Chapter IX: Gambling and Speculation

Games at cards -- Curious cards -- Price -- Tax on Cards --
Female passion for gambling -- The Groom Porter's -- Gaming
houses -- Gamesters -- Noted gamesters -- Debts of honour --
Speculation -- Life insurances -- Marine and other insurances --
Shopkeepers' lotteries -- Government lotteries -- Prizes and
winners.

But primest and chief delight of men and women in this age was CARDS. Never, perhaps, was such a card-playing time--certainly not in England. Ombre, which is so vividly described in the third canto of the 'Rape of the Lock' was a game which could be played by two, three, or five persons--generally by three; to each of whom nine cards were dealt. It takes its name from the Spanish, the person who undertook to stand the game making use of the words 'Yo soy l'hombre,' 'I am the man.' It was an improvement on _Primero_, which disappeared after its introduction. L'hombre is still played in Spain under the name of _Tresillo_, and in Spanish America it is called _Rocambor_. _Piquet_ is now played. _Basset_ was a very gambling game, closely resembling the modern _Faro_; _Whisk_ or _Whist_, _Brag_, _Lanterloo_, or _Lanctre loo_, in which _pam_, or the knave of clubs, is the highest card:[138] 'Were she at her Parish Church, in the Height of her Devotion, should any Body in the Interim but stand at the Church Door and hold up the _Knave of Clubs_, she would take it to be a Challenge at _Lanctre Loo_; and starting from her prayers, would follow her beloved _Pam_, as a deluded Traveller does an _Ignis Fatuus_'; and _One and Thirty_, which does not seem a very extravagant game, judging by Swift's account of it.[139] 'Lord Treasurer has had an ugly fit of the rheumatism, but is now near quite well. I was playing at _one and thirty_ with him and his family the other night. He gave us all twelvepence apiece to begin with.' These were some of the games[140] they delighted in; and the accompanying illustration very vividly brings before us a quiet and pleasant game at cards.

[Footnote 138: Ward's _Adam and Eve stript of their
Furbelows_.]

[Footnote 139: _Journal to Stella_, letter 53.]

[Footnote 140: Other games were cribbage, all fours, ruff
and honours, French ruff, five cards, costly colours, bon
ace, putt, plain dealing, Queen Nazareen, pennech, post and
pair, bankafalat, beast.]

The implements of gaming, the cards themselves, were much smaller and thinner than those we are accustomed to play with. They were not always confined to the prosaic display of the pips and Court cards, as ours are, but took a far more fanciful flight. 'Geographical, Geometrical, Astronomical and Carving Cards, each Pack price 1_s._' 'Orange Cards, Representing the late King James's Reign and Expedition of the Prince of Orange, Plots of the Papists, Bishops in the Tower and Trial, Consecrated mock Prince of Wales, Popish Midwife, Fight at Reading, Pope's Nuncio, Captain Tom, Essex's Murder, burning Mass Houses, Army going over to the Prince of Orange, etc.'; cards delineating the victories of Marlborough and other events in Anne's reign; Sacheverel cards; and anything for fashion--cards from Vigo--in 1702--after the great victory there; proverb cards; all kinds of cards. The ordinary playing cards were cheap enough in all conscience, 'the best Principal superfine Picket Cards at 2_s._ 6_d._ a Dozen; the best Principal superfine Ombro Cards at 2_s._ 9_d._ a Dozen; the best Principal superfine Basset Cards at 3_s._ 6_d._ a dozen' (packs understood). The price to retailers averaged 1-1/2_d._ per pack, and it is marvellous how they could, at that time, be made for the money.

By an Act of 10 Anne, c. 18, s. 176, etc., a duty of sixpence per pack for cards, and five shillings a pair for dice, was imposed; and all cards made and unsold before June 12, 1711, were to be brought in to be stamped, and pay a duty of one halfpenny per pack, and dice 6_d._ a pair.

The passion of women for gambling was a fruitful theme for satire in those days. 'She's a profuse Lady, tho' of a Miserly Temper, whose Covetous Disposition is the very Cause of her Extravagancy; for the Desire of Success wheedles her Ladyship to play, and the incident Charges and Disappointments that attend it, make her as expensive to her Husband, as his Coach and six Horses. When an unfortunate Night has happen'd to empty her Cabinet, she has many Shifts to replenish her Pockets. Her Jewels are carry'd privately into Lombard Street, and Fortune is to be tempted the next Night with another Sum, borrowed of my Lady's Goldsmith at the Extortion of a Pawnbroker; and if that fails, then she sells off her Wardrobe, to the great grief of her Maids; stretches her Credit amongst those she deals with, or makes her Waiting Woman dive into the Bottom of her Trunk, and lug out her green Net Purse full of old Jacobuses, in Hopes to recover her losses by a Turn of Fortune, that she may conceal her bad Luck from the Knowledge of her Husband.'[141]

[Footnote 141: 'The Gaming Lady, or Bad Luck to him that has
her,' in _Adam and Eve stript of their Furbelows_.]

