'Xenos, who had been established in England since the late 1840's, developed a very successful shipping agency, but in extending his interests he ran into trouble, eventually ending in bankruptcy in 1876. Depredations is an apologia/account of his business affairs, consisting mainly of the history of the Greek & Oriental Steam Navigation Company. Xenos provides us with an interesting glimpse into the working of Greek businesses in London' (Blackmer).

The failure of the banking house of Overend Gurney in May 1866 sent shockwaves through the financial system of the day. Ten years earlier, at the time of the death of the bank's Chairman, Samuel Gurney (known as the bankers' banker), deposits of £8,000,000 were recorded, and yet at the time of the house's failure its liabilities were listed at £11,000,000. Overend Gurney requested the assistance of the Bank of England, a private bank at the time, but it was refused and payments were suspended.

First edition. 8vo, viii, 377pp., original purple cloth gilt, rather rubbed, front free end paper torn.

Blackmer 1851.