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time which elapsed before they met with any check from the
police； afforded a number of dissolute and abandoned characters
an opportunity of acquiring property。 This they afterwards
increased in the low gaming houses； and by following up the same
system at Newmarket and the other fashionable places of resort；
and finally by means of the lottery； that mode of insensate
gambling； till at length they acquired a sum of money nothing
short of _ONE MILLION STERLING_。
＇67＇ So called from the letters E and O； the turning up of
which decided the bet。 They were otherwise called _Roulette_ and
_Roly Poly_； from the balls used in them。 They seem to have been
introduced in England about the year 1739。 The first was set up
at Tunbridge and proved extremely profitable to the proprietors。
This enormous wealth was then used as an efficient capital in
carrying on various illegal establishments； particularly gaming
houses； the expenses of a first…rate house being L7000 per
annum； which were again employed as the means of increasing these
ill…gotten riches。
The system was progressive but steady in its development。
Several of these conspicuous members of the world of fashion；
rolling in their gaudy carriages and associating with men of high
rank and influence； might be found on the registers of the Old
Bailey； or had been formerly occupied in turning； with their own
hands； E。O。 tables in the public streets。
The following _Queries_； which are extracted from the _Morning
Post_ of July the 5th； 1797； throw considerable light upon this
curious subject； and show how seriously the matter was regarded
when so public a denunciation was deemed necessary and
ventured upon：
‘Is Mr Ogden （now the Newmarket oracle） the same person who；
five…and…twenty years since； was an annual pedestrian to Ascot；
covered with dust； amusing himself with 〃_PRICKING in the_
belt；〃 〃_HUSTLING_ in the hat；〃 &c。； among the lowest class
of rustics； at the inferior booths of the fair？
'Is D…k…y Bn who now has his snug farm； the same person who；
some years since； _DROVE A POST CHAISE_ for Ty； of Bagshot；
could neither read nor write； and was introduced to _THE FAMILY_
only by his pre…eminence at cribbage？
‘Is Mr Twycross （with his phaeton） the same person who some years
since became a bankrupt in Tavistock Street； immediately
commenced the Man of Fashion at Bath； kept running horses； &c。；
_secundum artem？_
‘Is Mr Phillips （who has now his town and country house； in the
most fashionable style） the same who was originally a linen…
draper and bankrupt at Salisbury； and who made his first _family
entre_ in the metropolis； by his superiority at _Billiards_
（with Captain Wallace； Orrell； &c。） at Cropley's； in Bow Street？
‘Was poor carbuncled Pe （so many years the favourite decoy
duck of _THE FAMILY_） the very barber of Oxford； who； in the
midst of the operation upon a gentleman's face； laid down his
razor； swearing that he would never shave another man so long as
he lived； and immediately became the hero of the card table； the
_bones_； the _box_； and the _Cockpit？_'
Capital was not the only qualification for admission into the
Confederacy of Gambling。 Some of the members were taken into
partnership on account of their dexterity in ‘securing' dice or
‘dealing' cards。 One is said to have been actually a sharer in
every ‘Hell' at the West…End of the Town； because he was feared
as much as he was detested by the firms； who had reason to know
that he would ‘peach' if not kept quiet。 Informers against the
illegal and iniquitous associations were arrested and imprisoned
upon writs； obtained by perjuryto deter others from similar
attacks； witnesses were suborned； officers of justice bribed；
ruffians and bludgeon…men employed； where gratuities failed；
personal violence and even assassination threatened to all who
dared to expose the crying evilamong others； to Stockdale； the
well…known publisher of the day； in Piccadilly。
Then came upon the nation the muddy flood of French
emigrants； poured forth by the Great Revolutiona set of men；
speaking generally； whose vices contaminated the very atmosphere。
Before the advent of these worthies the number of gambling houses
in the metropolis； exclusive of those so long established by
subscription； was not more than half…a…dozen； but by the year
1820 they had increased to nearly fifty。 Besides _Faro_ and
_Hazard_； the foreign games of _Macao； Roulette； Rouge et Noir_；
&c。； were introduced； and there was a graduated accommodation for
all ranks； from the Peer of the Realm to the Highwayman； the
Burglar； and the Pick et。
At one of the watering…places； in 1803； a baronet lost L20；000
at play； and a bond for L7000。 This will scarcely surprise us
when we consider that at the time above five hundred notorious
characters supported themselves in the metropolis by this species
of robbery； and in the summer spread themselves through the
watering…places for their professional operations。 Some of them
kept bankers； and were possessed of considerable property in the
funds and in land； and went their _circuits_ as regularly as the
judges。 Most excellent judges they were； too； of the
condition of a ‘pigeon。'
In a great commercial city where； from the extent of its trade；
manufacture； and revenue； there must be an immense circulation of
property； the danger is not to be conceived of the allurements
which were thus held out to young men in business having the
command of money； as well as the clerks of merchants； bankers；
and others。 In fact； too many of this class proved； at the bar
of justice； the consequence of their resort to these complicated
scenes of vice； idleness； extravagance； misfortune； and crime。
Among innumerable instances are the following：In 1796； a
shopman to a grocer in the city was seduced into a gaming party；
where he first lost all his own money； and ultimately what his
master had intrusted him with。 He hanged himself in his bed…room
a few hours afterwards。
In the same year； Lord Kenyon in summing up a case of the kind
said：‘It was extremely to be lamented that the vice of gambling
had descended to the very lowest orders of the people。 It was
prevalent among the highest ranks of society； who had set the
example to their inferiors； and who； it seemed； were too great
for the law。 I wish they could be punished。 If any
prosecutions are fairly brought before me； and the parties are
justly convicted； whatever may be their rank or station in the
countrythough they should be the first ladies in the landthey
shall certainly exhibit themselves in the pillory。'
In 1820； James Lloyd； one of the harpies who practised on the
credulity of the lower orders by keeping a _Little Go_； or
illegal lottery； was brought up for the twentieth time； to answer
for that offence。 This man was a methodist preacher； and
assembled his neighbours together at his dwelling