[764] The name of Strahan, Paul, and Bates’s firm was originally Snow and Walton. It was one of the oldest banking-houses in London, second only to Child’s. At the period of the Commonwealth Snow and Co. carried on the business of pawnbrokers, under the sign of the “Golden Anchor.” The firm suspended payment about 1679 (as did many other banks), owing to the tyranny of Charles II. Strahan (the partner at the time of the last failure) had changed his name from Snow; his uncle, named Strahan (Queen’s printer?) having left him £180,000, making change of name a condition. It is curious that on examining Strahan and Co.’s books, it was found by those of 1672 that a decimal system had been then employed. Strahan was known to all religious people. Bates had for many years been managing clerk. The firm had also a navy agency in Norfolk Street. They had encumbered themselves with the Mostyn Collieries to the amount of £139,940, and backed up Gandells, contractors who were making railways in France and Italy and draining Lake Capestang, lending £300,000 or £400,000. They finally pledged securities (£22,000) to the Rev. Dr. Griffiths, Prebendary of Rochester. Sir John Dean Paul got into a second-class carriage at Reigate, the functionaries trying to get in after him; the porter pulled them back, the train being in motion! Paul went to London alone, and in spite of telegraph got off, but at eight o’clock next night surrendered. The three men were tried October 26 and 27, 1858.
[765] Mrs. Lirriper’s Lodgings (1863), pp. 6, 7.
[766] Harleian MS., 6850.
[767] Cunningham, vol. i. p. 378. I may here, as well as anywhere else, express my thanks to this careful and most industrious antiquary.
[768] Mrs. Cornwall Baron Wilson’s Memoirs of the Duchess of St. Albans (1840), vol. i. p. 331.
[769] Kippis, Bio. Brit. iv. p. 266.
[770] Thornbury’s British Artists, vol. i. p. 171.
[771] Gentleman’s Magazine, August 1783, p. 709.
[772] David Copperfield (1864), p. 208.
[773] The Clubs of London, vol. ii. p. 150.