’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。’
