more) there is not a gentleman in the room--the rest are all

blacklegs.'
On leaving the place, the major expressed his astonishment at his

rudeness, and wondered, out of so numerous a company, it was not
resented. 'Oh, sir,' said Roche, 'there was no fear of that;

there was not a thief in the room who did not suppose himself one
of "the two or three gentlemen" I mentioned.'

FARO AT ROUTS.
The following advertisement appeared in the Courier newspaper in

1794:--
'As Faro is the most fashionablecircular game in the haut ton in

exclusion of melancholy Whist, and to prevent a company being
cantoned into separate parties, a gentleman of unexceptionable

character will, on invitation, do himself the honour to attend
the rout of any lady, nobleman, or gentleman, with a Faro Bank

and Fund, adequate to the style of play, from 500 to 2000
guineas.

'Address, G. A., by letter, to be left at Mr Harding's,
Piccadilly, nearly opposite Bond Street.

'N.B.--This advertisement will not appear again.'
PROSPECT OF L5200 PER ANNUM FROM A CAPITAL OF L2000.

The following advertisement appeared in the Morning Chronicle in
1817:--

'Any person who can command Two Thousand Pounds in ready money,
may advance it in a speculation which will realize at least L100

per week, and perhaps not require the advance of above one half
the money. The personal attendance of the party engaging is

requisite; but there will be no occasion for articles of
partnership, or any establishment, as the profits may be divided

daily.'
OF WHAT TRADE IS A GAMING-HOUSE KEEPER?

At a Westminster election the keeper of a notorious gaming house
in St Ann's parish was asked, as usual, what his trade was, when,

after a little hesitation, he said, 'I am an ivory turner.'
THE GAME PLAYED IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY.

Mrs Law, executrix of George Law, late proprietor of the Smyrna
Coffee House, St James's Street, in 1807, found, among her

husband's papers, several notes and memoranda of money advanced
to a Mr Nelthorpe, which she put in suit. The latter alleged

that they were for gambling purposes, and called Mrs Law to say
whether her husband did not keep a common gambling house; and his

counsel contended that it was clear the notes were for gaming
transactions, BECAUSE they were for 100 GUINEAS, 200 GUINEAS, and

so on--disdaining the vulgar enumeration of pounds. But the lord
chancellor said that THE GAME PLAYED IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY--as

far as counsel was concerned--was for GUINEAS.
THE ORIGINAL OF A RECENT PROPOSAL.

Not long since an advertisement appeared, and was noticed by
several of the papers, purporting to enable any person to realize

a large fortune by a small advance to the advertiser. It will
readily be seen that the following is the ORIGINAL of the scheme,

put forth in the Morning Chronicle, in 1818:--
'Important Offer. A gentleman of respectability has discovered a

method of winning at any game of chance, fairly and honourably,
to a certainty, by a method hitherto unknown;--he will SELL THE

SECRET for a consideration, or treat with a gentleman able to
join him with a capital of L300, by which a fortune may be made;

in either case he will engage with one person only. This will be
found well worth the attention of a member of the superior clubs.

**** No personal application will be answered.'
GAME AND GAMBLING.

A gentleman celebrated for his quickness at repartee, when
informed that a young nobleman of his acquaintance (remarkably

fond of a fashionable game) had shot an immense number of RED
partridges, and also of the BLACK game, which abounded on his

estates, replied--'I am not in the least surprised; he was at all
times, EVEN WHEN IN LONDON, devotedly attached to the GAME OF

ROUGE ET NOIR.'
CATCHING A TARTAR.

'My skill at billiards,' says a confessing gamester, 'gave me a
superiority over most I met with. I could also hide my skill

very dexterously, which is generally found a work of great
difficulty, and judiciously winning or losing, I contrived to

make it answer my purpose,--until one day, going to a table which
I was very much in the practice of frequenting, and where no one

was then engaged, I was invited by a stranger to play. I
accepted the invitation for a small stake, and won very easily,

so much so, that on commencing a new game I offered to give him
six, to place us more on an equality. He accepted it eagerly,

but it produced him no benefit; he played so badly, and managed
both his cue and mace so awkwardly--for I made no objection to

his changing them as often as he pleased--that, playing very
carelessly, I could not avoid beating him. We continued

increasing the stakes every successive game; money seemed of no
value to him; he appeared to have plenty, and lost it with a

spirit that told me I had got hold of an excellent subject, who
could pay me well for beating him. I did not wish to win too

palpably, and therefore kept increasing the advantage I yielded
him, till it amounted to sixteen. He now proposed making the bet

ONE HUNDRED POUNDS, and that I should give him eighteen. His
eagerness, as well as the manner in which he handled his tools,

convinced me of his inexperience, and I accepted the
proposal;--but, to my surprise, he won the game. He laughed so

heartily at the event, and conducted himself so extravagantly,
that I felt persuaded the thing was accidental. He proposed

doubling the stakes, which I refused; yet I agreed to play him
for the same sum as before, but giving him only fourteen. By

some chance he won again; and then I declined playing any more;
but he pushed me so hard, and offered to play the even game

rather than I should give over, that I was induced to yield. He
declared he did not want my money, and wished to give me an

opportunity of recovering it. It was the depth of artifice, and
I discovered it too late. He won . . . and I had no money to

pay! One of the bystanders took part with him; my case did not
invite or interest any one to stand by me. I was treated with

great indignity; and though I gave up my watch and every article
of value I possessed, yet I was not allowed to depart without

very ill usage. I had transgressed the laws of gaming, by
betting after I had ceased to be able to pay; but I had so

confidently felt that I had my antagonist in my own power, that I
considered the stake as my own as soon as the bet was made. The

injuries I received were very severe, and confined me to my bed
for several days.'[32]

[32] Confessions of a Gamester.
The splendid and fascinating game of Billiards seems to have been

an English invention; and it became greatly in vogue during the
reign of Louis XIV. of France, to whom it was recommended by his

physicians as an exercise after meals.
It is said that Chamillard, who played with the king, entirely

owed his political fortune to the skill which he displayed in
this game. Billiards has not as yet been placed, like skittles

and bowls, under the interdict of the police authorities, and it
is difficult to see how they could venture upon so tremendous an

experiment. The game seems to be more in vogue than ever, and
doubtless heavy sums are lost and won at it. Billiard matches

have during the last three years become quite one of the winter
exhibitions, and particularly this season have the public shown

their taste for the game. Perhaps the extraordinaryperformances
of some of the first-class cueists have stirred up the shades of