’MANNERSMAKETHEMAN。

MrManners，arelationoftheDukeofRutland，manyyearsago，lostaconsiderablesumtoawell-knowngamester，whosetuphiscarriageinconsequence。Beingatalossforamotto，MrMannerssuggestedthefollowing:——

MANNERSMAKE(S)THEMAN。’

SHARPPRACTICE——NOTBYANATTORNEY。

ThecommandingofficerofaMilitiaregimenthavingpassedaneveningwithseveralofhisofficers，carriedoneofthem，whowasmuchintoxicated，totownwithhim。Howtherestofthenightwaspassedwasnotknown——atleasttotheyoungman；butinthemorningthecolonelslippedintohishandamemorandumofhishavinglosttohimatplayL700——forwhichsumhewasactuallyarrestedONTHEPARADEthesameday，andwascompelledtograntanannuitytoanomineeofthecolonelforL100perannum！

AGAMESTERTOTHEBACK-BONE。

ArchdeaconBrugesmentionsagentlemanwhowassothoroughagamester，thatheleftinhiswillaninjunctionthathisbonesshouldbemadeintodice，andhisskinpreparedsoastobeacoveringfordice-boxes！[31]

[31]AsimilaranecdoteisrelatedofaFrenchman。

FOOTE’SWITTICISMS。

Ablackleg，famousfor’coggingadie，’saidthattherehadbeengreatsportatNewmarket。’What！’saidFoote，’Isupposeyouweredetected，andkickedoutoftheHazardroom。’

F——d，theClerkoftheArraigns，broughtoffLookupwhenindictedforperjury。Foote，afterwardsplayingwithhimatWhist，said，’F——d，youcandoanything，afterbringingofLookup。Idon’twonderyouholdthirteentrumpsinyourhand。Theleasthecoulddowastoteachyouthe"longshuffle"foryourservices。’

TheRev。DrDoddwasaveryunluckygamester，andreceivedaguineatoforfeittwentyifheeverplayedagainaboveaguinea。

This，amonggamblers，istermedbeingTIEDUP。WhenthedoctorwasexecutedforforgeryagentlemanobservedtoFoote——’I

supposethedoctorislaunchedintoeternitybythistime。’’Howso？’saidFoote，’hewasTIEDUPlongago。’

EFFECTOFASEVERELOSSATPLAY。

LordC——lostonenightL33，000toGeneralScott。Theamiablepeer，however，benefitedbytheseverelesson，andresolvedneveragaintolosemorethanonehundredatasitting！Heissaidtohavestrictlykepthisresolve。

PADDY’SDECISION。

SomegamblersdupingacountryfellowatthegamecalledPut，inapublic-housenearStPancras，oneofthemappealedtoanIrishmanwhowaslookingonwhetherhehadnotTHREETREYSINHIS

HAND？’Youhadallthat，’saidPaddy；’andwhat’smore，IsawyouTAKETHEMALLoutofyourpocket。’

GAMBLINGCAUSEDBYGRIEF。

TheHonourableJesseAnker，inordertodissipatethegloomoccasionedbythelossofhiswife，whomhepassionatelyloved，hadrecoursetogaming，bywhich，atdifferenttimes，helostconsiderablesums，butnotsoastoinjurehisproperty，whichwasverylarge，inanymaterialdegree。Theremedydidnotproveeffectual；heshothimselfathislodgingsatBath。

AGAMBLER’SEXCUSEFORNOTBEINGASECONDINADUEL。

Agentlemanwhohadbeencalledout，appliedtoafriendwhohadwonalargesumofmoneytobehissecond。’Mydearfriend，’

answeredthegamester，’Iwonfifteenhundredguineaslastnight，andshallcutapoorfigureatfightingto-day；butifyouapplytothepersonIwonthemof，hewillfightlikeadevil，forhehasnotafarthingleft。’

’MOREFORTUNATE。’

LordMarkStairandLordStairwereatplayinacoffee-house，whenastrangeroverlookedthegame，anddisturbedthemwithquestions。LordMarksaid——’Letusthrowdicetoseewhichofusshallpinkthisimpudentfellow。’LordStairwon。Theotherexclaimed——’Ah！Stair，Stair！youhavebeenalwaysmorefortunateinlifethanI。’

CAPTAINROCHE。

CaptainRoche，aliasTyger，aliasSavageRoche，whostuckhisgamingcompanion’shandtothetablewithaforkforconcealingacardunderit，happenedtobeattheBedfordBilliard-table，whichwasextremelycrowded。Rochewasknockingtheballsaboutwithhiscue，andMajorWilliamson，anothercelebrity，withwhomhewasengagedonbusiness，desiredhimtoleaveoff，ashehinderedgentlemenfromplaying。’Gentlemen？’sneeringlyexclaimedRoche；’why，major，exceptyouandme(andtwoorthreemore)thereisnotagentlemanintheroom——therestareallblacklegs。’

Onleavingtheplace，themajorexpressedhisastonishmentathisrudeness，andwondered，outofsonumerousacompany，itwasnotresented。’Oh，sir，’saidRoche，’therewasnofearofthat；

therewasnotathiefintheroomwhodidnotsupposehimselfoneof"thetwoorthreegentlemen"Imentioned。’

FAROATROUTS。

ThefollowingadvertisementappearedintheCouriernewspaperin1794:——

’AsFaroisthemostfashionablecirculargameinthehauttoninexclusionofmelancholyWhist，andtopreventacompanybeingcantonedintoseparateparties，agentlemanofunexceptionablecharacterwill，oninvitation，dohimselfthehonourtoattendtheroutofanylady，nobleman，orgentleman，withaFaroBankandFund，adequatetothestyleofplay，from500to2000

guineas。

’Address，G。A。，byletter，tobeleftatMrHarding’s，Piccadilly，nearlyoppositeBondStreet。

’N。B——Thisadvertisementwillnotappearagain。’

PROSPECTOFL5200PERANNUMFROMACAPITALOFL2000。

ThefollowingadvertisementappearedintheMorningChroniclein1817:——

’AnypersonwhocancommandTwoThousandPoundsinreadymoney，mayadvanceitinaspeculationwhichwillrealizeatleastL100

perweek，andperhapsnotrequiretheadvanceofaboveonehalfthemoney。Thepersonalattendanceofthepartyengagingisrequisite；buttherewillbenooccasionforarticlesofpartnership，oranyestablishment，astheprofitsmaybedivideddaily。’

OFWHATTRADEISAGAMING-HOUSEKEEPER？

AtaWestminsterelectionthekeeperofanotoriousgaminghouseinStAnn’sparishwasasked，asusual，whathistradewas，when，afteralittlehesitation，hesaid，’Iamanivoryturner。’

THEGAMEPLAYEDINTHECOURTOFCHANCERY。

MrsLaw，executrixofGeorgeLaw，lateproprietoroftheSmyrnaCoffeeHouse，StJames’sStreet，in1807，found，amongherhusband’spapers，severalnotesandmemorandaofmoneyadvancedtoaMrNelthorpe，whichsheputinsuit。Thelatterallegedthattheywereforgamblingpurposes，andcalledMrsLawtosaywhetherherhusbanddidnotkeepacommongamblinghouse；andhiscounselcontendedthatitwasclearthenoteswereforgamingtransactions，BECAUSEtheywerefor100GUINEAS，200GUINEAS，andsoon——disdainingthevulgarenumerationofpounds。ButthelordchancellorsaidthatTHEGAMEPLAYEDINTHECOURTOFCHANCERY——asfarascounselwasconcerned——wasforGUINEAS。

THEORIGINALOFARECENTPROPOSAL。

Notlongsinceanadvertisementappeared，andwasnoticedbyseveralofthepapers，purportingtoenableanypersontorealizealargefortunebyasmalladvancetotheadvertiser。ItwillreadilybeseenthatthefollowingistheORIGINALofthescheme，putforthintheMorningChronicle，in1818:——

’ImportantOffer。Agentlemanofrespectabilityhasdiscoveredamethodofwinningatanygameofchance，fairlyandhonourably，toacertainty，byamethodhithertounknown；——hewillSELLTHE

SECRETforaconsideration，ortreatwithagentlemanabletojoinhimwithacapitalofL300，bywhichafortunemaybemade；

ineithercasehewillengagewithonepersononly。Thiswillbefoundwellworththeattentionofamemberofthesuperiorclubs。

****Nopersonalapplicationwillbeanswered。’

GAMEANDGAMBLING。

Agentlemancelebratedforhisquicknessatrepartee，wheninformedthatayoungnoblemanofhisacquaintance(remarkablyfondofafashionablegame)hadshotanimmensenumberofRED

partridges，andalsooftheBLACKgame，whichaboundedonhisestates，replied——’Iamnotintheleastsurprised；hewasatalltimes，EVENWHENINLONDON，devotedlyattachedtotheGAMEOF

ROUGEETNOIR。’

CATCHINGATARTAR。

’Myskillatbilliards，’saysaconfessinggamester，’gavemeasuperiorityovermostImetwith。Icouldalsohidemyskillverydexterously，whichisgenerallyfoundaworkofgreatdifficulty，andjudiciouslywinningorlosing，Icontrivedtomakeitanswermypurpose，——untiloneday，goingtoatablewhichIwasverymuchinthepracticeoffrequenting，andwherenoonewasthenengaged，Iwasinvitedbyastrangertoplay。I

acceptedtheinvitationforasmallstake，andwonveryeasily，somuchso，thatoncommencinganewgameIofferedtogivehimsix，toplaceusmoreonanequality。Heacceptediteagerly，butitproducedhimnobenefit；heplayedsobadly，andmanagedbothhiscueandmacesoawkwardly——forImadenoobjectiontohischangingthemasoftenashepleased——that，playingverycarelessly，Icouldnotavoidbeatinghim。Wecontinuedincreasingthestakeseverysuccessivegame；moneyseemedofnovaluetohim；heappearedtohaveplenty，andlostitwithaspiritthattoldmeIhadgotholdofanexcellentsubject，whocouldpaymewellforbeatinghim。Ididnotwishtowintoopalpably，andthereforekeptincreasingtheadvantageIyieldedhim，tillitamountedtosixteen。HenowproposedmakingthebetONEHUNDREDPOUNDS，andthatIshouldgivehimeighteen。Hiseagerness，aswellasthemannerinwhichhehandledhistools，convincedmeofhisinexperience，andIacceptedtheproposal；——but，tomysurprise，hewonthegame。Helaughedsoheartilyattheevent，andconductedhimselfsoextravagantly，thatIfeltpersuadedthethingwasaccidental。Heproposeddoublingthestakes，whichIrefused；yetIagreedtoplayhimforthesamesumasbefore，butgivinghimonlyfourteen。Bysomechancehewonagain；andthenIdeclinedplayinganymore；

buthepushedmesohard，andofferedtoplaytheevengameratherthanIshouldgiveover，thatIwasinducedtoyield。Hedeclaredhedidnotwantmymoney，andwishedtogivemeanopportunityofrecoveringit。Itwasthedepthofartifice，andIdiscoveredittoolate。Hewon……andIhadnomoneytopay！Oneofthebystanderstookpartwithhim；mycasedidnotinviteorinterestanyonetostandbyme。Iwastreatedwithgreatindignity；andthoughIgaveupmywatchandeveryarticleofvalueIpossessed，yetIwasnotallowedtodepartwithoutveryillusage。Ihadtransgressedthelawsofgaming，bybettingafterIhadceasedtobeabletopay；butIhadsoconfidentlyfeltthatIhadmyantagonistinmyownpower，thatI

consideredthestakeasmyownassoonasthebetwasmade。TheinjuriesIreceivedwereverysevere，andconfinedmetomybedforseveraldays。’[32]

