The House Of Rothschild Part 18

3 According to Villiers, Mendizabal hoped for a "stroke of generosity" from "the Leviathan" (meaning Nathan). The diplomatic correspondence shows how little contact there was between the Rothschilds and Palmerston at this time. According to Villiers, Mendizabal hoped for a "stroke of generosity" from "the Leviathan" (meaning Nathan). The diplomatic correspondence shows how little contact there was between the Rothschilds and Palmerston at this time.

4 Lionel to Anthony and Nat, July 22. "Every person here laughs at their want of decision and at their not knowing which cause they ought to take up. Why do they not interfere regularly and send 50,000 men; they would finish the war in three months, or why do not they propose to send some French Generals?" wrote Lionel angrily. "It is disgusting to see two powers like England and France so afraid of the despotic Government"-meaning Metternich. James, Paris, to his nephews, London, Sept. 11; same to same, Dec. 25. Palmerston made a similar point in arguing against a guaranteed loan of the sort urged by Villiers: "Men would say that if money was the chief want of the Queenites a loan might set them on their legs, but that the Rothschilds will not contract to supply military skill and willingness to fight and honesty of purpose, and common sense, and without all these things the loans would only enrich a few more generals. Lionel to Anthony and Nat, July 22. "Every person here laughs at their want of decision and at their not knowing which cause they ought to take up. Why do they not interfere regularly and send 50,000 men; they would finish the war in three months, or why do not they propose to send some French Generals?" wrote Lionel angrily. "It is disgusting to see two powers like England and France so afraid of the despotic Government"-meaning Metternich. James, Paris, to his nephews, London, Sept. 11; same to same, Dec. 25. Palmerston made a similar point in arguing against a guaranteed loan of the sort urged by Villiers: "Men would say that if money was the chief want of the Queenites a loan might set them on their legs, but that the Rothschilds will not contract to supply military skill and willingness to fight and honesty of purpose, and common sense, and without all these things the loans would only enrich a few more generals.

5 Because the Banque could not directly lend money, the operation had to be done indirectly: Baring drew three-month bills to the value of 48 million francs on a syndicate composed of Hottinguer, Delessert, d'Eichthal and Perier and d'Argout, then discounted the bills; Baring then made the cash available to the Bank. Because the Banque could not directly lend money, the operation had to be done indirectly: Baring drew three-month bills to the value of 48 million francs on a syndicate composed of Hottinguer, Delessert, d'Eichthal and Perier and d'Argout, then discounted the bills; Baring then made the cash available to the Bank.

FOURTEEN Between Retrenchment and Rearmament (1840) Between Retrenchment and Rearmament (1840) 1 "On David's throne, once it is restored, there will sit that financial dynasty which all European recognises and to which all Europe submits. . . ." "On David's throne, once it is restored, there will sit that financial dynasty which all European recognises and to which all Europe submits. . . ."

2 "He talked to me with great apparent earnestness on the subject of restoring the Jews to their own land . . . The country, he said, had ample natural capabilities: all it wanted was labour, and protection for the labourer: the owners.h.i.+p of the soil might be bought from Turkey: money would be forthcoming: the Rothschilds and leading Hebrew capitalists would all help: the Turkish empire was falling into ruin: the Turkish Govt would do anything for money." "He talked to me with great apparent earnestness on the subject of restoring the Jews to their own land . . . The country, he said, had ample natural capabilities: all it wanted was labour, and protection for the labourer: the owners.h.i.+p of the soil might be bought from Turkey: money would be forthcoming: the Rothschilds and leading Hebrew capitalists would all help: the Turkish empire was falling into ruin: the Turkish Govt would do anything for money."

3 I am grateful to Professor David Landes for this point. I am grateful to Professor David Landes for this point.

4 Significantly, the Mayer de Rothschild hospital set up then was wholly controlled by the Rothschilds, and had been established under the supervision of James's son Gustave. Significantly, the Mayer de Rothschild hospital set up then was wholly controlled by the Rothschilds, and had been established under the supervision of James's son Gustave.

FIFTEEN "Satan Harnessed": Playing at Railways (1830-1846) "Satan Harnessed": Playing at Railways (1830-1846) 1 Pseudo-scientific racial definitions of Jewishness were of course primarily devised by anti-Semites in order to get at apostates or the issue of "mixed marriages." Because the Rothschilds remained Jewish in the religious sense, they could be attacked in traditional terms too. Pseudo-scientific racial definitions of Jewishness were of course primarily devised by anti-Semites in order to get at apostates or the issue of "mixed marriages." Because the Rothschilds remained Jewish in the religious sense, they could be attacked in traditional terms too.

2 The Austrian government's inertia is well ill.u.s.trated by the failure of a scheme to raze the city walls to ease the development of traffic between the centre and the suburbs. The Austrian government's inertia is well ill.u.s.trated by the failure of a scheme to raze the city walls to ease the development of traffic between the centre and the suburbs.

