Meanings of mercantile speculation in English

His old inclination had changed its name; it was ' mercantile speculation;' but the substance remained the same.

When once this tariff of blood was correctly made out, Carthage began a war as a mercantile speculation.

There will be but one purchaser in the kingdom, and the hazard of his refusal will damp every mercantile speculation.

Yet, in the fluctuations of mercantile speculation, there is something captivating to the adventurer, even independent of the hope of gain.

The ship-owners are not, as at Djidda, merchants, but merely carriers; yet they always invest their profits in some little mercantile speculation.

Strict frugality and mercantile speculation were rooted in the Roman character too deeply not to find their thorough reflection in its divine counterpart.

In fact, if government had resolved itself into mere mercantile speculation, never would any state have solved the problem more brilliantly than Carthage.

The issue was encouraging, even, if the voyage-asa mercantile speculation-provednot so brilliant as the previous enterprises of Sir Francis had been.

Or, if you think the word "most palpable" too strong, let us put another, such as "the commonest" or "the most mercantile speculation," etc.

Every one was anxious to realize and withdraw from business, and large sums embarked in mercantile speculations became endangered.

(Whether we consider this as a political or a mercantile speculation it is not a little extraordinary and ridiculous).