Manners.
Gambling-houses a Century ago.
From “The London Mercury” of January 13, 1721-2.
There are, it seems, in the parish of Covent-garden, twenty-two such houses, some of which clear sometimes 100l., and seldom less than 40l. a night. They have their proper officers, both civil and military, with salaries proportionable to their respective degrees, and the importance they are of in the service, viz.
A commissioner, or commis, who is always a proprietor of the gaming-house: he looks in once a night, and the week’s account is audited by him and two others of the proprietors.
A director, who superintends the room.
The operator, the dealer at faro.
Croupees two, who watch the card, and gather the money for the bank.
A puff, one who has money given him to play, in order to decoy others.
A clerk, who is a check upon the puff, to see that he sinks none of that money.—A squib is a puff of a lower rank, and has half the salary of a puff.
A flasher, one who sits by to swear how often he has seen the bank stript.
A dunner, waiters.
An attorney, or solicitor.
A captain, one who is to fight any man that is peevish or out of humour at the loss of his money.
An usher, who takes care that the porter, or grenadier at the door, suffers none to come in but those he knows.
A porter, who, at most of the gaming-houses, is a soldier hired for that purpose.
A runner, to get intelligence of all the meetings of the justices of the peace, and when the constables go upon the search.
Any link-boy, coachman, chairman, drawer, or other person, who gives notice of the constables being upon the search, has half a guinea.