Soul bey, but that fortunately pence was restored, mainly by the "serin humorous expostulations" of Ibe reluctant reluc-tant second. |