The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-08-22
a Bebel Nest-Egg ouDd-Capture Of a
j. Agent, and $40, ,00O-Confederate

| The shifts to which the Southern Re.
bells are driven to procure funds for wag-
ing their unboly war are as various and
desperate as can well be conceived. All
that unscrupulous talent can do; all that
lies, promises, protests, and appeals can
accomplish; all that the thorough exer-
cise of despotic power over their deluded
subjects can compass. are unhesitatingly
resorted to by the Rebel leaders to boil
ster up bad cause, and secure its ulti-
mate triumph. For their followers they
paint the glorious future Of tie Empire
of the Southern Gross, and. when proni-
ses fail, resort to threats of attainder and
puns meDt for treason. For for'igD pa
lions they hold out the tempting bait of
cheap cotton and direct trade in case
they will break our blockade. and send
crafty agents to poison the public mind
against US and offer seeming sound secu-
,i.ies for the negotiation OF the bonds
The British capitalist, at once the shrew-
dest and most credulous OF fnanciers, is
assailed BY every alluring argument that
in turn may seem most likely to extract
his shining guneas; and bis weaker side
being found, be is drawn by the came
shining threads as have often led him in
to disastrous Investments 10 Peru, China
South America, Mexico, and Mississippi,
to the uDfsthomable abyss of speculation
in Confederate bonds. We haze all, re-
me mbering that the burnt child shuDs the
FIRE. thought that the common sense and
experience Of John Bull would protect
him from loss in this new and most Ges.
perate venture, but it seems to have been
otherwise. One of JEFF Davis's fnaucial
agents has been to England, negotiate
loan, and returned to this country, all
within month. The particulars of this
remarkable financial mission and its re-
suit are as follows:
The Rebel Government becoming sadly
short of means, and unable TO add even
feather to the tremendous load it had
imposed on the banks, bankers, aud vo-
ters within its jurisdiction, aud having
paved the way by the mission and mach
iuatians of the three rambling Commits
sioners, sent one Thomas S. SerriIl, a
wealthy cotton broker or factor OF New,
Orleans, to England BY the steamer Per
-ia on the 18th of July, either to nego-
tiate loan. or receive the proceeds OF
one already arranged BY otbers-it mat.
ters not which. The agent, With discre-
tion which be would have done we'll to
pursue until bis safe return to the c. S,
a., registered his name on the steamer
books as "Mr. Serrill, Philadelpbia"-
thus, happily for him, giving no clue to
his place Of domiciie or the nature of his
mission. On board the. vessel were sun
dry congeDial spirits frou New-OrIeaus,
Charleston, Texas, Mobile, and other
Southern ports and places, and a sprink
ling of English merchants and BANKERS.
American. Mexican. Spanish, and Bel
gian politicians and diplonat".
On the voyage out, he coD6ded the
purport OF bis mission to the more useful,
safe, and available of bis fellow pa-sen
gers, and DO doubt ''lad pipe' and paved
the way for the little transactions be pro-
posed to make over the water. Wonder
full to relate, by some means or other be
accomplished his purposes. and that SO
speedily that after the exchange of docu-
meDts, hypothecation of securities. and
arrangement OF other preliminaries. be
drew G40, 600 in Bauk of England notes,
and was ready to return by the Persia op
her houeWard voyage. Before leaving,
be and the Rowing Com mission made all
their arrangements for the transmission
of more funds, by safe opportunities. at
stated intervals. So far everything bad
gone on swinmi"gly, and shrewd, smooth
plausible, able Mr.. Serril had finished bis
mission in the most successful manner
1t would have been we'll for him and for
his friend, j D., if be had not in the in
toxication of success (and perhaps of
post prandial ulgencc), allowed his
wits to 90 wool gathering. But as the
gods meant him to be destroyed, they g.
dopted the usual course
Poor Mr.. SerrilI, with his pocket full
Of sterling currency, lacked the ordinary
discretion of half, witted boy; for, al
though be was going to an cnemys port,
in company with many whom he could
have hardly regarded as other than ene-
mies. be made DO secret of bis mission
and its results Worse than this, he plo.
riisd himself and the c. S A. in after.
dinner defamation, in midnight SCIENCES
at the whist-tsble, in midday walks on
the quarter deck, and morning lounges
in the moking. room. With foolish vain
glory he toasted of the superior financial
credit of the G. S. A. over the United
States Government in English monetary
circles, of his own easy negotiation of the
loan, of his possession of the ei0, 900 in.
stalment, of the receipt of silver ser.
vice from admirin2 British bankers, which
was to follow him in the next steamer.
and, in general, of the entente cordiale al
ready exi,ting between their Msjesties of
France and England and the incobate
slave empire which he worthily rcpreseu.
ted. These silly vaporings were atteD
lively listened to By loyal American fell
low passengers, and bis /. several boasts
of,.II