One of the greatest capitalists of the reign of George III. died in 1808. Mark Sprot, a name which will recall many a pleasant anecdote to members of the Stock Exchange, born a younger brother, with a younger brother’s portion, achieved, by his own exertions, one of those fortunes which arose out of the loans of the French war. In 1780 he settled in London, with moderate means; and, from occasional visits to the Bank and Stock Exchange, formed an intimacy with the members of the moneyed interest. He soon saw that, with small risk, he might make great gain, and commenced a career which ended in splendid success. In 1799, he was one of the contractors for the lottery; and, in 1800 and the three following years, he was at the head of those who bid for the loans. During the trial of Lord Melville, Mark Sprot was examined, in consequence of having borrowed money from Mr. Trotter. The latter, on a comparatively trifling income, had built a splendid mansion; and as attention had been drawn to the circumstance, Mr. Sprot’s name was involved. When examined by the committee, and asked whether he did not act as banker to members of both Houses, “I never do business with privileged persons,” was the shrewd, but daring reply. This answer originated, probably, from the following anecdote. On one occasion a broker applied to Mr. Sprot, and with great sorrow told him that he was a ruined man. Mr. Sprot was surprised, for he knew the speaker was careful, industrious, and not likely to speculate. He asked the cause, and the broker replied, that he had been employed largely by a principal, who, the prices having gone against him, had refused to pay his losses. Mr. Sprot immediately inquired his name; and on being told it was a noble earl, of whose resources he was well aware, could scarcely believe he heard correctly. He knew him to be in possession of large landed estates; and, when informed that his Lordship had refused to give any reason except that it was not convenient, Mr. Sprot told his visitor not to be alarmed, that he would not press his claim, and concluded by making an engagement with him to visit his Lordship. Together they went, and were received with patrician dignity. Mr. Sprot deliberately detailed his business, and received the cool reply, that it was not convenient to pay. But the energetic jobber was not a man to bow before rank, unless accompanied by worth; and Mr. Sprot unhesitatingly declared, that, if the account were not settled by a certain hour next day, he would post his Lordship as a defaulter. The latter grew alarmed, and attempted to conciliate; but the conference closed with the repeated determination of Mr. Sprot to post him. Long before the hour appointed, however, his Lordship’s solicitor waited on the broker to arrange the payment; and thus the honor of the earl was preserved, and the credit of the broker saved in the money-market, through the acuteness and determination of Mark Sprot.