“By the way is there not a man there, a kind of under-fellow in something—­agent, I believe—­some time appointed, named M’Snitchy, or M’Smatchey, M’Clutchy, or some such euphonious appellative?  Somebody, old Deaker I think, once mentioned him to me in strong terms, and said he might become capable of being useful; and you know, Hickman, as well as I do, that every property circumstanced as mine is, requires a useful fellow of that particular description.  For instance, I dare say, there are certain proceedings connected with your duty to which you have no great inclination, and, under these circumstances, would it not be prudent at least to resort to the agency of somebody like this M’Clutchy; a fellow not overburthened with too strong a perception of the necessary pressure.  But the truth is, if I proceed in this manner, your humanity, as the cant goes, will take the alarm; you will say that my residence abroad has not improved my principles; and that I am rather strongly tainted with club morality, and the ethics of the gaming, house.  So would you, perhaps, if you breathed my atmosphere, and were exposed to my temptations.  But now I am preaching, and not to the right purpose either; so as I said before, I say again—­money, money, money.

“I am, my dear Hickman,
“Thy friend in distress,
“Cumber.”

Henry Hickman, Esq., to the Right Honorable Lord Viscount Cumber:—­

Primrose Hill, April 18—­

“My Lord: 

“I have had the honor of receiving both your communications, and have read them, especially that of the first instant, with great pain.  I need not tell you, that I have been your father’s friend—­that I have been, and still am your friend, and as such, from my age and anxiety for your lordship’s welfare and reputation, I must take the liberty of one who has both sincerely at heart, to write to you in terms which a mere agent could not with propriety use.  As this letter, therefore, is written for your own eye only, you will be good enough to remember that in everything severe and home-spoken in it, the friend, and not the agent speaks—­at the same time, I must admit, that it is from the knowledge gained as an agent that I remonstrate as a friend.

“It is now beyond a doubt, my Lord, that your position is one surrounded with difficulties scarcely to be surmounted, unless by measures which I, as an honest man, cannot permit myself to adopt.  So long as the course of life, which it has pleased your lordship’s better taste and judgment to pursue, did not bring within the compass of my duties as your agent, the exhibition of principles at variance with humanity and justice, so long did I fulfil those duties with all the ability and zeal for your just interests which I could exert.  But now I perceive, that you have driven me to that line beyond which I cannot put my foot, without dishonor to myself.  I have been the agent of your property, my Lord, but I shall never become the instrument of your vices; and believe