With respect to the propriety and design of the Missis sippi scheme a variety of opinions have been entertained. Some have thought, that the whole was a project devised for the purpose of monopolizing individuals, at the expense of the country. Others have thought, that it involved in it treasonable intentions against the state. Neither of these suppositions, however, is supported by any plausible argu ments. We have no right to impute evil motives, when the facts in question may with equal ease he accounted for upon the supposition of good ones. In all likelihood, those originally connected with the Mississippi business were ac tuated by the best intentions. Law's object seems to have been, to revive the interests of commerce, and to extend the trade of France beyond its former bounds. It readily oc curred to him, as it would have done to any one in his situ ation, that the grand obstacle to commercial speculation in France, was the limited nature of the exertions hitherto made. The means possessed by individuals were ineffec tual to the production of any great and lasting effects. It seemed necessary, therefore, that commercial speculation should become an object or general interest. This appear ed to. be the most effectual method by which the evil might be remedied. There is reason to think, however, that, in running from one extreme, Law and his coadjutors fell into another. Instead of applying the remedy with care and caution, they seem to have overdone the matter. They formed ideas too vast; and the plans to which these ideas gave rise were too complicated and extensive. It was de sirable that a great trading company should be established; but there was a danger, lest the machine, from its size, should become incapable of being moved. Mental ener gies arc especially requisite in order to thepromotion of some great object; but there is reason to think, that when a variety of principles, prepossessions, and views, are asso ciated together, the mental energies of individuals may be lost in the general mass. Enlightened schemes may be counteracted by the suggestions of one parsimonious inch vidual. The best concerted plan may be frustrated by a want of co-operation. Where an association is formed upon so broad a basis as that of the Mississippi, great discrimi nation in the admission of members is requisite. Such dis crimination does not appear to have been exercised by the Mississippians to a sufficient extent. It was not inquired, with what views and intentions shares in the company were sought after. A line of distinction was not drawn betwixt those who wished to be connected with the scheme from mere secular and private ends, and those who entertained enlightened ideas of national improvement. In a word, the Mississippi system presents to our view a stately fabric, but destitute of a proper foundation. In it we discover a great and enterprising mind, devising plans of political good ; while, at the same time, we discern the want of that cool and discriminating judgment, from the union of which with genius, the most beneficial effects may be expected.
The prosperous career of Law was now terminated. The rage of the populace continually increased, and he saw no prospect either of favour or of safety, if he remained any longer at Paris. Accordingly he left France, and came once more to his native country. He went by the way of Holland, passing under the name of M. du Jardin. Where ever he was known, he was received by all ranks with kind ness and respect. All were desirous to see the man who had extended his fame far and wide, and who, from an ob scure and private station, had, by the exertion of his own abilities, risen to the highest civil rank which a commoner can attain. He passed through Brussels and Venice, and went to England by the way of Bohemia, Hanover, and Denmark. At Copenhagen, he found a British squadron, in which he was safely conveyed to London. There he
took a splendid house, and was daily visited by the first ranks of people. Soon after his arrival, he heard of the con fiscation of his property in France. Conscious, however, of the rectitude of his intentions, and of the fidelity with which he had conducted himself in the different stations which he was appointed to fill, he naturally expected, that, after the fullest investigation, the balance would be found considerably in his favour. In this, his expectations were frustrated. The regent, who had always been his friend, and who did not desert him in this sad reversal of his for tunes, died suddenly on the 2c1 December, 1723. With him perished the last hopes of Law. All prospect of reco vering any part of his property became every day fainter and fainter. His official salary, which, through the regent's kindness, had hitherto been regularly transmitted to him, was discontinued. He soon became embarrassed. Suits against him were commenced both in England and in France, and he was threatened with imprisonment by his creditors. He made another attempt, through the Duke of Bourbon, prime minister of France, to recover his proper ty ; but this entirely failed. In the year 1725, he bid a final adieu to Britain, and fixed his residence at Venice. There i he died in a state of comparative indigence, on the 21st of March, 1729, in the 58th year of his age. He was buried in one of the churches of the city, where a monument is erected to his memory. The following epitaph appeal. ..A 50011 after : eccentric mind and violent temper, his conduct in some re spects was so inconsistent with the profession of his bre thren, as to induce them to disunite him from membership about the year 1717.
In the early part of his life he chose the occupation of a sailor, and thus had an opportunity of visiting many parts of the world. In 1710, he married one of his own country women, and soon after that event removed to the island of Barbadoes ; here his feelings became highly excited by the cruelty inflicted upon the and he ardently opposed the unrighteous system for many years ; but finally, seeing no prospect of success in producing any change in the con duct of the inhabitants in this respect, he removed to Penn sylvania in 1731. Here too, finding slavery existed, he renewed his efforts to abolish the practice, and lived to wit ness great improvement in the field of his benevolent la bours. He resided for many years in a cave, and subsisted upon vegetable diet; his clothing was entirely composed of tow fabric, of his own spinning; he would not eat any food, nor wear any garment, nor use any article, which was pro duced at the expense of animal life, or that was in the re motest degree the product of the labour of slaves. His physical organization was not less remarkable, than the qualities of his mind were extraordinary. He was only four feet seven inches in height, his head large in propor tion to his body, the features of his face remarkable, and boldy delineated, with a countenance grave, and benignant. He was hunch-backed, with a projecting chest, and diminu tive as his body was, his legs were so slender as to appear unequal to the office of supporting it. He wore his beard, which was long and white, and presented a figure perfectly unique. At one period of his life, he conceived it to be his duty to fast for the same length of time as the Saviour of mankind, and persisted in his notion for three weeks, but his system sunk under the plan, and with it his mental fa culties ; in this state, suitable diet was administered, and he gradually;recoverecl his usual health. In 1759, after a short illness, he died at the age of 82 years, and his body was in terred in Friends burial ground at Abington, ten miles north of Philadelphia.