Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-12-30


while we freely admit that practically we
never had, nor probably ever shall have,
much experience of the effects of wealth
upon our habits, feelings, and character,
we must at the same time observe, that
as the looker-on at a game frequently de-
tects gross mistakes overlooked by those
engaged in the speculation--so even we
fancy we have long ago discovered that
the imaginary prize, which is so eagerly
contended for, generally turns out a
blank. We do not absolutely deny that
wealth, when attained, is sometimes a
blessing to its possessor; but the conclu-
sion at which we have long since arrived
is, that it is only blessing to the small
minority, who have discovered the secret
of its proper appropriation while the
number of those who have made that
discovery is so infinitely small, compared
with the whole body of fortune-hunters,
that it may be almost received as NOR
al axiom, that great wealth is almost in
variably great evil.
The learned and phiIosophc reasoner,
Bacon treating on the subject, declared
that I" of great riches there is 10 real use,
except it be in the distrbution-the rest
is but conceit." " AS the baggage to
any army, according to the same high
authority,) SO is excessive wealth to vr-
tue; it cannot be spared, but it hinder
eth the march, yea, and the care of it
sometimes loseth or disturbeth the victo-
ry." 1t is obvious from this profound
remark, that Bacon regarded great riches
as incompatible with the moral excel
lenco of man and our opinion is that
the history Of those who have acquired
almost unbounded wealth would fully es-
tablish the justice Of the conclusion.
1t has with many persons been ques-
ton whether those individuals who have
amassed enormous fortunes, can have
uniformly adhered to the rigid maxims of
honesty, and to the spirit Of the Divine
precept, which enjoins us " 10 do unto
others as we would they should do unto
u.s." The humorous and satircal author
of Crochet Lodge, with happy mix
ture of truth and irony, contends that
strict honesty is not to be looked for a
mongst the money changers -
"As to honesty (says this humorist, }
he made his fortune, Sir, in the city Of
London, and if that commodity be of a
ny value there, you will find it in the
Prices Current"
There is something so original and sc
whimsical in the notion of CHASING hon
esty with cotion,. coffee, rand the mercan,
tile sundries, that we would not resist the
temptation of quoting the passage, al
though it must be regarded as a broac
carlcature,
Before we proceed further, we shall
here, by way of illustrating what We
deem inordinate individual wealth, cal
the attention Of our readers to a few re-
markable cases, taken indiscriminately
from much more copious collection
with which our note books would furn
ish us, if we did not deem the specimen.
we have adduced sufficient for our pur
pose.
1t is stat ed on good authority that w OIL
sey kept no fewer than five hundred ser
wants in his establishment, of whom nine
or ten were lords, fifteen knights, anC
forty were esquires. He was royal ia
vorlte, once regarded as the arbiter o
Europe, whose yearly income equaled
if it did not exceed the revenue of TIT
Crown.
On THE TREASURES OF THE KINGS o.
PERsIA.-We see by what is said in tn
text, the reason why Alexander foun,
such vast sums accumulated in the treas
ures of Persepolis, Susa, Pasagada, &c
| doubt, Notwithstanding, whether W
should give credit to Justin, when b
says, that, after the conquest of Persia
Alexander annually drew three hundre'
thousand talents from his new subjects
which would make about sixteen hundre,
and twenty millions of French boxes, O
sixty-seven millions and a half sterling
Mole 10 Vol. 1. Of The Travels Of IN
archarSiS.
A RUSSIAN CRGsUs.-M. de Tiszkc
wies, the richest landhoder in Russia
Lithuania, died a short time SINCE
The st. Petersburgh papers inform us
that he has left to his three sons 200
villages, containing more than 5000
serfs and in ready money, 100000
of crowns and that it was this gentle
man who was said to have refused tn
hand of his daughter to Duke Alexar
der of Wirtemberg, who afterwards mai
ried the Princess Maria d'Orleans. II
: daughter since married Prince Sapich;
and had 100000 crowns for her dow
ry. A letter from st. Petersburgh say
=" This gentleman's property compri'
ed forty.six extensive domains, on whic
there are 10000 families of peasantr
/ reckoning in them 10000 males, !
. money, he possessed 56,O0O,OOO Polls
3 forms, equal in French money to 81
a 6OO,OOOf. He had six childrkn, of who
e three sons, besides his daughter, survi,
\ him. The eldest, according to the Law
g of Lithuania, inherits the whole of tn
/ immense wealth. He, however, has a
J, signed one-fourth to be equally divide
: between his two brothers."