Itisimpossiblenottoremark，inthehistoryofnations，thatdelicacyandgoodfaithdeclineinproportiontothespreadofgambling。Howeverselectmaybethesocietyofgamesters，itisseldomthatitisexemptfromallbaseness。WehaveseenaproofofthepracticeofcheatingamongtheHindoos。ItexistedalsoamongtheRomans，asprovedbythe`cogged’orloadeddicedugupatHerculaneum。Thefactisthatcheatingisanatural，ifnotanecessary，incidentofgambling。ItmaybeinferredfromapassageintheoldFrenchpoetbeforequoted，thatcheats，duringthereignofCharlesVI。，werepunishedwith`bonnetting，’[43]butnoinstanceofthekindisonrecord；onthecontrary，itiscertainthatmanyoftheFrenchkingspatronizedandapplaudedwell-knowncheatsatthegamingtable。

[43]SevotreamiquibienvoussertEnjouantvouschangeoitlesDez，Auroit-ilpas_Chapeaudevert_。

LOUISXI——BrantomesaysthatLouisXI。，whoseemsnottohavehadaspecialsecretary，beingonedaydesirousofgettingsomethingwritten，perceivedanecclesiasticwhohadaninkstandhangingathisside；andthelatterhavingopeneditattheking’srequest，asetofdicefellout。`Whatkindof_SUGAR-

PLUMS_arethese？’askedhisMajesty。`Sire，’repliedthepriest，`theyarearemedyforthePlague。’`Wellsaid，’

exclaimedtheking，`youareafine_Paillard_(awordheoftenused)；`_YOUARETHEMANFORME_，’andtookhimintohisservice；forthiskingwasfondofbon-motsandsharpwits，anddidnotevenobjecttothieves，providedtheywereoriginalandprovocativeofhumour，asthefollowingveryfunnyanecdotewillshow。`AcertainFrenchbaronwhohadlosteverythingatplay，eventohisclothes，happeningtobeintheking’schamber，quietlylaidhandsonasmallclock，ornamentedwithmassivegold，andconcealeditinhissleeve。Verysoonafter，whilsthewasamongthetroopoflordsandgentlemen，theclockbegantostrikethehour。Wecanwellimaginetheconsternationofthebaronatthiscontretemps。Ofcourseheblushedred-hot，andtightenedhisarmtotryandstifletheimplacablesoundofdetectionmanifest——the_flagransdelictum_——stilltheclockwentonstrikingthelonghour，sothatateachstrokethebystanderslookedateachotherfromheadtofootinutterbewilderment。

`Theking，who，asitchanced，haddetectedthetheft，burstoutlaughing，notonlyattheastonishmentofthegentlemenpresent，whowereatalosstoaccountforthesound，butalsoattheoriginalityofthestunningevent。AtlengthMonsieurleBaron，byhisownblusheshalf-convictedoflarceny，fellonhiskneesbeforetheking，humblysaying:——"Sire，thepricksofgamingaresopowerfulthattheyhavedrivenmetocommitadishonestaction，forwhichIbegyourmercy。"Andashewasgoingoninthisstrain，thekingcutshorthiswords，exclaiming:——"The_PASTIME_whichyouhavecontrivedforussofarsurpassestheinjuryyouhavedonemethattheclockisyours:Igiveityouwithallmyheart。"’[44]

[44]Duverdier，_DiversesLecons_。

HENRYIII——InthelatterpartofthesixteenthcenturyPariswasinundatedwithbrigandsofeverydescription。AbandofItaliangamesters，havingbeeninformedbytheircorrespondentsthatHenryIII。hadestablishedcard-roomsanddice-roomsintheLouvre，gotadmissionatcourt，andwonthirtythousandcrownsfromtheking。[45]

[45]JournaldeHenriIII。

IfallthekingsofFrancehadimitatedthedisinterestednessofHenryIII。，theviceofgamingwouldnothavemadesuchprogressasbecameeverywhereevident。

Brantomegivesaveryhighideaofthisking’sgenerosity，whilsthelasheshiscontemporaries。HenryIII。playedattennisandwasveryfondofthegame——not，however，throughcupidityoravarice，forhedistributedallhiswinningsamonghiscompanions。Whenhelosthepaidthewager，nay，heevenpaidthelossesofallengagedinthegame。Thebetswerenothigherthantwo，three，orfourhundredcrowns——never，assubsequently，fourthousand，sixthousand，ortwelvethousand——when，however，paymentwasnotasreadilymade，butratherfrequentlycompoundedfor。[46]

[46]HenryIII。wasalsopassionatelyfondofthechildishtoy_Bilboquet_，or`CupandBall，’whichheusedtoplayevenwhilstwalkinginthestreet。JournaldeHenriIII。，i。

Therewas，indeed，atthattimeaFrenchcaptainnamedLaRoue，whoplayedhighstakes，uptosixthousandcrowns，whichwasthendeemedexorbitant。ThisintrepidgamesterproposedabetoftwentythousandcrownsagainstoneofAndrewDoria’swar-galleys。

Doriatookthebet，butheimmediatelydeclareditoff，inapprehensionoftheridiculouspositioninwhichhewouldbeplacedifhelost，saying，——`Idon’twishthatthisyoungadventurer，whohasnothingworthnamingtolose，shouldwinmygalleytogoandtriumphinFranceovermyfortuneandmyhonour。’

Soon，however，highstakesbecameinvogue，andtosuchanextentthatthenaturalsonoftheDucdeBellegardewasenabledtopay，outofhiswinnings，thelargesumoffiftythousandcrownstogethimselflegitimated。Curiouslyenough，itissaidthatthegreaterpartofthissumhadbeenwoninEngland。[47]

[47]AmelotdelaHouss。_Mem。Hist_。iii。

HENRYIV——HenryIV。earlyevincedhispassionforgaming。Whenveryyoungandstintedinfortune，hecontrivedthemeansofsatisfyingthisgrowingpropensity。Wheninwantofmoneyheusedtosendapromissorynote，writtenandsignedbyhimself，tohisfriends，requestingthemtoreturnthenoteorcashit——anexpedientwhichcouldnotbutsucceed，aseverymanwasonlytoogladtohavetheprince’snoteofhand。[48]

[48]Mem。deNevers。ii。

TherecanbenodoubtthattheexampleofHenryIV。was，inthematterofgaming，asinothervices，mostpernicious。`HenryIV。，’saysPerefixe，`wasnotaskilfulplayer，butgreedyofgain，timidinhighstakes，andill-temperedwhenhelost。’Headdsrathernaively，`Thisgreatkingwasnotwithoutspotsanymorethanthesun。’[49]

[49]Hist。deHenrileGrand。

Underhimgamblingbecametherage。Manydistinguishedfamilieswereutterlyruinedbyit。TheDucdeBironlostinasingleyearmorethanfivehundredthousandcrowns(aboutL250，000)。

`MysonConstant，’saysD’Aubigne，`losttwentytimesmorethanhewasworth；sothat，findinghimselfwithoutresources，heabjuredhisreligion。’

ItwasatthecourtofHenryIV。thatwasinventedthemethodofspeedyruinbymeansofwrittenvouchersforlossandgain——whichsimplifiedthethinginallsubsequenttimes。ItwasthenalsothatcertainItalianmastersofthegamingartdisplayedtheirtalents，theirsuppleness，anddexterity。Oneofthem，namedPimentello，having，inthepresenceoftheDucdeSully，appealedtothehonourwhichheenjoyedinhavingoftenplayedwithHenryIV。，thedukeexclaimed，——`Byheavens！SoyouaretheItalianblood-suckerwhoiseverydaywinningtheking’smoney！Youhavefallenintothewrongbox，forIneitherlikenorwishtohaveanythingtodowithsuchfellows。’Pimentellogotwarm。`Goaboutyourbusiness，’saidSully，givinghimashove；`yourinfernalgibberishwillnotaltermyresolve。Go！’[50]

[50]Mem。deSully。

TheFrenchnation，foralongtimeagitatedbycivilwar，settleddownatlastinpeaceandabundance——thefruitsofwhichprosperityareoftenpoisoned。Theyweresobythegamblingpropensityofthepeopleatlarge，nowfirstmanifested。Thewarrior，thelawyer，theartisan，inaword，almostallprofessionsandtrades，werecarriedawaybythefuryofgaming。

Magistratessoldforapricethepermissiontogamble——inthefaceoftheenactedlawsagainstthepractice。

Wecanscarcelyformanideaoftheextentofthegamingatthisperiod。Bassompierredeclares，inhisMemoirs，thathewonmorethanfivehundredthousandlivres(L25，000)inthecourseofayear。`Iwonthem，’hesays，`althoughIwasledawaybyathousandfolliesofyouth；andmyfriendPimentellowonmorethantwohundredthousandcrowns(L100，000)。EvidentlythisPimentellomightwellbecalleda_blood-sucker_bySully。[51]

Heisevensaidtohavegotallthedice-sellersinParistosubstituteloadeddiceinsteadoffairones，inordertoaidhisoperations。

[51]Intheoriginal，however，thewordispiffre，(vulgo)

`greedy-guts。’

NothingmoreforciblyshowsthedangerofconsortingwithsuchbadcharactersthanthecalumnycirculatedrespectingtheconnectionbetweenHenryIV。andthisinfamousItalian:——itwassaidthatHenrywaswellawareofPimentello’smanoeuvres，andthatheencouragedthemwiththeviewofimpoverishinghiscourtiers，hopingtherebytorenderthemmoresubmissive！Nerohimselfwouldhaveblushedatsuchaconnivance。Doubtlessthecalumnywasasfalseasitwasstupid。

ThewinningsofthecourtierBassompierrewereenormous。HewonattheDucd’Epernon’ssufficienttopayhisdebts，todressmagnificently，topurchaseallsortsofextravagantfinery，aswordornamentedwithdiamonds——`andafteralltheseexpenses，’

hesays，`Ihadstillfiveorsixthousandcrowns(twotothreethousandpounds)left，_TOKILLTIMEWITH_，pourtuerletemps。’

