Some of these companies took large mansions and printed their advertisements in gilded letters.

Others, less ostentatious, were content with ink, and met at coffeehouses in the neighbourhood of the Royal Exchange.

Jonathan's and Garraway's were in a constant ferment with brokers, buyers, sellers, meetings of directors, meetings of proprietors.

Time bargains soon came into fashion.

Extensive combinations were formed, and monstrous fables were circulated, for the purpose of raising or depressing the price of shares.