Millionaire: The Philanderer, Gambler, and Duelist Who Invented Modern Finance (25 page)

“He spared no occasion . . .”: PRO SP 78/166.

Friendship with Jacobites Dillon, Mar, etc.: letters in HMC Stuart vol. 4 and 5.

Sotheby’s portrait of Law appeared in Woolton House sale December 6-7, 1993, lot 584, attributed to Herman Vandermyn.

C
HAPTER
12: Mississippi Madness

Mississippi colony: Heinrich; Steuart,
Principles of Political Oeconomy,
Book IV.

Cantillon and Law: Murphy,
Cantillon;
Minton,
John Law.

Account of the arrival of Law expedition: Bib Nat Fran MS 14613.

“With regard to my Louisiana colony . . .”: ms. Méjanes, 192.

Pulteney’s account of India Company’s progress: PRO SP 78/166 92.

Transportations recorded in Buvat, Saint-Simon, and many other published memoirs.

Allocations of concessions, transportations and Law declared controller general: PRO SP 78/166 95.

C
HAPTER
13: Descent

“I have spoken to a Frenchman who is lately come from the Mississippi . . .”: PRO 78/166.

“In the end alchemy . . .” quoted by Edward Chancellor in
Devil Take the Hindmost

Share prices and introductions of primes: PRO SP 78/166 110; significance of primes discussed in Murphy,
John Law.

“I am told that most things are considerably dearer . . .”: PRO SP 166/78 176.

“Constraint is contrary to the principles . . .”: quoted in Shennan.

Acquisition of royal shares: ibid.

“The rage of the people is so violent and so universal . . .”: Hardwicke,
State Papers.

Law’s breakdown: ibid.

C
HAPTER
14: The Storms of Fate

“The silver is to be employed in such foreign trades . . .”: PRO SP 78/166.

Crime and civil unrest in Paris: recounted in Defoe and numerous French memoirs including Buvat, Marais, Saint-Simon.

Monetary policy: Murphy,
John Law;
du Hautchamp; Pulteney’s letters, PRO SP 78/166.

“When M. le D demanded the revocation . . .”: ms. Méjanes, 130.

C
HAPTER
15: Reprieve

“Lundi j’achetai des actions
. . .”: Anon, quoted in Hyde.

Law’s arrest and audience with the regent: Fauré,
La Banqueroute de Law;
Murphy,
John Law;
Hyde.

“the only man capable of getting them out of the maze they were in”: Duc d’Antin memoirs, quoted by Fauré.

“We saw this day a rare thing . . .”: ibid.

Changes following Law’s reinstatement: Marais.

“It is thought he will influence the commissaries a point to take Mr. Law’s accounts . . .”: PRO SP 78/166.

South Sea Bubble: Carswell,
The South Sea Bubble.

“The hurry of our stock-jobbing . . .”: quoted by Angell.

Burning of notes and desire for cash: Buvat, Marais, etc.

Drop in exchange rate: Murphy,
John Law.

Riots at bank: PRO SP 78/166 266; Buvat; Defoe, etc.

Plague: Defoe; Buvat; Marais; PRO SP 78/166 420.

Quarantine restrictions: Carswell.

“One cannot say what effect the demand for silver had . . .”: Harsin.

C
HAPTER
16: The Whirligig of Time

Satirical prints: British Museum,
Catalogue of Prints & Drawings, Political and Personal Satires.

“The idea came to me . . .”: ms. Méjanes.

New building projects: Buvat.

The anonymous pamphlet and Law’s appraisal of his achievement: Murphy.

Pulteney’s letter: PRO SP/78/166, quoted by Murphy.

Cantillon: Murphy,
Cantillon;
Pulteney’s letter PRO SP 78/166 420.

“You promise much . . .”: quoted in Lemontey, Marais, and Murphy.

Threat to Law’s safety: PRO SP78/166 420.

“The distress people are under by the excessive prices of all things . . .”: PRO SP 78/166 301.

Anecdotes relating to Law’s family in Barbier, Marais, and Buvat.

New orders demanding compulsory payments detailed in diplomatic correspondence, PRO SP 78/166.

“The Regent only follows this course to amuse himself . . .”: letter, November 27, 1720, PRO SP 78/166 436.

Rumors surrounding Law’s departure: PRO SP 78/169 311.

“He did not see among the French anyone who had enough intelligence . . .”: quoted by Fauré.

Appointment of de la Houssaye and investigations of bank: PRO SP78/166 450.

Law’s last days in Paris: PRO SP 78/169 315.

C
HAPTER
17: The Prodigal’s Return

“It is difficult to decide between the desire . . .”: ms. Méjanes, 13.

“I cannot sufficiently express my grief on your departure . . .”: quoted by Murphy,
John Law.

“My enemies act with passion . . .”: ms. Méjanes

“Perhaps my distance will soften them . . .”: ibid.

Crawford’s report: PRO SP 78/169 321-5.

“I have learned today that I have been accused of having aided the Pretender . . .”: ms. Méjanes.

