Part 15
The following notices will show that, what with over-crowding, and bad roads, accidents were as frequent by road as they are now by rail--indeed, the per centage, considering the relative number of passengers, was much greater. The _basket_ mentioned below, was a huge wicker work machine attached to the Coach, intended to carry parcels.
"Yesterday the driver of the Chelmsford and London Stage Coach, was convicted before the Magistrates at the Public Office, Whitechapel, in three separate penalties of 40_s._ each, for suffering more than six persons to ride on the roof of the said Coach.
"The owner and driver of the Bishop Stortford, and London, Stage Coach, was also convicted in the penalty of £4 for the same offence: and the driver of the Westham Stage Coach, in the same penalty, for suffering eight persons to ride on the roof of the said Coach."--(_Times, Oct. 5, 1795._)
* * * * *
"In despite of continual and fatal accidents, not to mention the inferior consideration of pains and penalties, the Stage Coaches still continue to carry extra numbers on the outside. There were _eleven_ on the coach, and box, of the Gosport Coach, beside the driver, and _nine_ in the basket, on Thursday last."--(_Times, Oct. 16, 1795._)
* * * * *
"The pavement in Bridge St. Blackfriars, which has been so long in a most dangerous state, has sunk near a foot more, within the last week, so that the roof of the main shore is every hour expected to give way."--(_Times, Aug. 6, 1794._)
* * * * *
"On Wednesday afternoon, about four o'clock, the Boston Coach broke down, on the lowest part of Snow Hill, soon after it left the Saracen's Head Inn. The outside passengers, which were FOURTEEN in number, and mostly soldiers, were thrown with such violence on the pavement, that several were bruised, and one woman was taken to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where she died, on Thursday night. The inside passengers, which were five, and a young child, were not much hurt.
"The frequent accidents which arise from the outsides of coaches being so overladen, calls highly for reprehension. The laws are either inadequate to remedy the evil, or they are not properly enforced: and we sincerely hope that the coachman, and those who are concerned, will be severely punished, as an example to prevent the same accidents in future. We think there should be a fresh Act of Parliament, and, if the inside passengers were empowered, after taking their seats, to hire a post-chaise where there was above a stipulated number (at the owner's expence), it would remedy the evil."--(_Times, Aug. 8, 1795._)
* * * * *
"The pavement in Bridge St. Blackfriars, still grows worse, and worse, and not the least notice is taking of it by the Paving Committee. This is a most scandalous act of neglect; as, publicly, and privately, the parties have been applied to, who ought to make the necessary repairs. The ground has now sunk near three feet. In so well regulated a city, as that of London, this is a most disgraceful business."--(_Times, Oct., 16, 1799._)
* * * * *
"A few days since, the axle-tree of a carriage was broken in descending the slope of Blackfriars Bridge, in consequence of the very large hole, at the bottom of it, on the Surry-side, which is in the highest degree dangerous. We are not certain that an indictment would not lay against the Trustees of the Surry Roads, for the scandalous manner in which they are kept. They vie with the Paviours, in some parts of the City, and we know not which are the worst of them. It is not to be conceived the number of horses that are foundered, by holes in the streets, and roads."--(_Times, Oct. 5, 1799._)
* * * * *
"From the dangerous state of the pavement in some parts of London, it might be supposed that the Public paid nothing towards it. The thoroughfare about the New Church, in the Strand, is so bad, that two, or three, accidents have lately happened by horses tumbling down, from their feet catching in the holes."--(_Times, Sept. 30, 1799._)
GAMING, &c.
We, in this Nineteenth Century of ours, are not so free from the vice of gambling, that we can afford the luxury of being particularly censorious over the habits of the last century. We have legislated against gambling, we are better educated, all our surroundings are refined, compared to those which our forefathers had to make the most of. Literature, Art, and Music, are all far more popular, and yet--are there not Clubs, thinly veiled indeed, but really, and truly, solely existing for card playing for high stakes, as much as Crockford's ever was? Have we not reduced the Turf to a science? and has it not come to such a pass, that an honest Nobleman like Lord Falmouth, will no longer run his race horses, because of the roguery on the Turf? Is not the Stock Exchange one huge Gamble? Therefore, in reading the notes about gaming, in "Old Times," let us remember the beams in our own eyes, before making a fuss about the motes, that used to be in the eyes of those that are dead and gone.
But, although Card playing was the rule at every house, in the evening, yet some did not play, and the utter weariness which is shewn in this little sketch of Gillray's, is extremely natural and vivid.
It is in 1789 that we first hear of Lady Archer, who, with Lady Buckinghamshire, figures so prominently in keeping gaming tables.
"The Lady Archer, whose death was announced in this paper of Saturday, is not the celebrated character whose _cosmetic powers_ have been long held in public estimation."--(_Morning Post, Jan. 5, 1789._)
* * * * *
"It is said that the dealers in _Carmine and dead white_, as well as the _Perfumers_ in general, have it in contemplation to present an address to Lady Archer, in gratitude for her not having DIED according to a late alarming report."--(_Morning Post, Jan. 8, 1789._)
"A Kick up at a Hazard Table," by Rowlandson, is not only well drawn--but, doubtless, depicts a gambling affray, to the life.
Lady Archer, and Lady Buckinghamshire did not monopolise the gaming tables, there were other ladies in the field, and, as the game generally played, was _Faro_, these _brelandieres_ were called _Faro's Daughters_.
