Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Spiritualism, Commerce

    A response to the financial crisis of May 1866 caused by the failure of the long-established banking house of Overend, Gurney, and Co. Begins by asking Benjamin Coleman of the 'Stock Exchange, / And Spiritual Magazine' several questions about the alleged powers of 'Spirits', and then wonders if the spirits that 'attend' Coleman's steps would lend 'A helping spirit-hand' and 'inform us who conspired / Against the Banks, to sink the Shares' and to 'name the Bears'. Suggests that if one of them were 'an honest ghost' it would 'unmask the blackguard lot' and make 'The tables turn on that vile gang'.