He was dismayed to find how many more applicants there were for places than places requiring to be filled.

All the persons advertising were older than himself, and seemed to possess various accomplishments in the way of languages; many too could be strongly recommended from their last situation.

The prospect did not look hopeful.

In the first place he had looked to see if any required boy clerks, but this species of assistant appeared little in demand; and then, although he hoped that it would not come to that, he ran his eye down the columns to see if any required errand boys or lads in manufacturing businesses.

He found, however, no such advertisements.
However, as he said to himself, it could not be expected that he should find a place waiting for him on the very day after his arrival, and that he ought to be able to live for a year on his five and twenty pounds; at this reflection his spirits rose and he went out again for a walk.
For the first week, indeed, of his arrival in London Frank did not set himself very earnestly to work to look for a situation.