"Not that I am aware of."
"Have you ever heard that the firm transacted business with the Orient?"
"Certainly, all over the world."
"And do you live in Cavendish Square?"
"No, the offices are there. Our house is in Piccadilly."
"Thank you, Mademoiselle. Allow me to listen to the next. This old man's correspondence is very interesting."
The King dictated, without stopping, a long report of the shares of his band. This curious document was addressed to M. Georges Micrommati, Officer of Ordinance, at the Palaces, that he might read it in the General Assembly to those interested.
"Account rendered of the operations of the National Company by the King of the Mountains.
Receipts and Expenditures, 1855-56.
Camp of the King, April 30, '56.
Sirs:
The agent whom you have honored with your confidence, to-day, for the fourteenth time, submits for your approval the report of the year's transactions. Since the day when the constitutional act of our society was signed in the office of Master Tsappas, Royal Notary of Athens, never has our enterprise encountered more obstacles, never has the progress of our labors been embarrassed by more serious difficulties. It is in the presence of a strange occupation, under the eyes of two armies, if not hostile, at least ill-disposed, that the regular practice of an eminently national institution must be carried on. Piraeus is occupied by the military; the Turkish frontier is watched with a zealousness without precedent in history, and this restricts our activity to a very narrow circle, and confines our zeal to impassable limits. Within these narrow boundaries, our resources are still more reduced by the general penury, the scarcity of money, and the small crops. The olive trees have not yielded as they promised; the cereal harvests have been small, and the vines are not yet rid of the oïdium. In these circumstances it has been difficult to profit by the tolerance of the authorities and the kindness of a friendly government. Our enterprise is so identified with the interests of the country, that it can flourish only in the general prosperity, and so repulse the counterstrokes of all public calamities; for from those who have nothing, one can take nothing, or little of anything.
The strangers traveling in this country, whose curiosity is so useful to the kingdom and to us, have become rare. English tourists, who, formerly, composed an important branch of our revenue, are totally lacking. Two young Americans, stopped upon the road to Pentelicus, lost us their ransom. The French and English papers had inspired them with a spirit of defiance, and they escaped from our hands, at a time when their capture would have been most useful.
And now, gentlemen, this is our record, a report of our society which has resisted the fatal crisis better than agriculture, industries and commerce. Your funds, confided to my keeping, have been made profitable, not as much so as I could wish, but better than any one could hope for. I will say no more; I leave the figures to speak for themselves. Arithmetic is more eloquent than Demosthenes.
The society capital, limited at first to the modest sum of 50,000 francs, has increased to 120,000 by three successive issuings of bonds of 500 francs.
Our gross receipts, from May 1, 1855, to April 30, 1856, are 261,482 francs.
Expenses as follows:
Tithes paid to churches and monasteries 26,148 Interest on capital of the legal tax of 10 per cent per 100 12,000 ——— 38,148 Report.
Pay and board for 80 men at 650 francs per capita 52,000 Material, arms, etc. 7,056 Repairing the road to Thebes, which had become impassable and where there were no travelers to hold up 2,540 Expense of watching the highways 5,835 Rent for office 3 Subsidizing some journalists 11,900 Rewards to various employes of the judicial and administrative orders 18,000 ——— Total 135,482 If this sum is deducted from the gross receipts, there are left, net 126,000
According to the statutes, the above is apportioned as follows:
Reserve funds in the Bank of Athens 6,000 Share belonging to Agent 40,000 Share-holders' part
333 francs, 33 c. per share.80,000 Add to the 333 francs, 33 c., 50 francs interest and 25 francs in reserve funds, and you will have a total of 408 francs, 33 c. per share. Your money is then drawing nearly 82 per cent.
Such are the results, gentlemen, of the last campaign. Judge what the future will be, when our country and our operations shall be free from the foreign power which presses so heavily."
| Tithes paid to churches and monasteries | 26,148 |
| Interest on capital of the legal tax of 10 per cent per 100 | 12,000 |
| ——— | |
| 38,148 |
| Pay and board for 80 men at 650 francs per capita | 52,000 |
| Material, arms, etc. | 7,056 |
| Repairing the road to Thebes, which had become impassable and where there were no travelers to hold up | 2,540 |
| Expense of watching the highways | 5,835 |
| Rent for office | 3 |
| Subsidizing some journalists | 11,900 |
| Rewards to various employes of the judicial and administrative orders | 18,000 |
| ——— | |
| Total | 135,482 |