The Story of the Bank of England: (A History of English Banking, and a Sketch of the Money Market)Warren, Henry
History
The Story of the Bank of England: (A History of English Banking, and a Sketch of the Money Market)
Warren, Henry
Bank of England -- History; Banks and banking -- England
Though the revelations which followed generated a feeling of intense
nervousness among bank shareholders and depositors both in Scotland
and this country, and undoubtedly caused a slight panic, the country
was spared a crisis. The Scotch banks, in order to prevent the
run extending to themselves, encashed the notes of the delinquent
institution, and advanced liberally to those persons whose money and
securities were held by the City of Glasgow Bank. In this manner a
serious panic was averted.
The Bank of England raised its rate immediately danger was threatened,
and on the 14th October, 1878, the rate touched six per cent., but it
fell to five per cent. in November, and money was exceptionally cheap
during the next two years. The West of England Bank had also advanced
its resources in a reckless manner, and it failed badly in consequence;
but the Scotch scandals were not repeated, and the public gradually
regained confidence in the banking companies.
When it was clearly seen after the failure of the Glasgow Bank, how
easily a large bank, unless it be most cautiously and prudently
managed, can ruin its members and customers, the public hesitated to
hold shares in an unlimited banking company. For a time the prices
of bank shares fell considerably, and fiction became tediously full
of heroines and heroes who lost their fortunes by holding just one
share in the Glasgow Bank. It was the "just one share" that proved so
thrilling, and accentuated the sadness and the danger of possessing
shares in an unlimited bank. The risks of a banking business were
discussed on every side; and, after this failure, the unlimited
banking companies took steps which enabled them to affix the desirable
word "limited" to their registered names.
From the time of the failures of the City of Glasgow Bank and the West
of England Bank until 1890, when the Baring crisis suddenly opened
the eyes of the public to the dangerous gamble which was taking place
in South American securities, the money market enjoyed a period of
comparative calm. Speculation since 1885 had increased in volume, and
the prices of securities steadily rose; but early in 1890 it became
apparent that continuous speculation had inflated prices and created
a situation which could not last. The Bank rate during the autumn of
1889 was exceptionally high, and remained at six per cent. from 30th
December, 1889, to 20th February, 1890, when it gradually descended,
but this fall only proved the lull before the storm, which raged
furiously in the November following.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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