THE TACTICS OF THE STOCK EXCHANGE. 



655 



me spalpeen enough to be after touching the dirty shares now they 

 are at a discount? I oppose the measure any how. 



Duncan Camelo (aside). This smooth-tongued Ash tree will ruin us 

 all. (Aloud) Although on a superficial view it will appear that the 

 motion of the honourable mover be founded on justice, and emanates 

 from that high sense of honour that so eminently distinguishes him, 

 nevertheless, on a more matured consideration of the matter, I feel 

 confident that as a man of business he will see that there really exists 

 no immediate necessity for the measure, particularly as, by a little 

 dexterous management, the unappropriated shares, which I allow we 

 ought to take up, may be saddled upon the public. The honourable 

 mover is but new in office. With a little more experience he will 

 entertain, I hope, juster notions of the nature of a public duty. 



Christopher O Faquin. Question, question ! 



[[Captain Ashtree's motion is put to the vote, and lost by 

 an overwhelming majority. 



Enter Mr. Doubledealer, a broker. 



Mr. Doubledealer. Gentlemen, the Stock Exchange is in a blaze- 

 Such has been the effect of the dispatch from the mine which I yes- 

 terday concocted by your orders, that the shares of the company are 

 actually at 3 per cent, premium, and looking up ! 



Omnes. Hurrah, hurrah, hillabaloo ! 



Chairman. Mr. Doubledealer, open immediately a Bull account for 

 1,000 shares on the directors' account; and, do you hear, spread a 

 report of our having struck upon a lode 100 fathoms in extent, and 

 worth 100/. per fathom. 



Broker. I fly to obey. (Exit.) 



Chairman. Yes, gentlemen., after we have rigged up the shares to 

 10 per cent, premium, I shall instruct Doubledealer to close our ac- 

 count, and to Bear us 1,000 shares ; by which means, and the false 

 reports we must industriously circulate, we shall, I have no doubt, 

 be able to bang the market down to par. and net a clear 20 per cent, 

 by the transaction. 



The O'Faquins. Bravo ! Mr. Chair ! Bravo ! Mr. Chair ! 



Dr. Camelo. Have I heard rightly, or do my ears deceive me ? 

 What ! lend ourselves to a system of robbery, fostered by false- 

 hood and delusion ! sacrifice the interests of those it is our duty to 

 protect ? Gentlemen, I want language to deprecate in the terms it 

 merits such an atrocious system of swindling. I shall oppose such a 

 measure toto ccelo; and I further suggest that the 500 unappropriated 

 shares which not many minutes ago it was proposed and negatived 

 should be taken by the directors, be now sold for the good of the 

 concern, as with the premium they will produce a sum equal to meet 

 all the engagements of the company. (Groans from the O'Faquins). 



Dr. 'Faquin (with unblushing impudence}. Sold for the good 

 of the consarn indeed ! Sure the learned doctor has taken leave 

 of his seven senses. And have we not a public duty to perform ? 

 and shall we for the credit of the company allow these shares to be 

 thrown on the market ? Och and by Jasus ! have we yet touched a 

 rap of salary? And now that we have an opportunity of making a 



