A few interesting facts came out before the parliamentary committee on Gaming, in 1844, respecting Crockford's.
It was said that Crockford gave up the business in 1840, because there were no more very high players visiting his house.
'A number of persons,' according to the admission of the Honourable Frederick Byng, 'who were born to very large properties, were very nearly ruined at Crockford's.'
The sums won on the turf were certainly larger than those won by players at Crockford's; a man might lose L20,000 in one or more bets, to one or more persons; but against this he might have won an equivalent amount in small sums from 200 or more persons.(40)
(40) This is not very clearly put, but the meaning is that much more money was lost at Crockford's than on the turf.
Some years previously to Crockford's retirement, it is said that he found the debts so bad that he was obliged to leave off his custom of paying cheques; and said he would cancel all previous debts, but that in future gentlemen would have to pay with money.
He made them play for money instead of with counters, in consequence of the large sums that were owing to him upon those counters.
8. THE TRAVELLERS' CLUB,
next the Athenaeum in Pall Mall, originated soon after the peace of 1814, in a suggestion of the late Lord Londonderry, then Lord Castlereagh, for the resort of gentlemen who had resided or travelled abroad, as well as with a view to the accommodation of foreigners, who, when properly recommended, receive an invitation for the period of their stay.(41) Here Prince Talleyrand was fond of a game at Whist. With all the advantage of his great imperturbability of face, he is said to have been an indifferent player.
(41) Quarterly Review, No. cx. p. 481.