after to-morrow, all will go well ; otherwise I won't answer what will become of them. This is now the crisis, in my opinion. I don't find the Dutch doe us any great harm, the Exchange alter'd a little, but is now again in our favour, which is a proof as certain as any can be ; but there has been considerable sums sent to Portugal, and that has been more prejudicial to our Stocks. Besides which some of the Directors have been playing the Rogue and have endeavour'd to run down the stocks after having sold their own out, in order to buy in cheap again. This has putt people in a fright, and itt is not so easy to bring them out again ; but I expect a considerable alteration in a few days. As to the Lustring {sic) which your Lordship was merry upon in your last letter I believe our schemes are defeated. I had information from those who were in the secret and bought a good deal for the opening of the books, and if the Regency wou'd have lett them alone itt wou'd have risen prodigiously, but I think they were much in the right to knock all those bubbles on the head, and I loose nothing by itt but the hopes of gain which no body can part with easier than I can ; for those books I believe will never open again, unless they can make such interest with the Governor as to be sure that they shall not be prosecuted, and in that case the bargains that have been made for the opening of the Books will be bene- ficial enough. But for my own part I think if the great bubble can be supported that's enough for the kingdom.
We are alarm'd here with the news of the spreading of the Plague in France, but as cold weather is now coming on we hope that it will secure us, otherwise we are in a great deal of danger.
[Lord Berkeley of Stratton.]
November i, 1720.
Your kind letter My Lord was a most seasonable cordial in this melancholy time, and has given me the only agreeable moments I have felt since I came hither.
The sight of you would have given me strength to bear the
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