[32]ConfessionsofaGamester。

ThesplendidandfascinatinggameofBilliardsseemstohavebeenanEnglishinvention；anditbecamegreatlyinvogueduringthereignofLouisXIV。ofFrance，towhomitwasrecommendedbyhisphysiciansasanexerciseaftermeals。

ItissaidthatChamillard，whoplayedwiththeking，entirelyowedhispoliticalfortunetotheskillwhichhedisplayedinthisgame。Billiardshasnotasyetbeenplaced，likeskittlesandbowls，undertheinterdictofthepoliceauthorities，anditisdifficulttoseehowtheycouldventureuponsotremendousanexperiment。Thegameseemstobemoreinvoguethanever，anddoubtlessheavysumsarelostandwonatit。Billiardmatcheshaveduringthelastthreeyearsbecomequiteoneofthewinterexhibitions，andparticularlythisseasonhavethepublicshowntheirtasteforthegame。Perhapstheextraordinaryperformancesofsomeofthefirst-classcueistshavestirreduptheshadesofKentfield’sdays，hishomelygameofcannonsofflistcushionsandgently-playedstrengthstrokes；orbychancethosethatfavourMarden’sstyle，hislosinghazardsandforcinghalfballs，haverevivedoncemore，andweyearnwithwondertoseethegreatspotstrokesofthepresentage，whenasmanyredhazardscanbescoredinonebreakasweremadeinoldentimesinanevening’splay。AtthepresenttimeRoberts，sen。，mayclaimthehonourinthebilliardworldofhavingbroughtthespotstroketolight:hehasmadenolessthan104consecutivehazardsinonebreak，anduptothepresentwinterthatwonderfulperformancestoodunparalleled。Cook，however，veryrecentlyinanexhibitionmatchwithJ。Bennett，scoredthespothazardnolessthan119

times，making388offtheballs，thebiggestbreakonrecord。

Suchfeatsasthese，supplementedbythebutlittleinferiorplayofRoberts，jun。，andBennett，havedonemorethanexcitesurprise，andhavecausedoldheadscarefullytolookintothestyleofplayof1869andtoponderthereon。Itappearsthattheyaffirm，andnotwithoutreason，thatmuchofthesuccessofthespotstrokearisesfromthepositionofthespotbeingfurtherfromthetopcushionthanformerly，andbythismeansnotonlyistheangleofthestriker’sballforpositionmadeeasier，byagreaterscopeforscreworside，butthemouthofthepocketsthemselvesareeasierofaccess；andthechanceofawobbleallbutavoided。Billiardplayersandtablemakersshouldmeetandarrangearegularstandardsizefortablepocketsandballs，withthespotsatregulatedpositions。Weshouldthenbeabletocomparemeritswithgreatercertainty，andsuchterriblescoreswouldnottroublethemarkers。

Asahealthfulexercise，andinitstendencytopromotethephysicaldevelopmentofthebody，thegameofBilliardsisunsurpassed；butitismuchtoberegrettedthatitisgenerally-

playedinill-ventilatedandcrowdedrooms，oftenreekingwiththepestilentialfumesoftobacco，andnotwithouttheadjunctoffrequentalcoholicpotations。Moreover，therecanbenodoubtthatmanymoderninstancesofbilliardsharpingoccur，suchasI

havejustquoted，inwhichtheunwaryareunscrupulously’fleeced。’Iknowofseveral。

’NOTKNOWINGYOURMAN。’

AcertainhighmilitarycharactersatdowntoplaywithaRussianprince，whointroducedloadeddice。ThetravelledEnglishmanlosteverybet；fortheRussiannevermissedhissevenoreleven，andmodestlythrewonlytentimes。Thesupposedpigeonthentookuptheboxwithfairdice；and，havinglearnedto’secure，’[33]

calleddifferentmainsatpleasure；threwsixteentimes；wonallthearistocrat’smoney，andwishedhimgoodnight。Suchistheeffectofnotknowingyourman！

[33]Thistermmeansmakingsureofwhatyouthrow。

ABLINDGAMESTER。

JohnMetcalfe，muchbetterknownbythenicknameofblindJackofKnaresborough，wasacelebrityatHarrowgateduringthefirstquarterofthepresentcentury。Thisextraordinarymanhadbeendeprivedofhiseyesightatsoearlyaperiodthatheretainednoideaofeitherlightorvision；buthisremainingfacultiesweresoactivelyemployedthatfewpersonsinthefullenjoymentofsighthavesurpassedhimintheexecutionofundertakings，whichseemedparticularlytorequiretheexerciseofthatfaculty。Hetraversedtheneighbourhoodwithoutaguideorcompanion；

surveyedtractsofcountrytoplanandlaydownroads，wherenonehadeverbeenbefore；contractedforthebuildingofbridges，andfulfilledhiscontractswithouttheassistanceofanotherperson，eitherasarchitectorsuperintendentofthework；becameaguidetothosewho，possessingsight，couldnotfindtheirwayacrosstheneighbouringmoorswhencoveredwithdeepfallsofsnowandimpenetrablefogs；rodewell，andfollowedthehoundswithazealandspiritequaltothatofthemostdashinghorsemaninthefield，and，finally，playedatmanygamesofchance，orskill，withaknowledgeandingenuitythatenabledhimtocomeoffvictoriousinmanycontestswithpersonseagertotryhisabilityortoprovetheirown。

Suchamanwassuretoattractnoticeinanyplaceorneighbourhood，butparticularlyataplaceofgeneralresort。

Besides，hepossessedafacetiousmodeoftalking，andonseveraloccasionsexercisedapracticalsortofwit，whichwasequallycertainofgainingpatronage。Visitorsofthehighestranktreatedhimwithkindness，andevenfamiliarity；andasheneverforgothimself，ortrespasseduponthosewhothusfavouredhim，hecontinuedinfashionaslongashelived，andterminatedhissingularcareeratmorethan80yearsofage。

Amonghismanyexploitswasthefollowing。Varioustrialsofhisskillandactivitywereproposedbygentlemenwhoofferedtosupporttheiropinionswiththeirmoney。ButMetcalfehadadeterminationofhisown，andrefusedtakingashareinanyoftheingeniousproposalsurgeduponhim，untilacountrysquire，theNimrodofaneighbouringdistrict，submittedaplanwhichheexpectedwouldbaffleallhismanoeuvres。Heaskedtheblindmanifhewaswillingtorun100yardsagainsthisfavouritemare。

Theofferwasimmediatelyaccepted——providedhemightCHOOSETHE

GROUND，whichshouldbeanopenspaceontheadjoiningmoor。Thestakesweredepositedthesameevening；andafinelevelspacebeingselected，andthedistancemarkedoutwithgreatexactnessearlythefollowingmorning，thedecisionfollowedwithlittledelay。Thepartyselectedtorideagainsttheblindmanwasmuchadmiredforhishorsemanship；andattheappointedtime，everypreparationbeingcompleted，thesignalwasgivenandtheracecommenced。Thehorsemanwasinstantlyfarahead，butbeforehecouldfinishhisstipulateddistancetheforefeetofhishuntersankdeepinabog，fromwhich，beingunabletoextricatethem，hecamecompletelyover，treatinghisriderwithatremendoussomerset。Theloudshoutsofthespectatorsannouncedtotheblindmanthathisexpectationswererealized。Theturfshowednoapparentdifference，andwassufficientlystrongtocarryamanwithsafety，——perhapsitwouldhaveborneahorsegoingonlyatamoderatepace，butatfullspeedhisfeetpiercedthesod，andentangledhiminthehiddendanger。Metcalfepassedhisextendedrival，terminatedhiscareer，andwontheracebeforethosewhohadruntotheprostratehorsemancouldrenderhimanyassistance。Indeed，itwastoolateforthatpurpose，hehadfinishedhisearthlycoursehavingrupturedavesselneartheheartinhisfall！

ANOBLELORDANDACOMMONER，IN1823。

Ayoungandwealthycommoner，whoseemedtoviewiththepea-

greeninthedesperatefollyofgettingridofasuddenlyobtainedfortuneofL130，000inreadymoney，asfastaspossible，andwhoserelishforthesocietyoflegs，bullies，andfightingmenwasequallynotorious，wenttotheFishmonger’sHallClublateonemorning，muchflushedwithwine。Thewell-lightedavenuesdirectedhimtotheFrenchHazardtable。Therewasnoplaygoingonatthetime，butattheentranceofthisPIGEON，whobeforehadbeenDRAWNofagoodroundsum，theboxanddiceweresoonputinmotion，and’seven’sthemain，seven，’waspromptlythecry。Acertainnoblelord，whohadbeenforyearsanexperiencedNURSEofthedice，andwhoknewhowtoNICKtheMAINSorTHROWCRABS，aswellasthebestleginEngland，heldthebow。ThecommonercommencedbybackingthenoblelordIN。

ThenoblelordthrewOUT。HethenbackedthenoblelordOUT，andthenoblelordthrewin。HebackedthenoblelordOUTagain，whothrewfivetothemain。Thecommonerbettedtheoddsdeeplyattherateofthreetotwo。ThenoblelordthrewtheFIVE。Thecommoner，uneasy，changedabout，andbackedthenoblelordINforalargestake，——thenoblelordthenthrewOUT。Thecommonernowroseinarage，andinsinuatedbroadlythathewascheated，robbed，anditcouldnotbefairplay。Ofcoursemuchindignationwasshownbythenoblelord，anditwaswithdifficultythatafightwasprevented；buthislordship，nevertheless，condescendedtodemonstratethatheplayedhisownmoneyatthetime，andwhathelostfounditswayintothebank，withwhich’hewasnotatallconnected。’Thisreasoningsatisfiedthesuspiciousyoungcommoner(pooreasyman！)；anapologywasgiven；andpeacewasrestored。

