Lloyd's is virtually a club, and therefore only open to members. Subscribers may, of course, introduce friends to show them round, but the presence of strangers is not encouraged; though in this respect Lloyd's is not quite so exclusive as the Stock Exchange. The stranger mentions to the janitor the name of the member he wishes to see, and this is repeated to the "caller," who stands in a kind of pulpit with a soundingboard in the large Underwriting-Room, and who sings out the names in bell-like, stentorian tones. Assuredly an exceptionally good pair of lungs is needed to make one's voice heard above the noise and bustle which fills the place, and catch the ears of those at the far end of the room, where the huge clock and anemometer are faithfully recording the flight of time and the variations of the wind. In the well of the large room stand the Arrival Books and the Loss Book before referred to, and in the right-hand corner is erected a tablet to commemorate the distinguished services rendered by the Times newspaper to the mercantile community in unearthing and exposing one of the most gigantic swindles ever planned by unscrupulous rogues. The Tablet bears the following inscription: THIS TABLET Was erected to commemorate the extra ordinary exertions of The Times Newspaper in the Exposure of a remarkable Fraud upon the Mercantile Public, which exposure subjected the Proprietors to a most expensive lawsuit. At a meeting of Merchants, Bankers, and others, held at the Mansion House, on the 1st day of October, A.D. 1841, The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor in the chair, the following resolutions were agreed to, videlicet: "That this Meeting desires to express, in the most unqualified terms, its sense of the indefatigable industry, perseverance and ability shewn by the Proprietors of the Times newspaper in the exposure made through the instrumentality of that Journal in the trial ́ Bogle versus Lawson,' of the most remarkable and extensively fraudulent conspiracy ever brought to light in the Mercantile world. "That this Meeting desires to offer its grateful acknowledgment to the Proprietors of the Times newspaper for the services which they have thus been the means, at great labour and expense, of rendering to the Commercial Community throughout Europe. "That the effect of such exposure is not only highly useful to the Commercial and Banking Community, as suggesting additional care and circumspection in all monetary dealings, but as shewing the aid which a public-spirited and independent journal has in its power to afford in the detection and punishment of offences which aim at the destruction of all Mercantile confidence and security. "That the Committee now appointed be empowered to take measures for the purpose of recording in a more permanent manner the sense of obligation conferred by the Proprietors of the Times refusing to be reimbursed the heavy costs incurred by them in the Defence of the above-mentioned action, the Committee opened a subscription which amounted at its close to £2,700, and at a Meeting held at the Mansion House, on the 9th of February, A.D. 1842, specially summoned for the purpose of considering the application of the amount subscribed, it was resolved as follows: That one hundred and fifty guineas be applied to the erection of this Tablet, and of a similar one to be placed in some conspicuous part of the Times Printing Establishment. That the surplus of the fund raised be invested in the purchase of three per cent. consols, the dividends to be applied in the support of two scholarships to be called the Times Scholarships. "That the Times Scholarships be established in connection with Christ's Hospital and the City of London School for the benefit of pupils proceeding from those Institutions respectively to the universities of Oxford or Cambridge. "That Christ's Hospital and the City of London School be required to place in their respective institutions a Tablet commemorative of the establishment of such scholarship. "All of which has been duly carried into effect. "The Committee consisted of the following Gentlemen: The Right Honourable Sir JOHN PIRIE, Bart., Lord Mayor, Chairman and Treasurer. MATHIAS WOLVERLEY ATTWOOD, Esq. BARCLAY BROS. & Co. BARING Bros. SAMUEL BRIGGS, Esq., of the firm of BRIGGS & Co., of Alexandria. Sir GEORGE CARROL, Knight, Alderman. CATTLEYS & CARR. COCKERELL & Co. GLYN, HALIFAX, MILLS & Co. ROBERT ALEXANDER GRAY, Esq., of the firm of MELHUISH, GRAY & Co. JOHN BENJAMIn Heath, Esq., of the firm of Heath, Furse & Co. WILLIAM HUGHES HUGHES, Esq., F.S.A., F.L.S., etc. (Honorary Secretary). THOMAS JOHNSON, Esq., Alderman, late Lord Mayor. JONES, LLOYD & Co. Sir PETER LAURIE, Knight, Alderman. PETER LAURIE, Esq., Common Pleader of the City of London. SEBASTIAN GONZALEZ MARTINEZ, Esq., of the firm of MARTINEZ, GASSIOT & Co. JOHN MASTERMAN, Esq., M.P. (of the firm of Masterman, Peters, MILDRED, MASTERMAN & Co.). FRANCIS PEGLER, Esq., of the firm of PEGLER BROS. JOHN DISTON POWLES, Esq. WILLIAM GEORGE PRESCOTT, Esq. (of the firm of PRESCOTT, GROTE, AMES, CAVE & GROTE). BARON LIONEL NATHAN DE ROTHSCHILD, Esq. EDWARD STEWART, Esq. PATRICK MAXWELL STUART, Esq., M.P. SAMUEL WILSON, Esq., Alderman. WILLIAM HUGHES HUGHES, Honorary Secretary. The outline of the case is worth sketching here. On the 18th May, 1840, the Brussels correspondent of the Times startled his readers by stating that a great forgery Company, established on the Continent, had lately been detected and blown up, the object of the Company being to plunder the Continental bankers of about £1,000,000 sterling, by means of forged letters of credit, purporting to be of the banking firms of Glynn, Halifax, Mills and Co., of London. The letter concluded by giving the names of the conspirators, among them being that of the plaintiff, a partner in a banking house at Florence. The other principal actors in this astounding conspiracy were a French Marquis, connected by marriage with this country; a Baron and Peer of France; his son; a Count; a Scotch gentleman and M.P.; and his son. An action for libel was commenced on June 30, 1840, and after an exhaustive trial, concluded in August, 1841, by the return of a verdict for the plaintiff, damages one farthing, without certificate of costs. The expenses of the Times had been enormous, for in maintaining their defence the ་་ proprietors had sent their emissaries all over the Continent to obtain proof of the truth of their allegations, a whole host of witnesses were called, and the most eminent counsel of the day engaged. In commenting on the verdict, the Times said: 'We have performed a duty we owed to our correspondent, to ourselves, to the bankers of Europe, and to the community at large, and we have every reason to be contented with the result." The Observer, however, thought that some public recognition of the services of the Times was due, and early in September asked: "Where is the gratitude of the community? What has become of the public spirit of the City of London? What are the bankers, and merchants, and 'letter of credit' men about? Why do they not bestir themselves to express the gratitude which it is trusted they feel, in a tangible manner?" To this appeal the members of Lloyd's were quick to respond, and the tablet to-day bears witness alike to the enterprise of the journalistic, and the generous appreciation of the commercial, world. Opposite the Times tablet is one over the Notice Board, flanked by the figures of two disabled seamen, and inscribed as follows: ERECTED by the Governors of the Institution. He died on the 23rd July, 1832, and was buried in the north vault of the Church of St. Dionis Backchurch, Fenchurch Street. From where one stands, just by the Loss Book, a good view of the large Underwriting-Room is to be had; and a truly animated scene it presents. Down the entire length of the room extend three rows of desks, or "boxes," as they are |