Onanotheroccasion，andatamoreadvancedage，hewononehundredthousandcrowns(L50，000)atasinglesitting，fromM。

DeGuise，Joinville，andtheMarechald’Ancre。

InreadinghisMemoirsweareapttogetindignantatthefellow’ssuccesses；butatlastwearetemptedtolaughathismisery。Hediedsopoorthathedidnotleaveenoughtopaythetwentiethpartofhisdebts！Such，doubtless，istheendofmostgamblers。

ButtoreturntoHenryIV。，thegreatgamblingexemplarofthenation。Theaccountgivenofhimatthegamingtableismostafflicting，whenwerememberhisroyalgreatness，hissublimequalities。Hisonlyobjectwasto_WIN_，andthosewhoplayedwithhimwerethusalwaysplacedinadreadfuldilemma——eithertolosetheirmoneyoroffendthekingbybeatinghim！TheDukeofSavoyonceplayedwithhim，andinordertosuithishumour，dissimulatedhisgame——thussacrificingorgivingupfortythousandpistoles(aboutL28，000)。

Whenthekinglosthewasmostexactingforhis`revanche，’orrevenge，asitistermedatplay。Afterwinningconsiderablyfromtheking，ononeoccasion，Bassompierre，underthepretextofhisofficialengagements，furtivelydecamped:thekingimmediatelysentafterhim；hewasstopped，broughtback，andallowedtodepartonlyaftergivingthe`revanche’tohisMajesty。This`goodHenri，’whowasincapableoftheleastdissimulationeitheringoodorinevil，oftenbetrayedadegreeofcupiditywhichmadehisminister，Sully，ashamedofhim；——inordertopayhisgamingdebts，thekingonedaydeductedseventy-

twothousandlivresfromtheproceedsofaconfiscationonwhichhehadnoclaimwhatever。

Onanotheroccasionhewaswonderfullystruckwithsomegold-

pieceswhichBassompierrebroughttoFontainebleau，called_Portugalloises_。Hecouldnotrestwithouthavingthem。Playwasnecessarytowinthem，butthekingwasalsoanxioustobeintimeforahunt。Inordertoconciliatethetwopassions，heorderedagamingpartyatthePalace，leftarepresentativeofhisgameduringhisabsence，andreturnedsoonerthanusual，totryandwinthesomuchcoveted_Portugalloises_。

Evenlove——ifthatnamecanbeappliedtothegrovellingpassionofHenryIV。，intenselyviolentasitwas——couldnot，withitssensuousenticements，dragthekingfromthegamingtableorstiflehisdespicablecovetousness。Ononeoccasion，whilstatplay，itwaswhisperedtohimthatacertainprincesswhomhelovedwaslikelytofallintootherarms:——`Takecareofmymoney，’saidhetoBassompierre，`andkeepupthegamewhilstIamabsentonparticularbusiness。’

Duringthisreigngamesterswereinhighfavour，asmaywellbeimagined。Oneofthemreceivedanhonourneverconcededeventoprincesanddukes。`Thelatter，’saysAmelotdelaHoussaie，`didnotenterthecourt-yardoftheroyalmansionsinacarriagebeforetheyear1607，andtheyareindebtedfortheprivilegetothefirstDucd’Epernon，thefavouriteofthelateking，HenryIII。，whobeingwonttogoeverydaytoplaywiththequeen，MariedeMedicis，tookitintohisheadtohavehiscarriagedrivenintothecourt-yardoftheLouvre，andhadhimselfcarriedbodilybyhisfootmenintotheverychamberofthequeen——underthepretextofbeingdreadfullytormentedwiththegout，soasnottobeabletostandonhislegs。’[52]

[52]Mem。Hist。iii。

Itissaid，however，thatHenryIV。wasfinallycuredofgambling。_CredatJudaeus！_Buttheanecdoteisasfollows。

Thekinglostanimmensesumatplay，andrequestedSullytolethimhavethemoneytopayit。Thelatterdemurred，sothatthekinghadtosendtohimseveraltimes。Atlast，however，Sullytookhimthemoney，andspreaditoutbeforehimonthetable，exclaiming——`There’sthesum。’Henryfixedhiseyesonthevastamount。ItissaidtohavebeenenoughtopurchaseAmiensfromtheSpaniards，whothenheldit。Thekingthereuponexclaimed:——`Iamcorrected。Iwillneveragainlosemymoneyatgaming。’

DuringthisreignParisswarmedwithgamesters。Thenforthefirsttimewereestablished_AcademiesdeJeu_，`GamingAcademies，’forthusweretermedthegaminghousestowhichallclassesofsocietybeneaththenobilityandgentility，downtothelowest，rushedincrowdsandincessantly。Notadaypassedwithouttheruinofsomebody。Thesonofamerchant，whopossessedtwentythousandcrowns，lostsixtythousand。Itseemed，saysacontemporary，thatathousandpistolesatthattimewerevaluedlessthana_sou_inthetimeofFrancisI。

Theresultofthisstateofthingswasincalculablesocialaffliction。Usuryandlaw-suitscompletedtheruinofgamblers。

Theprofitsofthekeepersofgaminghousesmusthavebeenenormous，tojudgefromtherentstheypaid。AhouseintheFaubourgSaint-GermainwassecuredattherentalofaboutL70

forafortnight，forthepurposeofgamblingduringthetimeofthefair。Smallroomsandevenclosetswerehiredattherateofmanypistolesorhalf-sovereignsperhour；togetpaid，however，generallyentailedafightoralaw-suit。

Allthistookplaceintheveryteethofthemoststringentlawsenactedagainstgamingandgamesters。Thefactwas，thatamongthemagistratessomeclosedtheireyes，andothersheldouttheirhandstoreceivethebribeoftheirconnivance。

LOUISXIII——AtthecommencementofthereignofLouisXIII。thelawsagainstgamingwererevived，andsevererpenaltieswereenacted。Forty-sevengaminghousesatParis，whichhadbeenlicensed，andfromwhichseveralmagistratesdrewaperquisiteofapistoleorhalfasovereignaday，wereshutupandsuppressed。

Thesestringentmeasurescheckedthegamblingofthe`people，’

butnotthatof`thegreat，’whowentonmerrilyasbefore。

Ofcoursethey`keptthethingquiet’——gambledinsecret——butmoredesperatelythanever。TheMarechald’Ancrecommonlystakedtwentythousandpistoles(L10，000)。

LouisXIII。wasnotagambler，andso，duringthisreign，thecourtdidnotsetsobadanexample。Thekingwasaversetoallgamesofchance。Heonlylikedchess，butperhapsrathertoomuch，tojudgefromthefactthat，inordertoenablehimtoplaychessonhisjourneys，achessboardwasfittedinhiscarriage，thepiecesbeingfurnishedwithpinsatthebottomsoasnottobederangedorknockeddownbythemotion。Thereaderwillrememberthat，asalreadystated，asimilargamingaccommodationwasprovidedfortheRomanEmperorClaudius。

ThecupandballofHenryIII。andthechessboardofLouisXIII。

aremerelyridiculous。Wemustexcusewell-intentionedmonarchswhentheyonlyindulgethemselveswithfrivolousandchildishtrifles。Itissomethingtobethankfulforifwehavenottoapplytothemtheadage——Quic-quiddelirantregesplectunturAchivi——`Whenkingsgomadtheirpeoplegettheirblows。’

LOUISXIV——ThereignofLouisXIV。wasagreatdevelopmentineverypointofview，gamingincluded。

TherevolutionseffectedinthegovernmentandinpublicmoralsbyCardinalRichelieu，whoplayedagamestillmoreseriousthanthoseweareconsidering，hadveryconsiderablycheckedthelatter；buttheseresumedtheirvigour，withinterest，underanotherCardinal，profoundlyimbuedwiththeItalianspirit——thecelebratedMazarin。Thisminister，independentlyofhisparticulartastethatway，knewhowtoallygamingwithhispoliticaldesigns。Bymeansofgaminghecontrivedtoprotracttheminorityofthekingunderwhomhegovernedthenation。

`Mazarin，’saysStPierre，`introducedgamingatthecourtofLouisXIV。intheyear1648。Heinducedthekingandthequeenregenttoplay；andpreferencewasgiventogamesofchance。Theyear1648wastheeraofcard-playingatcourt。CardinalMazarinplayeddeepandwithfinesse，andeasilydrewinthekingandqueentocountenancethisnewentertainment，sothateveryonewhohadanyexpectationatcourtlearnedtoplayatcards。Soonafterthehumourchanged，andgamesofchancecameintovogue——totheruinofmanyconsiderablefamilies:thiswaslikewiseverydestructivetohealth，forbesidesthevariousviolentpassionsitexcited，wholenightswerespentatthisexecrableamusement。Theworstofallwasthatcard-playing，whichthecourthadtakenfromthearmy，soonspreadfromthecourtintothecity，andfromthecitypervadedthecountrytowns。

`Beforethistherewassomethingdoneforimprovingconversation；

everyonewasambitiousofqualifyinghimselfforitbyreadingancientandmodernbooks；memoryandreflectionweremuchmoreexercised。Butontheintroductionofgamingmenlikewiseleftoftennis，billiards，andothergamesofskill，andconsequentlybecameweakerandmoresickly，moreignorant，lesspolished，andmoredissipated。

`Thewomen，whotillthenhadcommandedrespect，accustomedmentotreatthemfamiliarly，byspendingthewholenightwiththematplay。Theywereoftenunderthenecessityofborrowingeithertoplay，ortopaytheirlosings；andhowveryductileandcomplyingtheyweretothoseofwhomtheyhadtoborrowwaswellknown。’