DIAMONDCUTDIAMOND。

Apartyofplayerswereassembledtothrowforastake，whichwasenormous。Itwas，however，agreedthattheLOWESTthrowshouldwin。Theplayersthrewuntiloneofthemturneduptwoaces。

Allbutonehadthrown，andshoutsofapplausegreetedtheluckycaster，whenthelastwhowastothrowexclaimed——’Hold！I’lltryandbeatthat。’……

Rattlingthedice，heturneddowntheboxonthetable，andonliftingitupdisplayedthetwodiceONEUPONTHETOPOFTHE

OTHER，andbothaces！Hewasthereforedeclaredthewinner。[34]

[34]Menageana。

ATENDERMOTHER。

AFrenchladyhadanonlychild，ahandsomeyoungman，muchaddictedtogaming。HelostatonesittingL40，000，andbeingdestituteofotherresources，hejoinedacompanyofstrollingplayers。TheychancedsometimeafterwardstopassashorttimeatWorcester，nearwhichhismother，whowasconsiderablyadvancedinyears，resided。Thelady，thoughhighlydispleasedwithherson’slife，yet，hearingofhisperformance，couldnotresistawishtoseehim；andforthispurposeshewentthitherincog。Hesupportedtheprincipalcharacterin’TheGamester。’

Thefeelingsofthemotherweresoexcitedatthepassageswhichcloselyappliedtoherson’sconduct，thatsheexclaimedaloud，’Ay，thereheis——the——thebeggar——thescoundrel！Alwaysthesame——nochangeinhim！’Thedelusionsoincreasedatthefifthact，whenBeverleyliftshishandtokillthechild，thattheladyinamostdistressingtonecriedout——’Wretchthatthouart，don’tkillthechild——I’lltakeithomewithme！’

TWOMASTERSOFTHEART。

AFrenchmanwhohadbecomenotoriousfortheunerringcertaintywithwhichhewonfromallwhoventuredtoplaywithhim，atlengthfoundhimselfunabletoinducepersonstositdowntothetablewithhim，therebeingnottheslightestchanceofwinningagainsthisplay。Afterbeingthusidleforsometime，anEnglishman，whohadheardofhistriumphs，expressedhisreadinesstoenterthelistsagainsthim。Theysatdown，andplayedforthreehourswithoutintermission，andattheendofthattimewereexactlyinthesamepositionaswhentheybegun。

Theyatlengthpausedtotakesomerefreshment。’Sare，’saidtheFrenchman，inasortofwhisper，toapartywhoaccompaniedhisantagonist，’yourfriendisaveryclevermanatdecards——deucedclever，sare。’’Heisaverycleverfellow，’observedtheEnglishman。’Ishalltryhimagain，’saidMonsieur；andashemadetheobservationheproceededtotheroominwhichtheyhadbeenplaying，andwhichwasfixedonasthesceneoftheircontinuedcontest。Hehadscarcelyquittedtheplacewhentheothermadehisappearance，andobservedthattheFrenchmanwasthemostskilfulplayerhehadevermetwith。Thepartiesagainmet，andthecardswereagainproduced。Thegamewasrenewedateleveno’clock，andcontinuedwithoutintermissiontillsixo’clockonthefollowingmorning，atwhichtimetheyfound，tothesurpriseofeachother，thattheywerestillastheybegan。

’Sare，’saidtheFrenchman，’youarethebestplayerIevermetwith。’’Andyou，Monsieur，’returnedtheother，’aretheonlygentlemanIeverplayedwith，fromwhomIcouldwinnothing。’

’Indeed，sare！’saidMonsieur，hesitatingly。’Itisafact，I

assureyou。’’Sare，Iamquiteastonishedatyourskill。’’AndI’mnotlesssoatyours，Monsieur。’’You’redemostskilfullestmanatdecardsinEngland。’’Notwhileyouareinit，Monsieur，’repliedtheEnglishman，withasmile。’Sare，I

CHEATED，andyetcouldnotwinfromyou！’remarkedtheFrenchman，hurriedlyandwithmuchemphasis，feelingitimpossibleanylongertoconcealhissurpriseatthecircumstanceofbeingunabletoplayawinninggamewiththeEnglishman。’And，Monsieur，Ididthesamethingwithyou，andyetyouarenoloser！’remarkedtheother，withcorrespondingenergyoftone。

Theproblemwasthussolved:bothhadbeencheatingduringthewholenight，andwereexactlyequalindexterity，bothbeingunconsciousofthedishonestpracticesofeachother；andtheresultwasthateachgotupfromthetablewiththesameamountofmoneyashehadwhenhesatdown。Thecheatscordiallyshookhands，apparentlymuchgratifiedthattheyhadatlengthascertainedhowithadhappenedthatneithercouldplucktheother。

CHAPTERVI。

THEGAMINGCLUBS。

OnthesubjectofClubsMrCunninghaminhis’ClubsofLondon，’

andMrTimbsinhis’ClubLifeinLondon，’havesaidprettywelleverythingthatwewanttoknow，andbytheirhelp，andthatofotherwriters，Ishallendeavourtogiveanaccountofthegamblingcarriedoninsuchplaces。

1。ALMACK’S。

’ThegamingatAlmack’s，’writesWalpoletoHoraceMann，’whichhastakenthepasofWhite’s，isworthyofthedeclineofourempire，orcommonwealth，whichyouplease。Theyoungmenoftheageloseten，fifteen，twentythousandpoundsinaneveningthere。LordStavordale，notone-and-twenty，lostL11，000therelastTuesday，butrecovereditbyonegreathandatHazard。Hesworeagreatoath——"Now，ifIhadbeenplayingDEEPImighthavewonmillions！"Hiscousin，CharlesFox，shinesequallyhereandintheHouseofCommons。’

Amongtherulesoftheestablishment，itwasordered’thateverypersonplayingatthetwenty-guineatabledonotkeeplessthantwentyguineasbeforehim，’and’thateverypersonplayingatthenewguineatabledokeepfiftyguineasbeforehim。’ThattheplayranhighmaybeinferredfromanoteagainstthenameofMrThynne，intheClub-books:——’MrThynnehavingwonONLY12，000

guineasduringthelasttwomonths，retiredindisgust，March21st，1772。’Indeed，theplaywasunusuallyhigh——forrouleausofL50each，andgenerallytherewasL10，000inspecieonthetable。Thegamestersbeganbypullingofftheirembroideredclothes，andputtingonfriezegreatcoats，orturnedtheircoatsinsideoutforluck！Theyputonpiecesofleather(suchasarewornbyfootmenwhentheycleanknives)tosavetheirlacedruffles；andtoguardtheireyesfromthelight，andtokeeptheirhairinorder，worehigh-crownedstrawhatswithbroadbrimsadornedwithflowersandribbons；theyalsoworemaskstoconcealtheiremotionswhentheyplayedatquinz。[35]Eachgamesterhadasmallneatstandbyhim，toholdhistea，orawoodenbowlwithanedgeoformolu，toholdtherouleausofguineas。

[35]Quinze，theFrenchforfifteen。Thisisagameatcards，inwhichthewinnerishewhocountsfifteen，ornearesttothatnumber，inallthepointsofhishand。Three，five，orsixmightplayatit。Twoentirepacksofcardsareused，sodisposedthatthespadesandclubsareononeside，andtheheartsanddiamondsontheother。Theentireartofthegameconsistsinmakingfifteen；belowthatnumberthepartyloses。

2。THECOCOA-TREECLUB。

Thisclubwasremarkableforhighifnotforfoulplay。Walpole，writingtoHoraceMannin1780，says:——’WithinthisweektherehasbeenacastatHazardattheCocoa-tree(inStJames’sStreet)thedifferenceofwhichamountedtoonehundredandfourscorethousandpounds！MrO’Birne，anIrishgamester，hadwononehundredthousandpoundsofayoungMrHarveyofChigwell，juststartedintoanestatebyhiselderbrother’sdeath。

O’Birnesaid，——"Youcanneverpayme。""Ican，"saidtheyouth，"myestatewillsellforthedebt。""No，"saidO’Birne，"Iwillwintenthousand，——youshallthrowfortheoddninety。"Theydid，andHarveywon！’

3。GRAHAM’SCLUB。

Thisgamingclubisremarkableforascandalwhichmadesomenoiseatthetimeofitsoccurrence，andoneversionofwhichawriterintheTimeshasbeenatsomepainstorectify。InMrDuncombe’s’Life’ofhisfatheroccursthefollowingaccountofthiscurioustransaction。

’InGraham’sClubtherewasalsoagooddealofplay，andlargesumswerelostandwonamongthenoblemenandgentlemenwhowereitsmembers。Anunpleasantrumourcirculatedintowninthewinterof1836，totheeffectthatanoblelordhadbeendetectedincheatingbymeansofmarkedcards。Thepresumedoffenderwaswellknowninsocietyasaskilfulcard-player，butbythosewhohadbeenmostintimatewithhimwasconsideredincapableofanyunfairpractice。Hewasabroadwhenthescandalwassetafloat，butreturnedtoEnglanddirectlyheheardofit，andhavingtracedtheaccusationtoitssource，defiedhistraducers。Thuschallenged，theyhadnoalternativebuttosupporttheirallegation，andittookthisshape:——TheyaccusedHenryWilliamLorddeRosofmarkingtheedgesofthecourtcardswithhisthumb-nail，aswellasofperformingacertaintrickbywhichheunfairlysecuredanaceastheturn-upcard。Hisaccuserswere——，whohadformerlykeptagamingtable；Mr——，alsoaprofessionalgambler；LordHenryBentinck，andMrF。

Cumming。LordHenryappearstohavetakennoveryactivepartintheproceedings；theotherthreehadlostmoneyinplaywithLorddeRos，and，asunsuccessfulgamblershavedonebeforeandsince，consideredthattheyhadlostitunfairly。

’LorddeRos，insteadofprosecutingthefourforalibel，broughtanactiononlyagainstCumming，whichpermittedtheotherstocomeforwardaswitnessesagainsthim。ThecausecameonintheCourtofKing’sBenchbeforeLordDenman。Theplaintiff’switnesseswereLordWharncliffe，LordRobertGrosvenor，theEarlofClare，andSirCharlesDalbiac，whohadknownandplayedwithhimfrombetween20to30years，asaveryskilfulbuthonourableWhistplayer。TheevidenceofMrLawrence，theeminentsurgeon，provedthatLorddeRoshadlongsufferedunderastiffnessofthejointsofthefingersthatmadeholdingapackofcardsdifficult，andtheperformanceoftheimputedtrickoflegerdemainimpossible。Forthedefenceappearedthekeeperofthehouseandhisson；twoorthreegamblerswhohadlivedbytheirwinnings；oneacknowledgedtohavewonL35，000in15years。MrBaringWall，oneofthewitnesses，sworethathehadneverwitnessedanythingimproperintheplayofLorddeRos，thoughhehadplayedwithandagainsthimmanyyears；anotherwitness，theHon。ColonelAnson，hadobservednothingsuspicious；butthetestimonyofotherswenttoprovethattheacesandkingshadbeenmarkedinsidetheiredges；

andoneaverredthathehadseenLorddeRosperformsauterlacoupeahundredtimes。Thewholecaseworemuchthelookofacombinationamongalittlecoteriewholivedbygamblingtodrivefromthefieldaplayerwhoseskillhaddiminishedtheirincome；

nevertheless，theincidentssworntobysomeofthemworeasuspicioussignificance，andaverdictwasgivenagainstLorddeRos，whichheonlysurvivedashorttime。’

