http://www.trivia-library.com/c/excesses-of-the-rich-and-wealthy-bradley-martin-hall.htm

Before sailing to England, they launched a defense in the society pages:

The soiree was actually about putting money in circulation and helping the poor, said they.

I prefer to see them as misunderstood capitalist visionaries.

"When the abyss stares at me, it wets its pants." Brian Hopkins