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LIFE OF OOBDEN. [oma:

1828. that we called for a directory at the hotel, and turned to the
&r. 24. lish of calico-printers, theirs being the business with whick
we were acquainted, and they being the people from whon
we felt confident we could obtain credit. And why
Because we knew we should be able to satisfy them that we
had advantages from our large connexions, our knowledgr
of the best branch of the business in London, and our supe
rior taste in design, which would ensure success. We intro
duced ourselves to Fort Brothers and Co., a rich house, anc
we told our tale, honestly concealing nothing. In less thar
two years from 1830 we owed them forty thousand pounds fo!
goods which they had sent to us in Watling Street, upon nt
other security than our characters and knowledge of ou
business. I frequently talked with them in later times upor
the great confidence they showed in men who avowed 1ha!
they were not possessed of 2001. each. Their answer was
that they would always prefer to trust young men with
connexions and with a knowledge of their trade, if they
knew them to possess character and ability, to those whe
started with capital without these advantages, and that they
had acted on this principle successfully in all parts of the
world.” *
This is from a letter written to express Cobden’s firm:
belief in the general circumstance, “ that it is the character.
experience, and connexions of the man wanting credit, his
knowledge of his business, and opportunities of making
it available in the struggle of life, that weigh with the
shrewd capitalist far more than the actual command of #
few thousands more or less of money in hand.” We may
find reason to think that Cobden’s temperament perhaps
inclined him to push this excellent truth somewhat too far
Meanwhile, the sun of kindly hope shone. The situation
is familiar to all who have had their own way to make frox
4 Letter to Mr. W. 8. Lindsay, March 24, 1856,