"Mrs. Sturt's house, in St. James Square, was opened yesterday evening, for the first time this season, for public play. The visitors were numerous."--(_Times, Feb. 5, 1793._)
* * * * *
"Many of our young sprigs of fashion, when the campaign opens, will have other game to attend to than the game of Faro. By risquing their persons they may serve their country; but by risquing their property, they can neither benefit the nation, nor do any good to themselves. Cocking a fire lock will redound more to their honour than cocking a card: and as they are fond of a game of _Hazard_, let them take the _chance_ of the field, in preference to that of the gaming table:
"Some of the _Faro Ladies_ have opened their play houses, and announced the _Road to Ruin_ until further notice. The _Gamesters_ was publicly rehearsed in St. James Square on Monday night."--(_Times, Feb. 6, 1793._)
* * * * *
"The number of new gaming-houses, established at the West End of the town, is, indeed, a matter of very serious evil: but they are not likely to decrease while examples of the same nature are held forth in the higher circles of life. It is needless to point out any one of these houses in particular: it is sufficient for us to expose the tricks that are practised at many of them to swindle the unsuspecting young men of fortune who are entrapped into these whirlpools of destruction. The first thing necessary is, to give the guests a good dinner and plenty of wine, which many of these houses do, gratis. When they are sufficiently intoxicated, and, having lost all the money about them, their acceptance is obtained to Bills of Exchange to a considerable amount, which frequently are paid to avoid the disagreeable circumstance of a public exposition in a Court of Justice, which is always threatened, though the gamesters well know that no such measure durst be adopted by them.
"Should any reluctance, or hesitation, be shewn by the injured party, to accept these bills, he is shewn into a long room, with a target at the end of it, and several pistols lying about, where he is given to understand these sharpers practice a considerable time of the day in shooting at a mark, and have arrived to such perfection in this exercise, that either of them can shoot a pistol ball within an inch of the mark, from the common distance taken by duellists. A hint is then dropped, that further hesitation will render the use of the pistols necessary, and which will again be the case, should he ever divulge what he has seen, and heard.
"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!"
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._)
* * * * *
"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 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._)
* * * * *
"The Faro Bank holders at the fashionable routs are nearly _done up_; for what with the _punters_ running away with their winnings, and never paying when they lose, and the 25 guineas per night, paid to the fashionable landladies for the use of their houses, the profits are pared down to a very nothing."--(_Times, March 28, 1794._)
* * * * *
"Lord Hampden's _Faro Bank_ is broken up for the present season. Lady Buckinghamshire, Mrs. Sturt, and Mrs. Concannon alternately divide the _Beau monde_ at their respective houses. Instead of having two different hot suppers, at _one_ and _three_ o'clock in the morning, the _Faro Banks_ will now scarcely afford bread and cheese, and porter.
"One of the Faro Banks in St. James Square lost 7000£ last year by bad debts. A young son of Levi is a considerable debtor to one of them; but not finding it convenient to pay what is not recoverable by law, he no longer appears in these fashionable circles."--(_Times, April 2, 1794._)
* * * * *
"A Card.--The Lady Gamblers at the West end of the town, present their compliments to several Ex noble Emigrés, who frequent their card routs, and inform them, through the channel of this paper, that their absence would be more agreeable than their company. They beg leave to suggest that hot suppers, and French wines, brilliant illuminations, cards, and other expences, cannot be afforded out of the profits of such _peddling_ play as staking an _ecu_, or half a guinea, on the turn up of a card, and they beg leave to observe, that it is not considered as a mark of their good breeding, to engross the whole round of the Faro table, which might be turned to so much better advantage, by the pluckings of a few rich young Lords, and Commoners, who would wish to sport their _rouleaus_. It is hoped this hint may be attended to, as it may prevent further observation."--(_Times, April 3, 1794._)
* * * * *
"It is impossible to conceive a more complete system of fraud and dishonour than is practised every night at the _Faro Banks_. Though every table has four croupiers, yet the Bank holders find, that double the number are necessary to watch all the little tricks, and artifices, of some of the _fashionable punters_. But Mrs. G---- beats all her associates in the art of _doubling, or cocking a card_."--(_Times, April 4, 1794._)
* * * * *
"The Faro Banks being no longer a profitable game, certain Ladies in St. James' Square have substituted another instead of it, called _Roulet_: but it is in fact only the old game of E.O. under a different title. _Roulet_ is now therefore the _order of the night_."--(_Times, June 25, 1794._)
* * * * *
"The late King was passionately fond of Masquerades, where there was always a Pharo Bank prepared for his entertainment. Upon one occasion the crowd was so great in all parts of the Theatre, that the late Mr. Crawford was called for, and ordered to stop the further admission of company at the door: in which, however, he found so much difficulty, that 2700 guineas were forced into his pocket, whilst he stood purposely to advertise the public that there was no more room."--(_Times, April 13, 1795._)
* * * * *
"The two gambling houses in St. James's Square are in despair. The suppers are ordered with great caution: and of things that will _keep_. The two last companies have been composed, literally, of the _privileged wives_, and of foreigners."--(_Times, Dec. 2, 1795._)
* * * * *
"It is to the credit of the rising generation of females, that they have unanimously quitted those infamous meetings, called Private Pharoes, where some of their shameless Mammas, and the faded reputations of the present age, still expose their vices, and cheat the boys who have not been long enough in the army, to wear out their first cockades."--(_Times, Dec. 30, 1795._)
* * * * *
"To the CONDUCTOR of the TIMES.
"Sir,--London is certainly an eligible place for persons who have nothing but their labour to depend on, to get forward in life, provided they steer clear of the many snares, and temptations, which hover in every alley, street, winding, and corner.
"The mischief is, however, that the generality of young men, the moment they set foot in town, or, if brought up in the Metropolis, directly they enter the world on their own account, are hurried away, thoughtlessly, with the stream of error, and dissipation. If he happens to be a young man possessed of a moderate independence, without the suggestion of prudence, the caution of experience, the councils of wisdom or the restraint of authority, his whole conduct is then influenced by the passion with which he is actuated, which becomes at once, whether good or bad, his impulse, and his guide.