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employed in forming a picture…gallery； and he printed at Paris；
for private distribution； an ode on the death of Lord Byron。 He
certainly committed suicide； but the act was not the gamester's
martyrdom。 He was afflicted by a disease which necessitated some
painful surgical operation； and rather than submit to it； he blew
out his brains； at the house of a friend； at Fontainebleau； in
1832。＇130＇
＇130＇ Gent。 Mag。 New Month。 Mag。 Gorton's Gen。 Biograph。 Dict。
BEAU BRUMMELL。
This singular man was an inveterate gambler； and for some time
very ‘lucky；' but the reaction came at last； the stakes were too
high； and the purses of his companions too long for him to stand
against any continued run of bad luck； indeed； the play at
Wattier's； which was very deep； eventually ruined the club； as
well as Brummell and several other members of it； a certain
baronet now living； according to Captain Jesse； is asserted to
have lost ten thousand pounds there at _Ecarte_ at one
sitting。＇131＇
＇131＇ Life of Beau Brummell。
The season of 1814 saw Brummell a winner； and a loser
likewiseand this time he lost not only his winnings； but ‘an
unfortunate ten thousand pounds；' which； when relating the
circumstance to a friend many years afterwards； he said was all
that remained at his banker's。 One nightthe fifth of a most
relentless run of ill…luckhis friend Pemberton Mills heard him
exclaim that he had lost every shilling； and only wished some one
would bind him never to play again：‘I will；' said Mills； and
taking out a ten…pound note he offered it to Brummell on
condition that he should forfeit a thousand if he played at
White's within a month from that evening。 The Beau took it； and
for a few days discontinued coming to the club； but about a
fortnight after Mills； happening to go in； saw him hard at work。
Of course the thousand pounds was forfeited； but his friend；
instead of claiming it； merely went up to him and； touching him
gently on the shoulder； said‘Well； Brummell； you may at least
give me back the ten pounds you had the other night。'
Among the members who indulged in high play at Brookes' Club was
Alderman Combe； the brewer； who is said to have made as much
money in this way as he did by brewing。 One evening whilst
he filled the office of Lord Mayor； he was busy at a full Hazard
table at Brookes'； where the wit and the dice…box circulated
together with great glee； and where Beau Brummell was one of the
party。 ‘Come； Mash…tub；' said Brummell； who was the _caster_；
‘what do you _set？_' ‘Twenty…five guineas；' answered the
Alderman。 ‘Well； then；' returned the Beau； ‘have at the mare's
pony' （a gaming term for 25 guineas）。 He continued to throw
until he drove home the brewer's twelve ponies running； and then
getting up； and making him a low bow； whilst pocketing the cash；
he said‘Thank you； Alderman； for the future I shall never drink
any porter but yours。' ‘I wish； sir；' replied the brewer； ‘that
every other blackguard in London would tell me the same。'＇132＇
＇132＇ Jesse； _ubi supra_。
The following occurrence must have caused a ‘sensation' to poor
Brummell。
Among the members of Wattier's Club was Bligh； a notorious
madman； of whom Mr Raikes relates：‘One evening at the Macao
table； when the play was very deep； Brummell； having lost a
considerable stake； affected； in his farcical way； a very
tragic air； and cried out〃Waiter； bring me a flat candlestick
and a pistol。〃 Upon which Bligh； who was sitting opposite to
him； calmly produced two loaded pistols from his coat pocket；
which he placed on the table； and said； 〃Mr Brummell； if you are
really desirous to put a period to your existence； I am extremely
happy to offer you the means without troubling the waiter。〃 The
effect upon those present may easily be imagined； at finding
themselves in the company of a known madman who had loaded
weapons about him。'
Brummell was at last completely beggared； though for some time he
continued to hold on by the help of funds raised on the mutual
security of himself and his friends； some of whom were not in a
much more flourishing condition than himself； their names；
however； and still more； their expectations； lent a charm to
their bills； in the eyes of the usurers； and money was procured；
of course at ruinous interest。 It is said that some unpleasant
circumstances； connected with the division of one of these loans；
occasioned the Beau's expatriation； and that a personal
altercation took place between Brummell and a certain Mr M；
when that gentleman accused him of taking the lion's share。
He died in utter poverty； and an idiot； at Caen； in the year
1840； aged 62 years。 Brummell had a very odd way of accounting
for the sad change which took place in his affairs。 He said that
up to a particular period of his life everything prospered with
him； and that he attributed good luck to the possession of a
certain silver sixpence with a hole in it； which somebody had
given him years before； with an injunction to take good care of
it； as everything would go well with him so long as he did； and
the reverse if he happened to lose it。 The promised prosperity
attended him for many years； whilst he held the sixpence fast；
but having at length； in an evil hour； unfortunately given it by
mistake to a hackney…coachman； a complete reverse of his previous
good fortune ensued； till actual ruin overtook him at last； and
obliged him to expatriate himself。 ‘On my asking him；' says the
narrator； ‘why he did not advertise and offer a reward for the
lost treasure； he said； 〃I did； and twenty people came with
sixpences having holes in them to obtain the promised reward； but
mine was not amongst them！〃 And you never afterwards；' said I；
‘ascertained what became of it？ 〃Oh yes；〃 he replied；
〃no doubt that rascal Rothschild； or some of his set； got hold
of it。〃 ' Whatever poor Brummell's supernatural tendencies may
have generally been； he had unquestionably a superstitious
veneration for his lost sixpence。
TOM DUNCOMBE。
Tom Duncombe graduated and took honours among the greatest
gamblers of the day。 Like Fox； he was heir to a good fortune
ten or twelve thousand a yearthe whole of which he managed to
anticipate before he was thirty。 ‘Tom Duncombe ran Charles Fox
close。 When Mr Duncombe； sen。； of Copgrove； caused his prodigal
son's debts to be estimated with a view to their settlement； they
were found to exceed L135；000；＇133＇ and the hopeful heir went
on adding to them till all possibility of extrication was at an
end。 But he spent his money （or other people's money）； so long
as he had any； like a gentleman； his heart was open like his
hand； he was generous； cordial； high…spirited； and his
expectationstill they were known to be discounted to the
uttermost farthingkept up his credit； improved his social
position； and gained friends。 〃Society〃 （says his son）