(See "Child to Backwell-Deed of Covenant.")

This is the last we see of the Backwell interest in the firm. The existing partners then entered into an agreement and undertook within twelve months to deliver unto William Backwell, his executors, administrators, or assigns, all his outstanding notes cancelled. The various sums of stock which were standing in his name, as security advanced to different customers by him, were transferred to the new firm by Mr. Robert Lovelace.

Directly after William Backwell left, he started a bank on his own account at the sign of the "Grasshopper," in Pall Mall. His firm in 1768 was Backwell, Hart, Darell, and Croft. The latter was once a clerk in Child's. This firm has long disappeared and probably had no very prolonged existence.

Amongst some of the many customers of the 17th and early part of the 18th centuries who have descendants banking with the present firm in the 19th century may be enumerated the following

And amongst celebrities who kept accoun

Child & Co. before 1700 may be noted:

Madame Eleanor Gwynne.

Dr. Stillingfleet, Bishop of Wor

cester.

George Evelyn of Wooton.

Lord Keeper North.

Executors of Sir Peter Lely.
Duke of Beaufort.

Lawrence Hyde, Earl of Rochester

Sir John Churchill, afterwards
Duke of Marlborough.

:

Roger, Earl of C

Poet Dryden.

King William Il
Prince George of
Scroop, Earl of
Earl of Dorset a
Sir Josiah Child
Horace Walpole

Thomas, 1st Du

with the firm; but the ledger with his account in it i missing.

The London Gazette' of the 3rd December, 1683 states that there is a considerable sum of money paid in t Mr. Child, at Temple Bar, towards the lottery of the jewels of his late R. H. Prince Rupert. Mr. Thornbury, in his 'Old and New London,' says they were valued at £20,000 and that the King himself, who took a half business-like half boyish interest in the matter, counted the tickets among all the lords and ladies at Whitehall.

After Sir Francis Child's death in 1713 the firm became Robert Child, Francis Child, Henry Rogers, and Henry Morse, and was styled Sir Robert Child & Company. Sir Robert Child died in 1721, when the firm was Francis Child, Esq., Samuel Child, Henry Rogers, Henry Morse, and John Morse, styling themselves Francis Child, Esq. & Co., and after 1731 Sir Francis Child & Co. Henry Rogers died in 1735, and in 1736 Sir Francis Child, Samuel Child, John Morse, and Barneby Backwell were the partners. By John Morse's will, who died a few years afterwards, he left £10,000 East India stock to Sir Francis Child, and £10,000 to Mr. Samuel Child. Amongst many other legatees of smaller sums, Mr. Barneby Backwell received £100. Sir Francis Child died in 1740, when articles of partnership were entered into between Messrs. Samuel Child, Barneby Backwell, and William Backwell, the firm being styled "Samuel Child, Esq. & Co." It appears to have remained as above until Mr. Samuel Child's death in 1752, when fresh articles were entered into between Mrs. Agatha Child, his

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died, when the firm was again altered by M being admitted to the partnership. In 175 Backwell retired, as is already mentioned this account which refers to the Backwell fa

Then articles were entered into betweer Child, Francis Child (her son), Thomas De Fludd. In 1761 John Fludd retired, and came Agatha Child, Francis Child, Robert Devon, and Robert Lovelace, under the styl Child, Esq. and Company."

In 1763 both Mrs. Agatha Child and h died, and the following changes took place in Robert Child was head partner, with T Robert Lovelace, Robert Dent, and John the style of "Robert Child, Esq. & Co."

By Francis Child's will in 1763 he left h Thomas Devon and Robert Lovelace £20,00 to the clerks Robert Dent, John Church Langdale, John Keysall, John Edgar, John William Donaldson gifts of £20 each for mo This Mr. John Wormald was for a shor in Messrs. Smith and Payne's Bank.

he can

Mr. Robert Child, now head of the firm, in Lincoln's Inn Fields to his partner Tho having, in August 1767, purchased a hou Square of the Duke of Manchester for £10 still the town-house of the Earl of Jersey. Clerts at this time had ₤30- a ge

it was then called wages.

have been a somewhat penurious man. He asked Sherida who lived at Heston, a village close to Osterley Park, t write him a sermon, which he agreed to do, and took fo his text the simple subject, "A rich man." He describe so exactly the peculiarities and personal character o Mr. Child that it was patent to every one present who th subject of the discourse was intended for.

Mr. Robert Child married Sarah, daughter of Pau Jodrell, Esq., by whom he had a daughter, Sarah Anne who married 20th May, 1782, John, tenth Earl of West morland.

This was a very romantic marriage. It is currently reported that Lord Westmorland was dining with Mr. Child one afternoon at Temple Bar, and, amongst other subjects upon which they conversed, Lord Westmorland said, "Child, I wish for your opinion on the following case-Suppose that you were in love with a girl, and her father refused his consent to the union, what should you do?" "Why! run away with her, to be sure," was the prompt reply of Mr. Child, little thinking at the time that it was his daughter the querist was in love with. Either that same night or a few nights after, Lord Westmorland eloped with Miss Sarah Child in a postchaise and four, from Berkeley Square House. The duenna, who slept in the outer room of Miss Child's apartments, was drugged by her maid, and her flight was only discovered by the "Charley" (or night watchman) finding the front door open and raising an alarm.

Mr. Child at once took a postchaise and pursued the