[D3] "Girard Bank-Grand Hoax," Spirit of the Times, Jan. 28, 1842

GIRARD BANK—GRAND HOAX.—Passing down Chestnut street yesterday morning a few minutes previous to nine o'clock, we observed quite a crowd standing on the steps of the United States Bank, while a group were clustered in the neighborhood of the door.

We ascended the steps of marble and took a peep of what was going on.

"This is certainly very creditable," observed a sober looking Quaker, to those who stood round him.  "This is certainly very creditable—the United States Bank will redeem the notes of the Girard Bank, on Friday morning next—that is the manner in which Friend Alexander, of the Chronicle, had it posted on his board yesterday.  Verily it is a very creditable thing on the part of the Bank—it is."

"I keep a grocery," said a person by the side of the Quaker—"I keep a grocery, and I find that Girard Bank notes don't go down at all.  Now what I want to know is this—how much better will U. S. Bank notes pass?"

"Verily, friend, I never thought of that.  But I understand friend Nicholas Biddle, with the intention of relieving friend Lewis, has with praiseworthy generosity made over all the plate which he received from the bank some time since.  That is very creditable."

"Very."

"Look here, the doors open.  Now for it."

With exclamations of eagerness and haste, the crowd rushed in the doorway, passed through the entry, and in a moment the door leading into the hall was opened, and the folks rushed to the counter, with the intention of getting their notes changed for U. S. coins.

"There ain't no one here!  Well this is a ge—"

"Hello you clerks—somebody in shop—H-e-l-l-o!"

"Knock at the counter my friend—inform the good folks in a tone of voice somewhat vociferous that we are all waiting for our money—"

"Hurrah, hee you fellers—hello—somebody—ain't there nobody at home—nobody—well this is rich!"

Rich it was indeed.  The folks stamped, hallooed, and knocked, but still nobody came, neither clerk nor cashier appeared, and the people flocked out of the bank with the opinion that they had all been pretty considerably humbugged.