OnthisstatementtheTimes’reviewercommentsasfollows:——

’Ifmanyoldscandalsmayberevivedwithimpunity，therearesomethatcannot。MrDuncombetheyoungerhashitononewhichaffectsseveralgentlemenstillliving，andhisinjuriousversionofitcannotbeneutralizedoratonedforbyanapologytoone。

Wecallattentiontoitinthehopethatanymoreseriousnoticewillberenderedneedlessbythesimpleexposureofitsinaccuracies。

’Itisdifficulttoconceiveamoreinexcusablemisstatement，forthecasewasfullyreported，[36]andthepublicjudgmentperfectlycoincidedwiththeverdict。LorddeRoswasnotabroadwhenthescandalwassetafloat。HewentabroadafterthesceneatGraham’shadsetallLondontalking，andhereturnedinconsequenceofaperemptorycallfromhisfriends。Hewasmostreluctantlyinducedtotaketherequiredstepsforthevindicationofhischaracter；anditispreposteroustosupposethatanylittlecoteriewouldhavedreamtofaccusingamanofhisrankandpositionwiththeviewofdrivingaskilfulplayerfromthefield。Hisaccuserswerenotchallenged。Neitherweretheyvolunteers。Theybecamehisaccusers，becausetheyformedtheWhistpartyatwhichhewasfirstopenlydenounced。Theysignedapaperparticularizingtheircharge，andofferedtoreferthequestiontoatribunalofgentlemen，withtheDukeofWellingtonorLordWharncliffetopreside。Wouldalittlecoterie，wholivedbygambling，havemadethisoffer？OrwouldLorddeRoshaverefuseditifhehadbeentheintendedvictimofaconspiracy？LordHenryBentincksignedthepaper，appearedasawitness，andtookquiteasactiveapartintheproceedingsasanyofthefour，exceptMrCumming，whoundertookthesolelegalliabilitybyadmittingthepublicationofthepaper。

[36]TheTimesofFebruary11and13，1837。

’Theevidencewasoverwhelming。Suspicionshadlongbeenrife；

andonnolessthantenortwelveoccasionsthemarkedpackshadbeenexaminedinthepresenceofunimpeachablewitnesses，andsealedup。Thesepackswereproducedatthetrial。Severalwitnessessworetothetrickcalledsauterlacoupe。ItwasthelateSirWilliamIngilbywhosworethathehadseenLorddeRosperformitfrom50to100times；andwhenaskedwhyhedidnotatoncedenouncehim，herepliedthatifhehaddonesobeforehisLordshipbegantogetblownupon，heshouldhavehadnoalternativebetweenthewindowandthedoor。Ofcourse，everyonewhohadbeeninthehabitofplayingwithLorddeRospriortotheexposurewouldhavesaidthesameasSirCharlesDalbiacandMrBaringWall。Withregardtothegentlemenwhosenameswehaveomittedwetakeitforgrantedthattheauthorisnotawareofthepositiontheyheld，andcontinuetohold，orhewouldhardlyhaveventuredtodescribethemsooffensively。Hehasapologizedtoone，andhehadbetterapologizetotheotherwithoutdelay。

’Thecasewascompletewithouttheevidenceofeitheroftheoriginalaccusers，andthefewfriendsofLorddeRoswhotriedtobearhimupagainsttheresultingobloquywereobligedtogowiththestream。WhenLordAlvanleywasaskedwhetherhemeanttoleavehiscard，hereplied，"No，hewillstickitinhischimney-pieceandcountitamonghishonours。’"

HavingreadthroughthelongcaseasreportedintheTimes，I

mustdeclarethatIdonotfindthattheevidenceagainstLorddeRoswas，afterall，so’overwhelming’asthereviewerdeclares；

indeed，the’leader’intheTimesonthetrialemphaticallyraisesadoubtonthesubject。Amongotherpassagesinitthereisthefollowing:——

’IntheprocessofthetrialitappearedthatthemostmaterialpartoftheevidenceagainstLorddeRos，thatcalledsauterlacoupe，——which，forthesakeofourEnglishreadersweshalltranslateintoCHANGINGTHETURN-UPCARD，——thetimesandplacesatwhichitwassaidtohavebeendonecouldnotbespecified。

Someofthewitnesseshadseenthetrickdone50or100timesbyLorddeRos，butcouldneithersayonwhatday，inwhatweek，month，orevenyear，theyhadsoseenitdone。PeoplewereexcessivelystruckatthisdeviationfromtheextremepunctualityrequiredincriminalcasesbytheBritishcourtsoflaw。’

’Thedisclosures，’saysMrGrant，[27]’whichtookplaceintheCourtofQueen’sBench，ontheoccasionofthetrialofLorddeRos，forcheatingatcards，furnishedthestrongestdemonstrationthathewasnottheonlypersonwhowasinthehabitofcheatingincertainclubs；whiletherewereotherswho，iftheycouldnotbechargedwithdirectcheating，orcheatingintheirownpersons，didcheatindirectly，andbyproxy，inasmuchasthey，bytheirownadmission，were，onfrequentoccasions，partnerswithLorddeRos，longaftertheyknewthathehabituallyorsystematicallycheated。Thenoblelord，bytheconfessionofthetitledpartiestowhomIallude，thuscheatedforhimselfandthematthesametime。’

[37]SketchesinLondon。

LorddeRoswasattheheadofthebaronsofEngland。HewasthesonofLordHenryFitzgerald，andLadydeRos，whoinheritedinherownrightthatancienttitle，whichdatesfromthereignofHenryIII。HehadstudiedatEtonandOxford，andafterwardsontheContinent，andtherewasnotamoreaccomplishedmaninEurope。Hepossessedanamplefortune，wasamemberofseveraloftheclubs——White’s，Boodle’s，Brookes’，andGraham’s，andoneofthebestWhistplayersinEngland。

ItappearsthatatGraham’sClub，atthecommencementoftheseason，andbeforeLorddeRoscametotown，whisperswerecirculatedofunfairplay，andvariouspersonsweresupposedguilty。Adeterminationwasthereforeformedthattheclubshouldbedissolvedandreconstructed，leavingoutthenamesofcertainpersonstowhomsuspicionattached。Themainobjectofthemasteroftheclub，andofsomeofthosewhoattendeditforthepurposeofprofessionalgain，wasthatitscharactershouldbecleared。NotlongafterLorddeRoscametotownhereceivedananonymousletter，cautioninghimagainstcontinuingtoplayatGraham’s，andintimatingtohim，ifhedidso，thatmeasureswouldbetakenwhichhewouldhavereasontoregret。OfcoursehisLordshipdisregardedthethreat；heattendedtheclubforseveraldaysmoreassiduouslythanbefore，andcontinuedtoplayuntiltheendoftheseason，inthebeginningofJuly。InSeptembertheSatiristnewspaperpublishedadistinctchargeofunfairplayagainstLorddeRos，whilstthelatterwasatBaden，andhereturnedtoEnglandandcommencedanactionforlibelagainstthenewspaper。

Hewaschargedwithbeinginthehabitofmarkingthecards，theeffectbeingtocreateaveryslightandalmostimperceptibleindentation，andtomakearidgeorwaveontheback，sothatapractisedeyewouldbeable，onlookingattherightplace，knowingwheretoexpectamark，todiscernwhethertheacewasthereornot。Hewasalsochargedwithcheatingbyreversingthecut——thatis，whenthecardshadcometohim，afterhavingbeencutbyhisadversary，insteadofputtingthebottomcardatthetop，keepingthebottomcardatthebottom，bysomeshufflingcontrivancewhenhedealt。Anotherwitnesssaid:——

’Whenhetookupthetwoparcelsofcards，aftertheoperationofcuttingthepackbyhisright-handadversary，hewasalwaysattackedwithahackingcough，orwhatImayproperlydenominate，especiallyfromtheresultitproduced，a’kingcough，’becauseakingoranacewasinvariablyitseffect。Thecoughalwayscameonatthemostconvenientmomenttodistracttheattentionoftheotherplayers，andwasevidentlyindulgedinforthepurposeofabstractingtheirattentionfromthetableandfromthemanoeuvrehewasabouttoperform。However，Ineversawhim"slipthecard，"andIneverhadcognizanceofitsexecution，butcertainitwasthattheaceortheking，whichwasatthebottomofthepackpriortothecut，invariablyfounditswaytothesamepositionafterthecut，andhencewastheturn-upcard。Withregardtotheoperationofdealing，hisLordshipdeliveredthecardsparticularlyslow，examiningeverycardminutelytowardsitscorners，asiflookingforsomemark。’

Manycuriousfactscameoutduringthetrial。

ItwasMrBrookeGrevillewhoadmittedthathewasaconsiderablewinneratplay——having’nohesitationinsayingthathehadwonL35，000inthecourseof15years，’chieflyatWhist；thathehadfollowedplayasanoccupation，atGraham’sClub。Helost，however，L14，000atBrightonin1828，aconsiderableportionofittoLorddeRos；butthislosshemadeupinthreeorfouryears(thatis，wonL14，000inthattime)，and，exceptingthatreverse，hewasgenerallyfortunateatplay。’

ACaptainJ。Alexander，half-payR。N。，declaredthathehadwonasmuchasL700atatime，having，however，topayhalftoanotherpartner；hiswinningsmightbeL1600a-year。’Ibegantoplay，’hesaid，’about25or28yearsago，and，expectingthatI

shouldbeaskedthequestion，Ihavelookedintomyaccounts，andfindthatIamaboutL10，000betterthanasthoughIhadnotplayed。ThatisayearlyaverageofL500。’Hehad，however，lostaboutL1000duringthepreviousyear。

ThisCaptainAlexanderwasaskedhowmanyhoursheplayedbeforedinner，andheanswered——’Fromthreetofivehours’——adding，however，that’heHADplayedALLNIGHT。’Thenthecounselsaid，’Isupposeyoutakebutaslightdinner？’Hereplied:——

