"The Funds continued falling yesterday, and Consols were below 60, for money. We shall be very much surprised if there were not some very considerable failures before the next settling day. Some persons connected with French Houses are known to be great losers."--(_Times, July 15, 1796._) * * * * * "We yesterday mentioned our expectation that there would be considerable failures among persons connected with French Houses, before the next settling day. A principal Stockbroker, immediately connected with a Gentleman, formerly a Member of the Legislative Assembly, in France, was, yesterday declared a defaulter at the Stock Exchange. His differences are upon near half a million of Stock, which he had purchased at 67 and 68. This failure is the commencement of exposing that destructive system of gambling, called _continuations_. The Consols were done yesterday at 59, for money."--(_Times, July 16, 1796._) * * * * * "Notwithstanding the enormous failures of two Stock brokers, whose differences amount to full £100,000, the desperate game of _Continuation_ still continues nearly as strong as ever. Bargains for time, in Stock, were yesterday made for the next settling day, at a rate of 20 per cent., Interest."--(_Times, July 20, 1796._) * * * * * "A very extraordinary fluctuation took place, yesterday, in the Funds, which, after having fallen in the early part of the day, to 53-1/4, rose, towards the close of the market, to 56-7/8 for the October settling. The reason alleged, for this sudden rise, was, that Mr. _Hammond_ having been unsuccessful at Berlin, had gone from thence to Paris. Such was the report!"--(_Times, Sept. 7, 1798._) * * * * * "The Chancellor (Irish) has declared from the Bench, that, in the present period of distress, no person shall be made a Bankrupt."--(_Times, June 12, 1796._) The following is but a foreshadowing of our Railway Mania:-- "_Canal Shares_, which at one time rose to £180, are now down to £40. The _Mania_ is over; and this _earth-cutting_ business, in a great measure, at a stand."--(_Times, Aug. 16, 1796._) In 1796, there was an extraordinary scarcity of silver, which taxed severely, the resources of the Government to meet. The difficulty was met, to some extent, by the issue of Spanish Dollars, taken from Prizes, and stamped at the Tower, where the Mint then was, with a small head of the King.--These were issued at 4s. 9d. each--The same scarcity arose in 1803-4, and the same expedient was resorted to--only then the dollars were issued at a price over their value, so as to offer no premium for their destruction.