word which is likely to be misconstrued to the injury of another house. On the contrary, let him omit no opportunity of defending the perfonal character and credit of any of his rivals, when unjustly attacked. And particularly let him beware that no blind prejudice, no lurking spark of pride, envy, or malevolence, betray him into the practice of haftily decrying those bankers who deviate from antient cuftoms ftill retained by himself. Let him remember that forms and modes of transacting business, which were originally useful, in the improved state of trade may have become needlefs and inconvenient; and that new branches of bufinefs, formerly unknown to the banking line, may now be found naturally allied to (aa) it. In the next place, the employers

(aa) If the principles of moral duty are ineffectual, selfintereft may well dispose rival banks, especially country banks, to cordiality and friendly intercourfe. By mutually throwing out unfounded infinuations, by refufing each other's notes when there is no juft ground of fufpicion, and by various other unkind offices, the one may impair the credit of the other, in fuch a degree as to produce the moft ferious confequences: and even a greater house, by impairing the credit of a smaller, may materially fuffer in

the

ployers of a banker fhould be cautious of liftening, and still more of giving currency and circulation, to light and uncertain rumours to his prejudice. Let them not be immoderately and unfeelingly precipitate in taking fteps to fecure themselves against a poffibility of loss. Inftead of eagerly withdrawing their depofits when they amount but to paltry fums, or infifting on inftantaneous payment in guincas for every one of the banker's notes which

the end. On the contrary, if a good understanding subsists between them, prompting them to co-operate in detecting frauds upon either bank, to lend each other guineas to meet a temporary influx of notes, and to communicate, with becoming caution, yet with franknefs, the characters of individuals in the trading world, and the credit due to their respective customers, the reciprocal advantages are obvious.

As the bank of England, in confequence of a variety of circumftances, has the credit of the whole trading world in fome measure at its difpofal, it is in a particular manner incumbent on those who may be appointed to manage its concerns, to act, not with equity only, but with benevolence (and much has often been fhewn by them) towards individual bankers and traders; and fcrupulously to beware of exciting unmerited fufpicions against particular houfes. It feems indeed their intereft, as the great guardians of the general credit of the kingdom, to fupport credit unjustly impeached either in London or in the country, as far as prudence will permit,

they chance to have in their hands; let them not be unwilling to bear fome share in the common (bb) risk, and to hazard fome reafonable facrifice, for the merited fupport of the individual banking-house, and the maintenance of general credit.

fit

Some brief observations on the head of promay be fuggefted in the next place. The fubjects of credit and profit are naturally fo connected, that some of the preceding remarks have unavoidably had a remote reference to the latter topic, and fome of the remarks about to be made will neceffarily bear upon the former.

The profits of a banker depend partly on the extent of his business, and partly on his terms and modes of dealing. His moral duties therefore respecting them relate to his proceedings with a view to gain cuftom, and to the

(bb) Much of the late diftrefs in the commercial world was owing, as the event proved, to the unfounded fears of men of property; who would not truft bankers of real wealth, and especially bankers in the country, with the fmall fums commonly lying in their hands.

advantage which he makes on separate tranfactions.

One of the most effectual ways in which a banker can recommend himself to extensive business is by consulting the advantage and accommodation of his employers. If his bank be deemed fafe; and if by moderation in his terms of dealing, by univerfal good ufage of his cuftomers, by ftudying their concerns and adapting his proceedings as far as may be to their convenience, by accuracy in keeping their accounts, by giving to them that affiftance in loans, and in other ways, which their respective fituations, when fairly appretiated, entitle them to claim, he makes men feel that it is their intereft to deal with him; employment will flow to him. in abundance, and of its own accord. Some of the principal restrictions which he ought to prescribe to himself, with respect to the advantages and accommodations to be afforded to customers, have been recently ftated under the head of credit. Within the general limits there specified, if he refides in London, let him fearch after opportunities of furpafling

his rivals in conferring those favours, and performing thofe good offices, by which a banker in the metropolis may frequently be of signal affiftance to those who deal with him; and fecure their friendship and recommendation, as well as their cuftom, by the ties of obligation and gratitude. Under the fame reftrictions, if he lives in the country, where it is ufual for bankers to allow fome intereft for money placed in their cuftody; let him not be ashamed, while he neglects no other fit method of conciliating esteem, to recommend himself by being more liberal than his neighbours. But let not the eagerness to obtain bufinefs, or any other confideration, lead him to imitate thofe adventurers who, for the purpofe of forcing themselves into notice, have been known to hold out, both in town and country, propofals and offers which perhaps they never meant, but certainly were never likely to be able, to realife; while in private they have reforted to paltry and difingenuous arts, in order to undermine and fupplant their more deferving competitors. Let him never take a single ftep for the purpose of acquiring or of retaining a cuftomer, which he should blufh