"The wives of many industrious mechanics, by attending these nefarious houses, have not only been duped out of their earnings (which ought to have been applied to the providing bread for their families) but have even pawned their beds, wedding rings, and almost every article they were possessed of for that purpose."—(Times, Aug. 11, 1795.)
But nothing was said against the big State Lotteries—which were going on without let, or hindrance—and, absolutely, educating the people in the taste for gambling. Here are two anecdotes of the lottery:—
"Dr. B., a physician at Lime (Dorset), a few days since, being under pecuniary embarrassment, and his house surrounded by bailiffs, made his escape by a window, into a neighbour's house, from whence he fled to London. The furniture was seized, and the sale actually commenced, when it was stopped by a letter, stating that the Doctor, upon his arrival in London, found himself the proprietor of the £20,000 prize. We guarantee the truth of this fact."—(Times, Dec. 27, 1797.)
"The £20,000 prize, drawn on Friday, is divided amongst a number of poor persons: a female servant in Brook St., Holborn, had a sixteenth; a woman who keeps a fruit-stall in Grays-Inn-lane another; a third is possessed by a servant of the Duke of Roxburghe's; a fourth by a Chelsea Carrier of vegetables to Covent Garden; one eighth belongs to a poor family in Rutlandshire, and the remainder is similarly divided."—(Times, Mar. 19, 1798.)
Of Horse Racing we do not hear much—the prizes were small—and gambling on the Turf was not reduced to a Science as it is now-a-days. Even when attending races, the chief losses were at the gaming tables which accompanied them.
"Poor Newmarket is completely done up! The Spring Meeting boasts so few bets in the calendar of gambling, that the chance will not pay post-chaise hire to the black legs. Thus falls the destructive sport of the Turf—and, as that is the case, it would do honour to his Majesty to change the King's Plates into rewards for the improvement of Agriculture."—(Times, April 17, 1794.)
Discipline à la Kenyon.—1797.
"The Duke of Queensberry was a principal loser at Epsom Races. The Noble Duke had his vis-a-vis, and six horses, driving about the course, with two very pretty emigrées in it. The Duke was in his cabriolet. The Duke of Bedford, Lords Egremont, and Derby, were also on the course. Several carriages were broken to pieces: and one Lady had her arm broken.
"There was much private business done in the swindling way at the last Epsom races. One black legged fellow cleared near a thousand pounds by the old trick of an E.O. Table. Another had a faro table, and was on the eve of doing business, when he was detected with a palmed card: almost the whole of what may be justly styled 'vagabond gamblers' of London were present.