st--so is
every man in this Company honest; but we must be prudent as well. We
have five millions of capital on our books, as you see--five _bona fide_
millions of _bona fide_ sovereigns paid up, sir,--there is no dishonesty
there. But why should we not have twenty millions--a hundred millions?
Why should not this be the greatest commercial Association in the
world?--as it shall be, sir,--it shall, as sure as my name is John
Brough, if Heaven bless my honest endeavours to establish it! But do you
suppose that it can be so, unless every man among us use his utmost
exertions to forward the success of the enterprise? Never, sir,--never;
and, for me, I say so everywhere. I glory in what I do. There is not a
house in which I enter, but I leave a prospectus of the West Diddlesex.
There is not a single tradesman I employ, but has shares in it to some
amount. My servants, sir,--my very servants and grooms, are bound up
with it. And the first question I ask of anyone who applies to me for a
place is, Are you insured or a shareholder in the West Diddlesex? the
second, Have you a good character? And if the first question is answered
in the negative, I say to the party coming to me, Then be a shareholder
before you ask for a place in my household. Did you not see me--me, John
Brough, whose name is good for millions--step out of my coach-and-four
into this office, with four pounds nineteen, which I paid in to Mr.
Roundhand as the price of half a share for the porter at my lodge-gate?
Did you remark that I deducted a shilling from the five pound?"

"Yes, sir; it was the day you drew out eight hundred and seventy-three
ten and six--Thursday week," says I.

"And why did I deduct that shilling, sir? Because it was _my
commission_--John Brough's commission; honestly earned by him, and openly
taken. Was there any disguise about it? No. Did I do it for the love
of a shilling? No," says Brough, laying his hand on his heart, "I did it
from _principle_,--from that motive which guides every one of my actions,
as I can look up to Heaven and say. I wish all my young men to see my
example, and follow it: I wish--I pray that they may. Think of that
example, sir. That porter of mine has a sick wife and nine young
children: he is himself a sick man, and his tenure of life is feeble; he
has earned money, sir, in my service--sixty pounds and more--it is all
his children have to look to--all: but for that, in the event of his
death,