838 
cial tranfactions. - The minifter Defmareft, 
to getrid ef Law, threatened him, by one 
of his emiffaries, with the Baftilé. Law 
quitted Paris, and was a wanderer through 
Jtaly. He addrefled himfelf to the King- 
of Sardinia, who refufed our adventurer’s 
affiftance, declaring, that he was not pow- 
erful enough to ruin himfelf! 
At the death of Ecuis XIV. the Duke 
of Orleans was regent. Law ventured 
again to Paris, and found the regent more 
docile. The Duke ifideed was placed in a 
soft trying firuation; the finances were 
all confufien, and no hope was offered by 
any one to fetilethem. The Duke lent 
his ear at firft reluftantly to Law, con- 
vinced what confequences mufi follow fuch 
ideal wealth as that in which our adven- 
turer dealt. In defpair, the numerical- 
guack was called in to relieve, by his 
powerful remedy, the diforder which no 
one would attempt tocure. 
Law commenced with a moft brilliant 
perfpective. He eftablifhed his bank, was 
chofen direétor of the Eaft India Compa- 
ny, and foon gave his fcheme that vital 
credit which produced real fpecie ; for, in 
that diftraéted time, every one buried or 
otherwife concealed his valuables; but, 
when the illufion of Law began to operate, 
every coffer was opened, while the propri- 
etors of eftates preferred his paper to the 
‘poffefion of their lands. 
deemed delighted, Law acquired millions 
in a morning, and even the Regent himfelf 
was duped, and felicitated himfelf on his 
pofleffion of fo great an alchymift. 
Law was honoured with nobility, and 
ereated Count of Tankerville; as for 
amarquifates, he purchafed them at his will. 
Edinburgh, his native city, humbly pre- 
dented him with her freedom, in which 
2ppear thefe remarkable expreflions: *¢ The 
corporation of Edinburgh prefents its free- 
com to John Law, Count ef Tankerville, 
zc. &c. &c. a mo accomplifhed gentle- 
man; the firft of all bankers in Europe ; 
the fortunate inventor of fources of com- 
anerce in all parts of the remote world ; 
and who has fo well deferved of his na- 
tion.” From a Scotchman (fays Vol- 
taire) he became, by naturalization, a 
Frenchman; froma Proteftant,a Catholic; 
irom_an adventurer, a prince; and from a 
banker, a minifter of ftate. 
While Law was undergoing thefe meta- 
morphofes himfelf, he was performing the 
fame droll exhibition in all kinds of indi- 
viduals. Fortunes were made in a month, 
and fteck-jobbing was feen even in the 
parroweft alleys at Paris. Singulaf anec- 
Motes ars recorded of thole days.—A 
From the Port-folio of ‘ Moan of Lette¥. 
All Europe ’ 
_ [ Nov. ly 
coachman gave warning to his mafter, whe 
begged, at leaft that he would-provide him 
with ancther as good as himfelf. Whip 
replied :—**] have hired two this morning ; 
take your choice, and I will have the 
other.”’—-A footman alfo fet up his cha- 
riot, but going to it, he got up behind, 
till he was reminded by his own fervant of 
his miftfake-—An old beggar, who had a 
remnarkable hunch on his back, haunted 
the Rue Quincampoix, which was the 
crowded ielort of ali ftock-jobbers: he 
acquired a good fortune by lending it out 
for five minutes as a defk! 
Law him(elf was adored; the proudeft 
courtiers were humble reptiles before this 
mighty man; dukes and ducheffes patient- 
ly waited in his anti-chamber ; and Mrs. 
Law, a haughty beauty, when a cuchefs 
was announced, exclaimed, ** Still more 
duchefles! there is no animal fo tirefome 
as aduchefs!”” In the curious Memoirs 
of the Duchefs of Orleans, a fingular fact 
is recorded :—One morning, when Law 
was furrounded by a body of princeffes, 
he was going to retire. They enquired - 
the occafion. He gave one, in which they 
ought to have been filent ; but, onthe con- 
trary, they faid, «* Oh! if it is nothing but 
that, let them bring herea chaife percée for 
Mr. Law !*”) When the young king was 
at play, and the ftakes were too high ever 
for his. Majefty, he refufed to cover then» 
all; young Law (the fon of our adventu~ 
rer) cried out, ‘*. If his Majefty will not 
cover, I will.” The King’s governor 
frowned on the boy of millions, who, per- 
‘ceiving his error, threw himfelf at the 
King’s feet. 
The infatuation ran through all claffes, 
and even the French Academy folicited for 
the honour of Law becoming their affociate, 
the only calculator they ever admitted into 
their body.’ — 
But at length the evil hour looked dark 
and darker; the immenfe machine became 
fo complicated, that even thehead of Law 
began_-to turn with its rapid revolutions. In 
1719, he created credit, but in May, 17205. 
uncounted millions difappeared in air. 
Nothing was feen but. paper and bank~ 
ruptcy every where. Law was confider- 
ed as the fole origin of the public misfor- 
tune: no One taxed, his own credulity. 
They broke his carriages, deftroyed his 
houfes, and fought the arithmetician to 
tear him to pieces. Heefcaped from Paris 
in difguife, and long wandered‘ in Europe 
incognito. After fome years, he found a 
hiding-place in Venice, where he lived 
poor, ob{cure, yet ftill calculating. Mon- 
tefquicu, who faw him there, fays, ‘* He 
1s 
