Now Wall Street, during the years that General Jackson was disturbing the financial system by his insensate fury against the United States Bank, was to journalism what the Army of the Potomac was in the year 1864.  The crash of 1837 was full two years in coming on, during which the money market was always deranged, and moneyed men were anxious and puzzled.  The public mind, too, was gradually drawn to the subject, until Wall Street was the point upon which all eyes were fixed.  The editor of the Herald was the first American journalist to avail himself of this state of things.  It occurred to him, when his paper had been five weeks in existence, to give a little account every day of the state of affairs in Wall Street,—­the fluctuations of the money market and their causes,—­the feeling and gossip of the street.  He introduced this feature at the moment when General Jackson’s embroilment with the French Chambers was at its height, and when the return of the American Minister was hourly expected.  Some of our readers may be curious to see the first “money article” ever published in the United States.  It was as follows:—­

     “COMMERCIAL.

“Stocks yesterday maintained their prices during the session of the Board, several going up.  Utica went up 2 per cent; the others stationary.  Large quantities were sold.  After the Board adjourned and the news from France was talked over, the fancy stocks generally went down 1 to 1-1/2 per cent; other stocks quite firm.  A rally was made by the bulls in the evening, under the trees, but it did not succeed.  There will be a great fight in the Board to-day.  The good people up town are anxious to know what the brokers think of Mr. Livingston.  We shall find out, and let them know.

“The cotton and flour market rallied a little.  The rise of cotton in Liverpool drove it up here a cent or so.  The last shippers will make 2-1/2 per cent.  Many are endeavoring to produce a belief that there will be a war.  If the impression prevails, naval stores will go up a good deal.  Every eye is outstretched for the Constitution.  Hudson, of the Merchants’ News Room, says he will hoist out the first flag.  Gilpin, of the Exchange News Room, says he will have her name down in his Room one hour before his competitor.  The latter claims having beat Hudson yesterday by an hour and ten minutes in chronicling the England.”—­Herald, June 13, 1835.

This was his first attempt.  The money article constantly lengthened and increased in importance.  It won for the little paper a kind of footing in brokers’ offices and bank parlors, and provided many respectable persons with an excuse for buying it.