The American Jew as Patriot, Soldier and Citizen

by Simon Wolf

Through the friends who were influential in his behalf at court, his ships were fitted out at the cost of the government, and this gave him further opportunity to enlarge his business connections. Nor was he ungrateful for these privileges and for the consideration shown him by his royal patron. Thus we hear of remarkable exploits undertaken in behalf of his country. In the wars between England and France for the possession of Canada, he displayed extraordinary activity. In order to expedite matters, he fitted out ships to Canada, although the insurance on the cargo, because of the war then pending, was most exorbitant. If his freight vessels were captured by the armed cruisers of the enemy, he built and replenished new ones, without caring for losses thus incurred for France. In 1748, he organized the society of Canada, under the auspices of the government, in order to test the possibilities of the land, and thereby again widened the sphere of his mercantile activity. Important missions were entrusted to him. His ships carried valuable cargo (presumably military ammunition, etc.), always at the expense of the firm. He even erected magazines in Quebec. Later on the government defrayed these costs, but David Gradis et fils had no little share in the success of these projects.

After his father's death in 1751, Abraham Gradis' financial interests were still more extended. To give an idea of the scope of his commercial activity we will cast a momentary glance into the private accounts of the firm. In 1758, the commerce of the house with the French colonies alone, amounted to 2,369,326 francs. In the following year, the firm received the commission to forward 4500 tons of goods and ammunition for the French troops in Canada. Twelve ships, among them eight of his own were called into service for the purpose. From 1759 to 1763, when Canada ceased to be a French possession, the export trade of the firm of Gradis was worth nine million francs. These merchant vessels, on account of the war, had to be manned by a goodly company of soldiers, who had frequent occasion to defend themselves from attacks on the sea, and saved quite often the honor of their flag by their fearlessness and bravery.

During the struggle between England and France for the occupation of Canada, the house of Gradis dispatched thither many heavily laden ships at the order and expense of the French Government, which was their debtor to the amount of several millions on more than one occasion. Of course these obligations could not be liquidated for some time. Gradis & Co.'s drafts were not promptly paid, for France was impoverished by the American wars and had no means at her disposal. Although these noble financiers suffered heavy losses from the capture and detention of richly cargoed vessels sent out in the name of France, they did not lose faith and preserved their balance with a skill and energy which is remarkable. Far from fearing to sacrifice too much for the fatherland, they strove more and more to merit the good will and esteem of the king and the aristocracy. It was indeed a work of charity and patriotism on their part to ransom French captives.[110] Abraham Gradis, we are told, authorized an influential business friend in London, to supply the captains and commanders held as prisoners in England with everything necessary to ease and comfort their condition.[111]

He more than once was compelled to appeal to the government for the necessary funds due him, in order to carry on his trade with the colonies, which was increasing in dimensions every year. The road to the audience-chamber of the King was not always clear to even so influential a personage as Abraham Gradis. On one occasion, being hard pressed for money to fill a large order received from the West Indies, he presented his claim to Minister Berryer—well known for his harsh and imperious demeanor. The latter, hesitating to comply, Gradis assured him that unless his demands were soon satisfied he would be prevented from accomplishing his duties. Whereupon the stern minister cuttingly replied: "That will not be such a great misfortune; you merchants are accustomed to such things; in fact you become rich through them!" Abraham Gradis straightened himself up at this insult, and looking steadily at the great man, said: "The name of Gradis, better known in four quarters of the globe than that of the Minister of France, is free from dishonor. No taint of any kind covers its escutcheon!" With this he urged the minister with even greater persistence to render him satisfaction by appealing to the King in his behalf. Berryer, unused to such show of courage and firmness, could not but comply with his request, and Gradis' claims were duly honored.

It was no conceit that prompted his reply to the haughty representative of King Louis XV. His sovereign gave frequent sign of his favor and gratitude for the diplomatic skill and rare tact as well as noble devotion with which Gradis managed the business affairs of the empire in these revolutionary days. The minister once wrote in the following strain to Gradis & Co.: "I considered it my duty to remind his Majesty that your conduct was both unselfish and zealous for the welfare and services of the state on all occasions and under all circumstances. His Majesty commissions me to express to you his utmost satisfaction and recognition."

As a reward for his untiring interest in behalf of the French nation, exceptional privileges were granted to him (Abraham Gradis), and his family in the colonies. The right of owning real estate and civil equality in common with the other citizens of France on the Island of Martinique, were accorded to him in 1779. It is interesting to note that he was associated with the Superior of the Jesuit Missionaries in Martinique—the famous pater Lavalette, who had charge of the largest and most influential congregation there, and who conducted an immense business with foreign countries. Gradis once advanced him 400,000 francs. He often received him in his own home socially, and was charmed by the personal merits of the enterprising Jesuit. This did not prevent Gradis—a shrewd and careful merchant who knew just how much to risk—from severing all connections with him, for he rather early suspected the utter collapse of Lavalette's colossal undertakings, and thus avoided the bankruptcy which would inevitably have resulted, had he, like other careless firms, allowed himself to be drawn into the vortex of speculation. Similar causes of self-preservation prompted him to withdraw from further commercial relations with the State, as another financial crisis warned him of the outbreak of the Revolution.

Much more of interest might be told of Abraham Gradis and other members of the same stock. Thus for instance of his acts of kindness during the famine in the French Colonies, at which time he sent seventeen ships laden with nourishment and merchandise for the relief of the suffering—a fact used by the Abbé Gregoire as a plea and an argument in favor of the emancipation of the Jews.

A rebellion in St. Domingo and in Martinique where the Gradis family (among them David II, Benjamin, Moses Gradis, etc.), owned extensive territory, together with the losses in the mother country during the French Revolution, caused the downfall of this princely house. Their possessions in St. Domingo, valued at three million francs, were utterly ruined. The slaves in their employ were (unknown to them) misused by their representative, hence the "habitation," as his property was called, began to yield but sad results. The younger brother, Moses, saved at least a meagre portion of the vast wealth once commanded by the house of Gradis, by visiting the island and caring for the negroes, who, in gratitude for his kind treatment of them—eulogized by the abolitionist Schoelcher—strove to make good their former losses. The family of Gradis is immortalized in the history of the commerce of two continents. "Their works are their monuments."