FromthattimegamestersswarmedalloverFrance；theymultipliedrapidlyineveryprofession，evenamongthemagistracy。TheCardinaldeRetztellsus，inhisMemoirs，thatin1650theoldestmagistrateintheparliamentofBordeaus，andonewhopassedforthewisest，wasnotashamedtostakeallhispropertyonenightatplay，andthattoo，headds，withoutriskinghisreputation——sogeneralwasthefuryofgambling。Itbecameverysoonmixedupwiththemostmomentouscircumstancesoflifeandaffairsofthegravestimportance。TheStates-general，orparliamentaryassemblies，consistedaltogetherofgamblers。`Itisagame，’saysMadamedeSevigne，`itisanentertainment，aliberty-halldayandnight，attractingalltheworld。IneverbeforebeheldtheStates-generalofBretagne。TheStates-generalaredecidedlyaveryfinething。’

ThesamedelightfulcorrespondentrelatesthatoneofheramusementswhenshewenttothecourtwastoadmireDangeauatthecard-table；andthefollowingistheaccountofagamingpartyatwhichshewaspresent:——

`29thJuly，1676。

`IwentonSaturdaywithVillarstoVersailles。Ineednottellyouofthequeen’stoilette，themass，thedinner——youknowitall；butatthreeo’clockthekingrosefromtable，andhe，thequeen，Monsieur，Madame，Mademoiselle，alltheprincesandprincesses，MadamedeMontespan，allhersuite，allthecourtiers，alltheladies，inshort，whatwecallthecourtofFrance，wereassembledinthatbeautifulapartmentwhichyouknow。Itisdivinelyfurnished，everythingismagnificent；onedoesnotknowwhatitistobetoohot；wewalkabouthereandthere，andarenotincommodedanywhere:——atlastatableofreversi[53]givesaformtothecrowd，andaplacetoeveryone。

_THEKINGISNEXTTOMADAMEDEMONTESPAN_，whodeals；theDukeofOrleans，thequeen，andMadamedeSoubise；DangeauandCo。；

LangeeandCo。；athousandlouisarepouredoutonthecloth——

therearenoothercounters。IsawDangeauplay！——whatfoolsweallarecomparedtohim——hemindsnothingbuthisbusiness，andwinswheneveryoneelseloses:heneglectsnothing，takesadvantageofeverything，isneverabsent；inaword，hisskilldefiesfortune，andaccordingly200，000francsintendays，100，000crownsinafortnight，allgotohisreceiptbook。

[53]Akindofgamelongsinceoutoffashion，andnowalmostforgotten；itseemstohavebeenacompoundofLooandCommerce——

the_Quinola_or_Pam_wastheknaveofhearts。

`HewassogoodastosayIwasapartnerinhisplay，bywhichIgotaveryconvenientandagreeableplace。Isalutedthekinginthewayyoutaughtme，whichhereturnedasifIhadbeenyoungandhandsome——Ireceivedathousandcompliments——youknowwhatitistohaveawordfromeverybody！Thisagreeableconfusionwithoutconfusionlastsfromthreeo’clocktillsix。

Ifacourtierarrives，thekingretiresforamomenttoreadhisletters，andreturnsimmediately。Thereisalwayssomemusicgoingon，whichhasaverygoodeffect；thekinglistenstothemusicandchatstotheladiesabouthim。Atlast，atsixo’clock，theystopplaying——theyhavenotroubleinsettlingtheirreckonings——therearenocounters——thelowestpoolsarefive，six，sevenhundredlouis，thegreatonesathousand，ortwelvehundred；theyputinfiveeachatfirst，thatmakesonehundred，andthedealerputsintenmore——thentheygivefourlouiseachtowhoeverhasQuinola——somepass，othersplay，butwhenyouplaywithoutwinningthepool，youmustputinsixteentoteachyouhowtoplayrashly:theytalkalltogether，andforever，andofeverything。"Howmanyhearts？""Two！""I

havethree！""Ihaveone！""Ihavefour！""Hehasonlythree！"andDangeau，delightedwithallthisprattle，turnsupthetrump，makeshiscalculations，seeswhomhehasagainsthim，inshort——inshort，Iwasgladtoseesuchanexcessofskill。Heitiswhoreallyknows"ledessousdescartes。"

`Atteno’clocktheygetintotheircarriages:_THEKING，MADAME

DEMONTESPAN_，theDukeofOrleans，andMadamedeThianges，andthegoodHendicourtonthedickey，thatisasifonewereintheuppergallery。Youknowhowthesecalashesaremade。

`Thequeenwasinanotherwiththeprincesses；andtheneverybodyelse，groupedastheyliked。Thentheygoonthewateringondolas，withmusic；theyreturnatten；theplayisready，itisover；twelvestrikes，supperisbroughtin，andsopassesSaturday。’

Thislivelypictureofsuchfrightfulgambling，oftheadulteroustriumphofMadamedeMontespan，andofthehumiliatingparttowhichthequeenwascondemned，willinduceourreaderstoconcurwithMadamedeSevigne，who，amusedasshehadbeenbythesceneshehasdescribed，callsitnevertheless，withherusualpuretasteandgoodjudgment，_l’iniquacorte_，`theiniquitouscourt。’

Indeed，MadamedeSevignehadamplereasontodenouncethissourceofherdomesticmisery。Writingtohersonanddaughter，shesays:——`Youloseallyouplayfor。Youhavepaidfiveorsixthousandfrancsforyouramusement，andtobeabusedbyfortune。’

Ifshehadatfirstbeenfascinatedbythespectaclewhichshesoglowinglydescribes，theinterestofherchildrensoonopenedhereyestotheyawninggulfatthebrinkoftheflowerysurface。

Sometimessheexplainsherselfplainly:——`Youbelievethateverybodyplaysashonestlyasyourself？CalltomindwhattookplacelatelyattheHoteldelaVieuville。Doyourememberthat_ROBBERY？_’

Thefavourofthatcourt，somuchcoveted，seemedtohertobepurchasedattoohighapriceifitwastobegainedbyruinouscomplaisances。ShetrembledeverytimehersonlefthertogotoVersailles。Shesays:——`Hetellsmeheisgoingtoplaywithhisyoungmaster；[54]Ishudderatthethought。Fourhundredpistolesareveryeasilylost:_cen’estrienpourAdmeteetc’estbeaucouppourlui_。[55]IfDangeauisinthegamehewillwinallthepools:heisaneagle。Thenwillcometopass，mydaughter，allthatGodmayvouchsafe——_ilenarivera，mafille，toutcequ’ilplairaaDieu_。’

[54]TheDauphin。

[55]`ItisnothingforAdmetus，but’tismuchforhim。’

Andagain，`Thegameof_Hoca_isprohibitedatParis_UNDERTHE

PENALTYOFDEATH_，andyetitisplayedatcourt。Fivethousandpistolesbeforedinnerisnothing。Thatgameisaregularcut-

throat。’

Hocawasprodigiouslyunfavourabletotheplayers；thelatterhadonlytwenty-eightchancesagainstthirty。IntheseventeenthcenturythisgamecausedsuchdisorderatRomethatthePopeprohibiteditandexpelledthebankers。

TheItalianswhomMazarinbroughtintoFranceobtainedfromthekingpermissiontosetup_Hoca_tablesinParis。Theparliamentlaunchedtwoedictsagainstthem，andthreatenedtopunishthemseverely。Theking’sedictswereequallysevere。Everyofoffenderwastobefined1000livres，andthepersoninwhosehouseFaro，Basset，oranysuchgamewassuffered，incurredthepenaltyof6000livresforeachoffence。Thepersonswhoplayedweretobeimprisoned。GamingwasforbiddentheFrenchcavalryunderthepenaltyofdeath，andeverycommandingofficerwhoshouldpresumetosetupaHazardtablewastobecashiered，andallconcernedtoberigorouslyimprisoned。Thesepenaltiesmightshowgreathorrorofgaming，buttheyweretooseveretobesteadilyinflicted，andthereforefailedtorepressthecrimeagainstwhichtheyweredirected。Thesevererthelawthelessthelikelihoodofitsapplication，andconsequentlyitspowerofrepression。

MadamedeSevignehadbeheldthegamestersonlyinthepresenceoftheirmastertheking，orinthecircleswhichwereregulatedwithinviolablepropriety；butwhatwouldshehavesaidifshecouldhaveseenthegamblersatthesecretsuppersandinthecountry-housesoftheSuperintendentFouquet，wheretwenty`qualified’players，suchastheMarshalsdeRichelieu，deClairembaut，&c。，assembledtogether，withadashofbadcompany，toplayforlands，houses，jewels，evenforpoint-laceandneckties？Thereshewouldhaveseensomethingmorethangoldstaked，sincetheplayersdebasedthemselvessolowastocircumventcertainopulentdupes，whowerethefirstinvited。Toleaveonehundredpistoles，ostensiblyfor`thecards，’butreallyastheperquisiteofthemasterofthelordlyhouse；

torecouphimwhenhelost；and，whentheyhadtodealwithsomeunimportantbutwealthyindividual，toundohimcompletely，compellinghimtosignhisruinonthegamingtable——suchwastheconductwhichrenderedaman_recherche_，andsecuredthetitleofafineplayer！

Itwaspreciselythusthatthefamous(orinfamous)Gourville，successivelyvalet-de-chambretotheDucdelaRochefoucault，hangedineffigyatParis，king’senvoyinGermany，andafterwardsproposedtoreplaceColbert——itwasthusprecisely，I

say，thatGourvillesecuredfavour，`consideration，’fortune；forhedeclares，inhisMemoirs，thathisgainsinafewyearsamountedtomorethanamillion。Andfortuneseemstohavecherishedandblessedhimthroughouthisdetestablecareer。

Afterhavingmadehisfortune，heretiredtowritethescandalousMemoirsfromwhichIhavebeenquoting，anddiedoutofdebt！[56]

[56]Mem。deGourville，i。

Francebecametoonarrowatheatreforthechevaliersd’industrieandallwhowereapreytothefuryofgambling。TheCountdeGrammont，averysuspiciousplayer，turnedhistalentstoaccountinEngland，Italy，andSpain。

