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under the British flag； desecration of the English name； and so
forth。 Next week the lieutenant…governor； by 〃order；〃 put an
end to _Roulette_ at Heligoland； but play on a diminutive scale
has since； I have been given to understand； recommenced there
without molestation。
＇71＇ Mr Sala is here in error。 Colton was a prosperous gambler
throughout； and committed suicide to avoid a surgical operation。
A notice of the Rev。 C。 Colton will be found in the sequel。
‘We gamble in England at the Stock Exchange； we gamble on horse…
races all the year round； but there is something more than the
mere eventuality of a chance that prompts us to the _enjeu；_
there is mixed up with our eagerness for the stakes the most
varied elements of business and pleasure； cash…books； ledgers；
divident…warrants； indignation meetings of Venezuelan bond…
holders； coupons； cases of champagne； satin…skinned horses with
plaited manes； grand stands； pretty faces； bright flags； lobster
salads； cold lamb； fortune…telling gipsies； barouches…and…four；
and 〃our Aunt Sally。〃 High play is still rife in some
aristocratic clubs； there are prosperous gentlemen who wear clean
linen every day； and whose names are still in the Army List； who
make their five or six hundred a year by Whist…playing； and have
nothing else to live upon； in East…end coffee…shops； sallow…faced
Jew boys； itinerant Sclavonic jewellers； and brawny German sugar…
bakers； with sticky hands； may be found glozing and wrangling
over their beloved cards and dominoes； and screaming with
excitement at the loss of a few pence。 There are yet some occult
nooks and corners； nestling in unsavoury localities； on passing
which the policeman； even in broad daylight； cannot refrain from
turning his head a little backwardsas though some bedevilments
must necessarily be taking place directly he has passed
where； in musty back parlours； by furtive lamplight； with
doors barred； bolted； and sheeted with iron； some wretched；
cheating gambling goes on at unholy hours。 Chicken…hazard is
scotched； not killed； but a poor； weazened； etiolated biped is
that once game…bird now。 And there is Doncaster； every year
Doncaster； with its subscription…rooms under authority； winked at
by a pious corporation； patronized by nobles and gentlemen
supporters of the turf； and who are good enough； sometimes； to
make laws for us plebeians in the Houses of Lords and Commons。
There is Doncaster； with policemen to keep order； and admit none
but 〃respectable〃 peoplesubscribers； who fear Heaven and
honour the Queen。 Are you aware； my Lord Chief…Justice； are you
aware； Mr Attorney； Mr Solicitor…General； have you the slightest
notion； ye Inspectors of Police； that in the teeth of the law；
and under its very eyes； a shameless gaming…house exists in moral
Yorkshire； throughout every Doncaster St Leger race…week？ Of
course you haven't； never dreamed of such a thingnever could；
never would。 Hie you； then； and prosecute this wretched gang of
betting…touts； congregating at the corner of Bride Lane； Fleet
Street； quick； lodge informations against this publican who
has suffered card…playing to take place； raffles； or St Leger
sweeps to be held in his house。 〃You have seen a farmer's dog
bark at a beggar； and the creature run from the cur。 There thou
might'st behold the great image of authority： a dog's obeyed in
office。〃 You havevery well。 Take crazy King Lear's words as
a text for a sermon against legislative inconsistencies； and come
back with me to Hombourg Kursaal。'
CHAPTER VII。
GAMBLING IN BRIGHTON IN 1817。
The subject of English gambling may be illustrated by a series of
events which happened at Brighton in 1817； when an inquiry
respecting the gaming carried on at the libraries led to many
important disclosures。
It appears that a warrant was granted on the oath of a Mr William
Clarke； against William Wright and James Ford； charged with
feloniously stealing L100。 But the prosecutor did not appear
in court to prove the charge。 It was quite evident； therefore；
that the law had been abused in the transaction； and the
magistrate； Sergeant Runnington； directed warrants to be issued
for the immediate appearance of the prosecutor and Timothy
O'Mara； as an evidence； but they absconded； and the learned
Sergeant discharged the prisoners。
The matter then took a different turn。 The same William Wright；
before charged with ‘stealing' the L100； was now examined as a
witness to give evidence upon an examination against Charles
Walker； of the Marine Library； for keeping an unlawful Gaming
House。
This witness stated that he was engaged； about five weeks before；
to act as _punter_ or player （that is； in this case； a sham
player or decoy） to a table called _Noir； rouge； tout le deux_
（evidently a name invented to evade the statute； if possible）； by
William Clarke； the prosecutor； before…mentioned； that the table
was first carried to the back room of Donaldson's Library； where
it continued for three or four days； when Donaldson discharged it
from his premises。
He said he soon got into the confidence of Clarke； who put him up
to the secrets of playing。 The firm consisted of O'Mara；
Pollett； Morley； and Clarke。 There was not much playing at
Donaldson's。 Afterwards the table was removed into Broad Street；
but the landlady quickly sent it away。 It was then carried to a
room over Walker's Library； where a rent was paid of _twelve
guineas per week； showing plainly the profits of the
speculation。
Several gentlemen used to frequent the table； among whom was one
who lost L125。
Clarke asked the witness if he thought the person who lost his
money was rich？ And being answered in the affirmative； it was
proposed that he； William Wright； should invite the gentleman to
dinner； to let him have what wine he liked； and to spare no
expense to get him drunk。
The gentleman was induced to play again； and endeavour to recover
his money。 As he had nothing but large bills； to a considerable
amount； he was prevailed on to go to London； in company with the
witness； who was to take care and bring him back。 One of the
firm； Pollett； wrote a letter of recommendation to a Mr Young； to
get the bills discounted at his broker's。 They returned to
Brighton； and the witness apprized the firm of his arrival。 They
wanted him to come that evening； but the witness _TOLD THE
GENTLEMAN OF HIS SUSPICIONS_that during their absence a _FALSE
TABLE_ had been substituted。
The witness； however； returned to his employers that evening；
when the firm advanced him L100； and Ford； another punter
of the sort； L100； to back with the gentleman as a blindso
that when the signal was given to put upon black or red； they
were to put their stakesby which means the gentleman would
follow； and they calculated upon fleecing him of five or six
thousand pounds in the course of an hour。 According to his own
acco