The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-05-11

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;
hone less than Sir Isaac Newton, the
greatest mathematician of his time;
none less than John Locke, the most
learned philosopher of the day. Strong
company this, for young and unknown
man, yet in the belief of Montague,
himself a young man and gambler
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 mathematician, young as he was;
and these things Montague was him
self keen enough to know.
1t promised, then, to be 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
er and more daring of whom was now
calmly threading the streets of Lon
don on his way to meeting which
might mean much to him.
All tbpco of tho hoord 1oO1yod x,,;+I,
some intentness at the figure of the
young man from the North, who came
rs 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, 81 have made
bold to ask the presence with us of a
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 Edinboro'.
Mr.. Law, the fame of John Locke l
need not lay before you, and of my
Lord Somers you need no advice Mr.
law, shall pray you to be seated.
Il shall but serve as your mouth
piece to the court, gentlemen re-
sumed Montague, seating himself and
turning at once to the business of the
day. Eve are all agreed as to the
urgency of the case. The king needs
behind him in these times a contented
people. You have already seen the i'm
minence of popular discomfort which
may shake the throne of England, none
too safe in these days of change. That
we E1ust reorganize the coinage is UNI
ders1ood and agreed. The question is,
how best to do this without further UNI
setting the times" One after another,
he called upon each of those present
for suggestions, leaving John Law to
the test.
'Mr. Law" said Montague, "by your
leave and by the leave of these gentle
men here present, l shall take the lib
erty of asking you if there doth occur
to your mind any plan by which we
may be relieved of certain of these
difficulties. am aware, sir, that you
are much student in these matters"
A grave silence fell upon ALL John
Law, young, confident and arrogant
In many ways as he was, none the less
possessed sobriety and depth of
thought, just as he possessed the ex-
ternal dignity to give it fitting vehicle.
He gazed now at the men before him,
not with timoiOusnesS or trepidation.
His face was grave, and he returned
their glances calmly as he rose and
made the speech which, unknown to
himself, was presently to prove SO i'm
portant in his life.
my lords" said he, "and gentlemen
of this council, am ill-fitted to be
present here, and ill-titted to add my
advice to that which has been given.
1t is not for me to go beyond the pur-
pose of this meeting, or to lay before
you certain plans Of my own regarding
the credit Of nations. may start SIM
ply from established principles Of hui
man nature.
"lt ~ true that the coinage is q
nit the government. Yet b.