have made capital. What is the crime of stealing a sheep, or
picking a pocket of a handkerchief, when placed in comparison

with this crime, traced through all its consequences?
'With regard to those in the higher walks of life, experience

tells us it often leads to self-murder and duelling, about
gambling debts, which terminate in the total ruin of families

once opulent, and reduce to beggary their innocent and helpless
children; and as for those in a lower sphere of life, when they

have lost their money, they often betake themselves to
housebreaking and the highway, in order to replenish their

coffers, and at last end their lives by the hand of justice.'
With many other most excellent observations on the tendency of

this selfish and avaricious vice, he concluded by sentencing
Miller to a fine of L500, one year's imprisonment, and security

for his good behaviour for seven years, himself in L500 and two
others in L250 each, adding:--'It appeared that you played with

loaded dice. The Court has not taken that into consideration,
because it was not charged in the indictment.'

ATTACKS ON GAMING HOUSES.
In 1797 the Bedford Arms, Covent Garden, kept by one John

Twycross, was attacked, under warrant. The gaming-room stood an
hour's siege, for the doors were so plated with iron that the

repeated blows of a sledge-hammer made no impression on them.
The officers at length entered the back through the window. They

found fifteen persons at table, but not actually playing, so no
conviction could take place.

In the same year a party of Bow Street officers searched a gaming
house at 19, Great Suffolk Street. They were an hour in

effecting their entrance. Two very stout doors, strongly bolted
and barred, obstructed them. All the gamesters but one escaped

by a subterraneous passage, through a long range of cellars,
terminating at a house in Whitcomb Street, whence their leader,

having the keys of every door, conducted them safely into the
open air.

In the previous year a party, mostly French emigrants, were taken
at a house in Oxendon Street, with the table, cards, &c. A city

magistrate and a city officer had a dispute at cards, and a
knock-down game ensued.

In 1799 the Marlborough Street officers apprehended at the gaming
house, No. 3, Leicester Square, thirteen out of twenty persons,

from the first floor, playing at Rouge et Noir. One of the
gamblers, when they first entered, threw up the sash, and,

stepping from the leads, fell into the area, and died in being
conveyed to the hospital.

In the same year, two notorious gaming houses, Nos. 1 and 3,
King's Place, were attacked, by authority of a search warrant.

All the paraphernalia of the profession, as tables, dice,
counters, &c., were seized; but the inmates effected their escape

over the roofs of the adjoining houses. The proprietor of No. 3
was smoked in a chimney, and three French emigrants intercepted

in their retreat. On one of them was found a gold watch, which
appeared, by the robbery-book, to have been stolen about five

years previously. The banks had been conveyed away,--at least,
they were not among the captures.

'SOMETHING HONOURABLE TO THE BRITISH FLAG.'
It is stated as highly honourable to the British flag that, among

the gamesters of the first quarter of the present century, no
Admirals were seen at the INFERIOR tables. Their proper pride

kept them from a familiar association with pursers, clerks,
grocers, horse-dealers, linen-drapers, silk-mercers, masons,

builders, timber-merchants, booksellers, &c., &c., and men of the
very lowest walks of life.

COARSE LANGUAGE OF GAMESTERS.
'I heard those who, in another place, even in the most polished

courts, would take a high rank for good breeding and gentlemanly
education, at these tables make use of language which, I hope,

Billingsgate itself would turn from with disgust. It cannot be
repeated; neither would it be believed, unless by such as, like

myself, have had "confirmation strong," too strong to be
rejected, if I did not, at the same time, reject the evidence of

my senses.'[45]
[45] Seymour Harcourt, The Gaming Calendar.

BOASTED PROTECTION OF GREAT NAMES TO GAMING HOUSES.
'On one occasion I was at the Pigeon Hole, in St James's Square

(since removed to King Street), when the apprehensions which the
rapid sale of The Greeks (a work exposing the system) excited

among the players were warmly debated. To my great astonishment,
a person who I supposed was a proprietor, boasted the

impenetrability of HIS house, and on what ground, think you?
Why, on that of it having the countenance of the Lord Chief

Justice of England! True or false, it seemed to revive the
flagging spirits of its visitors. They knew better. Not even

the warm feelings of a father would turn the scale of justice in
the even hand of Lord Ellenborough.'

It must not, however, be taken for granted, merely because these
fellows assert it, that the sons of the late Chief Justice really

frequented that den of iniquity. It is part of the system of
these houses to delude the ignorant, by pretending that this or

the other person uses their tables. I had an instance of that
myself at ----, in Pall Mall. Asking who that gentleman was,

pointing to the party, I was answered--'That is Mr Hay, private
secretary to Lord Melville, the First Lord of the Admiralty.'

Now, I believe I may safely say, and from my own knowledge, too,
that Mr Hay, whose character and conduct is deservedly held in

the highest estimation, NEVER was at that or any such house; yet
his name was constantly quoted, and particularly to young

officers of the navy and marines, to whom his acquaintance held
out hopes of future advantage in their profession![46]

[46] Id. ibid.
FORTUNATE RISE OF A CLUB-HOUSE WAITER.

'A waitership at a club sometimes led to fortune. Thomas
Rumbold, originally a waiter at White's gaming club, got an

appointment in India, and suddenly rose to be Sir Thomas, and
Governor of Madras! On his return, with immensewealth, a bill

of pains and penalties was brought into the House by Dundas, with
the view of stripping Sir Thomas of his ill-gotten gains. This

bill was briskly pushed through the earlier stages; suddenly the
proceedings were arrested by adjournment, and the measure fell to

the ground. The rumour of the day attributed Rumbold's escape to
the corruptassistance of Rigby; who, in 1782, found himself, by

Lord North's retirement, deprived of his place in the Pay Office,
and called upon to refund a large amount of public moneys

unaccounted for. In this strait, Rigby was believed to have had
recourse to Rumbold. Their acquaintance had commenced in earlier

days, when Rigby was one of the boldest "punters" at White's, and
Rumbold bowed to him for half-crowns as waiter. Rumbold is said

to have given Rigby a large sum of money, on condition of the
former being released from the impending pains and penalties.

The truth of the report has been vehemently denied; but the
circumstances are suspicious. The bill was dropped; Dundas, its

introducer, was Rigby's intimateassociate. Rigby's nephew and
heir soon after married Rumbold's daughter. Sir Thomas himself

had married a daughter of Dr Law, Bishop of Carlisle. The worthy
bishop stood godfather to one of Rumbold's children; the other

godfather was the Nabob of Arcot, and the child was christened
"Mahomet." So, at least, Walpole informs Mann.'[47]