Old times

"The Lady Archer, whose death was announced in this paper of Saturday, is not the celebrated character whose cosmetic powers have been long held in public estimation."—(Morning Post, Jan. 5, 1789.)

"It is said that the dealers in Carmine and dead white, as well as the Perfumers in general, have it in contemplation to present an address to Lady Archer, in gratitude for her not having DIED according to a late alarming report."—(Morning Post, Jan. 8, 1789.)

"Mrs. Sturt's house, in St. James Square, was opened yesterday evening, for the first time this season, for public play. The visitors were numerous."—(Times, Feb. 5, 1793.)

"Many of our young sprigs of fashion, when the campaign opens, will have other game to attend to than the game of Faro. By risquing their persons they may serve their country; but by risquing their property, they can neither benefit the nation, nor do any good to themselves. Cocking a fire lock will redound more to their honour than cocking a card: and as they are fond of a game of Hazard, let them take the chance of the field, in preference to that of the gaming table:

"Some of the Faro Ladies have opened their play houses, and announced the Road to Ruin until further notice. The Gamesters was publicly rehearsed in St. James Square on Monday night."—(Times, Feb. 6, 1793.)

"The number of new gaming-houses, established at the West End of the town, is, indeed, a matter of very serious evil: but they are not likely to decrease while examples of the same nature are held forth in the higher circles of life. It is needless to point out any one of these houses in particular: it is sufficient for us to expose the tricks that are practised at many of them to swindle the unsuspecting young men of fortune who are entrapped into these whirlpools of destruction. The first thing necessary is, to give the guests a good dinner and plenty of wine, which many of these houses do, gratis. When they are sufficiently intoxicated, and, having lost all the money about them, their acceptance is obtained to Bills of Exchange to a considerable amount, which frequently are paid to avoid the disagreeable circumstance of a public exposition in a Court of Justice, which is always threatened, though the gamesters well know that no such measure durst be adopted by them.

"Should any reluctance, or hesitation, be shewn by the injured party, to accept these bills, he is shewn into a long room, with a target at the end of it, and several pistols lying about, where he is given to understand these sharpers practice a considerable time of the day in shooting at a mark, and have arrived to such perfection in this exercise, that either of them can shoot a pistol ball within an inch of the mark, from the common distance taken by duellists. A hint is then dropped, that further hesitation will render the use of the pistols necessary, and which will again be the case, should he ever divulge what he has seen, and heard.

"If further particulars, or proofs, are wanting, they may be known on application to certain Military characters, who have already made some noise in the world."—(Times, Feb. 14, 1793.)

"No less than six Faro Banks are held in Pall Mall, viz., Philips's, Nelson's, Curtis's, Hall's, Whitnoll's, and Bullock's."—(Times, Feb. 18, 1793.)

"It is become necessary to put our young men on their guard against the swindling tricks of some French ladies in this metropolis, of elevated rank, who have introduced assemblies in their lodgings, and houses, of an evening, for the purpose of attracting company, whose pockets are to be taxed by Gallic address, for the support of these nocturnal establishments.

"In one of these, the Lady who presides, has not yet lost her personal charms, nor those arts of seduction, and that address, for which her well-informed countrymen are so notorious. She, however, outwitted herself some day since, by employing one of her mitred attendants to dispose of a watch set with diamonds. This right reverend Father in God turned pedlar, in his extreme zeal to execute the orders of his fair hostess, offered the bauble to a gentleman who, the evening before, had been present at this splendid assemblage of Gallic Noblesse, and had seen the watch by the side of the lady herself. On finding that double the value was demanded for the trinket, he was at no loss to discover the ways and means by which this gaudy display of independence, comfort, and hilarity, was supported."—(Times, Feb. 27, 1793.)

"The Banking Ladies in St. James Square, do not see themselves much obliged to the Abbé de St. Farre, and his brother, for introducing so many noble Emigrants to their houses. These people come with their crown pieces and half-guineas, and absolutely form a circle round the Faro tables, to the total exclusion of our English Lords and Ladies, who can scarcely get one punt during a whole evening."—(Times, March 14, 1793.)

"The play at the Faro Banks is reduced to so low a standard, except where they punt on tick, that a rouleau of 20 guineas is quite a novelty."—(Times, March 19, 1793.)

