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for that offence。 This man was a methodist preacher； and
assembled his neighbours together at his dwelling on a Saturday
to preach the gospel to them； and the remainder of the week he
was to be found； with an equally numerous party； instructing them
in the ruinous vice of gambling。 The charge was clearly proved；
and the prisoner was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with
hard labour。
In the same year numbers of young persons robbed their masters to
play at a certain establishment called Morley's Gambling House；
in the City； and were ruined there。 Some were brought to justice
at the Old Bailey； others； in the madness caused by their losses；
destroyed themselves； and some escaped to other countries； by
their own activity； or through the influence of their
friends。
A traveller of the coachmakers； Messrs Houlditch of Long Acre；
embezzled or applied to his own use considerable sums of money
belonging to them。 It appeared in evidence that the prisoner was
sent by his employers to the Continent to take orders for
carriages； he was allowed a handsome salary； and was furnished
with carriages for sale。 The money he received for them he was
to send to his employers； after deducting his expenses； but
instead of so doing； he gambled nearly the whole of it away。 The
following letter to his master was put in by way of explanation
of his career：‘Sir；The errors into which I have fallen have
made me so hate myself that I have adopted the horrible
resolution of destroying myself。 I am sensible of the crime I
commit against God； my family； and society； but have not courage
to live dishonoured。 The generous confidence you placed in me I
have basely violated； I have robbed you； and though not to enrich
myself； the consciousness of it destroys me。 Bankruptcy；
poverty； beggary； and want I could bearconscious integrity
would support me： but the ill…fated acquaintance I formed led me
to those earthly hellsgambling houses； and then commenced
my villainies and deceptions to you。 My losses were not large at
first； and the stories that were told me of gain made me hope
they would soon be recovered。 At this period I received the
order to go to Vienna； and on settling at the hotel I found my
debts treble what I had expected。 I was in consequence compelled
to leave the two carriages as a guarantee for part of the debt；
which I had not in my power to discharge。 I had hoped such
success at Vienna as would enable me to state all to you； but
disappointment blasted every hope； and despair； on my return to
Paris； began to generate the fatal resolution which； at the
moment you read this； will have matured itself to consummation。
I feel that my reputation is blasted； no way left of re…imbursing
the money wasted； your confidence in me totally destroyed； and
nothing left to me but to see my wife and children； and die。
Affection for them holds me in existence a little longer。 The
gaming table again presented itself to my imagination as the only
possible means of extricating myself。 Count Montoni's 3000
francs； which I received before you came to Paris； furnished me
with the meansmy death speaks the result！ After robbery so
base as mine； I fear it will be of no use for me to solicit
your kindness for my wretched wife and forlorn family。 Oh； Sir；
if you have pity on them and treat them kindly； and do not leave
them to perish in a foreign land； the consciousness of the act
will cheer you in your last moments； and God will reward you and
yours for it tenfold。 Their sensibilities will not cause them to
need human aid。 Thus I shall be threefold the murderer。 I thank
you for the kindness you have rendered me； and I assure your
brother that he has； in this dreadful moment； my ardent wishes
for his welfare here and hereafter。 I have so contrived it that
you will see a person at the Prince's tomorrow； who will
interpret for you。 In mentioning my fate to him； you will not
much serve your own interest by blackening my character and
memory。 I subjoin the reward of my villainies and the correct
balance of the account。 Count Edmond's regular bills I have not
received； his valet will give you them； the others are in a
pocket…book； which will be found on my corpse somewhere in the
wood of Boulogne。
‘Signed； W。 KINSBY。'
It appears； however； that the gentleman changed his mind and
did not commit suicide； but surrendered at the Insolvent Debtor's
Court to be dealt with according to law； which was a much wiser
resolution。
To the games of Faro； Hazard； Macao； Doodle…do； and Rouge et
Noir； more even than to horse…racing； many tradesmen； once
possessing good fortunes and great business； owed their
destruction。 Thousands upon thousands have been ruined in the
vicinity of St James's。 It was not confined to youths of fortune
only； but the decent and respectable tradesman； as well as the
dashing clerk of the merchant and banker； was ingulfed in its
vortes。
The proprietors of gaming houses were also concerned in
fraudulent insurances； and employed a number of clerks while the
lotteries were drawing； who conducted the business without risk；
in counting…houses； where no insurances were taken； but to which
books were carried； as well as from the different offices in
every part of the town； as from the _Morocco…men_； who went from
door to door taking insurances and enticing the poor and middling
ranks to adventure。
It was gambling； and not the burdens of the long war； nor the
revulsion from war to peace； that made so many bankruptcies
in the few years succeeding the Battle of Waterloo。 It was the
plunderers at gaming tables that filled the gazettes and made the
gaols overflow with so many victims。
A foreigner has advanced an opinion as to the source of the
gambling propensity of Englishmen。 ‘The English；' says M。
Dunne；＇68＇ ‘the most speculative nation on earth； calculate even
upon future contingences。 Nowhere else is the adventurous rage
for stock…jobbing carried on to so great an extent。 The fury of
gambling； so common in England； is undoubtedly a daughter of this
speculative genius。 The _Greeks_ of Great Britain are； however；
much inferior to those of France in cunning and industry。 A
certain Frenchman who assumed in London the title and manners of
a baron； has been known to surpass all the most dexterous rogues
of the three kingdoms in the art of robbing。 His aide…de…camp
was a kind of German captain； or rather _chevalier d'industrie_；
a person who had acted the double character of a French spy and
an English officer at the same time。 Their tactics being at
length discovered； the baron was obliged to quit the country；
and he is said to have afterwards entered the monastery of
La Trappe；' where doubtless； in the severe and gloomy religious
practices of that terrible penitentiary； he atoned for his past
enormities。
＇68＇ ‘Refexions sur l'Homme。'
‘Till near the commen