APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE. 



403 



At Morden, Surrey, Abraham 

 Goldsmid, esq. INIr. G. was the 

 second son of a respectable Dutch 

 merciumtof the Jewish persuasion, 

 and came over totliis country with 

 his father and elder brother. He 

 was born in the year 1757, and 

 as soon as his mind had acquired 

 sufficient powers, was hiitiated 

 into the principles of merchandize. 

 Tenderly attached to his brother, 

 he became his partner when both 

 were grown up, and when the 

 death of their father left them in 

 possession of a capital that enabled 

 them to venture into bold specu- 

 lations. Their indefatigable in- 

 dustry and natural acuteness soon 

 improved their fortune, which was 

 greatly augmented by the marr 

 riage of the elder Goldsmid with 

 the daughter of Mr. Solomons, of 

 Clapton, who brought him no less 

 a sum than 100,000/. From that 

 time their commercial undertak- 

 ings became more considerable, 

 and, in a few years, they were 

 ranked among the first men in the 

 raonied world. Their increasing 

 riches introduced them to the no- 

 tice of the administration. When- 

 ever a loan was wanted, the Gold- 

 smids easily supplied a large por- 

 tion of it ; and as the terms on 

 which it was obtained were always 

 advantageous, their fortune kept 

 pace with the facilities which they 

 granted to government. In the 

 purchase and sale of bullion, stock, 

 navy bills, and exchequer bills, 

 and in negociating foreign bills of 

 exchange, they also annually dis- 

 posed of millions, till at last the 

 extent of their speculations, the 

 greatness of their credit, and the 

 liberality of their dispositions, 

 eaused them to be placed, without 

 one dissenting voice, at the head 

 of the stock exchange. Thus emi- 



nently raised in the public opinion, 

 they incessantly laboured, not to 

 obtain the applause of men, which 

 they already possessed, but that of 

 their own hearts. Charity and 

 benevolence jaarked all their ac- 

 tions, and their munificence was 

 not confined to the deserving ob- 

 jects of their own nation and be- 

 Ucf, but to Christians of every 

 denomination. They supported 

 every public-spirited institution 

 with their subscriptions, and never 

 closed their hearts or their purse 

 to those who wanted assistance^ 

 whatever might be their religious 

 principles. Mr. Goldsmid was 

 joint contractor with the house of 

 sir Francis Baring for the last 

 loan, and, taking the largest pro* 

 bable range that he had dealt 

 amongst his friends one half of 

 the sum allotted to him, the loss 

 sustained by the remainder, at the 

 rate of sixt3'-five pounds per thou- 

 sand, which was the price of 

 Thursday, was more than any in- 

 dividual fortune could be expect- 

 ed to sustain. Ever since the de- 

 cline of omnium from par, Mr. 

 Goldsmid's spirits were progres- 

 sively drooping; but when it reach- 

 ed five and six per cent discount, 

 without the probability of recover- 

 ing, the unfortunate gentleman 

 appeared evidently restless in his 

 disposition, and disordered in his 

 mind ; and, not finding that cheer- 

 ful assistance amongst his monied 

 friends which he had experienced 

 in his happier times, he was unable 

 to bear up against the pressure of 

 his misfortunes. Another circum- 

 stance that is said to have pressed 

 heavy upon his mind within the 

 last week was, that he had bor- 

 rowed of the East India Company 

 half a milHoD. He had given se- 

 curity for this sum, but the pe- 

 2D 2 



