oaned to
different European Monarchies over $400,000,000. When it is considered
that this was but one division of their business, something of an idea
of its magnitude can be imagined. An amusing story is told of Nathan
which will be of interest to some of our readers, and enable them to see
how fertile was his mind in emergencies.

Anselm, the brother at Frankfort, drew on Nathan, of London, for a large
amount, and the bill was presented to the Bank of England to be
discounted. The bank officials refused, saying, "We do not discount
bills drawn on private persons; we recognize only our own paper."
"Private persons!" exclaimed Nathan Rothschild when the interview was
reported to him, "I will show them what kind of private persons we are."
Three weeks afterwards, Nathan Rothschild,--who had employed the
interval in collecting all the five-pound notes he could buy on the
continent, or in England--presented himself at the bank on the opening
of the office. He drew from his pocket-book a five-pound note, and they
counted him out in exchange five gold sovereigns, at the same time
looking quite astonished that the Baron Rothschild should have
personally troubled himself for such a trifle. The Baron examined the
pieces one by one, and having put them in a little canvas bag, proceeded
to draw out another five-pound note, then another, and another and so
on. He never put the pieces of gold into the bag without scrupulously
examining them, in some instances weighing in his balance, as, he said,
"the law gave him the right to do." The first pocket-book being emptied
and the first bag full of coins, he passed them to his clerk, and
received a second, and thus continued to the closing of the bank. The
Baron had employed seven hours to exchange twenty-one thousand pounds.
But as he also had nine employes of his house engaged in the same
manner, it resulted that the house of Rothschild had drawn over
$1,000,000 from the bank. He had drawn gold exclusively, and so occupied
the bank employes that no one else could do any business.

The bankers the first day were very much amused at "This display of
eccentricity." They, however, laughed less the next day when they beheld
Rothschild on hand early, flanked by his nine clerks.

They laughed no longer when they heard the irate banker say, "These
gentlemen refused to pay my bills; I have sworn not to keep theirs. They
can pay at their leisure; only I hereby notify them that I have enough
t