INGENUITY. 165 



In this admirable school he had re- 

 ceived his education, and had been early 

 initiated in all the art that was fre- 

 quently resorted to for the greater, 

 though, no doubt, fair remuneration of 

 the lessees. Now, to the shrewdness of 

 intellect or, perhaps, sharpness might 

 be the more proper term necessary for 

 the members of this unique frater- 

 nity, the acquirements of the betting-ring 

 or the stock-exchange were as nothing. 

 Such practice might be styled the acme 

 of human ingenuity, as exhibited within 

 the pale of the law. 



My friend from Birmingham had already 

 established his fame as a principal member 

 of this community, by imparting some- 

 thing to the Commissioners, by which 

 they could contrive to screw a little more 

 out of the pockets of the innkeepers, and 

 thereby very much increase the revenue ; for 

 this they had rewarded him with a pre- 

 sent of 1,000?. 



