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unfortunate brewer of Kingston？
Here is _ANOTHER_ account of the matter； which warrants the
doubt； although it is fearfully circumstantial； as to the certain
identity：
‘Mr William Peter le Rowles； of Kingston； brewer； was habitually
fond of play。 On one occasion he was inducedwhen in a state of
intoxicationto play with Dick England； who claimed； in
consequence； winnings to the amount of two hundred guineas。 Mr
le Rowles utterly denied the debt； and was in consequence pursued
by England until he was compelled to a duel； in which Mr le
Rowles fell。 Lord Dartrey； afterwards Lord Cremorne； was present
at Ascot Heath races on the fatal occasion； which happened in
1784； and his evidence before the coroner's inquest produced a
verdict of wilful murder against Dick England； who fled at
the time； but returned twelve years afterwards； was tried； and
found guilty of manslaughter only。 He was imprisoned for twelve
months。 England was strongly suspected of highway robberies；
particularly on one occasion； when his associate； F； was shot
dead by Col。 P on his return from the Curragh races to the town
of Naas。 The Marquis of Hertford； Lords Derby and Cremorne；
Colonels Bishopp and Wollaston； and Messrs Whitbread； Breton；
&c。； were evidences in the trial。'＇145＇
＇145＇ _The Gaming Calendar_； by Seymour Harcourt。
It may seem strange that such a man as Dick England could procure
such distinguished ‘witnesses to character。' The thing is easily
explained； however。 They knew the man only as a turf companion。
We can come to no other conclusion；remembering other instances
of the kind。 For example； the case of Palmer； convicted for the
poisoning of Cooke。 Had Palmer been on his trial merely for
fighting a fatal duel； there can be no doubt that several
noblemen would have come forward to give him a good character。 I
was present at his trial； and saw him _BOW TO ONE； AT LEAST； OF
OUR MOST DISTINGUISHED NOBLEMEN_ when the latter took his
seat near the judge； at the trial。 There was a _TURF
ACQUAINTANCESHIP_ between them； and； of course； all
‘acquaintanceship' may be presumed upon； if we lay ourselves open
to the degradation。
The following is a curious case in point。 A gentleman of the
highest standing and greatest respectability was accosted by a
stranger to whom he said‘Sir； you have the advantage of me。'
‘Oh！' rejoined the former； ‘don't you remember when we used to
meet at certain parties at Bath many years ago？' ‘Well； sir；'
exclaimed the gentleman； ‘you may speak to me should you ever
again meet me at certain parties at Bath； but nowhere else。'
MAJOR BAGGS。
This famous gamester died in 1792； by a cold caught in ‘a round…
house；' or place of detention； to which he had been taken by
Justice Hyde； from a gaming table。
When too ill to rise out of his chair； he would be carried in
that chair to the Hazard table。
He was supposed to have been the utter ruin of above forty
persons at play。 He fought eleven duels。
THE DUC DE MIREFOIX。
The Duc de Mirefois was ambassador at the British Court； and was
extremely fond of chess。 A reverend gentleman being nearly his
equal； they frequently played together。 At that time the
clergyman kept a petty day…school in a small village； and had a
living of not more than twenty pounds a…year。 The French
nobleman made uncommon interest with a noble duke； through whose
favour he obtained for his reverend protege a living of
about L600 per annuman odd way of obtaining the ‘cure of
souls！'
A RECLAIMED GAMBLER'S ACCOUNT OF HIS CAREER。
‘Some years since I was lieutenant in a regiment； which the alarm
and policy of administration occasioned to be quartered in the
vicinity of the metropolis； where I was for the first time。 A
young nobleman of very distinguished family undertook to be my
conductor。 Alas！ to what scenes did he introduce me！ To places
of debauchery and dens of destruction。 I need not detail
particulars。 From the lures of the courtesan we went to an
adjoining gaming room。 Though I thought my knowledge of
cards superior to those I saw play that night； I touched no card
nor dice。 From this my conductor； a brother officer； and myself
adjourned to Pall Mall。 We returned to our lodgings about six
o'clock in the morning。
‘I could think of nothing but Faro's magic centre； and longed for
the next evening； when I determined to enter that path which has
led so many to infamy； beggary； and suicide。 I began cautiously；
and for some time had reason to be satisfied with my success。 It
enabled me to live expensively。 I made golden calculations of my
future fortune as I improved in skill。 My manuals were treatises
on gaming and chances； and no man understood this doctrine better
than I did。 I； however； did not calculate the disparity of
resisting powersmy purse with _FIFTY_ guineas； and the Faro
bank with a hundred thousand。 It was ruin only which opened my
eyes to this truism at last。
‘Good meats； good cooking； and good wines； given gratis and
plenteously； at these houses； drew many to them at first； for the
sake of the society。 Among them I one evening chanced to see a
clerical prig； who was incumbent of a parish adjoining that
in which my mother lived。 I was intoxicated with wine and
pleasure； when I； on this occasion； entered a haunt of ruin and
enterprising avarice in Pall Mall。 I played high and lost in
proportion。
‘The spirit of adventure was now growing on me every day。 I was
sometimes very successful。 Yet my health was impaired； and my
temper soured by the alternation of good and bad fortune； and my
pity or contempt for those with whom I associated。 From the
nobleman； whose acres were nightly melting in the dice box； there
were adventurers even to the _UNFLEDGED APPRENTICE_； who came
with the pillage of his unsuspecting master's till； to swell the
guilty bank of Dame N and Co。 Were the Commissioners of
Bankruptcy to know how many citizens are prepared for them at
those houses； they would be bound to thank them。
‘Many a score of guineas have I won of tradesmen； who seemed only
to turn an honest penny in Leadenhall Street； Aldgate； Birchin
Lane； Cornhill； Cheapside； Holborn； the Borough； and other
eastern spots of industry； but I fleeced them only for the
benefit of the Faro bank； which is sure； finally； to absorb the
gain of all。 Some of the croupiers would call their gold
_GIFTS OF THE WISE MEN OF THE EAST；_ others termed their guineas
_COCKNEY COUNTERS！_
‘One night I had such a run of luck in the Hazard room； which was
rather thinly attended； that I won everything； and with my load
of treasure collected from the East and West； nay； probably； some
of it from _Finchley Common_ and _Hounslow Heath_； I went； in
the flush of success； to attack the Faro bank。
‘It was my determination； however； if fortune favoured me through
the night； never to t