How Long to Read Memoirs of a Banking-House

How Long Does it Take to Read Memoirs of a Banking-House?

It takes the average reader 1 hour and 48 minutes to read Memoirs of a Banking-House by William Forbes, Sir

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

From the INTRODUCTORY NOTICE. THE public is here presented with a Memoir, the genuine composition of Sir William Forbes, regarding the history of a mercantile establishment, of which he was long the chief. The manuscript having been accidentally shewn to the editor, he saw in it so much that was interesting, as to be induced to plead with Sir William's surviving friends for permission to place it before the world. It is consequently published at the distance of fully fifty-six years from the time when it was written, for the author appears to have closed his narration in May 1803. The private banking-house so long known in Scotland in connection with the name of Sir William Forbes -- merged since 1838 in the joint-stock Union Bank of Scotland -- had a somewhat complicated genealogy, reaching far back in the last century -- the century of progress in Scotland -- and even faintly gleaming through the obscurities of the one before it, when mercantile efforts and speculations were taking their birth amidst the embers of scarcely extinct civil wars and all kinds of private barbarisms. The genealogy is here traced through a firm styled John Coutts & Co., of which the principal member was John Coutts, lord-provost of Edinburgh in the years 1742 and 1743, to Patrick Coutts, who carried on considerable merchandise at Montrose in the reign of William III. The concern is shewn as the main stock from which branched off the eminent London banking firms of Coutts & Co., Strand, and Herries & Co., St James's Street. The earlier part of the narrative exhibits banking in its original condition as a graft upon ordinary merchandise. The goldsmith, the corn-merchant, the commission agent, were the first who gave bills of exchange or discounted private notes; and such were the only bankers known even in England till near the close of the seventeenth century. The house of John Coutts & Co. was entirely of this nature, and it had several rivals in Edinburgh. It is curious to trace the banking part of their business as rising, from a subordination to corn-dealing and other traffic, to be the principal, and finally the sole business, and to learn that the banker, in consequence of early connections, long continued to supply distant correspondents with articles which would now be ordered from the family grocer and oilman. It has strangely come about in our own time, that banking companies have, in some instances, been drawn once more into what might be called merchandise, or more properly mercantile speculation, in consequence of over-great advances to private traffickers. But of this vice, which we have lately seen productive of such wide-spread ruin, there was little or no appearance during a long middle period embraced by this Memoir. And here lies, as the editor apprehends, one of the chief points of interest involved in the present volume. It depicts a banking-house limiting its transactions to its own proper sphere of business -- yielding once or twice to temptations to do otherwise, and suffering from it, till at length it put on the fixed resolution to be a banking-home only, and neither directly nor indirectly a mercantile speculator, and thriving accordingly....

How long is Memoirs of a Banking-House?

Memoirs of a Banking-House by William Forbes, Sir is 106 pages long, and a total of 27,136 words.

This makes it 36% the length of the average book. It also has 33% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read Memoirs of a Banking-House Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 2 hours and 28 minutes to read Memoirs of a Banking-House aloud.

What Reading Level is Memoirs of a Banking-House?

Memoirs of a Banking-House is suitable for students ages 10 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy Memoirs of a Banking-House?

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