Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-12-11
IIiatnrN q tlne Rothsohilds.

the world. For nearly hall century their lnhu-
ence has been continually on the increase; and 10
them more than any monarch or minister Of State,
Europe il indebted for the preservation OF peace
between the great powers. In order TO give even
an outline Of the immense and successful opera
tons which have placed a German Jew, his sons
and grandsons, at the head of the moneyed inter-
ests Of the world it would be necessary to embrace
the history European finance since the year 1912;
and this our space does not permit. bnefsk
ofthe rise and progress ofthe house, must, there
fore, be sufficient. Its founder Meyer Anselm
Rolhschild, bonn at Frankfort, on the Main, some
time about the year lT40, was a money-changer
and exchange broker, man Of fair character ana
exchange broker, man of fair character and easy
circumstances. When, the hrst campaign otthe
French revolution, t1792,) Gen. Cuisine, at the
head of The Republican amy, took Frankfort, the
Senate, in order to save the town from pillage,
greed to pay ransom, within very limited period.
But the money could not be forthcoming. Public
credit in Germany was still IN its infancy, and
among the wealthy capitalists frankfort, not one
could be to assist the Senate. In thissrat
Meyor A. Rothschild offered his services obtain
loan for the required amount from the landgrave
Of HeSse CaSSei, by whom he had frequently been
employed in oney-changing transactions. The
offer was accepted and the loan obtained Thus
money lending connection between the landgraYe
and A. n. Rothschild began, and, in the courSe oil
the war, other German Princes having occasion for
loans, A. NJ. Rothchilds agency was often offered
and accepted, so that the house OF Rothchild ac-
quired certain standing.
The landgraye William TX. Consequently as
electUr, William ~ vas one of those German deS-
pots who, during the American revolution, had
sold their troops to England; and who, by means OF
simlartraffic dcring the wars Of the French rev.
oIution, accumulated immense sums of money, hut
whose trickery drew upon him the hatred OF Ma
poleon. After the battle of jena, (Oct. 1SO5,) Ma
poleon decreed the forfeiture OF their States by the
sovereigns of Brunswick and HeSSe CaSSel, and
French army WINS put in march to enforce the de.
cree. Too feeble TO resist the landgrave rePa:ed
for flight. But in the vaults OF his palace he had
twelve millions forms (about five millions OF dol
lars) in silver. To save this great and bulky a.
mount Of money from the hanis Of the French, was
a matter of extreme difficulty, as il could not be
carried away, and the landgrave had so little conf
dence in his subjects that he could not bring him.
self to confde his cash in their keeping, especially
as the French would infict severe punishment on
him, or them, who might undertake the trust. IN
his utmost need the landgTaTe bethought himself oil
N. A. RothscLild, sent for him to CaSsel, and en-
treated HIM TO take charge OF his money; and by
way of compensation for the danger 10 which Mr..
Rothschild exposed himself, the landgrave offered
him the free of the entire sum without interest.
On these terms Mr.. Rothschild undertook the trust,
and blythe assistance of some friends Jewish bank
ers at CaSSel the money was so carefully slowed
away, that when the French, after hurried march,
arrived at that city they found the old landgrave
gone and his treasures vanished. AT the time thus
large sum of money was placed IN NJ. A. Roth
chiId's hands, he had five sons, Of whom three, An
selm, Nathan and Solomon. had arrived at mans
estate. These he associated with himself, keep
ing Anselm at Frankfort, while Nathan was es'ab-
lished first at Manchester, and subsequently in Lon
don; aud Solomon as travelling agent for the firm OF
NJ. A. Rnthschild and Sons, visited the various
courts and princes in Germany who needed loans.
Old Mr.. RothSchd himself, well as his sons,
especially the second, Nathan of London, appear
to have possessed enterprise, prudence and indus
try of the highest order so that the large sum OF
ready money at their disposal increased andmulti-
piled with astonishing rapIdity. In 1913, when,
by the treaty of AuSterliZ, England agreed TO pay
Russia, Austria and PRUSSIA twelve millions Ster-
ling (si1tY millions of dollars subsidies the RothS
childs, on the recommendation OF the old lnndgrave
were appointed agents for the payment OF the mo-
ney in Germany; an operation by which they gained
several millions Of dollars.
After the victory of Leipzig, October, 1913, in
their pursuit OF Napoleon the allied sovereigns sud-
denly found themselves on the banks of the Rhine.
The Emperor of Austria, with brilliant Court and
staff, took up his quarters at Frankfort; but the
treasury of Austria, Notwithstanding the large sums
received from England, was empty. What resources
there might have been at Vienna were not availa-
BILE at Frankfort. A loan became necessary; but
the oft-repeated bankruptcies of Austria had 1eS-
troyed her credit-Eo that Prince Mettgrnch, after
having in vain applied to the BethamS and other
Christian merchants princes of Frankfort, was at
length reluctantly driven to address himself to
Rothschild; and the pride Of HapSburgh'S Cesar
stopped to solicit succor of Jew. The graceful
manner in which the request was granted called
forth the Emperor's gratitude. His son Nathan
was appointed Austrian Consul general in Great
Britain, and the whole weight of Austria and of
MetternichS influence were put in requ!stion to
extend and secure the financial operation Of the
House of RothSchld. The fall of Napoleon enabled
the old Landgrave to return to CaSSe, and he gave
the Rotschilds notice that he should withdraw the
money he had confded to them, but before the no.
tice expired, Napoleon'S return from the Isle of
Elba so greatly alarmed the Landgrave that he
urged the RotSchilds TO keep the money at the low
.0ffyr HanfF ann h1Nh II
till his death, in 1928, when his son and successor
was forced to receive il back, as the RGSchildS
fused any longer to keep it.
In 1915, James de Rothschild, the fourth son of
NJ. A. RothSchild opened banking house in P aris.
In 1920, Charles, the youngest, established him.
self atNaples; and in 1921, SOoman, the third son,
took up his residence at Vienna: so that, at the
death of Mr.. A. Rothschild, 1921, he saw his five
sons placed at the head of FIVE immense establish
mentS, at Frankfort, London, Paris, Vienna and
Naples, and united in co-partnership, which was
universally allowed TO be the most wealthy and
extensive the world has ever seen. No operation
in which he or his sons embarked was miScarried;
and this uninterrupted success was, in areat
measure, owing to their foresight and enterprise.
Rothschild in London knew the result of the battle
of Waterloo eight hours before the British Govern
ment, and the value of this knowledge was no less
than million of dollars gained in one forenoon.
No bad loan was evertaken in hand by the Roths-
child, no good loan ever fell into other hands.
Their nvaTiable success at length gained for them
such degree of public confidence, that any fnan-
cial enterprise upon which they frowned was sure
10 fail. And so conscious were they of their con-
fdence that, in 1880, Anselm Rothschild, of Frank
fort, was heard to decare:-"'The House ofAustria
desires war, but the House Of Rothschild requires
peace" In 1910, on the occasion of the troubles
between the Porte and Mehemet Ali, the Roths-
childsw ere again chiefly in preserving
the peace of Europe.
Nathan, the SON of NJ. A. Rotbschild, died in
1888, the four other brothers are yet alive. In ad
diton TO their FIVE principal establishments, they
have agencies Of their own in several of the large
trading towns, both of the old and new world. As
dealers in money and bills, they may be said TO
have nonyals; and as the magnitude of their ope-
rations enable them to regulate the course of ex-
change throughout the world, their profits great
while their risks comparatively small. Indeed,
the only heavy loss they have as yet experienced
was through the February revolutions of 184S,