’Why，IgenerallymakeasgoodadinnerasIcanget。’Thelearnedcounselcontinued:——

’Asmallboiledchickenandaglassoflemonade，perhaps？’Thisseemedanoffensivequestion，andthecaptainsaid，——

’Ibelievenever，and(withincreasedearnestnessofmanner)

mind，IDENYTHELEMONADEALTOGETHER；Inevertakelemonade。

(Laughter，inwhichthenoblelordsonthebenchjoinedinvoluntarily。)

SirW。Ingilbyenteredintoadescriptionandpracticalillustrationofthetrickofsauterlacoupewithapackofcards，anditissaidthattheperformanceofthehonourablebaroneteliciteddemonstrationsoflaughter，whichthejudgesuppressed，andevenREPROBATED。Altogether，itmusthavebeenamostinterestingandexcitingtrial。

Asbeforestated，LordDenmanwasthepresidingjudge；therewasaspecialjury；theattorney-general，SirW。Follet，andMrWightmanappearedforthenobleplaintiff；andthekeen-wittedandexquisitelypolishedMrThesiger(nowLordCholmondeley)，MrAlexander，andMrW。H。Watsonforthedefendant。Agreatmanyofthenobilitywerepresent，togetherwithseveralforeignersofdistinction。

4。BROOKES’CLUB，INSTJAMES’SSTREET。

Thiswasahousenotoriousforveryhighgaming，andwasfrequentedbythemostdesperateofgamblers，amongtherestFox，Brummell，andAldermanCombe。AccordingtoCaptainGronow:——

AtBrookes’s，fornearlyhalfacentury，theplaywasofamoregamblingcharacterthanatWhite’s……OnoneoccasionLordRobertSpencercontrivedtolosethelastshillingofhisconsiderablefortunegivenhimbyhisbrother，theDukeofMarlborough。GeneralFitzpatrickbeingmuchinthesamecondition，theyagreedtoraiseasumofmoney，inorderthattheymightkeepaFarobank。Themembersoftheclubmadenoobjection，anderelongtheycarriedouttheirdesign。Asisgenerallythecase，thebankwasawinner，andLordRobertbagged，ashisshareoftheproceeds，L100，000。Heretired，strangetosay，fromthefetidatmosphereofplay，withthemoneyinhispocket，andneveragaingambled。TheloweststakeatBrookes’wasL50；anditwasacommoneventforagentlemantoloseorwinL10，000inanevening。Sometimesawholefortunewaslostatasinglesitting。[38]

[38]Walpole，passim。

5。WHITE’SCLUB。

White’sClubseemstohavewonthedarkestreputationforgambling。LordLyttleton，writingtoDrDoddridge，in1750，says:——’TheDryadsofHogleyareatpresentprettysecure，butI

trembletothinkthattherattlingofadice-boxatWhite’smayonedayorother(ifmysonshouldbeamemberofthatnobleacademy)shakedownallourfineoaks。Itisdreadfultosee，notonlythere，butalmostineveryhouseinthetown，whatdevastationsaremadebythatdestructivefury，thespiritofplay。’AfactstatedbyWalpoletoHoraceMannshowsthecharacterofthecompanyatthisestablishment:——’Thereisamanabouttown，SirWilliamBurdett，amanofverygoodfamily，butmostinfamouscharacter。Inshort，togiveyouhischaracteratonce——thereisawagerinthebet-bookatWhite’s(aMS。ofwhichImayonedayorothergiveyouanaccount)，thatthefirstbaronetthatwillbehangedisthisSirWilliamBurdett。’Swiftsays:——’IhaveheardthatthelateEarlofOxford，inthetimeofhisministry，neverpassedbyWhite’schocolate-house(thecommonrendezvousofinfamoussharpersandnoblecullies)withoutbestowingacurseuponthatfamousacademyasthebaneofhalftheEnglishnobility。’

Itwasfromthebeginningagamingclub，’pureandsimple。’TheplaywasmostlyatHazardandFaro。NomemberwastoholdaFarobank。Whistwascomparativelyharmless。Professionalgamblers，wholivedbydiceandcards，providedtheywerefreefromtheimputationofcheating，procuredadmissiontoWhite’s。Itwasagreatsupper-house，andtherewasplaybeforeandaftersupper，carriedontoalatehourandtoheavyamounts。

AtWhite’stheybettedoneverypossiblething，asshownbythebetting-bookoftheestablishment——onbirths，deaths，andmarriages；thelengthofalife；thedurationofaministry；aplaceman’sprospectofacoronet；thelastscandalatRanelaghorMadameCornely’s；ortheshockofanearthquake！’AmandroppeddownatthedoorofWhite’s；hewascarriedintothehouse。Washedeadornot？Theoddswereimmediatelygivenandtakenforandagainst。Itwasproposedtobleedhim。Thosewhohadtakentheoddsthatthemanwasdeadprotestedthattheuseofalancetwouldaffectthefairnessofthebet。’Ihavemetwithasimilaranecdoteelsewhere。AwaiterinataverninWestminster，beingengagedinattendanceonsomeyoungmenofdistinction，suddenlyfelldowninafit。Betswereimmediatelyproposedbysomeofthemostthoughtlessonhisrecovery，andacceptedbyothers。

Themorehumanepartofthecompanywereforsendingimmediatelyformedicalassistance，butthiswasoverruled；since，bythetenorofthebets，hewastobe’lefttohimself，’andhediedaccordingly！

AccordingtoWalpole——’Apersoncomingintotheclubonthemorningoftheearthquake，in1750，andhearingbetslaidwhethertheshockwascausedbyanearthquakeortheblowingupofpowder-mills，wentawayinhorror，protestingtheyweresuchanimpioussetthathebelievedifthelasttrumpweretosoundtheywouldbetpuppet-showagainstJudgment。’

Andagain:’OneoftheyouthsatWhite’s，in1744，hascommittedamurder，andintendstorepeatit。HebettedL1500thatamancouldlivetwelvehoursunderwater；hiredadesperatefellow，sunkhiminaship，bywayofexperiment，andbothshipandmanhavenotappearedsince。AnothermanandshiparetobetriedfortheirlivesinsteadofMrBlake，theassassin。’

Healsotellsusofaverycuriousentryinthebetting-book。

LordMountfordbetsSirJohnBlandtwentyguineasthatNashoutlivesCibber。’’Howodd，’saysWalpole，’thatthesetwooldcreatures，selectedfortheirantiquities，shouldlivetoseeboththeirwagerersputanendtotheirownlives！Cibberiswithinafewdaysofeighty-four，stillhearty，andclear，andwell。ItoldhimIwasgladtoseehimlooksowell。"Faith，"

saidhe，"itisverywellthatIlookatall。"LordMountfordwouldhavebeenthewinner:Cibberdiedin1757，Nashin1761。’

Hogarth’ssceneatthegamblinghouseistakenatWhite’s。’Weseethehighwayman，withhispistolspeepingoutofhispocket，waitingbythefiresidetilltheheaviestwinnertakeshisdeparture，inorderto"recoup"himselfforhislosings；andintheBeaux’Stratagem，AimwellasksofGibbet——"Ha’n’tIseenyourfaceatWhite’s？""Ay，andatWill’stoo，"isthehighwayman’sanswer。’

AccordingtoCaptainGronow，GeorgeHarleyDrummond，ofthefamousbanking-house，CharingCross，onlyplayedonceinhiswholelifeatWhite’sClub，atWhist，onwhichoccasionhelostL20，000toBrummell。Thisevencausedhimtoretirefromthebanking-house，ofwhichhewasapartner。

’Walpoleandapartyoffriends(DickEdgecumbe，GeorgeSelwyn，andWilliams)，in1756，composedapieceofheraldicsatire——acoatofarmsforthetwogamingclubsatWhite’s——whichwas"actuallyengravenfromaveryprettypaintingofEdgecumbe，whomMrChute，asStrawberryKingatArms，"appointedtheirchiefherald-painter。Theblazonisvert(foracard-table)；threeparolisproperonachevronsable(foraHazardtable)；tworouleauxinsaltirebetweentwodiceproper，onacantonsable；awhiteball(forelection)argent。Thesupportersareanoldandyoungknaveofclubs；thecrest，anarmoutofanearl’scoronetshakingadice-box；andthemotto，Cogitamornummi——"Theloveofmoneycompels。"Roundthearmsisaclaret-bottleticketbywayoforder。’

6。WATTIER’SCLUB。

ThisgreatMacaogaminghousewasofshortduration。MrRaikessaysofit:——’Theclubdidnotendurefortwelveyearsaltogether；thepacewastooquicktolast；itdiedanaturaldeathin1819，fromtheparalyzedstateofitsmembers。Thehousewasthentakenbyasetofblacklegs，whoinstitutedacommonbankofgambling。Toformanideaoftheruinproducedbythisshort-livedestablishmentamongmenwhomIhavesointimatelyknown，acursoryglancetothepastsuggeststhefollowingmelancholylist，whichonlyformsapartofitsdeplorableresults:noneofthedeadreachedtheaverageageofman。’AmongthememberswereBeauBrummellandthemadmanBligh。

7。CROCKFORD’SCLUB。

Thisoncecelebratedgaminghouseisnow’TheWellington，’wheretherattleofknivesandforkshassucceededthatofdice。Itwaserectedin1827，andatitsopeningitwasdescribedas’thenewPandemonium——thedrawing-rooms，orrealhell，consistingoffourchambers:thefirstanante-room，openingtoasaloonembellishedtoadegreewhichbafflesdescription；thencetoasmallcuriously-formedcabinetorboudoir，whichopenstothesupper-room。Alltheseroomsarepanelledinthemostgorgeousmanner；spacesarelefttobefilledupwithmirrorsandsilk，orgoldenrichments；whiletheceilingsareassuperbasthewalls。

Abilliard-roomontheupperfloorcompletesthenumberofapartmentsprofessedlydedicatedtotheuseofthemembers。

Wheneveranysecretmanoeuvreistobecarriedon，therearesmallerandmoreretiredplaces，bothunderthisroofandthenext，whosewallswilltellnotales。’

