A hundred years ago
From the 'Spectator', 12 October 1867—The terrible panic of last week on the Bourse was caused by a rumour that the Emperor had sud- denly shown symptoms of softening of the brain, and was incapable of giving orders. The report was a pure invention; but there- were two noticeable facts about it,—the Parisians accepted it in a moment as a most probable xvent, and the bourgeoisie submitted at once to a loss of from three to thirty per cent, on its Securities. The stampede described in the Times was a rush of bond fide holders, eager to get cash at any sacri- fice, rather than risk what might follow the con- firmation of the news. A more striking example of the sense of insecurity reigning in Paris it would be difficult to conceive. People there, we verily believe, think the Emperor's death would cause the very stones in the streets to fall in price, and are ready to sell anything on the first alarm at any price, if only "they can get gold.
Previous page