Nay, worse subterfuges than these are more than openly hinted at in divers authors. One or two examples will suffice.

This Itch for play has likewise fatal been,
And more than Cupid draws the Ladies in,
A Thousand Guineas for Basset prevails,
A Bait when Cash runs low, that seldom fails;
And when the Fair One can't the Debt defray
In Sterling Coin, does Sterling Beauty pay.[142]

[Footnote 142: Epilogue to _The Gamester_, ed. 1705.]

No wonder that Steele bursts out,[143] 'Oh, the damned Vice! That Women can imagine all Household Care, regard to Posterity, and fear of Poverty, must be sacrificed to a game at Cards.

[Footnote 143: _The Tender Husband._]

But we must not think that the fair ones monopolised the enjoyment of this passion--the sterner sex were equally culpable. Gaming houses were plentiful. The 'Groom Porter's' was still in full swing, _vide_ this advertisement:[144] 'Whereas Her Majesty, by her Letters Patent to Thomas Archer Esq. constituting him Her Groom Porter, hath given full Power to him and such Deputies as he shall appoint, to supervise, regulate, and authorize (by and under the Rules, Conditions and Restrictions by the Law prescribed) all manner of Gaming within this Kingdom. And, whereas several of Her Majesty's Subjects, keeping Plays or Games in their Houses, have been lately abused, and had Moneys extorted from them by several ill disposed Persons, contrary to Law. These are therefore to give Notice, That no Person whatsoever, not producing his Authority from the said Groom Porter, under the Seal of his Office, hath any Power to act anything under the said Patent. And to the end that all such Persons offending as aforesaid may be proceeded against according to Law, it is hereby desired, that Notice be given of all such Abuses to the said Groom Porter, or his Deputies, at his Office at Mr. Stephenson's, a Scrivener's House, over against Old Man's Coffee House near Whitehall.'

[Footnote 144: _The London Gazette_, Dec. 6/10, 1705.]

The Groom Porter's own Gaming House must have been the scene of brawls.[145]

[Footnote 145: _The Busy Body._]

_Sir Geo. Airy._ Oh, I honour Men of the Sword; and I presume
this Gentleman is lately come from Spain or Portugal--by his
Scars.

_Marplot._ No, really, Sir George, mine sprung from civil Fury:
Happening last night into the Groom Porter's--I had a strong
Inclination to go ten Guineas with a sort of a--sort of a--kind
of a Milk Sop, as I thought; A Pox of the Dice, he flung out, and
my Pockets being empty, as Charles knows they sometimes are, he
prov'd a Surly North Briton, and broke my face for my Deficiency.

If scenes like this were enacted at the Groom Porter's, what must have taken place at the other gaming houses? Let two contemporary writers, whose language, though rough, is trustworthy, answer the question. 'Gaming is an Estate to which all the World has a Pretence, tho' few espouse it that are willing to keep either their Estates, or Reputations. I knew two _Middlesex Sharpers_ not long ago, that inherited a West Country Gentleman's Estate, who I believe, wou'd have never made them his Heirs in his last Will and Testament.

'_Lantrillou_ is a kind of Republick very ill ordered, where all the World are Hail Fellow well met; no distinction of Ranks, no Subordination observed. The greatest Scoundrel of the Town, with Money in his Pockets, shall take his Turn before the best _Duke_ or _Peer_ in the Land, if the Cards are on his side. From these Privileg'd Places not only all Respect and Inferiority is Banish'd; but every thing that looks like Good Manners, Compassion, or Humanity: Their Hearts are so Hard and Obdurate, that what occasions the Grief of one Man, gives Joy and Satisfaction to his next Neighbour....

'In some Places they call Gaming Houses _Academies_; but I know not why they should inherit that Honourable Name, since there's nothing to be learn'd there, unless it be _Slight of Hand_, which is sometimes at the Expence of all our Money, to get that of other Men's by Fraud and Cunning. The Persons that meet are generally Men of an _Infamous_ Character, and are in various Shapes, Habits and Employments. Sometimes they are Squires of the _Pad_, and now and then borrow a little Money upon the _King's High Way_, to recruit their losses at the _Gaming House_, and when a Hue and Cry is out, to apprehend them, they are as safe in one of these Houses as a _Priest_ at the _Altar_, and practise the old trade of _Cross biting Cullies_, assisting the Frail _Square Dye_ with high and low _Fullums_, and other _Napping_ Tricks, in comparison of whom the common Bulkers, and Pickpockets, are a very honest Society. How unaccountable is this way to _Beggary_, that when a Man has but a little Money, and knows not where in the World to compass any more, unless by hazarding his Neck for't, will try an Experiment to leave himself none at all: Or, he that has Money of his own, should play the Fool, and try whether it shall not be another Man's. Was ever any thing so Nonsensically Pleasant.