"A principal Faro Bank was broken twice last week—on Monday night at Mrs. Hobart's, and on Wednesday at Mrs. Concannon's. On the first night it lost 2000, and, on the last, 600 guineas. Lord C. S******* is one of the keenest punters of the present day. Poor Mazzinghi, who deals the cards at Mrs. Sturt's Bank, was threatened on Tuesday night, by his Lordship, to have his bones broken, because he disputed the noble Lord's intention of cocking a card. The money was not deposited on the card in the regular manner, but the young Lord said he intended to stake on the winning card, and therefore claimed it as if he had actually done so. Something was muttered about the highway, but it was impossible it could allude to the circumstance in question."—(Times, April 29, 1793.)

"Mrs. G. is said to understand Faro better than any other Lady of the town, particularly in the art of doubling the corner of a card, so as to win triple stakes if it is successful. She has doubled the Faro Bank holders out of so much money, that they shrink at the sight of her presence. There is so much running upon tick with the Faro Tables, that, like the Country Banks, they are breaking every day. They will soon want some other assistance than Cards, and Wax Lights, to keep up some of the Establishments at the West end of the town.

"The Faro Bank holders now lose money almost every evening. The punters are now becoming the rooks, and the bankers the pigeons. The Ladies understand the game so well, and play so keen, that it requires the eyes of Argus to detect all their tricks. As little Quick says in the play, a greenhorn has only to put down his money, and he is sure to find some one to take it up for him."—(Times, May 1, 1793.)

"A Banking Lady, in St. James Square, is about to commence a prosecution, because it is said, that there was much filching at her Faro table. The house was quite in an uproar on Tuesday night, in consequence of a paragraph that appeared in a Morning Paper of the preceding day. The Lady vows she will call in the aid of an Attorney to support her reputation: and observes, that the credit of her house will suffer if such reports are permitted to go unpunished. The Faro Ladies are, in the sporting phrase, almost done up. Jewels, trinkets, watches, laces, &c., are often at the pawnbrokers, and scarce anything is left to raise money upon, except their pads. If justice is to be hoodwinked, and gambling, and sharking, permitted, why not make it an article of revenue, as in foreign countries, and lay a heavy tax on it. A tax on excessive gaming would, in the course of a year, produce as much as would fit out a 50 gun ship."—(Times, May 2, 1793.)

"The war has lessened the receipt of the Faro Tables, insomuch, that they can barely allow lemonade.

"The Faro Tables now really come within the true meaning of plundering shops. They are attended by a gang of sharpers, who talk of knocking down the Croupiers if any offence is taken at the most barefaced frauds. Surely the Police may now make forcible entry into the Houses, fashionable, or unfashionable, which hold out a bait for the purpose of robbery."—(Times, May 3, 1793.)

"The Faro Bank holders at the fashionable routs are nearly done up; for what with the punters running away with their winnings, and never paying when they lose, and the 25 guineas per night, paid to the fashionable landladies for the use of their houses, the profits are pared down to a very nothing."—(Times, March 28, 1794.)

"Lord Hampden's Faro Bank is broken up for the present season. Lady Buckinghamshire, Mrs. Sturt, and Mrs. Concannon alternately divide the Beau monde at their respective houses. Instead of having two different hot suppers, at one and three o'clock in the morning, the Faro Banks will now scarcely afford bread and cheese, and porter.

"One of the Faro Banks in St. James Square lost 7000£ last year by bad debts. A young son of Levi is a considerable debtor to one of them; but not finding it convenient to pay what is not recoverable by law, he no longer appears in these fashionable circles."—(Times, April 2, 1794.)

"A Card.—The Lady Gamblers at the West end of the town, present their compliments to several Ex noble Emigrés, who frequent their card routs, and inform them, through the channel of this paper, that their absence would be more agreeable than their company. They beg leave to suggest that hot suppers, and French wines, brilliant illuminations, cards, and other expences, cannot be afforded out of the profits of such peddling play as staking an ecu, or half a guinea, on the turn up of a card, and they beg leave to observe, that it is not considered as a mark of their good breeding, to engross the whole round of the Faro table, which might be turned to so much better advantage, by the pluckings of a few rich young Lords, and Commoners, who would wish to sport their rouleaus. It is hoped this hint may be attended to, as it may prevent further observation."—(Times, April 3, 1794.)