’Itrose，’saysawriterintheEdinburghReview，’likeacreationofAladdin’slamp；andthegeniithemselvescouldhardlyhavesurpassedthebeautyoftheinternaldecorations，orfurnishedamoreaccomplishedmaitred’hotelthanUde。Tomakethecompanyasselectaspossible，theestabishmentwasregularlyorganizedasaclub，andtheelectionofmembersvestedinacommittee。"Crockford’s"becametherage，andthevotariesoffashion，whethertheylikeplayornot，hastenedtoenrollthemselves。TheDukeofWellingtonwasanoriginalmember，though(unlikeBlucher，whorepeatedlylosteverythinghehadatplay)thegreatcaptainwasneverknowntoplaydeepatanygamebutwarorpolitics。Card-tableswereregularlyplaced，andWhistwasplayedoccasionally；buttheaim，end，andfinalcauseofthewholewastheHazardbank，atwhichtheproprietortookhisnightlystand，preparedforallcomers。LeWellingtondesJoueurslostL23，000atasitting，beginningattwelveatnight，andendingatseventhefollowingevening。Heandthreeothernoblemencouldnothavelostless，soonerorlater，thanL100，000

apiece。[39]Otherslostinproportion(oroutofproportion)totheirmeans；butweleaveittolessoccupiedmoralistsandbettercalculatorstosayhowmanyruinedfamilieswenttomakeMrCrockfordaMILLIONNAIRE——foramillionnairehewasintheEnglishsenseoftheterm，aftermakingthelargestpossibleallowanceforbaddebts。Avastsum，perhapshalfamillion，wassometimesduetohim；butashewon，allhisdebtorswereabletoraise，andeasycreditwasthemostfatalofhislures。Heretiredin1840，muchasanIndianchiefretiresfromahuntingcountrywhenthereisnotgameenoughleftforhistribe，andtheclubtotteredtoitsfall。’

[39]’LeWellingtondesJoueurswasthenamegiventoLordRiversinParis。Theotherthree，webelieve，wereLordSefton，LordChesterfield，andLordGranvilleorLordTalbot。’Times，7Jan。

1868。

CrockfordwasoriginallyaFISHMONGER，keepingashopnearTempleBar。Byembarkinginthisspeculationhelaidthefoundationofthemostcolossalfortunethatwasevermadebyplay。

Itwassaidtherewerepersonsofrankandstation，whohadneverpaidtheirdebtstoCrockford，upto1844，andthatsomeofhiscreditorscompoundedwithhimfortheirgamblingdebts。Hisproprietorshiphadlasted15or16years。

CrockfordhimselfwasexaminedbythecommitteeoftheHouseofCommonsontheGamingHouses；butinspiteofhisassurancebythemembersthatwereindemnifiedwitnessesinrespectofpendingactions，heresolutelydeclinedto’tellthesecretsofhisprison-house。’Whenaskedwhetheragooddealofplaywascarriedonathisclub，hesaid:——’Theremayhavebeenso；butI

donotfeelmyselfatlibertytoanswerthatquestion——toDIVULGE

THEPURSUITSOFPRIVATEGENTLEMEN。SituatedasIwas，Idonotfeelmyselfatlibertytodoso。Idonotfeelmyselfatlibertytoanswerthatquestion。’

Whenaskedtowhomhehadgivenupthehouse，hefencedinlikemanner，sayingthathehadgivenituptoa’committee’ofabout200gentlemen，——concerningwhichcommitteeheprofessedto’knowabsolutelynothing’——hecouldnotevensaytowhomhehadgivenupthehouse——hegaveituptothegentlemenoftheclubfouryearsbefore——hecouldnotevensay(uponhisword)whetherhesignedanypaperingivingitup——hebelievedhedidnot——

adding——’IsaidIgrewtooold，andIcouldnotcontinueintheclubanylonger，andIwishedtogiveuptheclubtothegentlemen，whomadetheirownarrangement。’

Beingasked，’DoyouthinkthatapersonisjustashonourablyboundtopayadebtwhichhelosesuponagameofHazard，ashewouldbetopayabetwhichhelosesonahorse-race？’Crockfordreplied——’Ithinkmostcertainlyhewouldhonourablybeboundtopayit。’——’DoyouthinkthatiftheloserofabetonagameatHazardhadnochargetomakeofanykindofunfairness，andheweretocommenceanactiontorecoverthatmoneybackagain，hewouldlayhimselfopentoachargeintheworldofhavingacteddishonourably？’Theoldgambler’sreplywasmostemphatic，overwhelming，indignant——’IshouldtakeallthepainsIcouldtoavoidsuchaman。’

Ifthisevidencewasnotsatisfactory，itwas，atanyrate，verycharacteristic。

AfewinterestingfactscameoutbeforetheparliamentarycommitteeonGaming，in1844，respectingCrockford’s。

ItwassaidthatCrockfordgaveupthebusinessin1840，becausetherewerenomoreveryhighplayersvisitinghishouse。

’Anumberofpersons，’accordingtotheadmissionoftheHonourableFrederickByng，’whowereborntoverylargeproperties，wereverynearlyruinedatCrockford’s。’

ThesumswonontheturfwerecertainlylargerthanthosewonbyplayersatCrockford’s；amanmightloseL20，000inoneormorebets，tooneormorepersons；butagainstthishemighthavewonanequivalentamountinsmallsumsfrom200ormorepersons。[40]

[40]Thisisnotveryclearlyput，butthemeaningisthatmuchmoremoneywaslostatCrockford’sthanontheturf。

SomeyearspreviouslytoCrockford’sretirement，itissaidthathefoundthedebtssobadthathewasobligedtoleaveoffhiscustomofpayingcheques；andsaidhewouldcancelallpreviousdebts，butthatinfuturegentlemenwouldhavetopaywithmoney。

Hemadethemplayformoneyinsteadofwithcounters，inconsequenceofthelargesumsthatwereowingtohimuponthosecounters。

8。THETRAVELLERS’CLUB，nexttheAthenseuminPallMall，originatedsoonafterthepeaceof1814，inasuggestionofthelateLordLondonderry，thenLordCastlereagh，fortheresortofgentlemenwhohadresidedortravelledabroad，aswellaswithaviewtotheaccommodationofforeigners，who，whenproperlyrecommended，receiveaninvitationfortheperiodoftheirstay。[41]HerePrinceTalleyrandwasfondofagameatWhist。Withalltheadvantageofhisgreatimperturbabilityofface，heissaidtohavebeenanindifferentplayer。

[41]QuarterlyReview，No。cx。p。481。

Rule10oftheclubdirects，’thatnodiceandnogameofhazardbeallowedintheroomsoftheclub，noranyhigherstakethanguineapoints，andthatnocardsbeintroducedbeforedinner。’

CHAPTERVII。

DOINGSINGAMINGHOUSES。

Besidesthearistocraticestablishmentsjustdescribed，therewerenumeroushousesorplacesofresortforgambling，genteelandungenteel。Invaindidtheofficersofthelawseemtoexerttheirutmostvigilance；iftheydrovetheserpentoutofoneholeitsoonglidedintoanother；neverwastheproverb——’Wherethere’sawillthere’saway’——morestrikinglyfulfilled。

COFFEE-HOUSESHARPERS。

SirJohnFieldingthusdescribesthemenintheyear1776。’Thedeceiversofthisdenominationaregenerallydescendedfromfamiliesofsomerepute，havehadthegroundworkofagenteeleducation，andarecapableofmakingatolerableappearance。

Havingbeenequallyprofuseoftheirownsubstanceandcharacter，andlearnt，byhavingbeenundone，thewaysofundoing，theylieinwaitforthosewhohavemorewealthandlessknowledgeofthetown。Byjoiningyouindiscourse，byadmiringwhatyousay，byanofficiousnesstowaituponyou，andtoassistyouinanythingyouwanttohaveorknow，theyinsinuatethemselvesintothecompanyandacquaintanceofstrangers，whomtheywatcheveryopportunityoffleecing。Andifonefindsinyoutheleastinclinationtocards，dice，thebilliardtable，bowling-green，oranyothersortofGaming，youaremorallysureofbeingtakenin。

Forthissetofgentryareadeptsinalltheartsofknaveryandtricking。If，therefore，youshouldobserveaperson，withoutanypreviousacquaintance，payingyouextraordinarymarksofcivility；ifheputsinforashareofyourconversationwithapretendedairofdeference；ifhetendershisassistance，courtsyouracquaintance，andwouldbesuddenlythoughtyourfriend，avoidhimasapest；forthesearetheusualbaitsbywhichtheunwaryarecaught。’[42]

[42]TheMagistrate:DescriptionofLondonandWestminster。

In1792，MrBr——gh——n，thesonofabaronet，onedayatabilliard-tableinStJames’sStreet，wonL7000fromaMrB——，butthelatter，atthecloseoftheday，recoveredtheloss，andwonL15，000more。Paymentwasthusarranged——L5000onthedeathofthefatheroftheformer，andL10，000securedbyareversionaryannuity，tocommenceonthefather’sdecease，onthelifeoftheDucdePienne，betweenwhomandB——apreviousgamingaccountexisted。

In1794，Mr——wasabilliardplayerofthefirstclass，rankingwithBrenton，Phillips，Orrel，andCaptainWallis，whoweretheleadersofthedayinthisnoblegameofskill，tact，anddiscretion。[43]Havingaccidentallysportedhisabilitieswithtwootherplayers，hewasmarkedasa’pigeon’whomeverypreparationwasmadefor’plucking。’CaptainCates，ofCoventGardencelebrity，waspittedagainsthimatthecoffee-roombilliard-table，duringEpsomraces，toplay21games，fortwoguineaseachgame，andfiveguineastheodds。Mr——won13

gamestoeightfromhisveteranopponent，whowasinvariablybackedbytheleadingsportingmenoftheday，whilstthecompanyatlargewerecasuallytheadherentsofMr。

[43]ThegameofChessmaybeplayedinapplicationoftheprinciplesofStrategy；thegameofBilliardsinapplicationofTactics；indeed，allman’sfavouritediversionsandpastimesmostsignificantlyrelatetowar——whichhasbeencalledhisnaturalstate——exemplifyingalwayseitherthebrute-forcethatcrushes，theskillthatfoils，thestratagemthatsurprises，ortherusethatdeceives；andsuchiswartoallintentsandpurposes。Thephilosophicdiversionsofsciencealsocomeinandlendtheiraidinthegameofwar——thepastimeofheroesandthenecessarydefenceofnations。

ThematchwasrenewedattheensuingAscotmeeting，attheroomsofthecelebratedSimson，somuchfrequentedbytheEtonians——

whereMr——againobtainedthevictory，by36gamesto17。

Immensesumsweresportedontheseoccasions。

Mr——residedatWindsor，andwassurprisedbyamessageontheSundayeveningprecedingtheWinchesterraces，purportingthatagentlemanwishedtoseehimonveryparticularbusiness。ItprovedtobearequesttoplayamatchatBilliardsduringtheracesatWinchester，forwhichthepartiesoffered10guineasforthejourney。Butitwasexplainedtohimthatthematchwasofaparticularkind，andmustbeplayedinaPARTICULARway——eithertoWINorLOSE——sothatthoseconcernedmightbesureofwinninguponthewhole，letthematchterminatehowitwould！……

Thisvillainousproposalbeingmadewithoutthepresenceofathirdperson，Mr——indignantlyrejectedit，instantlylefttheroom，andcommunicatedthefactsfortheprotectionoftheunwaryagainstasetofdesperatesharpers。

