Although "three removes" are said to be "as bad as a fire,"
Bianconi, after remaining about two years at Waterford, made a
third removal in 1809, to Clonmel, in the county of Tipperary.
Clonmel is the centre of a large corn trade, and is in water
communication, by the Suir, with Carrick and Waterford.
Bianconi, therefore, merely extended his connection; and still
continued his dealings with his customers in the other towns. He
made himself more proficient in the mechanical part of his
business; and aimed at being the first carver and gilder in the
trade. Besides, he had always an eye open for new business. At
that time, when the war was raging with France, gold was at a
premium. The guinea was worth about twenty-six or twenty-seven
shillings. Bianconi therefore began to buy up the hoarded-up
guineas of the peasantry. The loyalists became alarmed at his
proceedings, and began to circulate the report that Bianconi, the
foreigner, was buying up bullion to send secretly to Bonaparte!
The country people, however, parted with their guineas readily;
for they had no particular hatred of "Bony," but rather admired
him.
Bianconi's conduct was of course quite loyal in the matter; he
merely bought the guineas as a matter of business, and sold them
at a profit to the bankers.
The country people had a difficulty in pronouncing his name. His
shop was at the corner of Johnson Street, and instead of
Bianconi, he came to be called "Bian of the Corner.
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