"It is impossible to conceive a more complete system of fraud and dishonour than is practised every night at the Faro Banks. Though every table has four croupiers, yet the Bank holders find, that double the number are necessary to watch all the little tricks, and artifices, of some of the fashionable punters. But Mrs. G—— beats all her associates in the art of doubling, or cocking a card."—(Times, April 4, 1794.)

"The Faro Banks being no longer a profitable game, certain Ladies in St. James' Square have substituted another instead of it, called Roulet: but it is in fact only the old game of E.O. under a different title. Roulet is now therefore the order of the night."—(Times, June 25, 1794.)

"The late King was passionately fond of Masquerades, where there was always a Pharo Bank prepared for his entertainment. Upon one occasion the crowd was so great in all parts of the Theatre, that the late Mr. Crawford was called for, and ordered to stop the further admission of company at the door: in which, however, he found so much difficulty, that 2700 guineas were forced into his pocket, whilst he stood purposely to advertise the public that there was no more room."—(Times, April 13, 1795.)

"The two gambling houses in St. James's Square are in despair. The suppers are ordered with great caution: and of things that will keep. The two last companies have been composed, literally, of the privileged wives, and of foreigners."—(Times, Dec. 2, 1795.)

"It is to the credit of the rising generation of females, that they have unanimously quitted those infamous meetings, called Private Pharoes, where some of their shameless Mammas, and the faded reputations of the present age, still expose their vices, and cheat the boys who have not been long enough in the army, to wear out their first cockades."—(Times, Dec. 30, 1795.)

"To the CONDUCTOR of the TIMES.

"Sir,—London is certainly an eligible place for persons who have nothing but their labour to depend on, to get forward in life, provided they steer clear of the many snares, and temptations, which hover in every alley, street, winding, and corner.

"The mischief is, however, that the generality of young men, the moment they set foot in town, or, if brought up in the Metropolis, directly they enter the world on their own account, are hurried away, thoughtlessly, with the stream of error, and dissipation. If he happens to be a young man possessed of a moderate independence, without the suggestion of prudence, the caution of experience, the councils of wisdom or the restraint of authority, his whole conduct is then influenced by the passion with which he is actuated, which becomes at once, whether good or bad, his impulse, and his guide.

"The Play-house is the first place of resort, which from the frequency of his visits, instead of being an instructive amusement, or a moral lesson, turns out a rendezvous of intrigue, and intemperance, where he soon acquires an intimacy with the idle, the profligate, the gambler, and the prostitute, who eye him as their lawful prey, and with all that ease, dexterity, and artifice, which a knowledge of the town, and its vicissitudes, has furnished them with, they imperceptibly lead him from one crime to another, till at length he becomes extravagant, and irregular, callous, and abandoned. Bagnios, gaming-tables, horses, and black-legs, are now his only wish, theme, and delight, and, so long as his pocket will endure the burden, so long, and no longer, is he duped, flattered, caressed, and encouraged, by those who surround him. But everything must have an end, and enormous expenditures cannot keep pace with that income which should be managed with care and frugality. The young Gentleman runs short, as it is termed, and, on his first embarrassment, is advised to apply for the assistance of some friendly advertising money lender, who, upon proper security, has the modesty to procure him from time to time, sums of money, at the equitable premium of 100 per cent. A repetition so involves him, that, by degrees, his estate falls into the hands of Mr. Usurer, who takes an absolute assignment of his estate, for a consideration less than half its true value: and reflection never once enters his head, but he unfortunately squanders the last shilling: but it is, now, he conceives, a folly to repent, or retreat: consequently he gets into debt, is arrested, carried to a spunging house, and from thence is removed to the King's Bench, or Fleet Prison.

"Far be it from me to throw any odium on an unfortunate class of people immured in the walls of either of those places, there are no doubt, imprisoned, as worthy, and as good a set of people, as any in society. But the young spark I am speaking of, being mortified at his late companions standing aloof, and resigning him to his fate, becomes loaded with obloquy, associates with characters equally as vicious as himself, smoaks, swears, and carouses, and, all at once, is wholly lost, as it were to himself, and to the world.