MILLER’SGAMINGHOUSE。

In1796，oneThomasMillerwasindictedforkeepingagaminghouse；andwishedtohavethemattersettledsummarilybyadmittingconviction；butLordKenyon，thepresidingjudge，chosetohaveevidencebroughtforward。JohnShepherd，anattorneyoftheKing’sBench，whohadhimselfbeenplundered，statedthathewasatthedefendant’s，LeicesterStreet，onacertainnight，andsawHazardplayed。SometimesL20orL30dependedonathrow。

Onemorningbetweenthreeandfouro’clock，agentlemancameinmuchintoxicated。Hehadagreatdealofmoneyabouthim。

Millersaid——’Ididnotmeantoplay；butnowI’llsettowiththisfellow。’Millerscrapedalittlewaxwithhisfingeroffoneofthecandles，andputthedicetogether，sothattheycameseveneveryway。Sevenwasthemain，andhecouldnotthrowanythingbutseven。Adisputearose，andthepersonsatthetablegaveitinMiller’sfavour。TheyoungmansaidhehadlostaboutL70。Millerobserved——’Wehavecleanedhim。’Iftheattorneyhadremarkedonthisatthetime，theywouldhavebrokenhishead，orthrownhimoutofthewindow。

HehadoftenseenmenpawntheirwatchesandringstoMiller，andonceamanactuallypawnedhiscoat，andwentawaywithoutit！

Whenarticleswereofferedtobepawned，Liston，whowasapartnerintheconcern，said——’Idon’tunderstandthevalueofthesethingswell，’andhewouldthencallMiller。[44]

[44]Evenatthepresentdayitissaidthatother’articles’

besides’valuables’are’left’withthemarkeratbilliards’foraconsideration。’Afineumbrella，verylittleused，waslatelyshowntomeashavingbeensoldforfiveshillings，byamarker；

itprobablycosttwenty-five。

Millersaidtherewasnodisgraceinstandinginthepilloryforgaming。HecouldspareL500outofhiscofferswithoutmissingit。HisgamingtablewasoncebrokenupbyawarrantfromBowStreet，whenhesaiditwastoogoodathingtorelinquish，andhesetupanother，onelargeenoughfor20or30personstositat。Theyplayedatitallnight，andononeortwooccasionsallthenextdaytoo，sothatMillersaidtowitnessonhisreturnintheevening——’Someofthepeoplearestillherewhocamelastnight。Theysticktoitrarely。’Sundaywasthegrandday。Hehadseenmorethan40personsatatimethere，andtheyfrequentlyofferedhalf-a-crownforaseat。Wineandsupperswerefurnishedgratis。Somelookedoverthebacksofothersandbetted。AMrSmith，theverymanwhohadpawnedhiscoat，confirmedtheaboveevidence。Millerwasconvicted，andthejudge，LordKenyon，madethefollowingsolemnobservationsbeforepassingsentence:——

’Gamingisacrimeofgreaterenormity，andofmoredestructiveconsequencestosociety，thanmanywhichthelawsofthecountryhavemadecapital。Whatisthecrimeofstealingasheep，orpickingapocketofahandkerchief，whenplacedincomparisonwiththiscrime，tracedthroughallitsconsequences？

’Withregardtothoseinthehigherwalksoflife，experiencetellsusitoftenleadstoself-murderandduelling，aboutgamblingdebts，whichterminateinthetotalruinoffamiliesonceopulent，andreducetobeggarytheirinnocentandhelplesschildren；andasforthoseinalowersphereoflife，whentheyhavelosttheirmoney，theyoftenbetakethemselvestohousebreakingandthehighway，inordertoreplenishtheircoffers，andatlastendtheirlivesbythehandofjustice。’

Withmanyothermostexcellentobservationsonthetendencyofthisselfishandavariciousvice，heconcludedbysentencingMillertoafineofL500，oneyear’simprisonment，andsecurityforhisgoodbehaviourforsevenyears，himselfinL500andtwoothersinL250each，adding:——’Itappearedthatyouplayedwithloadeddice。TheCourthasnottakenthatintoconsideration，becauseitwasnotchargedintheindictment。’

ATTACKSONGAMINGHOUSES。

In1797theBedfordArms，CoventGarden，keptbyoneJohnTwycross，wasattacked，underwarrant。Thegaming-roomstoodanhour’ssiege，forthedoorsweresoplatedwithironthattherepeatedblowsofasledge-hammermadenoimpressiononthem。

Theofficersatlengthenteredthebackthroughthewindow。Theyfoundfifteenpersonsattable，butnotactuallyplaying，sonoconvictioncouldtakeplace。

InthesameyearapartyofBowStreetofficerssearchedagaminghouseat19，GreatSuffolkStreet。Theywereanhourineffectingtheirentrance。Twoverystoutdoors，stronglyboltedandbarred，obstructedthem。Allthegamestersbutoneescapedbyasubterraneouspassage，throughalongrangeofcellars，terminatingatahouseinWhitcombStreet，whencetheirleader，havingthekeysofeverydoor，conductedthemsafelyintotheopenair。

Inthepreviousyearaparty，mostlyFrenchemigrants，weretakenatahouseinOxendonStreet，withthetable，cards，&c。Acitymagistrateandacityofficerhadadisputeatcards，andaknock-downgameensued。

In1799theMarlboroughStreetofficersapprehendedatthegaminghouse，No。3，LeicesterSquare，thirteenoutoftwentypersons，fromthefirstfloor，playingatRougeetNoir。Oneofthegamblers，whentheyfirstentered，threwupthesash，and，steppingfromtheleads，fellintothearea，anddiedinbeingconveyedtothehospital。

Inthesameyear，twonotoriousgaminghouses，Nos。1and3，King’sPlace，wereattacked，byauthorityofasearchwarrant。

Alltheparaphernaliaoftheprofession，astables，dice，counters，&c。，wereseized；buttheinmateseffectedtheirescapeovertheroofsoftheadjoininghouses。TheproprietorofNo。3

wassmokedinachimney，andthreeFrenchemigrantsinterceptedintheirretreat。Ononeofthemwasfoundagoldwatch，whichappeared，bytherobbery-book，tohavebeenstolenaboutfiveyearspreviously。Thebankshadbeenconveyedaway，——atleast，theywerenotamongthecaptures。

’SOMETHINGHONOURABLETOTHEBRITISHFLAG。’

ItisstatedashighlyhonourabletotheBritishflagthat，amongthegamestersofthefirstquarterofthepresentcentury，noAdmiralswereseenattheINFERIORtables。Theirproperpridekeptthemfromafamiliarassociationwithpursers，clerks，grocers，horse-dealers，linen-drapers，silk-mercers，masons，builders，timber-merchants，booksellers，&c。，&c。，andmenoftheverylowestwalksoflife。

COARSELANGUAGEOFGAMESTERS。

’Iheardthosewho，inanotherplace，eveninthemostpolishedcourts，wouldtakeahighrankforgoodbreedingandgentlemanlyeducation，atthesetablesmakeuseoflanguagewhich，Ihope，Billingsgateitselfwouldturnfromwithdisgust。Itcannotberepeated；neitherwoulditbebelieved，unlessbysuchas，likemyself，havehad"confirmationstrong，"toostrongtoberejected，ifIdidnot，atthesametime，rejecttheevidenceofmysenses。’[45]

[45]SeymourHarcourt，TheGamingCalendar。

BOASTEDPROTECTIONOFGREATNAMESTOGAMINGHOUSES。

’OnoneoccasionIwasatthePigeonHole，inStJames’sSquare(sinceremovedtoKingStreet)，whentheapprehensionswhichtherapidsaleofTheGreeks(aworkexposingthesystem)excitedamongtheplayerswerewarmlydebated。Tomygreatastonishment，apersonwhoIsupposedwasaproprietor，boastedtheimpenetrabilityofHIShouse，andonwhatground，thinkyou？

Why，onthatofithavingthecountenanceoftheLordChiefJusticeofEngland！Trueorfalse，itseemedtorevivetheflaggingspiritsofitsvisitors。Theyknewbetter。NoteventhewarmfeelingsofafatherwouldturnthescaleofjusticeintheevenhandofLordEllenborough。’

Itmustnot，however，betakenforgranted，merelybecausethesefellowsassertit，thatthesonsofthelateChiefJusticereallyfrequentedthatdenofiniquity。Itispartofthesystemofthesehousestodeludetheignorant，bypretendingthatthisortheotherpersonusestheirtables。Ihadaninstanceofthatmyselfat——，inPallMall。Askingwhothatgentlemanwas，pointingtotheparty，Iwasanswered——’ThatisMrHay，privatesecretarytoLordMelville，theFirstLordoftheAdmiralty。’

Now，IbelieveImaysafelysay，andfrommyownknowledge，too，thatMrHay，whosecharacterandconductisdeservedlyheldinthehighestestimation，NEVERwasatthatoranysuchhouse；yethisnamewasconstantlyquoted，andparticularlytoyoungofficersofthenavyandmarines，towhomhisacquaintanceheldouthopesoffutureadvantageintheirprofession！[46]

[46]Id。ibid。

FORTUNATERISEOFACLUB-HOUSEWAITER。

’Awaitershipataclubsometimesledtofortune。ThomasRumbold，originallyawaiteratWhite’sgamingclub，gotanappointmentinIndia，andsuddenlyrosetobeSirThomas，andGovernorofMadras！Onhisreturn，withimmensewealth，abillofpainsandpenaltieswasbroughtintotheHousebyDundas，withtheviewofstrippingSirThomasofhisill-gottengains。Thisbillwasbrisklypushedthroughtheearlierstages；suddenlytheproceedingswerearrestedbyadjournment，andthemeasurefelltotheground。TherumourofthedayattributedRumbold’sescapetothecorruptassistanceofRigby；who，in1782，foundhimself，byLordNorth’sretirement，deprivedofhisplaceinthePayOffice，andcalledupontorefundalargeamountofpublicmoneysunaccountedfor。Inthisstrait，RigbywasbelievedtohavehadrecoursetoRumbold。Theiracquaintancehadcommencedinearlierdays，whenRigbywasoneoftheboldest"punters"atWhite’s，andRumboldbowedtohimforhalf-crownsaswaiter。RumboldissaidtohavegivenRigbyalargesumofmoney，onconditionoftheformerbeingreleasedfromtheimpendingpainsandpenalties。

Thetruthofthereporthasbeenvehementlydenied；butthecircumstancesaresuspicious。Thebillwasdropped；Dundas，itsintroducer，wasRigby’sintimateassociate。Rigby’snephewandheirsoonaftermarriedRumbold’sdaughter。SirThomashimselfhadmarriedadaughterofDrLaw，BishopofCarlisle。TheworthybishopstoodgodfathertooneofRumbold’schildren；theothergodfatherwastheNabobofArcot，andthechildwaschristened"Mahomet。"So，atleast，WalpoleinformsMann。’[47]

