CHAPTER VI .-- The Life and Virtues of an Irish Absentee.
-- Duties of an Irish Landlord--An Apologue on Property--Reasons for Appointing an Agent--M'Clutchy's Notions of His Duties--Receipt to make a Forty Shilling Freeholder.
Lord Cumber to Henry Hickman, Esq.
"London, April 1st, 18-- "My Dear Hickman, "I wrote to you the day before yesterday, and, as the letter was one of a very pressing nature, I hope its influence won't be lost upon you.
To you who are so well acquainted with the cursed pickle in which I am placed, it is unnecessary to say that I shall be fairly done up, unless you can squeeze something for me out of those rascally tenants of mine.
Fairly done up is not the proper term either; for between you and me, I strongly suspect a young fellow called Swingler, an ironmonger's son, of giving me a twist too much, on more than one occasion.

He was introduced, that is, proposed as a member of our club, by Sir Robert Ratsbane, whose grandfather was a druggist, and seconded by Lord Loadstone, the celebrated lady-killer, as a regular pigeon, who dropped, by the death of old 'burn the wind,' into half a million at least.

The fellow did appear to be a very capital speculation, but the whole thing, however, was a trick, as I strongly suspect; for after losing to a tolerably smart tune, our gentleman began to illustrate the doctrine of reaction, and has, under the character of a pigeon, already fleeced half a score of us.

Last week I suffered to the tune of eight hundred--Sir Heavyhead to that of twelve--Bill Swag five--and the Hon.

Tom Trickman himself, who scarcely ever loses, gave bills for six fifties.