"R. K—y."

—(Times, Dec. 31, 1795.)

"Capt. H. of the Guards, the nephew of the Banker, who a short time since lost 13,000 guineas at one sitting, at Backgammon, to an Irish Gambler, revenged himself last week for this loss, by winning the enormous sum of 45,000 Guineas, at Billiards, in one night, of Mr. B. S. of the Guards. It is said that £25,000 of the money was paid him the next day."—(Times, March 16, 1796.)

"It is said to be the intention of some of the leading circles in the Fashionable World, to abolish the tax of Card-money,[4] as an imposition upon hospitality. This would prove the return of good sense, inasmuch as it tends to substantiate the truth—that when one person invites another to partake of the conviviality of his house, he should not lay an impost upon him, even more exorbitant than that which he would pay, were he to attend a Tavern Club. When a friend is invited, it is an insult to friendship to make that friend pay for his entertainment."—(Times, Dec. 17, 1794.)

"The tabbies at Bath are in a state of insurrection, in consequence of an example set by Lady Elcho, who neither visits, nor receives, company that pay for Cards: the laudable reformation is adopted so generally, that many of the Dowagers, who have so long fed upon Card-money, are turning their thoughts to some more creditable means of earning their livelihood."—(Times, March 22, 1796.)

"We hope the Ladies in London, who stand upon a nice point of honour, will follow the example of the Bath Ladies, and exclude the odious, and pitiful, custom of taking card-money at their houses. It is a meanness, which no persons who pretend to the honour of keeping good company, ought to allow. We are afraid that many a party is formed, rather to derive benefit from the Card tables, than for the sake of hospitality."—(Times, March 24, 1796.)

"We hope, now that the business of informations against the Gambling Houses has found its way into the Court of King's Bench, that we shall hear of some effectual measures being taken to suppress them. What other than the most unworthy considerations could have suffered these houses to be open night after night, in defiance of every law, and to the destruction of young women, whose parents are so profligate, as to take them thither. If certain Mammas have no regard for their reputation, surely they should consider that their daughters are yet to be provided for.

"A new stratagem has been hit on to gain early intelligence of the drawings of the ensuing Irish Lottery. As Pigeons are found sometimes not to fly quick enough, some of our speculating Lottery Rooks have been for some time past trying experiments on high eminences in North Wales, by exhibiting rockets about seven o'clock in the evening. It is to be seen whether this mode of communication can be rendered sufficiently intelligible, to answer the purposes of fraud."—(Times, Nov. 4, 1796.)

"It is said, and we hope with truth, that the Archbishop of Canterbury, at the head, and with the concurrence of the Episcopal Lords, means to introduce a Bill into Parliament to prevent gambling on a Sunday. An act at present does exist against this pernicious practice; but the penalty amounts to a fine, that the Groom-porters at Hazard, or the Dealer at Faro, can with ease pay by the profits of an hour. The punishment for the offence of playing any game of chance on a Sunday is, by this new intended Bill, to be transportation for seven years to Botany Bay. The owner of the house, by a particular clause, is more severely dealt with. He, or she, permitting such gambling, shall be transported for life."—(Times, Feb. 13, 1797.)

"PUBLIC OFFICE, MARLBOROUGH St. FARO BANKS. On Saturday came on to be heard, informations against Lady Buckinghamshire, Lady Elizabeth Luttrell, Mrs. Sturt, and Mr. Concannon, for having, on the night of the 30th of last January, played at Faro, at Lady Buckinghamshire's house, in St. James's Square, and Mr. Martindale was charged with being the proprietor of the table.

"The evidence went to prove that the Defendants had gaming parties at their different houses by rotation, and that when they met at Lady B.'s, the witnesses used to wait upon them in the gambling room, and that they played at E.O., Rouge et Noir, &c., from about eleven, or twelve, till three, or four, o'clock in the morning. After hearing Counsel, the Magistrates convicted Hy. Martindale in the penalty of £200, and each of the Ladies in £50. The Information against Mr. Concannon was quashed, on account of his being summoned by a wrong Christian name."—(Times, Mar. 13, 1797.)

"The expence of entertainments at a Gaming House of the highest class, in St. James' Square, during the eight months of last season, has been said to exceed 6000 Guineas! what must be the profits to afford such a profusion?"—(Times, March 21, 1797.)

