Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-03-28

iu,t after thc conclusion Of the last loan ne.
gotil'ol hY the Cortrs, in which our firm has
an interest. Dcsirous that our friend, should
have an opportunity Of participating in an
AN Investment which we consider profitable,
W. have taken the liberty Of placing twenty
thousand piastrcs to your credit. Should
that amount appear too considerable, the rise
Of those securities admits Of your selling out
at premium. We remain, sir,
Yours to command,
FLANGEs 4 Co..
To this was added postscript written by
the head of the firm:
'Wc have heard with pleasure of the recent
good fortune that has fallen to the lot of our
old friend and correspondent, and beg to offer
him our services, as occasion may require.
Twenty thousand piastres let the let
ter fall in sheer amazement. What would
have been my astonishnent if, more convcrs-
ant with terms of commerce and more attcn-
tive to the enclosed account current, | had
seen that what took for the principal was
only the yearly interest lost no time IN
writing to my correspondents to inform them
that the sum was much too large. i have
received no money said, from Martinique,
and it would be impossible for me to meet
my engagements
An answer came by return post:
" We learn with regret that you have mis-
giyings with regard to the Spanish loan. Ac
cordng to your orders, we have sold out half
the stock assigned to you, which brings you
in already II net profit of eighty thousand
francs. With regard to your property at
Martinique we are too well acquainted with
the delays which bequests at such distance
must necessarily involve, to think for a mo-
mcnt that you can be Immediately put in
possession OF your Inheritance; but your sim
pie signature will suffice to procure you all
the money you may require in the meantime
We take thu liberty Of reminding you Of the
advantage Of making timely Investments lest,
when the legal arrangements are ended you
should find difficulty i'll getting good interest
for 50 large capital With the hope that
YOU may entertain Il better opinion Of German
securities than you do Of Spanish, We hand
you prospectus for establishing bank at
Grunnigen. You will please observe, SIR
that M deposit is required, and that Us calls
are only made at long intervals, it will be
easy to sell your shares, should you change
your mind, without having occasion to make
any payment. We have placed fifty to your
credit and have the honor to remain dc.
Eighty thousand francs The amount was
perfect mystery to me ; no doubt the clerk
had made some mistake in the figures NV
position was becoming cmbarra ssing Con-
gr.tultions poured in from all quarters
especially when | made my appearance in
black from head to foot. The Jopraa1 DE
GoUjmoHg,S thought it right to publish
biogral hical sketch Of my cousin, and the
editor wrote to me, asking for further parti-
culars. Ladies' connected with all sorts Of
societies begged that my name might be ad-
dcd to their list Of subscribers, and the money
| LA! to pay for postages was something
alarming. TO escape from this avalanche of
inquiries hastily departed for Paris. Direct
ly got there, called on my bankers, by
whom was received as heirs to II large pro-
perty generally are.
sorry that you have such poor opinion
of the Spanish stock, said Monsieur Bcrge.
ret there has beeu great rise however
we only sold out half your parcel.
W ould you have the goodness to let me
know what the present value Of the remainder
might be = | replied,
Certainly, sir ten thousand piastres
stock at seventy (the piastre being at five
irancs, thrty-iive centimcs) the sum already
paid being-lf you sell out to-day you will,
with the proceeds of last sale, have from two
hundred and ten thousand to two hundred
and twenty thousand francs
Very we'll You said something about a
German bank, | think
Yes; the Government made some Difficult
ty about granting "a charter but it is all
settled now, and the promised shares have
risen considerably
Can sell out .
'Certainly you have fifty, at four hun
ired and fifty horns profit that will bring
you in about sixty thousand francs
Without any calls for pay =
None whatever
That seems strange but you ure no
doubt well informed. | should like to find
YOU have the goodness to tell me what would
he I'll, best .
You cannot have anything better than our |
own five per cents | know of nothing more
secure; at the present price Of that stock, |
YOU get six per cent for your money. can |
easily understand that you should be worried |
by such tritling details as these you will |
soon have more considerable sums to look |
after
Then, if invest the combined produce Of |
the German and Spanish stocks in the five |
per cents, what should get year .
Let me see. Three hundred thousand
francs-funds at eighty-eighteen twenty
yes, twenty thousand francs year
'Ah, twenty thousand francs year And
when can the investment be made
Tomorrow morning that is, if you will
allow our firm to conduct the transaction
I"rtalhly' IN whom could my confidence
be better placed
The banker made polite bow.
And now | continued, . should feel
obliged if You would have the goodness to
ADVANCE me few louis, as | am rather short
Jf cash
My dear sir, all the cash possess is at
your eeryicc, How much do you want-two
luudrcl-lour hundred
Thank You, fifty will be quite sufficient
May | hope, added the banker, when
rose t. take leave, that our firm be favored
With the continuance Of your patronage .
,tertainly' | replied.
There are few moments of my life ON which
look back with more satisfaction than on
hose occupied IN my interview with NJ, Ber
6 ret. doubt il should have believed IN