News was not then so frequent, information was not so widely diffused; and the document was credited much longer than it would have been a quarter of a century later. It deserves to be mentioned as a curiosity, that the forgery was not attributed to members of the Stock Exchange, but to a pair of “state speculators,” assisted by “members of the lower House.” But though it was not caused by them, they felt its effect in the fluctuating price, and several were ruined by the ingenious device of these “state speculators” and “members of the lower House.” Among the names conspicuous in the city for character and capacity, stands that of the great political economist, David Ricardo, who, at the early age of fourteen, was introduced by his father, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, to the mysteries of the Stock Exchange. The mind of the younger Ricardo was of an inquiring character. He began to study the principles of the creed in which he had been educated. The result was his secession from the faith of the ancient people, and his abandonment to his own resources by his father. Those resources were small; but his conduct and character had interested the members of Capel Court, and, to their honor, with a liberality which not unfrequently distinguishes them, the oldest and most influential came to his assistance. The extraordinary powers of Mr. Ricardo were soon developed in the acquisition of a considerable fortune; and, having hitherto employed but little time in study, he amply and nobly redeemed his lost hours. At twenty-five he commenced mathematics, and with great application studied chemistry and mineralogy, fitted up a laboratory, formed a collection of minerals, and bestirred himself with all the energy of his character. These sciences, however, he soon abandoned, and, having accidentally become acquainted with Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations,” he employed his great thought upon the subject of political economy, in which he soon became distinguished. He led the van in the bullion controversy; his principles were those on which the present bank charter is founded; and, in 1817, he published that great work on his favorite science so familiar to the commercial reader. His reputation preceded him to the senate; and his opinions on the above subjects were deferred to with respect. When Mr. Peel’s bill was introduced, in 1819, his name was called for from all sides of the House; and, in 1823, David Ricardo, an acute, patient, and comprehensive thinker, a firm and faithful friend, and an honor to the body of which he was a member, died, at the early age of fifty-two.