ThissameCountdeGrammontfiguredwellatcourtononeoccasionwhenLouisXIV。seemedinclinedtocheatorotherwiseplayunfairly。Playingatbackgammon，andhavingadoubtfulthrow，adisputearose，andthesurroundingcourtiersremainedsilent。TheCountdeGrammonthappeningtocomein，thekingdesiredhimtodecideit。Heinstantlyanswered——`Sire，yourMajestyisinthewrong。’`How，’saidtheking，`canyoudecidebeforeyouknowthequestion？’`Because，’repliedthecount，`hadtherebeenanydoubt，allthesegentlemenwouldhavegivenitinfavourofyourMajesty。’Theplaininferenceisthatthis(atthetime)greatworld’sidolandVoltaire’sgod，was`uptoalittlecheating。’Itwas，however，asmuchtotheking’screditthathesubmittedtothedecision，asitwastothatofthecourtierwhogavehimsuchalesson。

ThemagnanimityofLouisXIV。wasstillmorestrikinglyshownonanothergamblingoccasion。Veryhighplaywasgoingonatthecardinal’s，andtheChevalierdeRohanlostavastsumtotheking。Theagreementwastopayonlyin_louisd’ors；_andthechevalier，aftercountingoutsevenoreighthundred，proposedtocontinuethepaymentinSpanishpistoles。`Youpromisedme_louisd’ors_，andnotpistoles，’saidtheking。`SinceyourMajestyrefusesthem，’repliedthechevalier，`Idon’twantthemeither；’andthereuponheflungthemoutofthewindow。Thekinggotangry，andcomplainedtoMazarin，whoreplied:——`TheChevalierdeRohanhasplayedtheking，andyoutheChevalierdeRohan。’Thekingacquiesced。[57]

[57]Mem。etReflex。，&e。，parM。L。M。L。F。(theMarquisdelaFare)。

Asbeforestated，thecourtoftheRomanEmperorAugustus，inspiteofthemanylawsenactedagainstgambling，diffusedthefrenzythroughRome；inlikemannerthecourtofLouisXIV。，almostinthesamecircumstances，infectedParisandtheentirekingdomwiththevice。

ThereisthisdifferencebetweentheFrenchmonarchandtheRomanemperor，thatthelatterdidnotteachhissuccessorstoplayagainstthepeople，whereasLouis，afterhavingdenouncedgaming，andbecomealmostdisgustedwithit，finishedwithestablishedlotteries。Highplaywasalwaystheetiquetteatcourt，butthesittingsbecamelessfrequentandwereabridged。`Theking，’

saysMadamedeSevigne，`hasnotgivenoverplaying，butthesittingsarenotsolong。’

LOUISXV——AtthedeathofLouisXIV。three-fourthsofthenationthoughtofnothingbutgambling。Gambling，indeed，becameitselfanobjectofspeculation，inconsequenceoftheestablishmentanddevelopmentoflotteries——thefirsthavingbeendesignedtocelebratetherestorationofpeaceandthemarriageofLouisXIV。

Thenationseemedallmadwiththeexcitementofplay。DuringtheminorityofLouisXV。aforeigngamester，thecelebratedScotchman，JohnLaw，havingbecomeController-GeneralofFrance，undertooktorestorethefinancesofthenationbymakingeverymanaplayerorgamester。Hepropoundeda_SYSTEM；_heestablishedabank，whichnearlyupsetthestate；andseducedeventhosewhohadescapedtheepidemicofgamesofchance。Hewasfinallyexpelledlikeafoulfog；buttheyoughttohavehangedhimasadeliberatecorrupter。AndyetthisisthemanofwhomVoltairewroteasfollows:`WearefarfromevincingthegratitudewhichisduetoJohnLaw。[58]Voltaire’spraisewasalwaysassuspiciousashisblame。JustletusconsiderthetendencyofJohnLaw’s`system。’Howevergeneralmaybethefuryofgambling，_EVERYBODY_doesnotgamble；certainprofessionsimposeacertainrestraint，andtheirmemberswouldblushtoresorttogamestheturpitudeofwhichwouldsubjectthemtounanimouscondemnation。Butonlychangethe_NAMES_ofthesegames——onlychangetheir_FORM_，andletthebaitbepresentedunderthesanctionofthelegislature:then，althoughthe_THING_benotlessvicious，norlessrepugnanttotrueprinciple，thenwewitnessthegamblingardourofsavages，suchaswehavedescribedit，manifestingitselfwithmorerisk，andcommunicatedtotheentirenation——theministersofthealtar，themagistracy，themembersofeveryprofession，fathers，mothersoffamilies，withoutdistinctionofrank，means，orduties……Letthisshortgeneralizationbewellpondered，andtheconclusionmustbereachedthatthisScotchadventurer，JohnLaw，wasguiltyofthecrimeoftreasonagainsthumanity。

[57]NoussommesloindelareconnoissancequiestdueaJeanLaw。Mel。deLitt。，d’Hist。，&c。ii。

JohnLaw，whomtheFrenchcalled_JeanLass_，openedagulfintowhichhalfthenationeagerlypoureditsmoney。Fortunesweremadeinafewdays——inafew_HOURS_。Manywereenrichedbymerelylendingtheirsignatures。Asuddenandhorriblerevolutionamazedtheentirepeople——liketheburstingofabomb-

shelloranincendiaryexplosion。Sixhundredthousandofthebestfamilies，whohadtaken_PAPER_onthefaithofthegovernment，lost，togetherwiththeirfortunes，theirofficesandappointments，andwerealmostannihilated。Someofthestock-

jobbersescaped；otherswerecompelledtodisgorgetheirgains——

althoughtheystoutlyand，itmustbeadmitted，consistentlyappealedtothesanctionofthecourt。

Oddlyenough，whilstthegovernmentmadeallFranceplayatthisJohnLawgame——themostseductiveandvoraciousthateverexisted——somethirtyorfortypersonswereimprisonedforhavingbrokenthelawsenactedagainstgamesofchance！

Itmaybesomewhatconsolatorytoknowthattheauthorofsomuchcalamitydidnotlongenjoyhisshareoftheinfernalsuccess——

thepartitionofapeople’sruin。Afterextortingsomanymillions，thisfamousgamblerwasreducedtothenecessityofsellinghislastdiamondinordertoraisemoneytogambleon。

Thisgreatcatastrophe，thecommotionofwhichwasfelteveninHollandandinEngland，wasthelastsighoftruehonouramongtheFrench。Probityreceivedablow。Publicmoralitywasabashed。Moregaminghousesthaneverwereopened，andthenitwasthattheyreceivedthenameof_Enfers_，or`Hells，’bywhichtheyweredesignatedinEngland。`Thegreaternumberofthosewhogotothewatering-places，’writesacontemporary，`underthepretextofhealth，onlygoaftergamesters。IntheStates-

generalitislesstheinterestofthepeoplethantheattractionofterriblegambling，thatbringstogetheraportionofthenobility。Thenatureoftheplaymaybeinferredfromthenameoftheplaceatwhichittakesplaceinoneoftheprovinces——

namely，_Enfer_。Thissalon，soappropriatelycalled，wasintheHoteloftheking’scommissionersinBretagne。Ihavebeentoldthatagentleman，tothegreatdisgustofthenoblemenpresent，andevenofthebankers，actuallyofferedtostakehissword。

`Thisnameof_Enfers_hasbeengiventoseveralgaminghouses，somethemsituatedintheinteriorofParis，othersintheenvirons。

`Peoplenolongerblush，asdidCaligula，atgamblingontheirreturnfromthefuneraloftheirrelativesorfriends。A

gamester，returningfromtheburialofhisbrother，wherehehadexhibitedthesignsofprofoundgrief，playedandwonaconsiderablesumofmoney。"Howdoyoufeelnow？"hewasasked。"Alittlebetter，"hereplied，"thisconsolesme。"

`AllisexcitementwhilstIwrite。Withoutmentioningthebasedeedsthathavebeencommitted，Ihavecountedfoursuicidesandagreatcrime。

`Besidesthelicensedgaminghouses，newonesarefurtivelyestablishedintheprivilegedmansionsoftheambassadorsandrepresentativesofforeigncourts。Certainchevaliersd’industrierecentlyproposedtoagentlemanofquality，whohadjustbeenappointedplenipotentiary，tohireanhotelforhim，andtopaytheexpenses，onconditionthathewouldgiveuptothemanapartmentandpermitthemtohavevaletswearinghislivery！Thisbaseproposalwasrejectedwithcontempt，becausetheBaronde——isoneofthemosthonourableandenlightenedmenoftheage。

`Themostdifficultbargainsareoftenamicablysettledbyagame。Ihaveseenpersonsgamingwhilsttakingawalkandwhilsttravellingintheircarriages。Peoplegameatthedoorsofthetheatres；ofcoursetheygambleforthepriceoftheticket。

Ineverypossiblemanner，andineverysituation，thetruegamesterstrivestoturneveryinstanttoprofit。

`IfIrelatewhatIhaveseeninthematterofplayduringsleep，itwillbedifficulttounderstandme。Agamester，exhaustedbyfatigue，couldnotgiveupplayingbecausehewasaloser；soherequestedhisadversarytoplayforhimwithhislefthand，whilsthedozedoffandslept！Strangetosay，thelefthandofhisadversaryincessantlywon，whilsthesnoredtothesoundofthedice！

`Ihavejustreadinanewspaper，[59]thattwoEnglishmen，wholefttheircountrytofightaduelinaforeignland，neverthelessplayedatthehigheststakesonthevoyage；andhavingarrivedonthefield，oneofthemlaidawagerthathewouldkillhisadversary。Itisstatedthatthespectatorsoftheaffairlookeduponitasagamingtransaction。

[59]JournaldePolitique，Dec。15，1776。

`InspeakingofthisaffairIwastoldofaGerman，who，beingcompelledtofightaduelonaccountofaquarrelatthegamingtable，allowedhisadversarytofireathim。Hewasmissed。

hesaidtohisopponent，"Inevermiss。IbetyouahundredducatsthatIbreakyourrightorleftarm，justasyouplease。"Thebetwastaken，andhewon。

