The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-02-18
CHAPTER V.
DIVERS ENVIRONMENTS or JOHN
LAW.

CHAPTER V.
DIVERS ENVIRONMENTS or JOHN
| LAW.
and when shall | send these gar
ments to- your lordship?" asked the
haberdasher, with whom Law was hav-
ing speech on the morning following
the first night in London.
1.-TWO weeks from to-day" said Law,
"in the afternoon, and not later than
four o'clock. | shall have need for
them
Sir" said he, 81 should be glad to
please not only friend of Sir Arthur
Pembroke, but also gentleman OF
such parts as yourself. | hesitate to
promise"
But you must promise" said John
Law
well, then, | do promise! will
have this apparel at your place on the
day which you name. IT'S most extra
ordinary, but the order shall be exc
cuted."
Law but half heard him, for he was
already turning toward the door, where
he beckoned again for his waiting
chair
ITO the offices of the Bank of En-
gland" he directed And forthwith he
was again jogging through the crowded
streets of London.
The offices of the Bank of England,
to which this young adventurer now
M b,,1 n diraptah his
were then not housed in any such state
ly edifice as that which now covers
the heart of the financial world, nor
did the location of the young and
struggling institution, in by-etreet of
the great city, tend to give dignity to
a concern which still lacked impor
lance and assuredneSS. Thither, then,
might have gone almost any young
traveller who needed letter of credit
cashed, or bill changed after the
fashion of the passing goldsmiths.
Yet it was not as mere transient
customer of money-changer that
young Law now sought The Bank of
England, nor was ii as a commercial
house that the bank then commanded
attention. That bank, young as it was,
had already become a pillar of the
throne of England William, distract
ed by wars abroad and factions at
home, found his demands for funds
ever in excess of the supply. More
than that, the people of England dis
covered themselves in possession Of a
currency fuctuating, mutilated ana
unstable, so that no man knew what
was his actual fortune. The shrewd
young financier. Montague, chancellor
Of the eXchequer, who either by wis
dom or good fortune had sanctioned
the founding of the Bank of England,
was at this very time addressing him
/ self to the question of a recOinage of
the specie of the realm Of England.
He needed help, he demanded ideas;
nor was he too particular whence he
obtained either the one or the other
John Law was in London on no such
blind quest as he had himself declared
He was here by the invitation, secret
yet none the less obligatory of Monta-
que. controller of the financial policy
Of England. And he was to meet, here
upon this fair morning, none less than
my Lord Somers, keeper of the seals;
none less than Sir Isaac Newton, the
greatest mathematician of his. time;
1one less than John Locke, the most
earned philosopher of the day. Strong
company this, for a young and unknown
man, yet in the belief Of Montague,
I b. ,cnlf q and n par
by instinct, not too strong for this
young Scotchman who had startled the
parliament of his own land by some
of the most remarkable theories Of
finance which had ever been proposed
in any country or to any government.
AS Law had himself arrogantly an
nounced, he was indeed a philosopher
and a mathematician, young as he was;
and these things Montague was him
self keen enough to know.
1t promised, then, to he a strange
and interesting council this which was
to meet to-day at the Bank Of England
to adjust the value of England's coin
age; two philosophers, one pompous
trimmer and two gamblers; the young
Ut anu more udTlIlS III WHOltl WIS IOW
calmly threading the streets of Lon
don on his way to meeting which
might mean much to him.
All those at the board looked with
some intenness at the figure of the
young man from the North, who came
as the guest of Montague. With small
formality, the latter rose and advanced
to meet Law with an eager grasp of
The hand He made him known TO the
others present promptly, but with a
half apology.
Gentlemen" said he Il have made
bold to ask the presence with rs OF
young man who has much concerned
himself with problems such as those
which we have now in hand. Sir Isaac
Newton, this Is Mr. Law Of Ednboro'
Mr. Law, the fame of John Locke
need not lay before you, and of my
Lord Somers you need no advice Mr..
Law, shall pray You to be seated
II shall but serve as your mouth