Southern telegraph., 1836-08-09


vest, aud wished their advice. 1t appears
that tie words some funds have various sig
nihcaiions, according to the name and cir
cumsianees Of him who uses them. The
news q my cousin jacques legacy had
reached Paris. "Some funds" in my situa-
ilon, was modest way of indicating a con-
siderable sum. | supposed so, at least, on
receiving the following letter;
, "StR-We are favored with YOURS Of
18th current; We received it just as we had
learned the offer for the Spanish Funds had
been accepted, in the purchase of which
our house is largely concerned. Desiring
to serve our friends with an investment
which We consider highly advantageous, we
have reserved for you aninierest of twenty
thousand piastres in the same. Ifthis sum
appears too large TO you, you can realize
with advantage. See the annexed list of
prices of stocks, Ever at your command,
we wait your orders"
And, by way of "a postscript, in the hand of
the principal of the establishment:
6 We have learned, with unfeigned salts
faction, the great bcquest to an old cores
pondent and friend; in congratulating him,
wc rei;erOte the offer of our services on this
occasion, as on all others.n
" "Twenty thousand piostros!" The let
ter fell from my hand, and cold sweat be-
dewed my whole body. What would have
became Of me, if acquainted with the COM
mercial style, had read with more atten-
lion the statement Of their purchase for me
at the foot Of the letter, and discovered that
the operation implied the principal of an in
como of twenty thousand piasres, The iR-
tcrc8t alone alarmed me. wrote imme-
diately to my correspondents, that the sum
which they had invested for me was far
more than | had to dispose of. 81 have not"
said !, "rccei7ed any money from Mar
Unique, as You probably believe, and it will
be impossible for me to discharge your claim
against me-"
"Wc have seen with lo3ret," they an
swcrcd, "you have not full confidence in
the Spanish Funds. According to your de-
sire, We have sold the halfof The interest in
the same, which has produced clear profit
to you Of eighty thousand francs, your order
having arrived at favorable moment. With
respect to the rest of your letter, we need
only say that we are too well aware Of the
delays in settling up an estate at such a dis
lance, TO suppose you could have received
any of your funds; and that your signature
will furnish you with all the money youma
require, Indeed, we would respectfully
recommend the propriety Of making invest
ments from time TO time, SO that, whenever
you will have realized your property in
Martinique, you shall be spared much trou-
bic. We have acted for your interests as
we would for ourselves.
"ln the hope that the German securities
will be found more worthy than those of the
Peninsula, we herewith send you the plan
of bank at -. You will observe, sir,
that for time the subscribers have nothing
to disburse, and that the instalments are at
periods so remote, that you can sell out be-
fore all is paid in. At all hazards, we have
reserved fifty shares of the bank for you,
&c"
Eighty thousand francs!" | exclaimed.
=" don't comprehend the matter at all. The
clerk, | dare say, has put down cipher or
so too many. $4,000 francs--it can't be!'
My position became difficult was loaded
with congratulations wherever | went
above all, when was dressed in black from
head to foot.
Editors began to feel themselves obliged
to furnish a biography of my cousin Jacques,
and bored me with applications for "some
passages" in his life, was lostt on all
sides: In what manner was / coming outl
What was | going to do for the public insti-
tutions? Benevolent ladies inundated me
with prosDcc'uses of asylms, for this, that
and the other thing, which were under THEN
surveillance, cntreating my patronage.
was absolutely being ruined in postage; fol
i'll the midst OF my riches, whether real OF
supposed, | had no money. Fortunately
for me, in the belief that was rich, no one
would receive sous from me; trades-peo
pie and shop-keopers begging me to open
an account with them.
These annoyancos determined me to g;
to Paris. My first visit on arriving, was tC
my bankers, who received me as grea
legatee.
"Iregret," said Mr. Bcrgeret, "that yol
hadn't sufficient confidence in the Spanish
pnds to hold on to them, for they are still
On the advance. You have, however, ,
good sum still remaining"
"WouId you have the goodness, sir, Il
tell me what will be the proceeds Of"
"Of your Spanish Funts3 1t an eas,
calculatiOn: 10000 piaStrcs dc rcate, at 10
the piastre at francs 36 centimes, the sun
already paid, is-hum-hum If you sci
to-day you would put two hundred and tel
to two hundred and twenty thousand franc
in your pocket"
I-strained my ears, "You say, sir, tw,
hundred 1.-Two hundred aud ten to twent,
thousand francs. Are you quite sure q"
GAS one can be within few francs
more or less.n
1t would not do, however, 10 have to
-, l., AZ ~. ,tr a ,,,,,,ioo. 81 / oaid with III