My governors and directors met me in council on the 20th of January, 1732, and we decided that, if we could find a suitable site, we would build a house of our own. We were fortunate enough to find a house and garden for sale, the property of a former director of mine, Sir John Houblon. It was situate in Threadneedle-street, in the parish of St. Christopher-le-Stocks. We employed a first-rate firm of builders, Dunn and Townshend, very well known at that time, and the first stone of the Bank of England was laid on August 3rd, 1732. It was a great day for me and a very imposing ceremony, in which my governors and directors took a prominent part. I gave away twenty guineas to be distributed among the workmen, that they too might have cause for rejoicing on such a memorable day. In less than two years the building was complete, and on June 5th, 1734, I took up my abode there, and have lived in Threadneedle-street from that day to this; so that I am, of course, the oldest inhabitant. One after another I have seen my neighbours pass away, and their houses pulled down to make room for other and more stately buildings. The friends of my youth, too, are all gone, and there remain none who can sympathise with me in my high position, because there are none old enough to remember my early struggles, which led up to it. A very lonely old woman I feel sometimes when I have leisure to sit in my grand but comfortless parlour and think, with only the shadows of past friends for companions. There is no one with whom I care to speak of them; for, alas! the present generation remember only their faults, and none of their greatness. It was but the other day, when some one was abusing one of my former governors, Thomas Guy,[3] I reminded him that my friend had built and endowed Guy’s Hospital at a cost of £18,793 for the first, and £219,499 for the last, and that he should be spoken of with respect and gratitude. “Oh, yes, I know,” was the careless answer, “Charity covereth a multitude of sins.” I think this is the first time I have been able personally to express my feelings about people and things in my life, and for the opportunity I am indebted to you, the girls of the world, who have expressed the desire to make my acquaintance. The house in Threadneedle-street, into which I moved all my effects, and in which I took up my abode in 1734, was small and insignificant compared with its present size and appearance. It consisted only of the present centre, courtyard, hall, and bullion-court, and was scarcely visible to passers-by. It was almost enclosed by the Church of St. Christopher-le-Stocks, three taverns, and about twenty houses.