"The Pharo Trade is likely to experience a more severe check from the recent refusal of some fashionable Gamesters to liquidate their debts, than from the accumulated terrors of Police persecution. If the punters won't pay, the dealers may as well shut up shop."—(Times, Sept. 23, 1797.)

"If a man should happen, in a Cockpit, to make a bet which he is not able to answer, he is put into a basket, and pulled up to the ceiling, where he remains suspended during the sport. It is recommended to the Pharo Bankers to institute some such punishment for the Lady 'Levanters.'"—(Times, Sept. 23, 1997.)

"To such a height has the spirit of gambling arisen, that at some of the great Tables it is not uncommon to see the stake consist wholly of property in kind. A house of furniture was last week lost to a Lady in the neighbourhood of Pall Mall.

"The successful party had played against it, the stock of a farm in the County of Essex."—(Times, Sept. 25, 1797.)

"At some of our first Boarding Schools, the fair pupils are now taught to play whist, and cassino. Amongst their winning ways, this may not be the least agreeable to Papa and Mamma.

"It is calculated, that a clever child, by its cards, and its novels, may pay for its own education."—(Times, Nov. 2, 1797.)

"At a boarding-school in the neighbourhood of Moorfields, the mistress complains that she is unable to teach her scholars either Whist, or Pharo. However, she says, they play perfectly well at Kissino, and all-fours."—(Times, Nov. 2, 1797.)

"So completely has gambling got the better of dancing, that at a private Ball, last week, a Gentleman asking a young Lady, from Bath, to dance the two next dances, she very ingenuously replied,'Yes, if you will play two rubbers at Cassino.'"—(Times, Dec. 22, 1797.)

"In every part of the Metropolis, that most destructive game of E. O.[5] is now in high practice, but more particularly so in the neighbourhood of S. James's Street, Pall Mall, and what is called the fashionable end of the town. The Tables, even if they were fairly constructed, must be the ruin of all adventurers; because, in the course of one hour, they play at a game where the Table has clearly one hundred and twenty-four chances to one in its favor within that hour. If this does not rouse the Magistracy, Justice may then be announced to be in a somniferous state—occasioned probably, by a yellow mineral application."—(Times, June 22, 1795.)

"It is impossible that the Magistrates can be ignorant of the number of E. O. Tables, now held at the West end of the town. At one of these, established close to King's Place, a young man lost, on Sunday, £1500."—(Times, June 20, 1795.)

"PRIVATE LOTTERIES.

"Amongst the various species of Gaming that have ever been practised, we think none exceeds the mischiefs, and calamities, that arise from the practice of private Lotteries, which at present are carrying on, in various parts of the town, to very alarming extents, much to the discredit of those whose province it is to suppress such nefarious practices, as they cannot be ignorant of such transactions. 'The little go,' which is the technical term for a private Lottery, is calculated only for the meridian of those understandings, who are unused to calculate, and discriminate, between right, and wrong, and roguery, and fair-dealing; and, in this particular case, it is those who compose the lower order of society, whom it so seriously affects, and on whom it is chiefly designed to operate. No man of common sense can suppose that the Lottery Wheels are fair, and honest, or that the proprietors act upon principles anything like honor, or honesty; for, by the art, and contrivance, of the Wheels, they are so constructed, with secret springs, and the application of gum, glue, &c., in the internal part of them, that they can draw the numbers out, or keep them in, at pleasure, just as it suits their purposes; so that the insurer, robbed, and cajoled, by such unfair means, has not the most distant chance of ever winning: the whole being a gross fraud, and imposition, in the extreme. We understand the most notorious of these standards of imposition are situated in Carnaby Market, Oxford Road, in the Borough, Islington, Clerkenwell, and various other places, most of which are under the very nose of Magistracy, in seeming security, bidding defiance to law, and preying upon the vitals of the poor and ignorant.

"We hope the Magistrates of each jurisdiction, and those who possess the same power, will perform their duty on behalf of the poor, over whom they preside, and put a stop to such a growing, and alarming, evil, of such pernicious, and dangerous tendency: particularly, as the Proprietors are well-known bad characters, consisting of needy beggars, desperate swindlers, gamblers, sharpers, notorious thieves, and common convicted felons, most of whose names stand recorded in the Newgate Calendar for various offences of different descriptions."—(Times, July 22, 1795.)

