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The Rothschild Dynasty 17<br />

CHAPTER 4<br />

THE WALLS OFJERICO [FRANKFURT] COME TUMBLING<br />

DOWN<br />

Earlier I referred to <strong>the</strong> fact that only five hundred Jewish<br />

families were allowed to live in Frankfurt Germany. The manner<br />

in which Mayer Amschel handled <strong>the</strong> problem was to become his<br />

trademark. On <strong>the</strong> birth of Napoleon's son, Grand Duke Dalberg<br />

of Frankfurt wanted to go to Paris and pay his respects, but none<br />

of <strong>the</strong> banks would lend him <strong>the</strong> money to make <strong>the</strong> trip.<br />

Old Amschel however, saw <strong>the</strong> possibilities of putting<br />

Dalberg in his debt, and lent him eighty thousand gulden at five<br />

percent. No pressure was put on <strong>the</strong> Grand Duke to repay <strong>the</strong> loan<br />

as long as <strong>the</strong> interest was paid, but at <strong>the</strong> same time, <strong>the</strong>re was<br />

no favor asked by <strong>the</strong> Rothschilds that <strong>the</strong> Grand Duke could or<br />

did refuse.<br />

Amschel and his family were engaged in extensive<br />

smuggling operations in defiance of <strong>the</strong> French boycott of<br />

England out of which <strong>the</strong> Rothschilds made a great deal of<br />

money. Suspicion fell on Amschel, and a raid was set for May<br />

1809.<br />

Dalberg, who never missed a chance to borrow money<br />

from Amschel at lenient rates, tipped him off about <strong>the</strong> pending<br />

raid through his executive Commissioner of Police, von Eitzlein.<br />

Frantic activity placed contraband and incriminating documents<br />

with reliable friends, so that when

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