"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 kick-up at a Hazard Table. (No.1)—1790.
"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.)