Our greatest Ladies hither come, And ply in Chariots daily, Oft pawn their Jewels for a Sum, To venture’t in the Alley. Young Harlots, too, from _Drury Lane_, Approach the _’Change_ in coaches, To fool away the Gold they gain By their obscene Debauches. Long Heads may thrive by sober Rules, Because they think and drink not; But Headlongs are our thriving Fools, Who only drink and think not: The lucky Rogues, like Spaniel Dogs, Leap into _South Sea_ Water, And, there, they fish for golden Frogs, Not caring what comes a’ter. ‘Tis said that Alchimists of old, Could turn a brazen kettle, Or leaden Cistern into Gold, That noble, tempting Mettle: But, if it here may be allowed To bring in great with small things Our cunning _South Sea_, like a God, Turns nothing into all things. What need have we of _Indian_ Wealth, Or Commerce with our Neighbours, Our Constitution is in Health, And Riches crown our Labours: Our _South Sea_ Ships have golden Shrouds They bring us Wealth, ‘tis granted, But lodge their Treasure in the clouds, To hide it ‘till it’s wanted. O, _Britain_! bless thy present State, Thou only happy Nation, So oddly rich, so madly Great, Since Bubbles came in Fashion: Successful Rakes exert their Pride, And count their airy Millions; Whilst homely Drabs in Coaches ride, Brought up to Town on Pillions. Few Men, who follow Reason’s Rules, Grow Fat with _South Sea_ Diet; Young Rattles, and unthinking Fools, Are those that flourish by it. Old musty Jades, and pushing Blades, Who’ve least Consideration, Grow rich apace, whilst wiser Heads Are struck with Admiration. A Race of Men, who, t’other Day Lay crush’d beneath Disasters, Are now, by Stock brought into Play, And made our Lords and Masters: But should our _South Sea Babel_ fall, What Numbers would be frowning, The Losers, then, must ease their Gall By Hanging, or by Drowning. Five Hundred Millions, Notes and Bonds, Our Stocks are worth in Value, But neither lye in Goods, or Lands, Or Money, let me tell ye. Yet, tho’ our Foreign Trade is lost, Of mighty Wealth we vapour, When all the Riches that we boast, Consists in Scraps of Paper. CHAPTER XX First mention of the Stock Exchange—Attempt at hoax—Daniel’s fraud—Berenger’s fraud—Bubbles of 1825—The Railway Mania—30th Nov. 1845 at the Board of Trade—The fever at its height—The Marquis of Clanricarde pricks the bubble. In 1734 an Act was passed (7 Geo. II., c. 8) entitled “An Act to prevent the infamous practice of Stock jobbing,” which provided that no loss in bargains for time should be recoverable in the Courts, and placed such speculations outside the Law altogether. It was a dead letter, but was in force till 1860, when it was repealed.