[47]Timbs，ClubLifeinLondon。

PLAYIN1820。

AccordingtotheMorningPostofMay15，1820，atoneofthegaminghousesattheWestEnd，inonenight，propertytotheamountofL50，000issaidtohavechangedhands。

ACCOUNTOFAGAMEATHAZARD。

ThefollowingaccountofagameatHazardwasgivenbyayoungman，who，intheyear1820，wasdecoyedintooneofthegamblinghousesinthecity，keptbyoneJohnMorley，whowasconvictedbytheLordMayor，inthepenaltyofL200，’forkeepingHazard；’butwho，itisstated，leftthiscountryforIrelandthemomentproceedingswereinstituted。

’Thehouseinquestionwastoallappearancedevotedtothegameofbilliards，andmostofthosewhofrequenteditengagedmerelyinthatgame。Throughtheagencyofprofessedgamesters，whosharedintheprofitsoftheconcern，thosewhoappearedtobeproperobjectsofplunderweresoonintroducedtotheHazardtable，whichwaskeptinaretiredandprivatepartofthehouse。

’Theevidenceoftheyoungmanwastothefollowingeffect:——HehadbeeninMorley’shouse；thegameofHazardwasplayedinthefrontroomonthesecondfloor；adoorledintoitfromthelanding-place，andanotherfromthepublicbilliard-room，whichwasthebackroomonthesamefloor；boththesedoorswereduringthetimeofplaykeptbarredandlocked，andneveropenedexcepttothevoiceofsomepersonknowntothemasterofthehouse。

Duringtheplaythedoorwasseldomorneveropened，butbeforetheplaycommencedtherewasanunderstandinggiventhatproceedingswereabouttobegin。

’Inthecentreoftheroomwasalargecirculartable，overwhichalampwassuspended，androundthetabletheplayerssat，innumber，generally，fromsixtoten。

’Theplaycommencedbyoneoftheplayerstakingthedice-boxwithtwodiceinit；twootherdicewerecoveredonthetable，andmightbesubstitutedforthoseinthebox，uponapplicationtoMorley，whoactedas"groomporter。"Thepersonwhoheldtheboxwascalledthecaster，andhecalledamain，thatis，hementionedaloudanynumberonthedicefromfivetonine；andthrowingthediceonthetable，countedthenumberonthetwodiceashischance，thenumberwhichhecalledbeingthechanceofhissetter。Beforethemainiscalled，thecasterthrowsdownhisstake，whichanypersonpresenthastheoptionofcovering，or，asitiscalled，"setting，"byplacingasimilarsumonthetable。Forinstance，ifthecaster，afterbeing"set，"callfivethemain，andthrowsimmediatelyfourandone，orthreeandtwo，he"nicks"it，thatis，winshismoneyatonce。Ifhethrowssixandone，fiveandtwo，orfourandthree，eachofwhichtwonumbersmakesseven，hebetstheODDS，whicharethreetotwoinhisfavour——inasmuchastherearethreewaysofthrowingseven，andonlytwoofthrowingfive；andhecontinuesthrowinguntileitherfiveorsevencomeoff。Bytheformerheloses，bythelatterhewins。

’Ifhecallsseventhemain，andthrowsthreeandone，orsixandfour，theoddsaretwotooneagainsthim——inasmuchasthereareonlythreewayseachofthrowing，thefourandthetenandsixwins，throwingtheseven，thatis，threeoneachdie。[48]Ifthecasterwishes，hecallsamain，andcontinuestodosotillheloses，which，inthetechnicalphraseology，is"throwingout。"

Hethenpassesthebowtothepersonnextonthelefthand，who，inlikemanner，passesittohisneighbour。Morleyisremuneratedforhistableveryhandsomely。Whenthecasterthrowsinthreemainssuccessively，hepaystoMorleywhatiscalledabox(oneofthepiecesofthehousewithwhichthegameisplayed)。Thepricesareeighteen-penceeach，andhegivestheminexchangefornotes，andretakesthem。Thecasterpaysnothingunlesshewins。Theplayersgenerallyleaveoffplayatelevenortwelveo’clock。OnSaturdaythereismostplay，asMorleyonthatdayalwaysgivesadinneratfouro’clock，immediatelyafterwhichtheplaycommences。Onotherdaysteaandcoffeearegiven。’

[48]IconfessIdonotunderstandtheabovepassage。

Anumberofyoungmen，mostofwhomwereclerks，werecalledtoconfirmtheevidenceastothesystem，butnoneofthemappeared。

InaletterpublishedintheTimesofJuly22，1824，wereadasfollows:——

’Theactionagainstthekeepersofacertainnotorious"hell，"

whichwasnoticedinthedifferentjournalsas"comingon，"iswithdrawn，or，moreproperlyspeaking，is"compromised。"Thusitwillalwaysbe；andthedifferenthellsstillflourishwithimpunity，totheenrichmentofafewknaves，andtheruinofmanythousands，tillmoreeffectuallawsareframedtomeettheevil。

Astheynetthousandsanight，afewhundredsoreventhousandscanbewellsparedtosmotherafewactionsandprosecutions，whichareveryrarelyinstitutedagainstthem，andneverbutbyruinedmen，whoareeasilyquietedbyasmallconsideration，which，fromrecentjudgments，willnotbewithheld；thereforeweshallseerecordedbutveryfewconvictionsifanyatall。Attheheadoftheseinfamousestablishmentsisoneyclept"Fishmollgers’Hall，"[49]whichsacksmoreplunderthanalltheothersputtogether，thoughtheyconsistofaboutadozen。ThisplacehasbeenfittedupatanexpenseofL40，000，andisthemostsplendidhouse，interiorlyandexteriorly，inalltheneighbourhood。Itisestablishedasabaitforthefortunesofthegreat，manyofwhomhavealreadybeenseveresufferers。

Invitationstodinneraresenttonoblemenandgentlemen，atwhichtheyaretreatedwitheverydelicacy，andthemostintoxicatingwines。

[49]OtherwisecalledCrock-odileHall。

’Aftersuch"liberal"entertainment，avisittotheFrenchHazardtable，intheadjoiningroom，isamatterofcourse，whentheconsequencesareeasilydivined。Amanthusalluredtothedenmaydeterminenottolosemorethanthefewpoundshehasabouthim；butintheintoxicationofthemoment，andthedeliriumofplay，itfrequentlyhappensthat，notwithstandingthebestresolves，heborrowsmoneyonhischeques，whichareknowntobegood，andarereadilycashedtoveryconsiderableamounts。InthismannerL10，000，L20，000，L30，000，ormore，havebeenoftensweptaway！

TheyleftKingStreetaboutthreeyearsago，when，inconjunctionwithT——(amanwhoafewyearsagotookthebenefitoftheact，andsubsequentlytookoneortwo"hells"inPallMall，buthasamassedfullL150，000ofplunder)andA——，whohasL70，000

ofplunder，theyopenedaclub-houseinPiccadilly，withaFrenchHazardbankofL10，000，wheninashorttimetheydividedbetweenthefour——afteralltheirheavyexpenseswerecovered——upwardsofL200，000。Inproportiontotheextentofthebankandthestakes，sodotheycollecttheplunder。’

PROGRESSINTHEGAMINGTRADE。

Intheminorgaminghousestheplayersassembledinpartiesoffrom40to50persons，whoprobablybroughtonanaverage，eachnight，fromonetotwentyshillingstoplaywith。Asthemoneywaslost，thelosersfelloff，iftheycouldnotborroworbegmore；andthiswentonsometimesinthewinterseasonfor14to16hoursinsuccession；sothatfrom100to150personsmightbecalculatedtovisitonegamingtableinthecourseofanight；

anditnotunfrequentlyhappenedthatultimatelyallthemoneybroughttothetablegotintothehandsofoneortwoofthemostfortunateadventurers，savethatwhichwaspaidtothetablefor’box-hands’——thatis，whenaplayerwonthreetimesinsuccession。Attheseestablishmentsthepriceofaboxvariedfromoneshillingtohalf-a-crown。Everymanthusengagedwasdestinedtobecomeeitheramorefinishedandmischievousgambler，ortoappearatthebaroftheOldBailey。Thesuccessfulplayersbydegreesimprovedtheirexternalappearance，andobtainedadmittanceintohousesofhigherplay，wheretwoshillingsandsixpenceorthreeshillingsandfourpencewasdemandedforthebox-hand。Ifsuccessattendedtheminthefirststepofadvancement，theynextgotinitiatedintobetterhouses，andassociatedwithgamblersofahighergrade。

PLAYIN1838。

Abouttheyear1838thegaminghouseswerekeptopenallday，thedicewerescarcelyeveridle，dayornight。FromSundaytoSunday，alltheyearround，personsweretobefoundintheseplaces，losingtheirmoney，andwastingawaytheirverybodiesbytheconsuminganxietyconsequentontheirpositionattheHazardorRoulettetable。

STATISTICSOFGAMBLINGIN1844。

ThefollowingfactscameoutinevidencebeforethecommitteeoftheHouseofCommons，in1844。

Downtothatyeartherewerenolessthan12gaminghousesinStJames’sandStGeorge’s。Theplaywashigherinoldtimes，butnotsoGENERAL。

’TheincreaseofgamblinghouseswasentirelytheoffspringofCrockford’s。’SuchwastheopinionoftheHonourableFrederickByng，beforethecommittee，whoadded，’thatthefacilitytoeverybodytogambleatCrockford’sledtotheestablishmentofothergamblinghousesfittedupinasuperiorstyle，andattractivetogentlemenwhoneverwouldhavethoughtofgoingintothemformerly。’

Previously，intheclubs，thegamblingwasconfinedtoaveryhighrateandtoaveryfewpeople。Theabove-namedwitnesssaidhe’couldhavenamedallthegamblersinhisearlydaysattheclubs。NopersoncomingintoaroomwhereHazardwascarriedonwouldhavebeenpermittedtoplayforaSMALLSUM，andthereforeheleftit。’

Thesamegentlemanrememberedthetimewhengamblingtableswerekeptinprivatehouses。

’Itisafactthatmostofthosewhoplayedveryhighwereprettywellcleanedout。’

’Crockfordincreasedgamblingeverywhere。’’Personsofthemiddlingclasses，butchers，andgentleman’sservantswenttothelowgamblinghouses。’

Theseplacesheldoutinducementstorobbery。’IfaservantorshopmancouldscrapetogetherL200orL300，hehad，bytheagencyofthekeepersofthesehouses，theopportunityoflendingouthismoneytothelosersat60percent。’