The Press.
London, England, 1854-11-04 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

of Marine suggested the advisability of mooring the break-
water outside the promontory that formed one side of the
harbour ;—it was done, and so was the breakwater. That
work of genius on which Mushar Pacha had so often gazed
delighted, as from the windows of his chateau he watched
it reposing on its shadow in the mill-pool bay, was quickly
dashed to pieces by the lively sea outside.
The revolution of 1848 came, and " Mr. Smith" landed
with his carpet bag in England. A few months afterwards,
a large shop was opened in Moorgate-street for the sale of
lamps, ornaments, &c. &c. The shopkeeper was Mushar
Paella, the owner of the goods" Mr. Smith." But, finding
business thrive, they went to work on a larger scale. The
" great prince, the great king, and the great gentleman"
raised 400,0001. (he tried to raise SWAM., but Baring
would not bite). Some of it went to Paris "to pay trades-
mens' bills," but most of it was devoted to more profitable
uses. Louis Philippe's heart bled for his ungrateful coun-
trymen, he wept when he saw the commercial distress. the
panic, and the ruin that followed, and half avenged his fall.
But, though no longer king, he resolved as simple citizen
to alleviate the woes of France. When a man is in dis-
tress, there is no cure for grief more efficacious than offer-
ing to discount his bill at six months. This Louis Phi-
lippe did. He took warehouses in St. Mildred's-court, and,
though he was only a sleeping partner in the concern, the
" Co " which followed the name of Lakeman over the door
might have been filled up by the name of Louis Philippe
of Orleans. The plan pursued was this. Agents in France
extensively circulated the pleasing intelligence that, whereas
advances could scarcely be obtained in their own country,
there was an obliging gentleman named Lakeman, in
London, whose place of business was in St. Mildred's-
court, who would make unlimited advances on the deposit
of French goods. They were not long in coming ; silks
and velvets in bales soon piled the shelves and counters of
the warehouse in St. Mildred's-court, and Lakeman
and Co. drove a roaring trade. Meanwhile the happy
borrowers were marshalled in gangs and introduced to the
" Co." at Claremont, to offer their homage to that benevo-
lent prince who even in exile made it his paternal care to
save his trading subjects from bankruptcy. But " Mr.
Smith," like many other successful capitalists, over-traded,
and so received a check. " That choice assortment of
wines from the cellars of the Tuilleries, the property of his
Majesty King Louis Philippe," had been sold for high
prices half a dozen times over, when attention began to be
attracted to the subject. By comparing the terms of the
advertisements and the Inantities specified, it was disco-
vered that the stock of wine Louis Philippe had originally
professed to have must long since have been sold. So it
had ; but the active King had imported more excellent yen
ordinaire, and if he chose to call it " that choice assort-
ment, &c., from the cellars of the Tuilleries," why not?
The quality of the wine was not changed by that. But
significant hints began to appear in the city department of
the newspapers, so the wine " dodge " was dropped, but
the CLlSColynting mr.nt, on, ..+A was in full operation when
the head of the firm died at Claremont. Of course the
transactions between Louis Philippe and Mr. Lakeman
were in a great measure confidential ; the gallant Nemours,
&c., took advantage of this, and refused to pay Lakeman
the balance he alleged was due to him. He became bank-
rupt, obtained a second-class certificate, was complimented
by the commissioner—in fact, every one saw that the
princes of Orleans had treated him shabbily. Lakeman is
a man of energy and resolute will, ready to be up and
doing after every reverse to retrieve his fortunes. He
embarked in business at the Cape ; the Caffre war broke
out; and at its termination the gallant Stephen Lakeman
became Sir Stephen for distinguished services performed at
the head of the Waterkloof Rangers. Presently afterwards
the Turkish war broke out, and very soon we read in the
Paris letter of the Tinier," That gallant officer, Sir Stephen
Lakeman, is here with his seven-barrelled rifle, trying
experiments with the Chasseurs of Vincennes." In Omer
Paella's advance from the Danube we catch glimpses of
him occasionally, now in the van disturbing a party of Cos-
sacks at dinner, again marshalling stragglers on the march,
and lastly, as now, preserving the tranquillity of the capital
of Wallachia, and controlling the exuberance of Austrian
"occupation " in Bucharest. In early life he had specu-
lated on the Stock Exchange, and won 60,0001. in a few
weeks. " I felt I was going mad," he said, " 1 won what-
ever bargain I made ; all 1 touched seem to turn to gold."
A combination was formed against him. and he lost his
money as rapidly as lie had acquired it; hut, nothing
daunted by a stroke which savours more of Stock Ex-
change than ordinary notions of morality, lie in a measure
recovered his losses. Such is his history so far, and now
he has become a Pasha we may say what the gallant
Colonel Sibthorp said of the late Sir Robert Peel, that,
after his numerous and surprising changes, we should not
be astonished to see him sitting cross-legged, a Mahometan
avowed!

THE MANAOERS OF THE PATRIOTIC FUND estab-
lished at Lloyd's during the last war have continued
their duties down to the present time, annuities to
the amount of 1,6001. per annum being still paid
from the fund to the connections of those who
suffered at that period. The total amount dis-
bursed by the charity has been nearly 000,0001.,
and it appears that, subject to the annual charge
of the remaining annuities, the committee hold
property consisting of 77,5001. Reduced Three
per Cents. and 3,500/. Long Annuities (the total
value of which, at present prices, is about 88,0001.),
besides certain rights of nomination to the Royal
Naval Asylum and schools, which they purchased
by contributions of 12,000/. These advantages
they have preserved, and held applicable to any
future war.
THE PERRY DEFENCE ►ND TESTIMONIAL FUND
now amounts to 2,4251.