characters, the one that on the whole made the largest
fortunes in the most rapid manner,--and we do not forget the marvels of
the Waterloo loan, or the miracles of Manchester during the continental
blockade--was the Anglo-East Indian about the time that Hastings was
first appointed to the great viceroyalty. It was not unusual for men in
positions so obscure that their names had never reached the public in
this country, and who yet had not been absent from their native land for
a longer period than the siege of Troy, to return with their million.

One of the most fortunate of this class of obscure adventurers was a
certain John Warren. A very few years before the breaking out of the
American war, he was a waiter at a celebrated club in St James's Street:
a quick yet steady young fellow; assiduous, discreet, and very civil.
In this capacity, he pleased a gentleman who was just appointed to the
government of Madras, and who wanted a valet. Warren, though prudent,
was adventurous; and accepted the opening which he believed fortune
offered him. He was prescient. The voyage in those days was an affair
of six months. During this period, Warren still more ingratiated himself
with his master. He wrote a good hand, and his master a very bad one.
He had a natural talent for accounts; a kind of information which was
useful to his employer. He arrived at Madras, no longer a valet, but a
private secretary.

His master went out to make a fortune; but he was indolent, and had
indeed none of the qualities for success, except his great position.
Warren had every quality but that. The basis of the confederacy
therefore was intelligible; it was founded on mutual interests and
cemented by reciprocal assistance. The governor granted monopolies to
the secretary, who apportioned a due share to his sleeping partner.
There appeared one of those dearths not unusual in Hindostan; the
population of the famished province cried out for rice; the stores of
which, diminished by nature, had for months mysteriously disappeared. A
provident administration it seems had invested the public revenue in its
benevolent purchase; the misery was so excessive that even pestilence
was anticipated, when the great forestallers came to the rescue of the
people over whose destinies they presided; and at the same time fed and
pocketed millions.

This was the great stroke of the financial genius of Warren. He was
satisfied. He longed once more to see St James's Street