Madison Whig advocate., 1840-03-21
From the Ne,, YORK. Herald

His Serene Highness the Devil. after
resting spell of months, has again be-
gun playing nine pins in Wall street,
during the last few days. The excite
ment in that avenue of fashion is now
Of the highest kind. Not since the
splendid developments concerning Swart-
wout and Price, has there been so much
genuine good humor, wit, and drolIery,
as we have had during the present week.
The Manhattan Bank, its cashier, Robt.
White, and its elegant watch dog, brass
collar and all, have been the cause Of
thisfresh sensation in the financial world.
The glory has not all departed from Is
rael-nor can Philadelphia surpass New
York IN talents and originality in finance.
Tuesday morning, the sun rose IN un-
Cl0uded majesty. and coming up from the
eastern end of Long Island. tipped all
the leahess trees-not the vaults of banks
from Babylon TO Brooklyn, with gold.
A broad sheet Of this light fell into Wall
street, and poured down into the Man
haitian Bank such an efTulgence that no
BODY could mistake the trouble and per-
plexity Of its worthy cashier, and bottle
holder. Out of 100000 dollars, in va
rious kinds of assets, consisting Of notes
Of Campbell p. White, the Rev. Barna-
bas Rates, Moses Allen, and various
other persons, it is supposed that the
Manhattan Bank will lose, in deprecia-
lion on stocks and in other ways, about
100000 or 100000 dollars.
Last December, when the directors Of
the Manhattan bank were deliberating
on their dividend, Mr.. Thompson ex-
pressed his surprise that the line of dis
counts was so small-and the line of
stock loans so large. II should like to
see those assets" said this eleven-cent
defaulter. This caused others of the
directors to think-and from last De
cember up to last week, they have been
thinking and thinking, till committee
was appointed, and the present state OF
things was discovered.
Mr.. Robert White. the cashier of this
bank, has been in office about 90 years,
and he is probably rich as a sub-.reasu-
rer with legs. During the last war,
Robert first came to this city, and acted
IN the capacity of agent for the prizes
captured by the Baltimore Privateers.
This was very good beginning-for he
has been the agent for various kinds OF
Wall street privateers ever since. he
and Campbell p. are the sons of a res
pectable Irish distiller, who lived IN
Baltimore. 1t was in his fathers distil-
iery that "Bob,n as he is called, acquir-
ed the happy tact of mixing his whiskey
so kindly with water, that it tastes like
mothers milk, and has given the flavor
10 the Manhatten water.
Soon after he came here, Walter
Bovine became his patron and godfather
and, afterwards, Henry Remsen, then
President of the Manhattan Bank, which
was, al that time, regular patriotic,
democratic institution, as 1t still contln-
ues. In process of time, Bob got 10 be
chief officer; turned out his patron, Mr..
Remsen; turned tail upon his godfather,
Walter Bovine, and appointed for one OF
the telers, the big dog which we have
given in our engraving. About the year
1923, Bob united with several other
great 6nanciers, and induced General
Jackson TO remove the deposits. This.
We believe, was the beginning of the
troubles in the Manhatten Bank. Ii
then established an agency in the street.
10 do shaving at high prices. For many
years, Bob has had the control OF the
bank, and put in his own directors by the
aid of the proxies of the English and
Irish stockholders, among whom is the
Marquis of Carmarthen for large a
mount.
Mr.. White lives as bachelor at a
very elegant house, 56 Barclay street
His wine cellar is considered the most
unique in rich old wines and liquors that
New York can produce He IS also, like
mvself. a devoted admirer of the fair sex
and has attended all the fashionable
soirees for several years In personal