Law’s departure from France: PRO SP 78/169 327.

Law’s finances when leaving: Harsin.

Details of journey to Brussels: ms. Méjanes.

“I had hoped to be able to pass through here without being known . . .”: ms. Méjanes, 17-19.

“This conduct attracts attention”: PRO SP 78/169.

Rumors relating to Law’s misappropriation of funds: Barbier.

“What could have given rise to this rumour were the dispatches of silver . . .”: Harsin, p. 253.

Law’s problems with creditors: Hyde; Charlotte Elizabeth.

“I am sensible that you suffer extremely by the resolution I have taken . . .”: ms. Méjanes.

Arrival in Venice noted by Burges: PRO SP 99/62 561.

“It is better to return to the old system of finance . . .”: ms. Méjanes.

“We often think of you, your brother and I . . .”: ibid.

“I find myself well, being alone without valet . . .”: ibid.

“What has happened is very extraordinary, but doesn’t surprise me . . .”: ibid.

Playing “from morning to night . . .”: Murphy,
John Law,
p. 38.

Games invented by Law: Hamilton; Murphy,
John Law;
Hyde.

“I can only believe that you will agree to what I have the honour of proposing . . .”: Barbier.

Details of investigations and brother’s arrest: Soulavie; Buvat; Barbier; Marais.

Censure of Law: PRO SP 78/166 452.

“I want your company and to live as we used to before I engaged in public business . . .”: ms. Méjanes.

“Mme. Law writes that they find me a debtor of 7 million to the bank . . .”: ms. Méjanes.

“Mr. Law . . . has sent a new project”: PRO SP 78/166.

“His Majesty will have no scruple to order a second expedition of it . . .”: ms. Méjanes, 92v.

“It would be very much contrary to the interest of my country . . .”: ibid.

“having worked in the most beautiful theatre in Europe . . .”: ibid.

“I had no invitation . . .”: ms. Méjanes.

Return to England and opposition in House of Lords:
The Political State,
vol. 22, October 1721, pp. 393 et seq.

“I don’t expect to be well received . . .”: ms. Méjanes.

“The retreat of Mr. Law to England . . .”: PRO SP 78/166.

“I can’t think the Regent will detain you . . .”: ibid.

“I would have you get the Marquis de Lassay and my brother to meet with you . . .”: ibid.

“I was fetched from the Audit House yesterday . . .”: HMC Portland, vol. 7.

“handsome, genteel, and well fashioned”: ms. Méjanes.

“I own to you these reflections animate me . . .”: ms. Méjanes.

“I am aware . . .”: ms. Méjanes.

Rebecca Law’s visit to Venice: PRO SP 78/170.

“My brother must have gone mad . . .”: ms. Méjanes.

“some conversation I have had lately with your brother . . .”: quoted by Healey.

Gleeson_Million_FRpro273-296rm 4/18/00 2:43 PM Page 291

“I have wrote several times to the Regent, and to the Cardinal about your enlargement . . .”: ms. Méjanes, 204.

“If the Duke of Orleans is disposed to recall him . . .”: Sir Robert Walpole to Sir Luke Schaub, 10 April 1723, quoted in Wood, pp. 173-75.

Offers of loans: ms. Méjanes, 198v.

“I have so ordered my brother’s journey to Paris with him . . .”: Walpole to Lord Townshend, October 12, 1723, quoted in Wood, p. 175.

“Can you not prevail on the Duke to help me . . .”:
Letters to and from Henrietta, Countess of Suffolk 1712-1767,
vol. 1.

“there is scarcely an example, perhaps not one instance . . .”: Harsin.

“I have sacrificed everything . . .”: Harsin.

“I will do all I can so that his majesty and his ministers are satisfied . . .”: PRO SP 81/91.

C
HAPTER
18: Venetian Sunset

Dispatches to Whitehall: PRO SP 81/91.

“The splendour and beauty . . .”: quoted by Hibbert,
Grand Tour.

Law and the art market: Murphy; Hamilton.

“No man alive believes that his pictures when they come to be sold . . .”: Burges to Lord Londonderry October 21, 1729; PRO SPc108/415, quoted in Murphy.

Painting of Law by Verelst: sold Christie’s December 16, 1966, lot 291. Signed and dated 1727, ex-collection Sir H. Steward.

Montesquieu’s visit:
Voyages de Montesquieu,
vol. 1, p. 59.

“a shivering cold fit which lasted him five or six hours . . .”: Burges, Venice, March 4, 1729, PRO SP 99/63 91.

“Mr. Law is dead, after struggling seven or eight and twenty days . . .”: Burges, Venice, March 25, 1729, PRO SP 99/63 95.

“He departed this life on Monday last . . .”: letter from John Law Jr. to Katherine Knowles, quoted by Murphy.

“I wished to be informed surreptitiously concerning the testament which everyone said the deceased had made . . .”: letter from de Gergy to Chauvelin, French minister of foreign affairs, March 26, 1729, quoted in Hyde.

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