"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.)
The Illustration "Modern Hospitality, or a Friendly Party in High Life," is by Gillray, 31st Mar. 1792, and in it we see Lady Archer, and Lady Buckinghamshire, keeping a Faro Bank: and, as they are rather passées, the picture has the following, "To those earthly Divinities who charmed 20 years ago, this Honorable method of banishing mortifying reflections is dedicated. O, Woman! Woman! everlasting is your power over us, for in youth, you charm away our hearts, and in your after years you charm away our purses!"
Gambling—1792.
It is a pity we have not the key to the portraits of the bystanders, for portraits they, undoubtedly, are, because there is such individuality in the expression of their several countenances. The players we can easily recognise—Lady Archer, at the extreme left, has won largely, rouleaux of gold, and bank notes, are before her, and on her right hand are two heaps of loose gold;—with what a smiling countenance does the painted old gambler shew her cards, saying, "The Knave wins all!"
Her next door neighbour, the Prince of Wales, who has staked, and lost, his last piece, lifts his hands, and eyes, in astonishment at the luck. Lady Buckinghamshire has doubled her stake, playing on two cards, and is evidently annoyed at her loss—whilst poor, black muzzled Fox, laments the loss of his last three pieces.
"The profits of Faro are become so considerably reduced, that most of the Banks now lose almost every evening, after defraying the expences of the house, which are very considerable. Those public-spirited Ladies who give such frequent routes, do so at a certain gain: for the sum of TWENTY-FIVE guineas is regularly advanced by the bank holders towards the night's expences. The punters at Mrs. Hobart's, and Mrs. Sturt's, Faro Banks have dropped off considerably: and those who continue, are got so knowing, that heavy complaints are made that they bring no grist to the mill. There have not been above eight punters at Mrs. Sturt's bank, any night this season. The pigeons are all flown, and the punters are nothing better than hawks."—(Times, Feb. 10, 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.)