Contents

Preface

Preface to Edition of 1852

1. Money Mania — The Mississippi Scheme

John Law; his birth and youthful career — Duel between Law and Wilson — Law's escape from the King's Bench — The "Land-bank" — Law's gambling propensities on the continent, and acquaintance with the Duke of Orleans — State of France after the reign of Louis XIV. — Paper money instituted in that country by Law — Enthusiasm of the French People at the Mississippi Scheme — Marshal Villars — Stratagems employed and bribes given for an interview with Law — Great fluctuations in Mississippi stock — Dreadful murders — Law created comptroller-general of finances — Great sale for all kinds of ornaments in Paris — Financial difficulties commence — Men sent out to work the mines on the Mississippi, as a blind — Payment stopped at the bank — Law dismissed from the ministry — Payments made in specie — Law and the Regent satirised in song — Dreadful crisis of the Mississippi Scheme — Law, almost a ruined man, flies to Venice — Death of the Regent — Law obliged to resort again to gambling — his death at Venice.

2. The South-Sea Bubble

Originated by Harley Earl of Oxford — Exchange Alley a scene of great excitement — Mr. Walpole — Sir John Blunt — Great demand for shares — Innumerable "Bubbles" — List of nefarious projects and bubbles — Great rise in South-Sea stock — Sudden fall — General meeting of the directors — Fearful climax of the South-Sea expedition — Its effects on society — Uproar in the House of Commons — Escape of Knight — Apprehension of Sir John Blunt — Recapture of Knight at Tirlemont — His second escape — Persons connected with the scheme examined — Their respective punishments — Concluding remarks.

3. The Tulipomania 147-160

Conrad Gesner — Tulips brought from Vienna to England — Rage for the tulip among the Dutch — Its great value — Curious anecdote of a sailor and a tulip — Regular marts for tulips — Tulips employed as a means of speculation — Great depreciation in their value — End of the mania.