The early part of the present chapter is devoted to anecdotes, which, though difficult to prove, yet bear in themselves every appearance of reality. Many legends are thus in the debatable ground between truth and fiction; and those which are selected are chosen from their resemblance to fact, rather than from the actual knowledge of their veracity. In 1761, Mr. Dunbar, a West-Indian merchant, finding his affairs were less prosperous than usual, sought “the Alley,” as it was then termed, to retrieve his failing fortunes. From some private information, he believed that he had good grounds for supposing a peace would soon be effected, and that the funds would rise. He therefore ordered his broker to buy £100,000 for the account; told him the opinion he had formed, with the intelligence on which it was based; and the latter, in violation of his oath, jobbed extensively on his own account as well as for his client. February passed away without the expected peace, and Mr. Dunbar paid the difference. Confident in his views, he continued the operation; but each account-day proved that the price had been against him, and with great difficulty did he find money to pay the amounts due. In July, unable to pay cash, he gave notes of hand to the broker, who agreed to receive them. No objection being made, the account was continued on for August. In that month the prospect of peace revived, the funds rose, and Mr. Dunbar, seeing a chance of paying the greater part of his losses, went with all speed to ’Change Alley. His distress may be imagined, when he was coolly told, that, since he had given notes of hand, no account had been opened, and no advantage could be reaped from the rise in price. The act of Sir John Barnard rendered any appeal to law useless; but, as Mr. Dunbar became a bankrupt, the members of the Stock Exchange subscribed to pay the amount claimed, in order that so flagrant a case might not become public. One of the loans raised by the Duke of Newcastle, when prime minister, fell, from some unforeseen accident, to three per cent. discount. His Grace, thinking he had made an unfair bargain, or fearing the jobbers would not lend to him again, convened a meeting of those who had taken it, who, as well as the Duke, were greatly frightened, not knowing what project to adopt. At length one of them—said to be Samson Gideon—desired the minister to walk with him into another room. There they remained for a few minutes, and then returned in high spirits, telling the others to go home and be perfectly easy, as care should be taken of their interest. Gideon went immediately to ’Change Alley, and, buying up the scrip as fast as it was offered, produced an immediate rise to one per cent. above par.