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of families； without distinction of rank； means； or
duties。 。 。 。 Let this short generalization be well pondered；
and the conclusion must be reached that this Scotch adventurer；
John Law； was guilty of the crime of treason against humanity。
＇57＇ Nous sommes loin de la reconnoissance qui est due a
Jean Law。 Mel。 de Litt。； d'Hist。； &c。 ii。
John Law； whom the French called _Jean Lass_； opened a gulf into
which half the nation eagerly poured its money。 Fortunes were
made in a few daysin a few _HOURS_。 Many were enriched
by merely lending their signatures。 A sudden and horrible
revolution amazed the entire peoplelike the bursting of a bomb…
shell or an incendiary explosion。 Six hundred thousand of the
best families； who had taken _PAPER_ on the faith of the
government； lost； together with their fortunes； their offices and
appointments； and were almost annihilated。 Some of the stock…
jobbers escaped； others were compelled to disgorge their gains
although they stoutly and； it must be admitted； consistently
appealed to the sanction of the court。
Oddly enough； whilst the government made all France play at this
John Law gamethe most seductive and voracious that ever
existedsome thirty or forty persons were imprisoned for having
broken the laws enacted against games of chance！
It may be somewhat consolatory to know that the author of so much
calamity did not long enjoy his share of the infernal success
the partition of a people's ruin。 After extorting so many
millions； this famous gambler was reduced to the necessity of
selling his last diamond in order to raise money to gamble on。
This great catastrophe； the commotion of which was felt even
in Holland and in England； was the last sigh of true honour among
the French。 Probity received a blow。 Public morality was
abashed。 More gaming houses than ever were opened； and then it
was that they received the name of _Enfers_； or ‘Hells；' by which
they were designated in England。 ‘The greater number of those
who go to the watering…places；' writes a contemporary； ‘under the
pretext of health； only go after gamesters。 In the States…
general it is less the interest of the people than the attraction
of terrible gambling； that brings together a portion of the
nobility。 The nature of the play may be inferred from the name
of the place at which it takes place in one of the provinces
namely； _Enfer_。 This salon； so appropriately called； was in the
Hotel of the king's commissioners in Bretagne。 I have been told
that a gentleman； to the great disgust of the noblemen present；
and even of the bankers； actually offered to stake his sword。
‘This name of _Enfers_ has been given to several gaming houses；
some them situated in the interior of Paris； others in the
environs。
‘People no longer blush； as did Caligula； at gambling on their
return from the funeral of their relatives or friends。 A
gamester； returning from the burial of his brother； where he had
exhibited the signs of profound grief； played and won a
considerable sum of money。 〃How do you feel now？〃 he was
asked。 〃A little better；〃 he replied； 〃this consoles me。〃
‘All is excitement whilst I write。 Without mentioning the base
deeds that have been committed； I have counted four suicides and
a great crime。
‘Besides the licensed gaming houses； new ones are furtively
established in the privileged mansions of the ambassadors and
representatives of foreign courts。 Certain chevaliers
d'industrie recently proposed to a gentleman of quality； who had
just been appointed plenipotentiary； to hire an hotel for him；
and to pay the expenses； on condition that he would give up to
them an apartment and permit them to have valets wearing his
livery！ This base proposal was rejected with contempt； because
the Baron de is one of the most honourable and enlightened
men of the age。
‘The most difficult bargains are often amicably settled by a
game。 I have seen persons gaming whilst taking a walk and whilst
travelling in their carriages。 People game at the doors of
the theatres； of course they gamble for the price of the ticket。
In every possible manner； and in every situation； the true
gamester strives to turn every instant to profit。
‘If I relate what I have seen in the matter of play during sleep；
it will be difficult to understand me。 A gamester； exhausted by
fatigue； could not give up playing because he was a loser； so he
requested his adversary to play for him with his left hand；
whilst he dozed off and slept！ Strange to say； the left hand of
his adversary incessantly won； whilst he snored to the sound of
the dice！
‘I have just read in a newspaper；＇59＇ that two Englishmen； who
left their country to fight a duel in a foreign land；
nevertheless played at the highest stakes on the voyage； and
having arrived on the field； one of them laid a wager that he
would kill his adversary。 It is stated that the spectators of
the affair looked upon it as a gaming transaction。
＇59＇ Journal de Politique； Dec。 15； 1776。
‘In speaking of this affair I was told of a German； who； being
compelled to fight a duel on account of a quarrel at the gaming
table； allowed his adversary to fire at him。 He was missed。
he said to his opponent； 〃I never miss。 I bet
you a hundred ducats that I break your right or left arm； just as
you please。〃 The bet was taken； and he won。
‘I have found cards and dice in many places where people were in
want of bread。 I have seen the merchant and the artisan staking
gold by handfuls。 A small farmer has just gamed away his
harvest； valued at 3000 francs。'＇60＇
＇60＇ Dusaulx； _De la Passion du Jeu_； 1779。
Gaming houses in Paris were first licensed in 1775； by the
lieutenant of police； Sartines； who； to diminish the odium of
such establishments； decreed that the profit resulting from them
should be applied to the foundation of hospitals。 Their number
soon amounted to twelve； and women were allowed to resort to them
two days in the week。 Besides the licensed establishments；
several illegal ones were tolerated； and especially styled
_enfers_； or ‘hells。'
Gaming having been found prolific in misfortunes and crimes； was
prohibited in 1778； but it was still practised at the court and
in the hotels of ambassadors； where police…officers could not
enter。 By degrees the public establishments resumed their
wonted activity； and extended their pernicious effects。 The
numerous suicides and bankruptcies which they occasioned
attracted the attention of the _Parlement_； who drew up
regulations for their observance； and threatened those who
violated them with the pillory and whipping。 The licensed
houses； as well as those recognized； however； still continued
their former practices； and breaches of the regulations were
merely visited with trivial punishment。
At length； the passion for play prevailing in the societies