Scottish Banking(part 11)

 The customer, in consequence of this
communication, waited on Mr. Carrick,
and represented to him the hardship of thus suddenly
being paid up his money, when it was so difficult to find
a profitable investment for it ; and he told Mr. Carrick
that as he (Mr. C.) had had the benefit of the money
for so long a period when money was scarce, that he
ought now to keep the remembrance of former
benefits. But Mr.Carrick was deaf to this argument, and
answered that the partners of the bank could not find
employment even for their own capital. The gentle-
man,seeing Mr. Carrick to be quite determined, then
asked him, in what manner he (Mr. C.) proposed to
pay him; to which Mr. Carrick replied that the
amount would be paid in the ordinary way, with bank-
notes; to which the gentleman answered, " Na,na, Mr.
Carrick ; if you won’t accept of my money, I will not
accept of yours. You must therefore pay me in gold.”

Mr. Carrick was quite taken aback by this demand,
and after a few smooth speeches (for Mr. Carrick
possessed very bland manners) he concluded by saying
that it would be a pity if they should have any words
about a settlement after having so long done
 business together, and therefore,however inconvenient it
might be to the bank,that in the meantime the matter
might lie over. After this the gentleman heard
 nothing more on the subject.


“ It was," says " Senex," " the practice of Mr. John
Marshall,the head book-keeper of the bank,to spend
the hour between twelve and one in strolling round the
Green of Glasgow; and if he happened to be fatigued
with his walk, he sometimes indulged himself by
 taking a ‘meridian.’ Now it occurred one day, when
John had been spending the said hour in his usual
walk, that Mr. Carrick in his absence had taken a
fancy to look into the bankbooks ; and when John
 returned at two o’clock to his duty, Mr. Carrick was
 sitting at the desk upon John’s stool quite intent upon ,
examination of Mr.Marshall’s ledger. Mr. Marshall,
upon arrival, saw someone sitting at his desk,
occupying his very stool, and busily engaged
examining his entries in the bank ledger,but did
not perceive that it was Mr. Carrick, and so in a
playful mood he went quickly forward, and, giving
 the old gentleman a sound slap on the back,
exclaimed., ‘All right, all right, my cockie!’
Mr. Carrick, in amazement, pushed up his
 spectacles to his brow, turned round and
stared John in the face,who was in greater amazement
than Robert himself. Mr. Marshall then made a
 thousand apologies to Mr. Carrick for the liberty he had
used, saying that he had mistaken him for Archy
Calder. Mr. Carrick never said aword in reply, but merely
replacing his spectacles as before, proceeded with the
examination of John’s ledger, which he found quite
satisfactory.''

.
Mr. Macalpine of the Ship Bank was better known
amongst his acquaintances by the familiar name of
" Sandy Macalpine." He was a shrewd, clever
man..........


More to follow...........