Sentence:  Should this "lull" continue much longer, the consequence will be, that the security of some mercantile houses, for some time on the wave, will fail; and, if we credit the <WSD>gups</WSD> in the bazar, the crisis is rapidly approaching. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Gossip or rumor; nonsensical or silly talk; blather.