"The term of little goes for the private lotteries is apt enough, for the poor devils who risk their property there, have but little, and that little goes to nought.

"If the wheels of fortune, and the cash, seized at the private lotteries, become the property of the police runners, the old adage will be strongly verified, 'What is got over the devil's back, will be spent under his belly.'"—(Times, Aug. 13, 1795.)

"On Friday night last, in consequence of searching warrants from the Parochial Magistrates of St. James's, Westminster, upwards of 30 persons were apprehended at the house of one M'Call, No. 2, Francis St., near Golden Square, and in the house of J. Knight, King St., where the most destructive practices to the poor were carrying on, that of Private Lotteries (called Little Goes.) Two wheels, with the tickets, were seized on the premises. Upon examination of those persons, who proved to be the poor deluded objects that had been there plundered, they were reprimanded, and discharged.

"The wives of many industrious mechanics, by attending these nefarious houses, have not only been duped out of their earnings (which ought to have been applied to the providing bread for their families) but have even pawned their beds, wedding rings, and almost every article they were possessed of for that purpose."—(Times, Aug. 11, 1795.)

"Dr. B., a physician at Lime (Dorset), a few days since, being under pecuniary embarrassment, and his house surrounded by bailiffs, made his escape by a window, into a neighbour's house, from whence he fled to London. The furniture was seized, and the sale actually commenced, when it was stopped by a letter, stating that the Doctor, upon his arrival in London, found himself the proprietor of the £20,000 prize. We guarantee the truth of this fact."—(Times, Dec. 27, 1797.)

"The £20,000 prize, drawn on Friday, is divided amongst a number of poor persons: a female servant in Brook St., Holborn, had a sixteenth; a woman who keeps a fruit-stall in Grays-Inn-lane another; a third is possessed by a servant of the Duke of Roxburghe's; a fourth by a Chelsea Carrier of vegetables to Covent Garden; one eighth belongs to a poor family in Rutlandshire, and the remainder is similarly divided."—(Times, Mar. 19, 1798.)

"Poor Newmarket is completely done up! The Spring Meeting boasts so few bets in the calendar of gambling, that the chance will not pay post-chaise hire to the black legs. Thus falls the destructive sport of the Turf—and, as that is the case, it would do honour to his Majesty to change the King's Plates into rewards for the improvement of Agriculture."—(Times, April 17, 1794.)

"The Duke of Queensberry was a principal loser at Epsom Races. The Noble Duke had his vis-a-vis, and six horses, driving about the course, with two very pretty emigrées in it. The Duke was in his cabriolet. The Duke of Bedford, Lords Egremont, and Derby, were also on the course. Several carriages were broken to pieces: and one Lady had her arm broken.

"There was much private business done in the swindling way at the last Epsom races. One black legged fellow cleared near a thousand pounds by the old trick of an E.O. Table. Another had a faro table, and was on the eve of doing business, when he was detected with a palmed card: almost the whole of what may be justly styled 'vagabond gamblers' of London were present.

"Mr. Bowes, half brother to the Earl of Strathmore, was robbed of a gold watch, and a purse, containing 30 guineas, at Epsom races, on Thursday last. Many other persons shared a similar fate, both on the same evening, and Friday. Upwards of 30 carriages were robbed coming from the races."—(Times, May 25, 1795.)

"Never since racing was patronised by the Merry Monarch, has the Turf been so much on the decline as at this period. His Grace of Bedford is the only person who retains a considerable stud. Lord Grosvenor has disposed of nearly the whole of his, with the reserve of two, or three, capital horses, and some few brood mares."—(Times, Sept. 8, 1797.)

"A Mr. Marston, of the Borough, has laid a bet of 2000 guineas, that he will, in the course of the ensuing week, go into one of the great wheels of the water-works at London Bridge, while it is in its swiftest motion with an ebb-tide, stay there five minutes, and come out again with safety, though not without accident, in a different part from that in which he went in: and afterwards walk one mile within an hour, on condition that the lower bucket of the wheel is two feet distance from the river bottom."—(Times, Sept. 11, 1797.)