stock-jobber

[Victor Steinbok]

While browsing the 1834 newspapers in connection with the US Bank
scandal (think of it as the ACA of the period, complete with claims of
unconstitutionality), I came across several references to "stock-jobber"
and "stock-jobbing". This would be quite unremarkable, as OED has both
with the range going in both directions by 50-200 years from that point.
The trouble is, there is a bit of loose change here that needs to be
accounted for. All the references, by the nature of the search, are to
public transaction--essentially federal deposits to the Bank of the
United States and their withdrawal on the orders of Andrew Jackson. 1828
Webster's--only 6 years prior--has a dual definition for "stock-jobber":

> One who speculates in the public funds for gain; one whose occupation
> is to buy and sell stocks.

The second part, complete with "contemptuous", is in the OED, but not
the first. There is no reference to "public funds" anywhere in the OED
definitions in either "stock-jobber" or "stock-jobbing".

Please let me know if these references are worth pursuing and I will
track them down again. Otherwise, I shall assume the issue to be too
minor and unworthy of attention.

     VS-)

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