'One idle day I ventur'd into one of these _Gaming Houses_, where I found an _Oglio of Rakes_ of several Humours, and Conditions met together. Some that had left them never a Penny to bless their Heads with. One that had play'd away even his Shirt and Cravat, and all his Clothes but his Breeches, stood shivering in a Corner of the Room, and another comforting him, and saying, _Damme_ Jack, who ever thought to see thee in a State of Innocency: Cheer up, Nakedness is the best Receipt in the World against a Fever; and then fell a Ranting, as if Hell had broke loose that very Moment.... I told my friend, instead of _Academies_ these places should be call'd _Cheating Houses_: Whereupon a Bully of the _Blade_ came strutting up to my very Nose, in such a Fury, that I would willingly have given half the Teeth in my Head for a Composition, crying out, Split my Wind Pipe, Sir, you are a Fool, and don't understand _Trap_, the whole World's a Cheat.'[146]

[Footnote 146: _The Works of Mr. Thomas Brown_, ed. 1705.]

Ward,[147] also, writing of gaming, says: 'Pray, said I, what do you take those Knot of Gentlemen to be, who are so Merry with one another? They, reply'd my Friend, are Gamesters, waiting to pick up some young Bubble or other as he comes from his Chamber; they are Men whose Conditions are subject to more Revolutions than a Weather Cock, or the Uncertain Mind of a Fantastical Woman. They are seldom two Days in one and the same Stations, they are one day very richly drest, and perhaps out at Elbows the next; they have often a great deal of Money, and are as often without a Penny in their Pockets; they are as much Fortunes Bubbles, as young Gentlemen are theirs; for whatever benefits she bestows upon 'em with one Hand, she snatches away with t'other; their whole Lives are a Lottery, they read no books but Cards, and all their Mathematicks is to truly understand the Odds of a Bet; they very often fall out, but very seldom Fight, and the way to make 'em your Friends is to Quarrel with them.... They generally begin every Year with the same Riches; for the Issue of their Annual Labours is chiefly to inrich the Pawnbrokers. They are seldom in Debt, because no Body will Trust 'em; and they never care to Lend Money, because they Know not where to Borrow it. A Pair of False Dice, and a Pack of mark'd Cards sets 'em up; and an Hours Unfortunate Play commonly breaks 'em.'

[Footnote 147: _The London Spy._]

These professional swindlers belonged to all classes of society, and some who died in this reign have left names behind them: St. Evremont, Beau Fielding, Macartney, who was Lord Mohun's second in his celebrated duel with the Duke of Hamilton, and the Marquis de Guiscard, who stabbed Harley, the Earl of Oxford. Their Lives, and many others, are given by Lucas,[148] from whom I shall only borrow one example, to show the equality that play made between the different social grades. Bourchier died in 1702, so that he just comes within this reign. 'Being at the _Groom Porter's_, he flung one Main with the Earl of _Mulgrave_ for 500 Pounds, which he won; and his Honour looking wistly at him, quoth he, _I believe I shou'd know you_. _Yes_ (reply'd the Winner) _your Lordship must have some Knowledge of me, for my Name is_ Dick Bourchier, _who was once your Footman_. Whereupon his Lordship supposing he was not in a Capacity of paying 500 Pounds in case he had lost, cry'd out, _A Bite, A Bite_. But the _Groom Porter_ assuring his Lordship that Mr. _Bourchier_ was able to have paid 1,000 Pounds provided his Lordship had won such a Summ, he paid him what he plaid for, without any farther Scruple.'

[Footnote 148: _Memoirs of the Lives, Intrigues, and Comical
Adventures of the most famous Gamesters and Celebrated
Sharpers in the Reigns of Charles 2, James 2, William 3, and
Queen Anne, etc._ By Theophilus Lucas. London, 1714.]