3 As in England, the first French railways strictly speaking were built to transport coal in mining areas: the Saint-Etienne line built in the early 1830s was the a.n.a.logue of the Stockton-Darlington line built a decade previously. But the development of the railway network proper-in the sense of a service for both freight and pa.s.sengers, and reliant on steam locomotives rather than horses-should be dated from the construction of the Paris-Saint-Germain line. As in England, the first French railways strictly speaking were built to transport coal in mining areas: the Saint-Etienne line built in the early 1830s was the a.n.a.logue of the Stockton-Darlington line built a decade previously. But the development of the railway network proper-in the sense of a service for both freight and pa.s.sengers, and reliant on steam locomotives rather than horses-should be dated from the construction of the Paris-Saint-Germain line.

4 The Rive Droite cost 16.8 million francs to build compared with a projected cost of 11 million, though it was significantly cheaper than the Rive Gauche. The Rive Droite cost 16.8 million francs to build compared with a projected cost of 11 million, though it was significantly cheaper than the Rive Gauche.

5 Although it seems unlikely that this pamphlet was authorised, Anselm later stated that the "vulgar abuse" directed at James had "emanated princ.i.p.ally from a despicable person, to whom our Paris House had quite rightly refused a loan." Although it seems unlikely that this pamphlet was authorised, Anselm later stated that the "vulgar abuse" directed at James had "emanated princ.i.p.ally from a despicable person, to whom our Paris House had quite rightly refused a loan."

6 This was essentially a development of his allegations that James had bribed politicians and the press to secure the Nord concession, and a more general attack on the financing of the railways. This was essentially a development of his allegations that James had bribed politicians and the press to secure the Nord concession, and a more general attack on the financing of the railways.

7 Naturally, their mother interpreted their survival as "providential." According to one account, however, Evelina and her unborn son died as a result of another railway crash two years later. Naturally, their mother interpreted their survival as "providential." According to one account, however, Evelina and her unborn son died as a result of another railway crash two years later.

SIXTEEN 1848 1848.

1 Figures for length of line constructed and investment show that it was not until 1851 that the trough was reached, four years after the financial crisis: there was, to use an apposite metaphor, a "runaway train" effect. Figures for length of line constructed and investment show that it was not until 1851 that the trough was reached, four years after the financial crisis: there was, to use an apposite metaphor, a "runaway train" effect.

2 When Nat saw Adolph after the revolution, he found him "quite an altered man, he has become the steadiest fellow ever seen, he neither smokes nor s.h.a.gs nor dances." When Nat saw Adolph after the revolution, he found him "quite an altered man, he has become the steadiest fellow ever seen, he neither smokes nor s.h.a.gs nor dances."

3 According to the republican leader Garnier-Pages, the attack on Suresnes was instigated by a local poultry merchant, Louis Frazier. The crowd pillaged the pheasant pens and the stables, stole horses and "with hatchets, iron bars and clubs they laid waste furniture, mirrors, and pictures." Those convicted were sentenced to between five and twenty years in prison. According to the republican leader Garnier-Pages, the attack on Suresnes was instigated by a local poultry merchant, Louis Frazier. The crowd pillaged the pheasant pens and the stables, stole horses and "with hatchets, iron bars and clubs they laid waste furniture, mirrors, and pictures." Those convicted were sentenced to between five and twenty years in prison.

4 Both Schleswig and Holstein were formally under Danish suzerainty, the former guaranteed by Britain, Russia and France under a treaty of 1720. However, the Salic law of succession applied in the duchies but not in Denmark, so that the failure of the Danish male line appeared to call the future of the duchies into question. The German claim was primarily an ethnic one. Holstein was already part of the German Confederation; the southern part of Schleswig was linguistically German. The Danes forced the issue by incorporating Schleswig into Denmark on March 21. The Confederation Diet in Frankfurt, encouraged by the nationalist pre-parliament, responded by sending a Prussian army to Schleswig. To the dismay of the nationalists in Frankfurt, on August 26 the Prussians bowed to British and Russian pressure and accepted an armistice which established a joint Danish-Prussian administration in the duchies. Both Schleswig and Holstein were formally under Danish suzerainty, the former guaranteed by Britain, Russia and France under a treaty of 1720. However, the Salic law of succession applied in the duchies but not in Denmark, so that the failure of the Danish male line appeared to call the future of the duchies into question. The German claim was primarily an ethnic one. Holstein was already part of the German Confederation; the southern part of Schleswig was linguistically German. The Danes forced the issue by incorporating Schleswig into Denmark on March 21. The Confederation Diet in Frankfurt, encouraged by the nationalist pre-parliament, responded by sending a Prussian army to Schleswig. To the dismay of the nationalists in Frankfurt, on August 26 the Prussians bowed to British and Russian pressure and accepted an armistice which established a joint Danish-Prussian administration in the duchies.

5 The political anxieties of Albert's uncle, King Leopold of the Belgians, were such that he deposited 5 million francs with the Rothschilds as a contingency fund in the event of his losing his throne. The political anxieties of Albert's uncle, King Leopold of the Belgians, were such that he deposited 5 million francs with the Rothschilds as a contingency fund in the event of his losing his throne.

6 James attempted to mollify Cavour by sending his agent Landauer to offer him "as many Rentes James attempted to mollify Cavour by sending his agent Landauer to offer him "as many Rentes au prix courant au prix courant as I wanted." Cavour refused, "but it gave me some idea of the way business is done in most of the European Cabinets." as I wanted." Cavour refused, "but it gave me some idea of the way business is done in most of the European Cabinets."