The Diary of Nathaniel Bryceson (Part 6)

[Daisy Loo]

Morning all

Regarding the banking...another two possibilities...it could be that Lea owed money to the bank, and this was a way to get him to come in (unlikely, bit illogical) or more likely, the money, if it was a cheque, could have been a "bouncing" cheque, drawn on someone that the Bank knew was a bad risk.  This of course would only make sense if what he paid in was a cheque and not cash - by NB using the term money you would think cash, in which case seems obsurd that the bank wouldn't have taken it!

[Aniseed]

I do hope we find out in subsequent entries what's going on, although I doubt Mr Lea would keep a clerk apprised of his financial doings. How tantalising!

I noticed the 'looketh' bit. Was that still natural parlance in 1846, or was he just being a bit affected? Or maybe nostalgic since part of the old world order was being torn down.

[Paul Caswell]

Some interesting detail about Westminster Bridge and its "semi-octangular" features. Hasn't Nat mentioned semi-octangular before? He seems to like words doesn't he.

Some detail about the bridge:

http://thames.me.uk/s00130.htm

Paul

P.S. Forgive me for lurking for such a long time.

[Mongibello]

Apparently the ballustrades had been removed from the bridge because the piers were sinking.   RJB Walker's "Old Westminster Bridge - The Bridge of Fools" quotes Punch of about the time NB was writing -
"Hard is the fate of an infirm old pile
While daily sinking on a cold damp bed;
If they don't move me in a little while,
I certainly shall tumble down instead."
Building of the current bridge did not begin until 1854; with completion in 1862.
However, the old bridge was still standing when the new one was opened

[steve_gus]

The Bank seemed to feel that there wasnt enough funding in the account to make it worthwhile.... first signs of the bankrupcy......

The bank it was moved to seems to have been absorbed by another near 1900 and is now indirectly part of RBS group.

[Siamese Girl]

The Bank seemed to feel that there wasnt enough funding in the account to make it worthwhile.... first signs of the bankrupcy......

The bank it was moved to seems to have been absorbed by another near 1900 and is now indirectly part of RBS group.

So, ironically today both the banks George Lea used are part of the Royal Bank of Scotland group. This is what I like about Nat's diary it sends me off to look at all kinds of subjects I wouldn't have bothered with before - in this case banking's very tangled history.

Carole

[Ruskie]

Thanks for the explanations about the reasons the bank may have refused the Lea deposit. It is getting very interesting. What I love is the way this is unfolding daily and we've found the hard facts (censuses etc) to support the bankruptcy etc. Great stuff.


Yes Aniseed, I don't recall Nathaniel using many 'old fashioned' words - for some reason this just jumped out at me ... 

Paul Caswell! Good to have you join us - no need to apoligise for being a lurker. 

 

[steve_gus]

Something for everyone in this Sunday's posting.

Nat takes his usual walk, visits a church, takes a renewed interest in mrs Skirrriker, and manages to remove Anne's underware.

[Ruskie]

Something for everyone in this Sunday's posting.

Nat takes his usual walk, visits a church, takes a renewed interest in mrs Skirrriker, and manages to remove Anne's underware.

 
Yes, that just about sums it up Steve!  I think this must be the September entry that Steven was alluding to.   

Ann certainly is a woman of virtue and not of loose morals as some of us thought earlier in the diary.  Still, an unusual relationship. I would love to know more.

I'm glad that Nathaniel is still interested in Mrs Skirricker - I wonder where he "went round to" to try to see her?

I also wonder if we may be able to fill in the blanks .".." - the latin inscription of Samuel Johnson. It should still be there in St Paul's Cathedral.