Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-08-29
Tnr Annrsr or Tunn,s 8 srn.

tails in our New York exchanges Of
Saturday:
The Rebel Government becoming
sadly short Of means, and unable to
add even q feather to the tremendous
load it had imposed on the banks, bank
ers, and voters within its Jurisdiction,
and having paved the way by the mis-
sion and Vaccinations Of the three
rambling Commissioners, sent one
Thomas S. Serrill, a wealthy cotton
broker or factor Of New Orleans, to
England by the steamer Persia on the
18th Of July. either to negotiate loan
or receive the proceeds of one already
arranged by others--it matters not
which. The agent, with a discretion
which he would have done well to pur-
sue until his safe return to the G. 8. A.,
registered his name on the steamer
books as "Mr. Serrill, PHILADELPHIA
thus, happily for him. giving no clue to
his place of domicie or the nature Of
his mission. On board the vessel were
sundry congenial spirits from New Or
leans, Charleston, Texas, Mobile, and
other Southern ports and places, and a
sprinkling Of English merchants and
bankers, American, Mexican, Spanish,
and Belgian politicians and diplomats.
On the voyage out. he con6ded the1
purport Of his mission to the more use
full, safe, and available of bis fellow
passengers, and no doubt ''laid pipe"
and paved the way for the little trans
actions he proposed to make over the
water. Wonderful to relate, by some
means or other be accomplished his
purposes, and that so speedily that af-
ter the exchange Of documents, by
pothecation Of securities, and arrange
ment of other preliminaries, he drew
10000 in Bank of England notes,
and was ready to return by the Persia
on her homeward voyage. Before
leaving, he and the Rowing COmmis-
sion made all their arrangements for
the transmission OF more funds, by safe
opportunities, at stated intervals. So
far everything had gone on swimming
ly and shrewd; smooth. plausible, able
Mr.. Serrill had finished his mission in
the most successful manner. 1t would
have been well for him and his friend,
j. D., il he had not, in the intoxies-
ton of success land perhaps OF post
prandial indulgenee), allowed his wits
TO 60 wool gathering. But as the gods
meant him to be destroyed, they adopt
ed the usual course.
Poor Mr.. SerriIl, with his.pocket full
of sterling currency, lacked the ordin-
airy discretion of half witted boy; for,
although he was going, % an enemy's
port, in company with many whom he
could have hardly regarded as other
than enc mics, he made no secret Of his
mission and its results. Worse than
this, he glorifed himself and the c. s.
A. in after. dinner defamation, in mid
night scenes at the whist-table, in mid
day walks on the quarter deck, and
morning lounges in the smoking room.
With foolish Vain-glory he boasted of
the superior financial credit Of the G.
.. A. over the United States Govern
ment in English monetary circles, Of
his own easy negotiation of the loan, Of
his possession Of the f4O,O INSTALL
ment, Of the receipt Of silver service
from admiring British bankers, which
was 10 follow him in the next steamer,
and, in general, of the entente eordiale
already existing between their Majes-
ties Of France and England and the in
choate slave empire which he Worthily
represented. These silly vaporings
were attentively listened to BY loyal
American fellow-passengers, and bis
several boasts and Statements carefully
noted down for future use against him.
At length the steamer enters port,
swings in the stream, fires off her guns
and is boarded by the Custom house
officers. The indiscreet financial agent,
perhaps remembering nothing Of his in
discretion, waits his turn for the exam
instion Of his baggage, and got it at
last with a vengeance. There is
whispered communication by the loyal
passengers TO officers James B. Archer,
Alexander Isaacs, and Thomas ].
Brown, an eye searching through the
crowd, and presently-alas for J. D.
and his moneyl-the removal of the
body and baggage Of Mr.. Thomas 8.
Serrill to private apartment, where,
despite struts and protests and threats,
a strict search of person and property
IS made. The officers were amply re-
wardeI for their trouble, for in his
trunks were found, perdu, several bun
lies Of interesting letters addressed to
Serrill, and in belt about his body
-oll Of clean, new, genuine Bank Of
England notes, Of the value Of nearly
100000. 1t is necessary to say that
he whole concern-man, baggage,
reasure-trove and all-were seized in
he name Of the United States, taken
o Mr.. Surveyor Andrews, and libelIed
md indicted by Mr.. District Attorney
smith. All this was done, and the un-
ucky foreign fnanciering tourist was
afely secured to await trial and pun
'hment. Serrill claims to be Pbila-
elphian by birth, and that his family
now in that city; the former, if true,
My making his treason more odious,
nd the latter evincing more prudence
nd foresight than be has shown since
is departure from Liverpool on the
omeward voyage.