Whatever their scruples, the conspiracy thrived: pro-resumption Whigs were elected in both Maryland and Pennsylvania, and London bankers again received payments from both states.14 Peabody, never one to forget an injury, excluded the most persistent debtors, Florida and Mississippi, from his later philanthropies. Even altruism had its limits.
Scruple n. an uneasy feeling arising from conscience or principle that tneds to hinder action 顾忌
Resumption n. the act or an instance of resuming 恢复
尽管有各种顾忌，他们的密谋终究奏效了：赞成偿还债务的辉格党党员在马里兰州和宾夕法尼亚州皆当选，于是伦敦的银行家重新收到了两个州的还款。(14)皮博迪从来不会忘记他受到的伤害，在后来的慈善活动中，最顽固的债务人——佛罗里达州和密西西比州——被排斥在外。由此看来，利他主义也是有限度的。
When the depreciated state bonds Peabody had bought up in the early 1840s paid interest again, he reaped a fortune. Then, as revolution swept across the Continent in 1848, American securities seemed a safe haven in comparison with Europe. And as the California gold rush and Mexican War wiped away the last vestiges of depression by the late 1840s, Peabody took new pride in his native roots. Now he fancied himself the ambassador of American culture in London and dispensed barrels full of American apples, Boston crackers, and hominy grits.
Reap v. to obtain as a result of effort 收获
Vestige n. a visible trace, evidence or sign of something that once existed but exits or appears no more 遗迹
Hominy grit 玉米粥粉
皮博迪在19世纪40年代早期买的贬值的州政府债券再次付息，这使他发了一笔大财。后来，当1848年革命的火焰燃遍整个欧洲大陆的时候，与欧洲证券相比，美国证券非常安全。19世纪40年代末，加利福尼亚的淘金热和墨西哥战争抹去了萧条的最后痕迹。此时，皮博迪重新为自己的出生地而自豪。他自视为美国驻伦敦的文化大使，散发一桶桶来自美国的苹果、波士顿饼干及玉米粥粉。
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