The paper money of England in 1797 consisted of bank notes—those of the Bank of England, which circulated for the most part in London and the vicinity, and those of the “country” banks, which circulated chiefly in their respective communities. Notes were redeemable in specie on demand, but were not legal tender. There were no restrictions on the receipt of deposits by banks in England and their circulation by means of bank checks; and during the latter half of the eighteenth century and the early nineteenth century the use of deposit currency was increasing.