Sentence:  ... I was induced to quit Leeds ſooner than uſual, as the concourſe of company which would aſſemble on that occaſion was expected to be very numerous and productive, and of courſe I could not idly let ſlip ſuch a lucrative proſpect but muſt have a <WSD>dabble</WSD> for the loaves and fiſhes. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  An act of participation in an activity in a casual or superficial way.