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that circumstance） and a beggar。
‘Betwixt twelve and one of the clock a good dinner is prepared by
way of ordinary； and some gentlemen of civility and condition
oftentimes eat there； and play a while for recreation after
dinner； both moderately and most commonly without deserving
reproof。 Towards night； when ravenous beasts usually seek their
prey； there come in shoals of hectors； trepanners； gilts； pads；
biters； prigs； divers； lifters； kidnappers； vouchers； mill kens；
piemen； decoys； shop…lifters； foilers； bulkers； droppers；
gamblers； donnakers； crossbiters； &c。； under the general
appellation of 〃rooks；〃 and in this particular it serves as a
nursery for Tyburn； for every year some of this gang march
thither。
‘Would you imagine it to be truethat a grave gentleman； well
stricken in years； insomuch as he cannot see the pips of the
dice； is so infatuated with this witchery as to play here with
others' eyes；of whom this quibble was raised； 〃Mr Such a one
plays at dice by the ear。〃 Another gentleman； stark blind； I
have seen play at Hazard； and surely that must be by the ear too。
‘Late at night； when the company grows thin； and your eyes dim
with watching； false dice are often put upon the ignorant； or
they are otherwise cozened； with topping or slurring； &；c。； and；
if you be not vigilant； the box…keeper shall score you up double
or treble boxes； and； though you have lost your money； dun you as
severely for it as if it were the justest debt in the world。
‘There are yet some genteeler and more subtle rooks； whom you
shall not distinguish by their outward demeanour from persons of
condition； and who will sit by a whole evening； and observe who
wins； and then； if the winner be 〃bubbleable；〃 they will
insinuate themselves into his acquaintance； and civilly invite
him to drink a glass of wine；wheedle him into play； and win all
his money； either by false dice； as high fulhams；＇11＇ low
fulhams； or by palming； topping； &c。 Note by the way； that
when they have you at the tavern and think you a sure 〃bubble；〃
they will many times purposely lose some small sum to you the
first time； to engage you more freely to _BLEED_ （as they call
it） at the second meeting； to which they will be sure to invite
you。
＇11＇ It appears that false dice were originally made at
_Fulham；_ hence so called； high and low fulhams； the high ones
were the numbers 4； 5； 6。
‘A gentleman whom ill…fortune had hurried into passion； took a
box and dice to a side…table； and then fell to throwing by
himself； at length he swears with an emphasis； 〃De； now I
throw for nothin；； I can win a thousand pounds； but when I lay
for money I lose my all。〃
‘If the house find you free to box； and a constant caster； you
shall be treated below with suppers at night； and caudle in the
morning； and have the honour to be styled； 〃a lover of the
house；〃 whilst your money lasts； which certainly will not be
long。
‘Most gamesters begin at small games； and by degrees； if their
money or estates hold out； they rise to great sums； some have
played first all their money； then their rings； coach and horses；
even their wearing clothes and _perukes；_ and then； such a farm；
and at last； perhaps a lordship。
‘You may read in our histories； how Sir Miles Partridge played at
dice with King Henry the Eighth； for Jesus Bells （so called）；
which were the greatest in England； and hung in a tower of St
Paul's church； and won them； whereby he brought them to ring in
his pocket； but the ropes afterwards catched about his neck； for；
in Edward the Sixth's days； he was hanged for some criminal
offences。＇12＇
＇12＇ The clochier in Paul's Churchyarda bell…house； four
square； builded of stone； with four bells； these were called
_Jesus_ Bells。 The same had a great spire of timber； covered
with lead； with the image of St Paul on the top； but was pulled
down by Sir Miles Partridge； Kt； in the reign of Henry VIII。 The
common speech then was that he did set L100 upon a cast at
dice against it； and so won the said clochier and bells of the
king。 And then causing the bells to be broken as they hung； the
rest was pulled down； and broken also。 This man was afterwards
executed on Tower Hill； for matters concerning the Duke of
Somerset； in the year 1551； the 5th of Edward VI。Stowe； B。 iii。
148。
‘Sir Arthur Smithhouse is yet fresh in memory。 He had a fair
estate； which in a few years he so lost at play； that he died in
great want and penury。 Since that Mr Ba； who was a clerk in
the Six…Clerks Office； and well cliented； fell to play； and won
by extraordinary fortune two thousand pieces in ready gold； was
not content with that； played on； lost all he had won； and almost
all his own estate； sold his place in the office； and at last
marched off to a foreign plantation； to begin a new world with
the sweat of his brow； for that is commonly the destiny of a
decayed gamestereither to go to some foreign plantation； or to
be preferred to the dignity of a _box…keeper_。
‘It is not denied but most gamesters have； at one time or other；
a considerable run of winning； but such is the infatuation of
play； I could never hear of a man that gave over a winnerI
mean； to give over so as never to play again。 I am sure it is
_rara avis_； for if you once 〃break bulk；〃 as they phrase it；
you are in again for all。 Sir Humphry Foster had lost the
greatest part of his estate； and then playing； as it is said；
_FOR A DEAD HORSE_； did； by happy fortune； recover it again； then
gave over； and wisely too。'＇13＇
＇13＇ Harleian Misc。 ii。 108。
The sequel will show the increase of gambling in our country
during the subsequent reigns； up to a recent period。
Thus； then； the passion of gaming is； and has ever been；
universal。 It is said that two Frenchmen could not exist even in
a desert without _QUARRELLING；_ and it is quite certain that no
two human beings can be anywhere without ere long offering to
‘bet' upon something。 Indolence and want of employment
‘vacuity；' as Dr Johnson would call itis the cause of the
passion。 It arises from a want of habitual employment in some
material and regular line of conduct。 Your very innocent card…
parties at homemerely to kill _TIME_ （what a murder！） explains
all the apparent mystery！ Something must be substituted to call
forth the natural activity of the mind； and this is in no way
more effectually accomplished； in all indolent pursuits； than by
those _EMOTIONS AND AGITATIONS_ which gambling produces。
Such is the source of the thing in our _NATURE；_ but then comes
the furious hankering after wealththe desire to have it without
_WORKING_ for itwhich is the wish of so many of us； and
_THIS_ is the source of that hideous gambling which has
produced the contemptible characters and criminal acts which
are the burthen of this volume。
We love play because it satisfies our avarice；that is to say；
our desire