`Ihavefoundcardsanddiceinmanyplaceswherepeoplewereinwantofbread。Ihaveseenthemerchantandtheartisanstakinggoldbyhandfuls。Asmallfarmerhasjustgamedawayhisharvest，valuedat3000francs。’[60]

[60]Dusaulx，_DelaPassionduJeu_，1779。

GaminghousesinPariswerefirstlicensedin1775，bythelieutenantofpolice，Sartines，who，todiminishtheodiumofsuchestablishments，decreedthattheprofitresultingfromthemshouldbeappliedtothefoundationofhospitals。Theirnumbersoonamountedtotwelve；andwomenwereallowedtoresorttothemtwodaysintheweek。Besidesthelicensedestablishments，severalillegalonesweretolerated，andespeciallystyled_enfers_，or`hells。’

Gaminghavingbeenfoundprolificinmisfortunesandcrimes，wasprohibitedin1778；butitwasstillpractisedatthecourtandinthehotelsofambassadors，wherepolice-officerscouldnotenter。Bydegreesthepublicestablishmentsresumedtheirwontedactivity，andextendedtheirperniciouseffects。Thenumeroussuicidesandbankruptcieswhichtheyoccasionedattractedtheattentionofthe_Parlement_，whodrewupregulationsfortheirobservance，andthreatenedthosewhoviolatedthemwiththepilloryandwhipping。Thelicensedhouses，aswellasthoserecognized，however，stillcontinuedtheirformerpractices，andbreachesoftheregulationsweremerelyvisitedwithtrivialpunishment。

Atlength，thepassionforplayprevailinginthesocietiesestablishedinthePalaisRoyal，underthetitleof_clubs_or_salons_，apoliceordinancewasissuedin1785，prohibitingthemfromgaming。In1786，freshdisorderhavingarisenintheunlicensedestablishments，additionalprohibitingmeasureswereenforced。DuringtheRevolutionthegaming-houseswerefrequentlyprosecuted，andlicenseswithheld；butnotwithstandingtherigourofthelawsandthevigilanceofthepolice，theystillcontrivedtoexist。

LOUISXVI。TILLTHEPRESENTTIME——Inthegeneralcorruptionofmorals，whichrosetoitsheightduringthereignofLouisXVI。，gamblingkeptpacewith，ifitdidnotoutstrip，everyotherlicentiousnessofthatdismalepoch。[61]Indeed，theuniversalexcitementofthenationnaturallytendedtodevelopeeverydesperatepassionofournature；andthattherevolutionarytroublesandagitationoftheempirehelpedtoincreasethegamblingpropensityoftheFrench，isevidentfromthemagnitudeoftheresultsonrecord。

[61]ItwillbeseeninthesequelthatgamblingwasvastlyincreasedinEnglandbytheFrench`emigres’whosoughtrefugeamongus，bringingwiththemalltheirvices，unchastenedbymisfortune。

Fouche，theministerofpolice，derivedanincomeofL128，000ayearforlicensingor`privileging’gaminghouses，towhichcardsofaddresswereregularlyfurnished。

Besideswhatthe`farmers’ofthegaminghousespaidtoFouche，theywerecompelledtohireandpay120，000persons，employedinthosehousesas_croupiers_orattendantsatthegamingtable，fromhalf-a-crowntohalf-a-guineaaday；andallthese120，000personswere_SPIESOFFOUCHE！_Averycleverideanodoubtitwas，thustodrawarevenuefromtheproceedsofavice，andusetheinstitutionforthepurposesofgovernment；

but，perhaps，asRousseauremarks，`itisagreaterrorindomesticaswellascivileconomytowishtocombatonevicebyanother，ortoformbetweenthemasortofequilibrium，asifthatwhichsapsthefoundationsofordercaneverservetoestablishit。’[62]AministeroftheEmperorTheodosiusII。，intheyear431，thevirtuousFlorentius，inordertoteachhismasterthatitwaswrongtomakethevicescontributetotheState，becausesuchaprocedureauthorizesthem，gavetothepublictreasuryoneofhislandstherevenueofwhichequalledtheproductoftheannualtaxleviedonprostitution。[63]

[62]Nouv。Heloise，t。iv。

[63]Novel。Theodos。18。

AftertherestorationoftheBourbons，itbecamequiteevidentthatplayintheEmpirehadbeenquiteasNapoleonicinitsvigouranddimensionsasanyother`idea’oftheepoch。

ThefollowingdetailofthepublicgamingtablesofPariswaspublishedinanumberofthe_BibliothequeHistorique_，1818，underthetitleof`BudgetofPublicGames。’

STATEOFTHEANNUALEXPENSESOFTHEGAMESOFPARIS。

UnderthepresentAdministration，thereare:——

7TablesofTrente-et-un。

9dittoofRoulette。

1dittoofPasse-Dix。

1TableofCraps。

1dittoofHazard。

1dittoofBiribi——

20

These20Tablesaredividedintoninehouses，fourofwhicharesituatedinthePalaisRoyal。

Toservetheseventablesof_Trente-et-un_，thereare:——francs28Dealers，at550fr。amonth，making……15，400

28Croupiers，at380……10，640

42Assistants，at200……8，400

SERVICEFORTHENINEROULETTESANDONEPASSE-DIX。

80Dealers，at275fr。amonth……22，000

60Assistants，at150……9，000

SERVICEOFTHECRAPS，BIRIBI，ANDHAZARD，12Dealers，at300fr。amonth……3，600

12Inspectors，at120……1，440

10Aids，at100……1，000

6ChefsdePartieattheprincipalhouses，at700fr。amonth……4，200

3ChefsdePartiefortheRoulettes，at500fr。amonth……1，500

20SecretInspectors，at200fr。amonth……4，000

1Inspector-General，at……1，000

130Waiters，at75fr。amonth……9，750

Cardsamonth……1，500

Beerandrefreshments，amonth……3，000

Lights……5，500

Refreshmentforthegrandsaloon，includingtwodinnerseveryweek，permonth……12，000

Totalexpenseofeachmonth……113，930——

Multipliedbytwelve，is……1，367，160

Rentof10Houses，perannum……130，000

ExpenseofOffices……50，000——

Totalperannum……1，547，160

Ifthe`privilege’orlicenseis……6，000，000

Ifabonusofamillionisgivenforsixyears，thesixthpart，oroneyear，willbe……166，666——

Totalexpenditure……7，713，826

Theprofitsareestimatedat，permonth，……800，000——

Whichyield，perannum，……9，600，000

Deductingtheexpenditure……7，713，826——

Theannualprofitsare……fr。1，886，174——

ThusgivingtheannualprofitatL7860sterling。

Weomittheprofitsresultingfromthewatering-places，amountingtofr。200，000。

OneofthenewconditionsimposedontheParisgaminghousesistheexclusionoffemales。

Thus，atParis，thePalaisRoyal，Frascati，andnumerousotherplaces，presentedgaminghouses，whithermillionsofwretchescrowdedinsearchoffortune，but，forthemostpart，tofindonlyruinorevendeathbysuicideorduelling，sooftenresultingfromquarrelsatthegamingtable。

Thisstateofthingswas，however，alteredintheyear1836，atthepropositionofM。B。Delessert，andallthegaminghouseswereorderedtobeclosedfromthe1stofJanuary，1838，sothatthepresentgamblinginFranceisonthesamefootingasgamblinginEngland，——utterlyprohibited，butcarriedoninsecret。

CHAPTERVI。

THERISEANDPROGRESSOFMODERNGAMINGINENGLAND。

ItseemsthattheriseofmoderngaminginEnglandmaybedatedfromtheyear1777or1778。

Beforethistimegamingappearsnevertohaveassumedanalarmingaspect。Themethodicalsystemofpartnership，enablingmentoembarklargecapitalingamblingestablishments，wasunknown；

thoughfromthatperiodthissystembecamethespecialcharacteristicofthepursuitamongallclassesofthecommunity。

Thedevelopmentoftheevilwasasubjectofgreatconcerntothoughtfulmen，andoneofthese，intheyear1784，putforthapamphlet，whichseemstogive`theveryageandbodyofthetime，hisformandpressure。’[64]

[64]Thepamphlet(intheLibraryoftheBritishMuseum)isentitled:——`HintsforaReform，particularlyoftheGamingClubs。

ByaMemberofParliament。1784。’

`Aboutthirtyyearsago，’saysthiswriter，`therewasbutoneclubinthemetropolis。Itwasregulatedandrespectable。

Therewerefewofthememberswhobettedhigh。Suchstakesatpresentwouldbereckonedverylowindeed。Therewerethenassembliesonceaweekinmostofthegreathouses。Anagreeablesocietymetatseveno’clock；theyplayedforcrownsorhalf-

crowns；andreachedtheirownhousesabouteleven。

`Therewasbutoneladywhogameddeeply，andshewasviewedinthelightofaphenomenon。Wereshenowtobeaskedherrealopinionofthosefriendswhowereherformer_PLAY_-fellows，therecanbenodoubtbutthattheyrankverylowinheresteem。

`Inthepresenteraofviceanddissipation，howmanyfemalesattendthecard-tables！Whatistheconsequence？Theeffectsaretooclearlytobetracedtothefrequent_DIVORCES_whichhavelatelydisgracedourcountry，andtheyaretoovisibleintheshamefulconductofmanyladiesoffashion，sincegamblingbecametheirchiefamusement。

`Thereisnownosociety。Theroutsbeginatmidnight。

Theyarepainfulandtroublesometotheladywhoreceivescompany，andtheyareabsolutelyanuisancetothosewhoarehonouredwithacardofinvitation。Itisinvaintoattemptconversation。Thesocialpleasuresareentirelybanished，andthosewhohaveanyrelishforthem，orwhoarefondofearlyhours，arenecessarilyexcluded。Sucharethecompaniesofmoderntimes，andmodernpeopleoffashion。Thosewhoarenotinvitedflytothe_GamingClubs_——

