The Lloyds of Birmingham. By Samuel Lloyd. (Cornish Brothers, Birmingham.
7s. 6d. net.)—The Lloyd with whom this family record begins was Charles Lloyd of Dolobran (1687-1698). He became a Quaker, and suffered many things for his faith, imprisonment among them. Charles's son Sampson migrated to Birmingham in the year of his father's death, traded as an iron merchant, and realised a considerable fortune. With Sampson Lloyd IL began the enterprise which has made the name famous. He started, in co-operation with John Taylor, the first bank ever opened in Birmingham. A London bank was the next under- taking, and in process of time these were developed into the great institution which bears the name of Lloyds Bank. The first report of Lloyds Bank, dated 1865—the name of Joseph Chamber- lain appears in the list of directors—shows a paid-up capital of £143,415, total liabilities of £1,846,818, and assets made up of the following items :—Cash in hand, .2126,170; bills of ex- change, £655,435; advances, loans, &c., £556,115; while the Bank premises figure at the moderate amount of .68,054. In Decem- ber, 1906, the Bank premises are put down at .61,695,221, the cash in hand and at the Bank of England, £10,971,975. The total figures show £75,670,881. The reader must not suppose that the volume is concerned with finance only. Many things, social and literary, come within its scope. Was there not a Lloyd who was the friend of Lamb and Coleridge P And this is but one episode out of many.
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