He began life at the early age of fifteen, and in 1853 was to be met most days walking down Cheapside, tall, thin and striking-looking, with that firm, long stride, since so well known, on his way to the Bank to pay in the firm’s cash. The thoroughness and carefulness so consistently displayed in all his future life were eminently apparent in his short City career: he was always punctual and regular in his attendance at 87 Newgate Street, and the whole day saw him hard at work at the books committed to his keeping. These ledgers were put away among other disused books and remained unthought of for years; some time after he became famous they were sought for but have never been found. One of his memoirs speaks of his giving “us boys a halfpenny for mis-pronouncing words.” The fact, of which this is a perversion, really showed his keenness in helping others. The staff at Messrs. Thacker’s was a mixed one and contained in addition to well-educated gentlemen some who had never grasped the true pronunciation of their own language. To help the latter, the following paper was drawn up by Irving (it is still in existence in his handwriting) and signed by most of the clerks: LIST OF FINES _Fine_ for not aspirating h’s, whether in the beginning or in the middle of words such as house and behaviour. Exceptions: Honour, heir, honest, herb, hour, hostler, and their derivatives. _Fine_ for misplacing the h such as hart for art. _Fine_ for not giving the pure sound to the u as dooty for duty, toone for tune and the like. Exception: blue. _Fine_ for omitting the g at the end of words, as shillin for shilling. _Fine_ for saying jist for jest, jest for just, instid for instead and such like cockneyisms. _Fine_ for using the singular number instead of the plural and all ungrammatical expressions. We, the undersigned, agree to pay the fine of one halfpenny for each breach of the foregoing rules and to appoint Mr. J. H. Brodribb as treasurer. (Signed) JOHN HENRY BRODRIBB, (and five others). _March 20th, 1856._ Only two of the other five are known to be living.