The panic was also the death-blow to the County Bank, at the south-east corner of Castle Square, which a few years previous had been opened by Messrs. Tamplin, Creasy, and Gregory, the latter,—who was the manager of the concern,—being the noted Barnard Gregory, who alternately was a banker’s clerk—at Masterman’s, London, and Wigney’s, Brighton,—wine merchant, chemist and druggist, editor of the Brighton Gazette, chapel building speculator, theatrical performer, manager of the Sussex and Brighthelmston Fire Insurance Company, and finally, as a public man, proprietor and editor of an infamous London newspaper, the Satirist, for a frightful calumny published in which, on the ex-Duke of Brunswick, he was incarcerated one year in Newgate. Later in a life which has but recently terminated, he speculated on a second wife, an elderly maiden lady, the daughter of Mr. Thompson, a wealthy public-house broker, of the Priory, Hampstead. The circumstance of his marriage with this poor lady is an illustration of the character of the man. He was passing the evening with some friends, when the facility of getting a wife became the topic of conversation, Gregory spoke with his usual confidence: he could get a wife whenever he pleased—at a day’s notice. Being rallied on his vanity, he offered to lay a wager that he would be married, and to a woman of reputation, before the next night. The wager was accepted—the stakes deposited. Gregory was the winner. Before the next day was over he had proposed, was accepted, had a wife, and, in compliance with the conditions of the wager, had brought her to Brighton from London, where the marriage was solemnised, before the close of the twenty-four hours.
The London and County Bank, Pavilion Buildings, a branch of the London and County Joint-Stock Banking Company, Lombard Street, London, first opened in Brighton, at the south-east corner of Prince’s Place, in 1838. It removed to the present premises in 1853. Mr. John Geddes Cockburn is the Manager.
The Brighton Savings’ Bank was established in Duke Street, at the top of Middle Street, in 1817, with Mr. George Sawyer as Actuary. His successor, Richard Buckoll, became a defaulter, and absconded. Mr. William Hatton is the present Actuary, and the business is carried on in the New Road, upon premises erected by Mr. John Fabian, to the plan of Mr. Baxter, architect, on the site of the Royal Pavilion ice-well. Upon its removal from Duke Street, the Bank occupied a portion of the property on the east side of Prince’s Place.
No other Banks are now in existence in Brighton. The Unity Joint-Stock Mutual Banking Association, about four years since, had a branch of their establishment at the north-east corner of North Street, but its business was so limited that it soon closed its doors. The National Savings’ Bank Association (limited), 1, Pavilion Buildings, had for a time a puny existence, and then, on becoming amalgamated with a like institution, was lost to public notice. The Bank of Deposit,—branches of which were in all parts of the kingdom; and the Parent Office in Pall Mall, London,—on premises next to the London and County Bank, held a position in public confidence for some years; but in 1861, in consequence of Peter Morrison, the Manager, becoming a defaulter and a bankrupt, and eventually absconding, many hundreds of depositors were irretrievably ruined. The District Savings’ Bank, contiguous to the Odd Fellows’ Hall, Queen’s Road, after enjoying an unenviable notoriety, and involving many small capitalists in pecuniary difficulties, in 1861 abruptly closed. Bill discounters and usurious money-lenders abound in the town, their business being principally amongst those whose bills and promissory notes are not recognised by the regular bankers, who abstain from transactions that afford a probability of proceedings in the County Court; hence exorbitant bonuses and interest—which no fair trading can meet—are exacted, and the non-fulfilment of payment becomes the precursor of ruin.
The Fourth Estate of the Kingdom, the Press, is, for independence of principles, well represented in Brighton. The oldest locally established of this important institution is the Brighton Herald, first published in September, 1806, the proprietors being Mr. Matthew Phillips and Mr. H. R. Attree. at 9, Middle Street, under the editorship of Mr. Robert Sicklemore. Its price was seven pence, and such was the size of the sheet—upon each of which there was a stamp of three pence half-penny, besides a duty of three shillings and six pence upon every advertisement,—that it did not contain more than a quarter the matter now sold for two pence. From Middle Street the publishing office was removed to 13, North Street, from whence, after between two and three years, it was removed to premises on the site now occupied by 114, in the same street, immediately opposite the North Street Brewery. Since March 25th, 1810, the Brighton Herald has been printed and published in Prince’s Place, by Mr. William Fleet, who, about twenty years since was joined by his son, Mr. Charles Fleet.
The first number of the Brighton Gazette was printed and published on premises beneath Donaldson’s Library, Old Steine, on the 22nd of February, 1821, by Mr. Edward Hill Creasy. In November of the same year the business was removed to the premises, 168, North Street, where it has ever since continued to be published. On January 22nd, 1824, Mr. John Baker became part proprietor, and on the 26th of February, 1835, it was first printed in Church Street, at the office adjoining the National Schools. The last publication of the Brighton Gazette with the name of Mr. Creasy attached thereto, was on the 18th of July, 1844, only a few months prior to his decease. On the 28th of December, 1848, the paper first bore the name of the present publisher, Mr. Charles Curtis, and in the Autumn of 1852, the printing office was removed to the Pavilion Dormitories. In professed opposition to the Brighton Gazette, the Brighton Chronicle was published on Wednesday, the 6th of June, 1821, at 3, Prince’s place, by Mr. Cummins; its career, however, was very short.
The Brighton Guardian made its first appearance under the management and editorship of Mr. Levi Emanuel Cohen, on the 31st of January, 1827. It was enlarged on the 30th of November, 1830, and, on the 1st of January, 1851, it appeared as an eight page—small size—publication. In its present size it was first published on the 3rd of October, 1853. From the day of its first issue to the present time, the printing and publication have taken place on the same premises, 34, North Street. For some years prior to the decease of Mr. Cohen, which took place on the 17th of November, 1860, the Brighton Guardian was his sole property. His brother, Mr. Nathan Cohen, is the present proprietor. Strong party feeling, some few years since, started the Brighton Patriot, in opposition to the Guardian; but its existence was very ephemeral.
The Brighton Examiner, which since its first issue, January 18th, 1853, has continued the property of Mr. J. F. Eyles, was originally published at 33, Western Road; from whence it was removed to its present printing and publishing office, in North Street, opposite the Queen’s Road.
Consequent upon the abolition of the newspaper duty, the Brighton Observer—the original of the local cheap press,—made its appearance at 54, West Street, on the 28th of November, 1856. It was first enlarged on the 27th of November, 1857. On the 28th of December, 1858, the printing and publication of the Brighton Observer, the property of Mr. Ebenezer Lewis, took place at 16, King Street, where, on the 30th of September, 1859, it was again enlarged; and on the 25th of July, 1862, the office was removed to the premises where it is at present printed and published, 53a, North Street, the building which was originally the first Theatre in Brighton, and, then, in 1790, the printing-office of Messrs. William and Arthur Lee.
The only other local newspaper now in existence is the Brighton Times, printed and published by Mr. William Pearce, Bartholomews; established the 28th of April, 1860. From time to time, since the repeal of the stamp duty, speculators have started the Sussex Mercury, Brighton Chronicle, &c., but only as errors consequent upon the lack of experience, and upon the parade of great professions.