"Tokilltheiridlehoursandcure_ennui！_"

`Togiveanaccountofthepresentencumberedsituationofmanyfamilies，whosepropertywasoncelargeandample，wouldfillavolume。Whencespringthedifficultieswhicheverysucceedingdayincreases？Fromthe_GAMBLINGCLUBS_。Whyaretheycontinuallyhuntedbytheircreditors？Thereplyis——the_GAMBLINGCLUBS_。Whyaretheyobligedcontinuallytoracktheirinventioninordertosaveappearances？Theanswerstillis——the_GAMBLINGCLUBS！_

`Thefatherfrequentlyruinshischildren；andsons，andevengrandsons，longbeforethesuccessionopenstothem，areinvolvedsodeeplythatduringtheirfuturelivestheircircumstancesarerenderednarrow；andtheyhaverankorfamilyhonours，withoutbeingabletosupportthem。

`Howmanyinfamousvillainshaveamassedimmenseestates，bytakingadvantageofunfortunateyoungmen，whohavebeenfirstseducedandthenruinedbytheGamblingClubs！

`Itiswellknownthattheoldmembersofthosegamblingsocietiesexerteverynervetoenlistyoungmenoffortune；andifwetakeaviewoftheprincipalestatesonthisisland，weshallfindmanyinfamous_CHRISTIAN_brokerswhoarenowlivingluxuriouslyandinsplendouronthewrecksofsuchunhappyvictims。

`Atpresent，whenaboyhaslearnedalittlefromhisfather’sexample，heissenttoschool，tobe_INITIATED_。Inthecourseofafewyearsheacquiresaprofoundknowledgeofthescienceofgambling，andbeforeheleavestheUniversityheisperfectlyfittedforamemberofthe_GAMINGCLUBS_，intowhichheiselectedbeforehetakeshisseatineitherHouseofParliament。

Thereisnonecessityforhisbeingofage，asthesoonerheisballottedfor，themoreadvantageoushisadmissionwillprovetothe_OLD_members。

`Scarcelyisthehopefulyouthenrolledamongthese_HONOURABLE_

associates，thanheisintroducedtoJews，toannuity-brokers，andtothelongtrainofmoney-lenders。Theytakecaretoanswerhispecuniarycalls，andthegreaterpartofthenightandmorningisconsumedatthe_CLUB_。Tohiscreditorsandtradesmen，insteadofpayinghisbills，heoffersa_BOND_or_ANNUITY_。HerisesjusttimeenoughtoridetoKensingtonGardens；returnstodress；dineslate；andthenattendsthepartyofgamblers，ashehaddonethenightbefore，unlessheallowshimselftobedetainedforafewmomentsbythenewspaper，orsomepoliticalpublication。

`Suchdowefindthepresentfashionablestyleoflife，from"hisGrace"tothe"Ensign"intheGuards。Willthismodeofeducationrearupheroes，toleadforthourarmies，ortoconductourfleetstovictory？Reviewtheconductofyourgeneralsabroad，andofyourstatesmenathome，duringthelateunfortunatewar，andthesequestionsareanswered。[65]

[65]OfcoursethisisanallusiontotheAmericanWarofIndependenceandthepoliticaleventsathome，from1774to1784。

`Atpresent，tradesmenmustthemselvesbegamblersbeforetheygivecredittoamemberoftheseclubs；butifareformsucceedstheywillbeplacedinastateofsecurity。Atpresenttheymustmake_REGULAR_familiespayanenormouspricefortheirgoods，toenablethemtoruntheriskofneverreceivingasingleshillingfromtheirgamblingcustomers。’

Suchisthepictureofthetimesinquestion，drawnbyacontemporary；anditmaybesaidthatprivaterecklessandunscrupulouspoliticalmachinationswerethespringsandfountainsofallthecalamitiesthatsubsequentlyoverflowed，asitwere，the`openingoftheseals’ofdoomuponthenation。

NotwithstandingthepurityofmoralsenjoinedbythecourtofGeorgeIII。，theearlypartofhisreignpresentsapictureofdissolutemannersaswellasoffuriouspartyspirit。Themostfashionableofourladiesofrankwereimmersedinplay，ordevotedtopolitics:thesamespiritcarriedthemintoboth。TheSabbathwasdisregarded，spentoftenincards，ordesecratedbythemeetingsofpartisansofbothfactions；moraldutieswereneglectedanddecorumoutraged。Thefactwas，thataminorcourthadbecomethecentreofallthebadpassionsandreprehensiblepursuitsinvogue。CarltonHouse，inPallMall，whicheventheoldestofuscanbarelyremember，withitselegantopenscreen，thepillarsinfront，itslowexterior，itsmanysmallrooms，itsdecorationsinvulgartaste，and，tocrownthewhole，itsassociationsofacorruptingrevelry，——CarltonHousewas，inthedaysofgoodKingGeorge，almostasgreatascandaltothecountryasWhitehallinthetimeofimproperKingCharlesII。[66]Theinfluencewhichtheexampleofayoungprince，ofmannerseminentlypopular，producedupontheyoungnobilityoftherealmwasmostdisastrousineverywayandruinoustopublicmorality。

[66]Wharton，`TheQueensofSociety。’Mem。of_Georgiana，DuchessofDevonshire。_

Afterthatperiod，thevastlicensegiventothoseabominableenginesoffraud，theE。O。tables，[67]andthegreatlengthoftimewhichelapsedbeforetheymetwithanycheckfromthepolice，affordedanumberofdissoluteandabandonedcharactersanopportunityofacquiringproperty。Thistheyafterwardsincreasedinthelowgaminghouses，andbyfollowingupthesamesystematNewmarketandtheotherfashionableplacesofresort，andfinallybymeansofthelottery，thatmodeofinsensategambling；tillatlengththeyacquiredasumofmoneynothingshortof_ONEMILLIONSTERLING_。

[67]SocalledfromthelettersEandO，theturningupofwhichdecidedthebet。Theywereotherwisecalled_Roulette_and_RolyPoly_，fromtheballsusedinthem。TheyseemtohavebeenintroducedinEnglandabouttheyear1739。ThefirstwassetupatTunbridgeandprovedextremelyprofitabletotheproprietors。

Thisenormouswealthwasthenusedasanefficientcapitalincarryingonvariousillegalestablishments，particularlygaminghouses，theexpensesofafirst-ratehousebeingL7000perannum，whichwereagainemployedasthemeansofincreasingtheseill-gottenriches。

Thesystemwasprogressivebutsteadyinitsdevelopment。

Severaloftheseconspicuousmembersoftheworldoffashion，rollingintheirgaudycarriagesandassociatingwithmenofhighrankandinfluence，mightbefoundontheregistersoftheOldBailey，orhadbeenformerlyoccupiedinturning，withtheirownhands，E。O。tablesinthepublicstreets。

Thefollowing_Queries_，whichareextractedfromthe_MorningPost_ofJulythe5th，1797，throwconsiderablelightuponthiscurioussubject，andshowhowseriouslythematterwasregardedwhensopublicadenunciationwasdeemednecessaryandventuredupon:——

`IsMrOgden(nowtheNewmarketoracle)thesamepersonwho，five-and-twentyyearssince，wasanannualpedestriantoAscot，coveredwithdust，amusinghimselfwith"_PRICKINGinthe_

belt，""_HUSTLING_inthehat，"&c。，amongthelowestclassofrustics，attheinferiorboothsofthefair？

’IsD-k-yB——nwhonowhashissnugfarm，thesamepersonwho，someyearssince，_DROVEAPOSTCHAISE_forT——y，ofBagshot，couldneitherreadnorwrite，andwasintroducedto_THEFAMILY_

onlybyhispre-eminenceatcribbage？

`IsMrTwycross(withhisphaeton)thesamepersonwhosomeyearssincebecameabankruptinTavistockStreet，immediatelycommencedtheManofFashionatBath，keptrunninghorses，&c。，_secundumartem？_

`IsMrPhillips(whohasnowhistownandcountryhouse，inthemostfashionablestyle)thesamewhowasoriginallyalinen-

draperandbankruptatSalisbury，andwhomadehisfirst_familyentre_inthemetropolis，byhissuperiorityat_Billiards_

(withCaptainWallace，Orrell，&c。)atCropley’s，inBowStreet？

`WaspoorcarbuncledP——e(somanyyearsthefavouritedecoyduckof_THEFAMILY_)theverybarberofOxford，who，inthemidstoftheoperationuponagentleman’sface，laiddownhisrazor，swearingthathewouldnevershaveanothermansolongashelived，andimmediatelybecametheheroofthecardtable，the_bones_，the_box_，andthe_Cockpit？_’

CapitalwasnottheonlyqualificationforadmissionintotheConfederacyofGambling。Someofthemembersweretakenintopartnershiponaccountoftheirdexterityin`securing’diceor`dealing’cards。Oneissaidtohavebeenactuallyasharerinevery`Hell’attheWest-EndoftheTown，becausehewasfearedasmuchashewasdetestedbythefirms，whohadreasontoknowthathewould`peach’ifnotkeptquiet。Informersagainsttheillegalandiniquitousassociationswerearrestedandimprisoneduponwrits，obtainedbyperjury——todeterothersfromsimilarattacks；witnessesweresuborned；officersofjusticebribed；

ruffiansandbludgeon-menemployed，wheregratuitiesfailed；

personalviolenceandevenassassinationthreatenedtoallwhodaredtoexposethecryingevil——amongothers，toStockdale，thewell-knownpublisheroftheday，inPiccadilly。

ThencameuponthenationthemuddyfloodofFrenchemigrants，pouredforthbytheGreatRevolution——asetofmen，speakinggenerally，whosevicescontaminatedtheveryatmosphere。

