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INTRODUCTION.

able to those in want of an article now consideredessential to the peace of mind and comfort of notonly the banker and merchant, but of every traderwho has books to preserve, or the householder whohas cash and plate to take care of, as well as tothose who are already in possession of them; andI presumed it would not be altogether uninterestingto the public generally, more particularly, when theimmense value of the precious metals, specie, bank-notes, deeds, and commercial books, already in-trusted to the custody of iron safes, boxes, andstrong rooms, is taken into consideration.

Mr. Granville Sharp , in his “Prize Essay onPractical Banking,” says, in the Article on Safes,at page 315,—

“For the purpose of awakening attention to the importance oflocks and safes, it may be suitable here to quote a passage fromthe ‘Bankers’ Magazine,’ for April, 1845 : ‘In a country wherea large class subsist by robbery, and where the means of effectingit securely is the constant study of skilful and ingenious thieves,the only means of baffling them, and of protecting the ordinarydepositories of valuables from their felonious attacks, is to callin the aid of the greatest mechanical skill with respect to locksand fastenings, and to exercise unceasing care and vigilance.The bank robberies during late years show that they have beenplanned with extraordinary sagacity, and have been effected witha degree of skill which proves that they are not undertaken byordinary thieves. The large amount of money which the house-breakers are confident of obtaining in the case of a successfulburglary at a bank, induces them to act with a degree of skilland caution proportionate to the expected booty ; and it is forthis reason that an unsuccessful attempt to rob a bank is seldom