26 OCTOBER 1918, Page 14

LOYALTY LOANS.

(To raz Enrroa or rirs " SPECTATOR.")

Sue—Haydn's Dictionary of Dates under the above heading states that "a subscription loan was opened in London on the 5th December, 1790, and in fifteen hours and twenty minutes the sum of eighteen millions sterling was subscribed." This was a record for those days, it would seem. I should like to know how it compares with the speed with which like amounts have been raised in these days of much greater wealth.—I am, Sir, &c., The Rectory, B. Allington, Devon. J. J. MALLOCK.