The Project Gutenberg EBook of Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions
and the Madness of Crowds, by Charles Mackay

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Title: Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds

Author: Charles Mackay

Release Date: February 5, 2008 [EBook #24518]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EXTRAORDINARY POPULAR DELUSIONS ***

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[Illustration: THE MISSISSIPPI SCHEME: GARDENS OF THE HOTEL DE
SOISSONS, 1720.]

MEMOIRS

OF

EXTRAORDINARY POPULAR DELUSIONS.

VOLUME I.

[Illustration: THE BUBBLERS' ARMS--PROSPERITY.]

LONDON:

OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL ILLUSTRATED LIBRARY,

227 STRAND.

1852.

MEMOIRS

OF

EXTRAORDINARY POPULAR DELUSIONS

AND THE

MADNESS OF CROWDS.

BY CHARLES MACKAY, LL.D.

AUTHOR OF "EGERIA," "THE SALAMANDRINE," ETC.

ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS.

VOL. I.

N'en deplaise a ces fous nommes sages de Grece,
En ce monde il n'est point de parfaite sagesse;
Tous les hommes sont fous, et malgre tous leurs soins
Ne different entre eux que du plus ou du moins.
BOILEAU.

LONDON:

OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL ILLUSTRATED LIBRARY,

227 STRAND.

1852.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY ROBSON, LEVEY, AND FRANKLYN,

Great New Street, Fetter Lane.

CONTENTS.

THE MISSISSIPPI SCHEME.

John Law; his birth and youthful career--Duel between Law and
Wilson--Law's escape from the King's Bench--The "Land-bank"--Law's
gambling propensities on the continent, and acquaintance with the Duke
of Orleans--State of France after the reign of Louis XIV.--Paper money
instituted in that country by Law--Enthusiasm of the French people at
the Mississippi Scheme--Marshal Villars--Stratagems employed and
bribes given for an interview with Law--Great fluctuations in
Mississippi stock--Dreadful murders--Law created comptroller-general
of finances--Great sale for all kinds of ornaments in Paris--Financial
difficulties commence--Men sent out to work the mines