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veil； a quiet…coloured silk gown； with less of flourish and
frill； by half； than any other person； a delicate little hand
which； when ungloved； displayed some handsome rings； a jewelled
watch； of peculiar splendour； and a countenance expressive of
anxious thoughtfulnessmust be remembered by many who were at
Baden in August； 1833。 They must remember； too； that； enter the
rooms when they would； morning； noon； or night； still they found
her nearly at the same place at the _Rouge et Noir_ table。
‘Her husband； who had as unquestionably the air of a gentleman as
she had of a lady； though not always close to her； was never very
distant。 He did not play himself； and I fancied； as he hovered
near her； that his countenance expressed anxiety。 But he
returned her sweet smile； with which she always met his eye；
with an answering smile； and I saw not the slightest indication
that he wished to withdraw her from the table。
‘There was an expression in the upper part of her face that my
blundering science would have construed into something very
foreign to the propensity she showed； but there she sat； hour
after hour； day after day； not even allowing the blessed sabbath；
that gives rest to all； to bring it to her；there she sat；
constantly throwing down handfuls of five…franc pieces； and
sometimes drawing them back again； till her young face grew rigid
from weariness； and all the lustre of her eye faded into a glare
of vexed inanity。 Alas！ alas！ is that fair woman a mother？ God
forbid！
‘Another figure at the gaming table； which daily drew our
attention； was a pale； anxious old woman； who seemed no longer to
have strength to conceal her eager agitation under the air of
callous indifference； which all practised players endeavour to
assume。 She trembled； till her shaking hand could hardly grasp
the instrument with which she pushed or withdrew her pieces； the
dew of agony stood upon her wrinkled brow； yet； hour after hour；
and day after day； she too sat in the enchanted chair。 I
never saw age and station in a position so utterly beyond the
pale of respect。 I was assured she was a person of rank； and my
informant added； but I trust she was mistaken； that she was an
_ENGLISH_ woman。'＇102＇
＇102＇ Belgium and Western Germany； in 1833。
GAMING HOUSES KEPT BY LADIES。
There is no doubt that during the last half of the last century
many titled ladies not only gambled； but kept gaming houses。
There is even evidence that one of them actually appealed to the
House of Lords for protection against the intrusion of the peace
officers into her establishment in Covent Garden； on the plea of
her Peerage！ All this is proved by a curious record found in the
Journals of the House of Lords； by the editor of the
_Athenaeum_。 It is as follows：
‘Die Lunae； 29 Aprilis； 1745。_Gaming_。 A Bill for
preventing the excessive and deceitful use of it having been
brought from the Commons； and proceeded on so far as to be agreed
to in a Committee of the whole House with amendments；
information was given to the House that Mr Burdus； Chairman of
the Quarter Sessions for the city and liberty of
Westminster； Sir Thomas de Veil； and Mr Lane； Chairman of the
Quarter Sessions for the county of Middlesex； were at the door；
they were called in； and at the Bar severally gave an account
that claims of privilege of Peerage were made and insisted on by
the Ladies Mordington and Casselis； in order to intimidate the
peace officers from doing their duty in suppressing the public
gaming houses kept by the said ladies。 And the said Burdus
thereupon delivered in an instrument in writing under the hand of
the said Lady Mordington； containing the claim she made of
privilege for her officers and servants employed by her in her
said gaming house。 And then they were directed to withdraw。 And
the said instrument was read as follows：〃I； Dame Mary；
Baroness of Mordington； do hold a house in the Great Piazza；
Covent Garden； for and as an Assembly； where all persons of
credit are at liberty to frequent and play at such diversions as
are used at other Assemblys。 And I have hired Joseph Dewberry；
William Horsely； Ham Cropper； and George Sanders as my servants
or managers （under me） thereof。 I have given them orders to
direct the management of the other inferior servants （namely）：
John Bright； Richard Davis； John Hill； John Vandenvoren； as
box…keepers；Gilbert Richardson； housekeeper； John Chaplain；
regulator； William Stanley and Henry Huggins； servants that wait
on the company at the said Assembly； William Penny and Joseph
Penny as porters thereof。 And all the above…mentioned persons I
claim as my domestick servants； and demand all those privileges
that belong to me as a peeress of Great Britain appertaining to
my said Assembly。 M。 MORDINGTON。 Dated 8th Jan。； 1744。〃
‘Resolved and declared that no person is entitled to privilege of
Peerage against any prosecution or proceeding for keeping any
public or common gaming house； or any house； room； or place for
playing at any game or games prohibited by any law now in force。'
That such practice continued in vogue is evident from the police
proceedings subsequently taken against
THE FAMOUS LADY BUCKINGHAMSHIRE。
This notorious gamestress of St James's Square； at the close of
the last century； actually slept with a blunderbuss and a pair of
pistols at her side； to protect her Faro bank。
On the 11th of March； 1797； her Ladyship； together with Lady
E。 Lutterell and a Mrs Sturt； were convicted at the Marlborough
Street Police…court； in the penalty of L50； for playing at the
game of Faro； and Henry Martindale was convicted in the sum of
L200； for keeping the Faro table at Lady Buckinghamshire's。
The witnesses had been servants of her Ladyship； recently
discharged on account of a late extraordinary loss of 500 guineas
from her Ladyship's house； belonging to the Faro bank。＇103＇
＇103＇ The case is reported in the Times of March 13th； 1797。
One cannot help being struck with the appearance of the Times
newspaper at that period70 years ago。 It was printed on one
small sheet； about equal to a single page of the present issue；
and contained four pages； two of which were advertisements； while
the others gave only a short summary of newsno leader at all。
In the same year； the croupier at the Countess of
Buckinghamshire's one night announced the unaccountable
disappearance of the cash…box of the Faro bank。 All eyes were
turned towards her Ladyship。 Mrs Concannon said she once lost a
gold snuff…box from the table； while she went to speak to Lord
C。 Another lady said she lost her purse there last winter。
And a story was told that a certain lady had taken； _BY
MISTAKE_； a cloak which did not belong to her； at a rout
given by the Countess of 。 Unfortunately a discovery of the
cloak was made； and when the servant knocked at the door to
demand it； some ver