348 City Sketches. 



puffing borne in mind, it cannot surely be wondered at that our new 

 partners found that they had obtained as pretty a connexion in so 

 short a space of time as could be, by moderate and sensible people 

 like Storks and Hookem, desired. This was their mode of doing busi- 

 ness, although singular, to be reflected upon without bestowing upon 

 it a well-deserved commendation. Such was the briskness of trade, or 

 such the assiduity and attention to business of the partners, that the 

 goods which were purchased, were sold the instant they entered the 

 warehouse; and although they were delivered at the front door, they 

 invariably made their exit from the private gateway at the back of the 

 premises with all the despatch consistent with caution; Mr. Storks 

 being perfectly well aware that so active was competition in the 

 London market, that were any of his neighbours in the same line to 

 observe the address of his purchasers on the goods, his connexion 

 would have been soon undermined and, perhaps, destroyed. 



It may have been a fortnight after Messrs. Storks and Hookem had 

 entered into copartnership, that Mr. Downey, accompanied by his 

 friend Mr. Brown, called upon those gentlemen, and under the plea 

 of particular business was admitted to a private interview. It will 

 not be amiss that we tender a short notice of Mr. Brown. 



Mr. Dunn Brown was a young gentleman who had been all his life 

 until within the last year under the guardianship of his uncle, the 

 late Mr. Softun, of Well Street. Mr. Dunn Brown had never been in 

 the habit of attending to any thing in this life except his own comforts, 

 and he was almost too lazy to do even this. It is sometimes a bad thing 

 when fathers happen to die and leave their sons small independences, 

 which enable them to keep moving in the pecuniary sense, without 

 making any other movement whatever. Mr. Brown, accordingly, 

 although possessed of very respectable talents, had hidden his light 

 under a bushel, or we might more properly say, under a chaldron of 

 indolence. And yet, in one or two matters he was not without in- 

 dustry. 



He slept with uncommon energy and perseverance, he was impatient 

 of the sluggish inactivity of the cook when she left him waiting for 

 his dinner, and he disposed of that, and indeed of his other repasts, 

 with no ordinary vigour. It had, however, so frequently been urged 

 upon him by his friend that he should turn his attention to business 

 that Mr. Brown felt himself at length virtually compelled to look about 

 him, or to prevail upon his acquaintance to look about for him, and 

 leave his employment of Mr. Downey as an agent, when exertions 

 promised so auspicious a termination. 



But it was not until he had solicited and obtained the best advice 

 that Mr. Brown proceeded to complete the negotiation then on foot. 

 His aunt, the widow of his late guardian, was a lady universally ac- 

 knowledged to possess an unusual share of common sense, and to her, 

 therefore, did he apply, and by her was he prepared to be determined 

 one way or the other. Mrs. Softun, when the matter was explained 

 and fully laid before her, delivered herself of the following most just 

 and sensible observation. " Why, my dear nephew, if these gentle- 

 men are upright and honourable men, I would strongly advise you to 

 become a partner in the business ; if, on the contrary, they are no 

 better than they should be, I would counsel you to have nothing to 

 do with them." 



Fortified and strengthened by so golden a rule of conduct as this, 

 Mr. Dunn Brown sought out his friend^ Downey. Why, Storks, 



