AsregardsLaw，heforsometimeentertainedahopethatheshouldberecalledtoFrance，toaidinestablishingitscredituponafirmerbasis。ThedeathoftheRegent，in1723，whoexpiredsuddenly，ashewassittingbythefiresideconversingwithhismistress，theDuchessdePhalaris，deprivedhimofthathope，andhewasreducedtoleadhisformerlifeofgambling。Hewasmorethanonceobligedtopawnhisdiamond，thesoleremnantofhisvastwealth，butsuccessfulplaygenerallyenabledhimtoredeemit。BeingpersecutedbyhiscreditorsatRome，heproceededtoCopenhagen，wherehereceivedpermissionfromtheEnglishministrytoresideinhisnativecountry，hispardonforthemurderofMr。Wilsonhavingbeensentovertohimin1719。Hewasbroughtoverintheadmiral’sship，acircumstancewhichgaveoccasionforashortdebateintheHouseofLords。EarlConingsbycomplainedthataman，whohadrenouncedbothhiscountryandhisreligion，shouldhavebeentreatedwithsuchhonour，andexpressedhisbeliefthathispresenceinEngland，atatimewhenthepeopleweresobewilderedbythenefariouspracticesoftheSouthSeadirectors，wouldbeattendedwithnolittledanger。Hegavenoticeofamotiononthesubject；butitwasallowedtodrop，noothermemberoftheHousehavingtheslightestparticipationinhislordship’sfears。LawremainedforaboutfouryearsinEngland，andthenproceededtoVenice，wherehediedin1729，inveryembarrassedcircumstances。Thefollowingepitaphwaswrittenatthetime
“CigitcetEcossaiscelebre，Cecalculateursansegal，Qui，parlesreglesdel’algebre，AmislaFranceal’Hopital。“
Hisbrother，WilliamLaw，whohadbeenconcernedwithhimintheadministrationbothoftheBankandtheLouisianaCompany，wasimprisonedintheBastileforallegedmalversation，butnoguiltwaseverprovedagainsthim。Hewasliberatedafterfifteenmonths，andbecamethefounderofafamily，whichisstillknowninFranceunderthetitleofMarquisesofLauriston。
InthenextchapterwillbefoundanaccountofthemadnesswhichinfectedthepeopleofEnglandatthesametime，andunderverysimilarcircumstances，butwhich，thankstotheenergiesandgoodsenseofaconstitutionalgovernment，wasattendedwithresultsfarlessdisastrousthanthosewhichwereseeninFrance。
Atlengthcorruption，likeageneralflood，Diddelugeall，andavaricecreepingon，Spread，likealow-bornmist，andhidthesun。