Beforetheadventoftheseworthiesthenumberofgamblinghousesinthemetropolis，exclusiveofthosesolongestablishedbysubscription，wasnotmorethanhalf-a-dozen；butbytheyear1820theyhadincreasedtonearlyfifty。Besides_Faro_and_Hazard_，theforeigngamesof_Macao，Roulette，RougeetNoir_，&c。，wereintroduced，andtherewasagraduatedaccommodationforallranks，fromthePeeroftheRealmtotheHighwayman，theBurglar，andthePicket。

Atoneofthewatering-places，in1803，abaronetlostL20，000

atplay，andabondforL7000。Thiswillscarcelysurpriseuswhenweconsiderthatatthetimeabovefivehundrednotoriouscharacterssupportedthemselvesinthemetropolisbythisspeciesofrobbery，andinthesummerspreadthemselvesthroughthewatering-placesfortheirprofessionaloperations。Someofthemkeptbankers，andwerepossessedofconsiderablepropertyinthefundsandinland，andwenttheir_circuits_asregularlyasthejudges。Mostexcellentjudgestheywere，too，oftheconditionofa`pigeon。’

Inagreatcommercialcitywhere，fromtheextentofitstrade，manufacture，andrevenue，theremustbeanimmensecirculationofproperty，thedangerisnottobeconceivedoftheallurementswhichwerethusheldouttoyoungmeninbusinesshavingthecommandofmoney，aswellastheclerksofmerchants，bankers，andothers。Infact，toomanyofthisclassproved，atthebarofjustice，theconsequenceoftheirresorttothesecomplicatedscenesofvice，idleness，extravagance，misfortune，andcrime。

Amonginnumerableinstancesarethefollowing:——In1796，ashopmantoagrocerinthecitywasseducedintoagamingparty，wherehefirstlostallhisownmoney，andultimatelywhathismasterhadintrustedhimwith。Hehangedhimselfinhisbed-roomafewhoursafterwards。

Inthesameyear，LordKenyoninsummingupacaseofthekindsaid:——`Itwasextremelytobelamentedthattheviceofgamblinghaddescendedtotheverylowestordersofthepeople。Itwasprevalentamongthehighestranksofsociety，whohadsettheexampletotheirinferiors，andwho，itseemed，weretoogreatforthelaw。Iwishtheycouldbepunished。Ifanyprosecutionsarefairlybroughtbeforeme，andthepartiesarejustlyconvicted，whatevermaybetheirrankorstationinthecountry——thoughtheyshouldbethefirstladiesintheland——theyshallcertainlyexhibitthemselvesinthepillory。’

In1820，JamesLloyd，oneoftheharpieswhopractisedonthecredulityofthelowerordersbykeepinga_LittleGo_，orillegallottery，wasbroughtupforthetwentiethtime，toanswerforthatoffence。Thismanwasamethodistpreacher，andassembledhisneighbourstogetherathisdwellingonaSaturdaytopreachthegospeltothem，andtheremainderoftheweekhewastobefound，withanequallynumerousparty，instructingthemintheruinousviceofgambling。Thechargewasclearlyproved，andtheprisonerwassentencedtothreemonths’imprisonmentwithhardlabour。

InthesameyearnumbersofyoungpersonsrobbedtheirmasterstoplayatacertainestablishmentcalledMorley’sGamblingHouse，intheCity，andwereruinedthere。SomewerebroughttojusticeattheOldBailey；others，inthemadnesscausedbytheirlosses，destroyedthemselves；andsomeescapedtoothercountries，bytheirownactivity，orthroughtheinfluenceoftheirfriends。

Atravellerofthecoachmakers，MessrsHoulditchofLongAcre，embezzledorappliedtohisownuseconsiderablesumsofmoneybelongingtothem。ItappearedinevidencethattheprisonerwassentbyhisemployerstotheContinenttotakeordersforcarriages；hewasallowedahandsomesalary，andwasfurnishedwithcarriagesforsale。Themoneyhereceivedforthemhewastosendtohisemployers，afterdeductinghisexpenses；butinsteadofsodoing，hegamblednearlythewholeofitaway。Thefollowinglettertohismasterwasputinbywayofexplanationofhiscareer:——`Sir，——TheerrorsintowhichIhavefallenhavemademesohatemyselfthatIhaveadoptedthehorribleresolutionofdestroyingmyself。IamsensibleofthecrimeI

commitagainstGod，myfamily，andsociety，buthavenotcouragetolivedishonoured。ThegenerousconfidenceyouplacedinmeI

havebaselyviolated；Ihaverobbedyou，andthoughnottoenrichmyself，theconsciousnessofitdestroysme。Bankruptcy，poverty，beggary，andwantIcouldbear——consciousintegritywouldsupportme:buttheill-fatedacquaintanceIformedledmetothoseearthlyhells——gamblinghouses；andthencommencedmyvillainiesanddeceptionstoyou。Mylosseswerenotlargeatfirst；andthestoriesthatweretoldmeofgainmademehopetheywouldsoonberecovered。AtthisperiodIreceivedtheordertogotoVienna，andonsettlingatthehotelIfoundmydebtstreblewhatIhadexpected。Iwasinconsequencecompelledtoleavethetwocarriagesasaguaranteeforpartofthedebt，whichIhadnotinmypowertodischarge。IhadhopedsuchsuccessatViennaaswouldenablemetostatealltoyou；butdisappointmentblastedeveryhope，anddespair，onmyreturntoParis，begantogeneratethefatalresolutionwhich，atthemomentyoureadthis，willhavematureditselftoconsummation。

Ifeelthatmyreputationisblasted；nowayleftofre-imbursingthemoneywasted，yourconfidenceinmetotallydestroyed，andnothinglefttomebuttoseemywifeandchildren，anddie。

Affectionforthemholdsmeinexistencealittlelonger。Thegamingtableagainpresenteditselftomyimaginationastheonlypossiblemeansofextricatingmyself。CountMontoni’s3000

francs，whichIreceivedbeforeyoucametoParis，furnishedmewiththemeans——mydeathspeakstheresult！Afterrobberysobaseasmine，Ifearitwillbeofnouseformetosolicityourkindnessformywretchedwifeandforlornfamily。Oh，Sir，ifyouhavepityonthemandtreatthemkindly，anddonotleavethemtoperishinaforeignland，theconsciousnessoftheactwillcheeryouinyourlastmoments，andGodwillrewardyouandyoursforittenfold。Theirsensibilitieswillnotcausethemtoneedhumanaid。ThusIshallbethreefoldthemurderer。Ithankyouforthekindnessyouhaverenderedme；andIassureyourbrotherthathehas，inthisdreadfulmoment，myardentwishesforhiswelfarehereandhereafter。IhavesocontriveditthatyouwillseeapersonatthePrince’stomorrow，whowillinterpretforyou。Inmentioningmyfatetohim，youwillnotmuchserveyourowninterestbyblackeningmycharacterandmemory。Isubjointherewardofmyvillainiesandthecorrectbalanceoftheaccount。CountEdmond’sregularbillsIhavenotreceived；hisvaletwillgiveyouthem；theothersareinapocket-book，whichwillbefoundonmycorpsesomewhereinthewoodofBoulogne。

`Signed，W。KINSBY。’

Itappears，however，thatthegentlemanchangedhismindanddidnotcommitsuicide，butsurrenderedattheInsolventDebtor’sCourttobedealtwithaccordingtolaw，whichwasamuchwiserresolution。

TothegamesofFaro，Hazard，Macao，Doodle-do，andRougeetNoir，moreeventhantohorse-racing，manytradesmen，oncepossessinggoodfortunesandgreatbusiness，owedtheirdestruction。ThousandsuponthousandshavebeenruinedinthevicinityofStJames’s。Itwasnotconfinedtoyouthsoffortuneonly，butthedecentandrespectabletradesman，aswellasthedashingclerkofthemerchantandbanker，wasingulfedinitsvortes。

Theproprietorsofgaminghouseswerealsoconcernedinfraudulentinsurances，andemployedanumberofclerkswhilethelotteriesweredrawing，whoconductedthebusinesswithoutrisk，incounting-houses，wherenoinsurancesweretaken，buttowhichbookswerecarried，aswellasfromthedifferentofficesineverypartofthetown，asfromthe_Morocco-men_，whowentfromdoortodoortakinginsurancesandenticingthepoorandmiddlingrankstoadventure。

Itwasgambling，andnottheburdensofthelongwar，northerevulsionfromwartopeace，thatmadesomanybankruptciesinthefewyearssucceedingtheBattleofWaterloo。Itwastheplunderersatgamingtablesthatfilledthegazettesandmadethegaolsoverflowwithsomanyvictims。

AforeignerhasadvancedanopinionastothesourceofthegamblingpropensityofEnglishmen。`TheEnglish，’saysM。

Dunne，[68]`themostspeculativenationonearth，calculateevenuponfuturecontingences。Nowhereelseistheadventurousrageforstock-jobbingcarriedontosogreatanextent。Thefuryofgambling，socommoninEngland，isundoubtedlyadaughterofthisspeculativegenius。The_Greeks_ofGreatBritainare，however，muchinferiortothoseofFranceincunningandindustry。A

certainFrenchmanwhoassumedinLondonthetitleandmannersofabaron，hasbeenknowntosurpassallthemostdexterousroguesofthethreekingdomsintheartofrobbing。Hisaide-de-campwasakindofGermancaptain，orrather_chevalierd’industrie_，apersonwhohadactedthedoublecharacterofaFrenchspyandanEnglishofficeratthesametime。Theirtacticsbeingatlengthdiscovered，thebaronwasobligedtoquitthecountry；

andheissaidtohaveafterwardsenteredthemonasteryofLaTrappe，’wheredoubtless，inthesevereandgloomyreligiouspracticesofthatterriblepenitentiary，heatonedforhispastenormities。

[68]`Refexionssurl’Homme。’

