We never went on 'Change, by any chance, without seeing some shabby-genteel men, and we have often wondered what earthly business they can have there.

They will sit there, for hours, leaning on great, dropsical, mildewed umbrellas, or eating Abernethy biscuits.

Nobody speaks to them, nor they to any one.

On consideration, we remember to have occasionally seen two shabby-genteel men conversing together on 'Change, but our experience assures us that this is an uncommon circumstance, occasioned by the offer of a pinch of snuff, or some such civility.
It would be a task of equal difficulty, either to assign any particular spot for the residence of these beings, or to endeavour to enumerate their general occupations.

We were never engaged in business with more than one shabby-genteel man; and he was a drunken engraver, and lived in a damp back-parlour in a new row of houses at Camden-town, half street, half brick-field, somewhere near the canal.