In '92 there was some talk of depression in the book trade.
Firms had failed.

Isaac did not join in the talk, and he had his own theory of the failure.

Men went smash for want of will, for want of brains, for want of courage and capital.

Above all for want of capital.

As if any man need want capital so long as he had the pluck to borrow, that is to say, to buy it.