He was a man of weak and confused intellect, and indeed could but just read and write, yet he had a great deal of low cunning and sagacity, and first suggested to his uncle by marriage, the idea of establishing a Bank. This was accordingly accomplished, and on the death of the first proprietor, was successfully, and for a very extended period, carried on by the person whose portrait is here delineated. Among his other qualities, he had all the pliancy and obsequiousness to his superiors, which might be expected from a tavern-waiter, and by some means got an introduction to G. Earl of O. to whom he made himself so useful, and so acceptable, that through his influence he was made Receiver-General of the County. The emoluments and reputation of this office, were remarkably salutary in propping up, which it did for years, the reputation of his Bank; and, as it is generally believed, enabled him to administer to the necessities of his noble friend, who, in the interval of his expecting remittances from Russia, in return for one of the most valuable collection of pictures ever formed in this country, was reduced to great pecuniary difficulties. At length the Bank stopped payment, and his debts, including the claims of government upon his house, amounted to 600,000_l._ It is very extraordinary, that at this particular time, he had only 25,000_l._ of notes in circulation. It is no less singular, that this failure did not occasion the bankruptcy, or cause stoppage of payment, in any other house. Among his principal creditors were gentlemen who had made considerable deposits, but who, by taking the concerns into their own hands, at a most propitious period, when landed estates sold at the very highest price, contrived to make a dividend of fourteen shillings in the pound. Luckily for the creditors, his son was made a partner during the life of his father, or every shilling of the landed property would have gone to him. When the father died, or what became of the son, was unknown, but the family fell back again to their original poverty. A whimsical anecdote is recorded of the above individual. When riches began to abound, he must needs set up his carriage, and he applied to the parson of the parish to furnish him with a motto. This same person was a most eccentric character. Very fond of his pipe—still more fond of his bottle—but withal, was very learned, and had an abundant store of facetiousness and humour. On his wealthy friend’s application for a motto, he gave him the following—“Quo mihi fortunam?”