`TillnearthecommencementofthepresentcenturythefavouritegamewasFaro，andasitwasadecidedadvantagetoholdtheBank，mastersandmistresses，lessscrupulousthanWilberforce，frequentlyvolunteeredtofleeceandamusethecompany。Butscandalhavingmadebusywiththenamesofsomeofthem，itbecameusualtohireaprofessedgamesteratfiveortenguineasanight，tosetupatablefortheevening，justasanyoperaticprofessionalmightnow-a-daysbehiredforaconcert，oraband-

masterforaball。

`Farograduallydroppedoutoffashion；Macaotookitsplace；

Hazardwasneverwanting；andWhistbegantobeplayedforstakeswhichwouldhavesatisfiedFoxhimself，who，thoughitwascalculatedthathemighthavenettedfourorfivethousandayearbygamesofskill，complainedthattheyaffordednoexcitement。

`Wattier’sClub，inPiccadilly，wastheresortoftheMacaoplayers。Itwaskeptbyanold_maitred’hotel_ofGeorgeIV。，acharacterinhisway，whotookajustprideinthecookeryandwinesofhisestablishment。

`Allthebrilliantstarsoffashion(andfashionwaspowerthen)

frequentedWattier’s，withBeauBrummellfortheirsun。`PoorBrummell，dead，inmiseryandidiotcy，atCaen！andIrememberhiminallhisglory，cuttinghisjokesaftertheopera，atWhite’s，inablackvelvetgreat-coat，andacockedhatonhiswell-powderedhead。

`Nearlythesameturnofreflectionissuggestedaswerunoverthenamesofhisassociates。Almostallofthemwereruined——

threeoutoffourirretrievably。Indeed，itwastheforcedexpatriationofitssupportersthatcausedtheclubtobebrokenup。

`Duringthesameperiod(from1810to1815orthereabouts)therewasagreatdealofhighplayatWhite’sandBrookes’，particularlyatWhist。AtBrookes’figuredsomeremarkablecharacters——asTippooSmith，bycommonconsentthebestWhist-

playerofhisday；andanoldgentlemannicknamedNeptune，fromhishavingonceflunghimselfintotheseainafitofdespairatbeing，ashethought，ruined。Hewasfishedoutintime，foundhewasnotruined，andplayedonduringtheremainderofhislife。

`ThemostdistinguishedplayeratWhite’swasthenoblemanwhowaspresentedattheSalonsinParisasLeWellingtondesJoueurs(LordRivers)；andherichlymeritedthename，ifskill，temper，andthemostdaringcouragearetitlestoit。Thegreatestgenius，however，isnotinfallible。HeoncelostthreethousandfourhundredpoundsatWhistbynotrememberingthatthesevenofheartswasin！HeplayedatHazardforthehigheststakesthatanyonecouldbegottoplayforwithhim，andatonetimewassupposedtohavewonnearlyahundredthousandpounds；but_IT

ALLWENT_，alongwithagreatdealmore，atCrockford’s。

`TherewasalsoagreatdealofplayatGraham’s，theUnion，theCocoaTree，andotherclubsofthesecondorderinpointoffashion。Herelargesumswerehazardedwithequalrashness，andremarkablecharactersstartedup。AmongthemostconspicuouswasthelateColonelAubrey，wholiterallypassedhislifeatplay。

Hedidnothingelse，morning，noon，andnight；anditwascomputedthathehadpaidmorethansixtythousandpoundsforcard-money。Hewasaveryfineplayeratallgames，andashrewd，cleverman。HehadbeentwicetoIndiaandmadetwofortunes。Itwassaidthathelostthefirstonhiswayhome，transferredhimselffromoneshiptoanotherwithoutlanding，wentback，andmadethesecond。Hislifewasacontinualalternationbetweenpovertyandwealth；andheusedtosay，thegreatestpleasureinlifeiswinningatcards——thenextgreatest，losing！

`Forseveralyearsdeepplaywentonatalltheseclubs，fluctuatingbothastoamountandlocality，tillbydegreesitbegantoflag。IthadgottoalowebbwhenMrCrockfordcametoLondonandestablishedthecelebratedclubwhichborehisname。

`Somegoodwascertainlyproducedbythesystem。Inthefirstplace，privategambling(betweengentlemanandgentleman)，withitsdegradingincidents，isatanend。Inthesecondplace，thisverycircumstancebringstheworstpartofthepracticewithinthereachofthelaw。Publicgambling，whichonlyexistedbyandthroughwhatwerepopularlytermed_hells_，mightbeeasilysuppressed。Therewere，in1844，morethantwentyoftheseestablishmentsinPallMall，Piccadilly，andStJames’s，calledintoexistencebyCrockford’ssuccess。’[69]

[69]PrivateMS。(EdinburghReview，vol。LXXX)。

Whilstsuchwasthestateofthingsamongthearistocracyandthosewhowereabletoconsortwiththem，itseemsthatthelowerorderswerepursuing`privategambling，’intheir`ungenteel’

fashion，toaverysadextent。In1834awriterinthe`Quarterly’speaksasfollows:——

`Doncaster，Epsom，Ascot，andWarwick，andmostofournumerousrace-groundsandrace-towns，arescenesofdestructiveanduniversalgamblingamongthelowerorders，whichourabsurdlylaxpoliceneverattempttosuppress；andyet，withouttheslightestapproachtoanimproperlyharshinterferencewiththepleasuresofthepeople，theRouletteandE。O。tables，whichplunderthepeasantryattheseplacesforthebenefitoftravellingsharpers(certainlyequallyrespectablewithsomebipedsofpreywhodrivecoronetedcabsnearStJames’s)，mightbeputdownbyanywatchfulmagistrate。’[70]

[70]QuarterlyReview，vol。LII。

Ifearthatsomethingsimilarmaybesuggestedatthepresentday，astothesamenotoriouslocalities。

MrSala，writingsomeyearsagoongamblinginEngland，said:——

`Thepassionforgamblingis，Ibelieve，innate；butthereis，happily，averysmallpercentageofthepopulationwhoarebornwithapropensityforhighplay。Wearespeculativeandeagerlycommercial；butitisraretodiscoveramongusthatinveterateloveforgambling，asgambling，whichyoumayfindamongtheItalians，theSouthAmericanSpaniards，theRussians，andthePoles。Moro，Baccara，Tchuka——thesearegamesatwhichcontinentalpeasantswillwagerandlosetheirlittlefields，theirstandingcrops，theirharvestinembryo，theirverywiveseven。TheAmericanssurpassusintheardouroftheirpropitiationofthegamblinggoddess，andonboardtheMississippisteamboats，anenchantinggame，called_Poker_，isplayedwithadeliriumofexcitement，whoseintensitycanonlybeimaginedbyrealizingthatfamousboutat"catchhimwhocan，"

whichtookplaceatthehorticultural_fete_immortalizedbyMrSamuelFoote，comedian，atwhichwaspresentthegreat_Panjandrum_himself，withthelittleroundbuttonattop，thefestivitiescontinuingtillthegunpowderranoutattheheelsofthecompany’sboots。

`WhenIwasaboy，notsoverylong——saytwentyyears——

since，theWest-endofLondonswarmedwithillicitgamblinghouses，knownbyanameIwillnotoffendyourearsbyrepeating。

Oneveryrace-coursetherewasapublicgamblingboothandanabundanceofthimble-riggers’stalls。These，Iamhappytostate，existnolonger；andthefoolswhoarealwaysreadytobeplucked，canonly，ingambling，fallvictimstothecommonestandcoarsestofswindlers；skittlesharps，beer-houseroguesandsharpers，andknaveswhotraveltoentraptheunwaryinrailwaycarriageswithloadeddice，markedcards，andlittlesquaresofgreenbaizefortables，andagainstwhomtheauthoritiesoftherailwaycompaniesveryproperlywarntheirpassengers。A

notoriousgamblinghouseinStJames’sStreet——Crockford’s，——

whereitmaybesaid，withoutexaggeration，thatmillionsofpoundssterlinghavebeendicedawaybythefoolsoffashion，isnowoneofthemostsumptuousandbestconducteddiningestablishmentsinLondon——the"Wellington。"ThesemipatricianHadesthatweretobefoundinthepurlieusofStJames’s，suchasthe"CocoaTree，"the"Berkeley，"andthe"stick-shop，"

atthecornerofAlbemarleStreet——awholePandemoniumofrosewoodandplate-glassdens——neverrecoveredfromarazziamadeonthemsimultaneouslyonenightbythepolice，whowereorganizedonaplanofmilitarytactics，andunderthecommandofInspectorBeresford；andataconcertedsignalassailedtheportalsoftheinfamousplaceswithsledge-hammers。AtthetimetowhichIrefer，inParis，thePalaisRoyal，andtheenvironsoftheBoulevardsdesItaliens，aboundedwithmagnificentgamblingroomssimilartothosestillinexistenceinHombourg，whichwereregularlylicensedbythepolice，andfarmedunderthemunicipalityoftheVilledeParis；ahandsomeper-centageoftheiniquitousprofitsbeingpaidtowardsthecharitableinstitutionsoftheFrenchmetropolis。ThereareverymanynotabilitiesoftheFrenchImperialCourt，whowerethen_fermiersdesjeux_，orgamblinghousecontractors；andonlyayearortwosinceDoctorLouisVeron，ex-dealerinquackmedicines，ex-manageroftheGrandOpera，andex-proprietorofthe"Constitutionnel"

newspaper，offeredanenormousroyaltytoGovernmentfortheprivilegeofestablishingagamblinghouseinParis。ButtheEmperorNapoleon——allex-memberofCrockford’sasheis——

sensiblydeclinedthetemptingbait。Asimilarly"generous"offerwasmadelastyeartotheBelgianGovernmentbyajoint-stockcompanywhowantedtoestablishpublicgamingtablesatthewatering-placesofOstend，andwhoofferedtoestablishanhospitalfromtheirprofits；butKingLeopold，theastuteproprietorofClaremont，wasasprudentashisImperialcousinofFrance，andrefusedtosoilhishandswithcoggeddice。