Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-10-24
THE MERCHANTS.

from q lecture delivered before the Mercan-
tile Library Association Of New York, by
Charles Edwards, Esq, which has just been
published. The mercantile interest may be
wurred against, but it will triumph. The
merchant gives life to oil the departments Of
business in any country, and while the Peo-
pie of country are supporting him, they are
supporting ,hemselves.-[Prou Com.
"Cnies may be swept to the outline OF
their foundation but their merchants are
kc Of in remembrance. Whole nations will
war to protect single merchant: for he car
ries the honor of his country at the mast OF
his vessel. Ills success is that country: and
his insolvency causes the irmest Institutions
of his own land 10 tremble. The ocean seems
to rejoice with the freight of his ships; tho
winds lend him their breath the iron appears
to have become magnetic Tor him; his mere
cipher is known and respected thousands OF
miles away he has been called the steward
of the worlds stock; while the virtues of the
earth are supposed to guide and to sustain
him. =,
"Even the gentler part of his household
have in monarches, shone with briIlIancy
that caused envy to arise in the heart oil
queens. Jane of France, wife OF Philip the
Fair, while residing few days at Brnges,
was mortified al the splcndor OF the merchants
wives. Il thought she said, had been the
only queen here but find there are above
six hundred queens in this city!
" And who has not read OF the Hanseatic
league, whereby, the merchant wlthstood the
exaction Of mobiles, and rescued the sea from
pirates? by industry and fidelity, the mer-
chants under this league, could run their ca
bles almost round the world. Alas tor them
that they became warlike, and neglected tho
peaceable pursuit Of commerce. II destroy
ed them and their many ships and the time
came when, TO use the quaint language Of
the period, most of their teeth were out, and
the rest loose Yet in tho history Of the
world, there is not more extraordinary ex-
ample of what industry with o strict union OF
interest for cffecting great purpose, can do,
than was performed by the men Of commerce
under the league.
"All nations take special knowledge OF
the law merchant; and the common and
statute law Of more countries than one, leave
the causes Of merchants, in many cases, 10
their own peculiar code. The custom OF
merchants, is even part of the common law,
Of which judges must take notice, and u any
doubt arise about the custom, they may send
for merchants to know it.
"The Magma Chartaof England, Jas strong
a sheet anchor as our Declaration Ut lnde-
pendence) makes special provision for tho
safety of the strangcr-mercbant. And II IS
not little singular, that it should have found
it's way there (; for Magma Charte is a mere
interior treaty between King and his sa'u.
raj born subjects. However, So il is and
this gives Montesqueu The chance Of snying
that the English had made the protection OF
foreign me rchants one of the articles of their
national liberty, and shows how much they
value those three great advantages, religion,
liberty, aud commerce.
sand it does the heat good to recur 10 in
stances Of mercantile character and to OBJ
serve upon proofs of the respect which codfi.
tries have paid TO the merchant.
"The tact and generosity OF an English
merchant, Thomas Sutton. is snd to have
materially aided in the defeat OF the Spanish
Armada, and thereby saved British liberty
from torture and thumb screws.
"a fear Of the power Of merchants stop
ped Charles V. from establishing the inqui-
si;on in Antwerp; while merchant Of that
city lent this king million Of money, and, at
a,s enter ainment which he gave him, burnt
the bond in a fire of cinnamon-at that time
most costly spice.
"a merchan, Of France raised an army at
his own expense and lent millions to his
country. A Georgian of low birth was able,
by the quiet acts of commerce, to obtain an
immense revenue, and to keep 6OOO troops
in his pay. His doors were always open, he
was beloved by his brother merchants, and
known for his deep and various learning.
"Russia, with all her extent Of land, was
rs nothing, until that half Goth. Peter, sur.
named by his countrymen the Great, promo
ted the advance ment of commerce. lie gave
his personal attention to the building of ships,
training of seaman, opening Of harbors, and
The establishment Of ports.
"Our own country, though young in her
commercial relations, can already show what
may be gained by the merchant. Girard has
raised his own monument; Irving has Deem
ed the enterprise Of a merchant a hitting
theme while the furnace Of the present
time will bring out the refined gold of mer-
camille character. and make il subject for
future history. Nor does it matter from what
source a merchant gains his greatness.
"Cities subsisl by the manufacture OF such
slight articles as rbands. Denmark, in an
cient days, gained her mercantile riches
merely through her sale Of herrngs-all IA
tions resoried TO her, and brought precious
commodities and gold and silver, in exchange
for these common fish. II is wonderful, too,
how single article msy, through the facili.
ties of the merchant increase in the market,
and almost sink or sustain the balance Of
trade between commercial countries. In the
year 1855, the import of Gotten wool into
England, from America, was only FIVE bsgs;
1856, six bags in 1859, I08 bags while in
the years 1884 und 1885, the crops were,
I ,254,3 bags. In the latter year, England
and Scotland together, consumed S,346 bags
a week. The quantity of cotton wool ex-
ported by this country during 1885, amounted
to $40, l9I, lS4 pounds. valued at the places
of expectation at 36,435, ,746 dollnrs. Since
the year 1899, the increase in the expectation
Of this staple from the U. States, has been
nearly 1000 fold"
Tho Rev. Zelo'cs Fuller, charged with on
assault on Mrs. Founders, Of Philadelphia,
with on intent to scducc, has been acquitted.