untry.

In so numerous a community many persons of perverted genius and of
mechanical ingenuity could not but be assembled. Let me produce the
following example. Frazer was an iron manufacturer, bred at Sheffield, of
whose abilities as a workman we had witnessed many proofs. The governor had
written to England for a set of locks to be sent out for the security of
the public stores, which were to be so constructed as to be incapable of
being picked. On their arrival his excellency sent for Frazer and bade him
examine them telling him at the same time that they could not be picked.
Frazer laughed and asked for a crooked nail only, to open them all. A nail
was brought, and in an instant he verified his assertion. Astonished at his
dexterity, a gentleman present determined to put it to farther proof. He
was sent for in a hurry, some days after, to the hospital, where a lock of
still superior intricacy and expense to the others had been provided.
He was told that the key was lost and that the lock must be immediately
picked. He examined it attentively, remarked that it was the production of
a workman, and demanded ten minutes to make an instrument 'to speak with
it.' Without carrying the lock with him, he went directly to his shop, and
at the expiration of his term returned, applied his instrument, and open
flew the lock. But it was not only in this part of his business that he
excelled: he executed every branch of it in superior style. Had not his
villainy been still more notorious than his skill, he would have proved an
invaluable possession to a new country. He had passed through innumerable
scenes in life, and had played many parts. When too lazy to work at his
trade he had turned thief in fifty different shapes, was a receiver of
stolen goods, a soldier and a travelling conjurer. He once confessed to me
that he had made a set of tools, for a gang of coiners, every man of whom
was hanged.

Were the nature of the subject worthy of farther illustration, many similar
proofs of misapplied talents might be adduced.

Their love of the marvellous has been recorded in an early part of this
work. The imposture of the gold finder, however prominent and glaring,
nevertheless contributed to awaken attention and to create merriment.
He enjoyed the reputation of a discoverer, until experiment detected the
imposition. But others were less successful to acquire even momentary
admiration. The execution of forgery seems to demand at leas