Florins. 2 Lasts of wheat 448 4 Lasts of rye 558 4 Oxen 480 3 Swine 240 12 Sheep 120 2 Hogsheads of wine 70 4 Tons of beer 32 4 Tons of butter 192 1000 Pounds of cheese 120 1 Bed 100 1 Suit of clothes 80 1 Silver beaker 60 Another species commonly fetched two thousand florins; a third was valued at a new carriage, two gray horses, and a complete harness. Twelve acres of land were paid for a fourth; and 60,000 florins were made by one man in a few weeks. But the panic came at last. Confidence vanished; contracts were void; defaulters were announced in every town of Holland; dreams of wealth were dissipated; and they who, a week before, rejoiced in the possession of a few tulips which would have realized a princely fortune, looked sad and stupefied on the miserable bulbs before them, valueless in themselves, and unsalable at any price. To parry the blow, the tulip-merchants held public meetings, and made pompous speeches, in which they proved that their goods were worth as much as ever, and that a panic was absurd and unjust. The speeches produced great applause, but the bulb continued valueless; and, though actions for breach of contract were threatened, the law refused to take cognizance of gambling transactions. Even the wisdom of the Deliberative Council at the Hague was at fault, and to find a remedy was beyond the power of the government. Many years passed before the country recovered from the shock, or commerce revived from the depression which followed the Tulipomania; and which, not confined exclusively to Holland, visited London and Paris, and gave a fictitious importance to the tulip in the two greatest capitals of the world. CHAPTER II. _The Earliest National Debt.—History of Tontines.—Of the Money Interest, its Origin, Extravagance, and Folly.—Royal Exchange.—First Irredeemable Debt.—Tricks of the Brokers.—Jobbing in East India Stock.—False Reports.—Importance of the English Funds.—Picture of the Alley.—Systematic Jobbing of Sir Henry Furnese, Medina, and Marlborough.—Thomas Guy, a Dealer in the Alley._ The creation of a national debt has been attributed to the Dutch, but is really due to the Venetians. The immediate treasury of the Doge was exhausted; money was necessary; and the most eminent citizens of that great republic were called upon to redeem the credit of their country. A Chamber of Loans was established, the contributors were made creditors, four per cent. was allowed as interest, and she, “Who once held the gorgeous East in fee, And was the safeguard of the West,” resumed her credit, and increased her power.