'Once Mr. _Bourchier_ going over to _Flanders_, with a great Train of Servants, set off in such a fine Equipage, that they drew the Eyes of all upon them wherever they went, to admire the Splendor and Gaiety of their Master, whom they took for no less than a Nobleman of the first Rank. In this Pomp, making his Tour at K. _William's_ Tent, he happen'd into Play with that great Monarch, and won of him above £2,500. The Duke of _Bavaria_ being also there, he took up the cudgels, and losing £15,000 the Loss put him into a great Chafe, and doubting some foul Play was put upon him, because Luck went so much against him, quoth Mr. _Bourchier_: _Sir, if you have any suspicion of the least Sinister Trick put upon your Highness, if you please I'll give you a Chance for all your Money at once, tossing up at Cross and Pile, and you shall have the Advantage too of throwing up the Guinea yourself_. The Elector admir'd at his bold Challenge, which never the less accepting, he tost up for £15,000, and lost the Money upon Reputation, with which Bourchier was very well satisfied, as not doubting in the least; and so taking his leave of the King, and those Noblemen that were with him, he departed. Then the Elector of _Bavaria_ enquiring of his Majesty, who that Person was, that could run the Hazard of playing for so much Money at a time, he told him it was a subject of his in _England_, that though he had no real Estate of his own, yet was he able to play with any Sovereign Prince in _Germany_. Shortly after _Bourchier_ returning into _England_, he bought a most rich Coach and Curious Sett of Six Horses to it, which cost him above £3,000, for a present to the Elector of _Bavaria_, who had not as yet paid him any thing of the £30,000 which he had won of him. Notice hereof being sent to his Highness, the generous Action incited him to send over his Gentleman of Horse into _England_, to take care of this Present, which he receiv'd Kindly at _Bourchier's_ Hands, to whom he return'd Bills of Exchange also, drawn upon several eminent Merchants in _London_, for paying what Money he had lost with him at Play.'

Bourchier became very rich, and purchased an estate near Pershore, in Worcestershire, where he was buried--although he died in London.

The lower classes followed the example of their social superiors, and gambled; but once only can I find such an instance of gaming fever as the following:[149] 'An Inditement is presented against a Person in Westminster, for playing away his Wife to another Man, which was done with her own consent.'

[Footnote 149: _The English Post_, October 12/14, 1702.]

Losses at cards, or debts of honour, as they were then and are now called, were supposed to be punctually paid. See 'The Gamester.'

_Hector._ Then, Sir, here is two Hundred Guineas lost to my Lord
_Love-game_, upon Honour.

_Sir Thos. Valere._ That's another Debt I shall not pay.

_Hector._ How, not pay it, Sir. Why, Sir, among Gentlemen, that
Debt is look'd upon the most just of any: you may Cheat Widows,
Orphans, Tradesmen without a Blush; but a Debt of Honour, Sir,
must be paid. I cou'd name you some Noblemen that pays no
Body--yet a Debt of Honour, Sir, is as sure as their Ready Money.

_Sir Thos._ He that makes no Conscience of Wronging the Man whose
Goods have been deliver'd for his use can have no pretence to
Honour, whatever Title he may wear.

There was a speculating mania arising, which boded ill for the future. In this reign was born the 'South Sea Bubble,' which burst so disastrously in the next, and involved thousands in ruin. Perhaps the mildest form it took was in insurances. We have already glanced at the fire insurances in Queen Anne's time; they now began to think of life insurance, and the first advertisement on this subject that I have noticed is in 1709. 'The Office of Assurance of Money upon Lives is at the Rainbow Coffee House in Cornhill, where Men or Women may Subscribe on their own Lives for the benefit of their Children, or other Person's Lives for the benefit of themselves, and have them approv'd without their Knowledge, paying 10_s._ Entrance, and 10_s._ towards the first Claim for each Life, and shall have a Policy for £1,000 for each Life subscribed upon in the said Society. This Office may be proper for such Persons as have Annuities, Estates, or Places for Life; and for such Persons to make Assurance upon Lives where Debts are dubious if the Person die. This Office will assure Money much Cheaper per cent. than private Persons.' This looks very much as if it were the first life insurance company that was started, in lieu of private enterprise; and as this is the only company that is advertised in Queen Anne's reign, it was probably the sole forerunner of the numerous similar enterprises now in existence.

Hatton says, 'Offices that _Insure Ships_ or their Cargo are many about the _Royal Exchange_, as Mr. Hall's, Mr. Bevis's, etc., who for a _Premium_ paid down procure those that will subscribe Policies for Insuring Ships (with their Cargo) bound to or from any part of the World, the _Premium_ being proportioned to the Distance, Danger of Seas, Enemies, etc. But in these Offices 'tis Customary upon paying the Money on a Loss to discount 16 per cent.'

A curious marine insurance was in existence early in 1711, of which the following is the advertisement; but it seems a sporting insurance, and only meant to cover the war risk. 'For the Encouragement of Navigation for Masters, Mates and other Seafaring Men that are Burnt, Sunk or Taken. That 4,000 Persons by paying 2_s._ 6_d._ for a Policy, and 5_s._ to the 1st Quarter, which will be paid 21 days after Midsummer for the Lady Day Quarter, to the Sufferer or Sufferers £1,000 in full, or in proportion to what is paid in, and continuing to pay 5_s._ every Quarter or 14 days after; likewise if 4,000 persons by paying 2_s._ 6_d._ for a Policy, and 2_s._ for the 1st if full, £400 or in proportion to be paid 21 days after Midsummer for this Lady Day Quarter, and likewise 4,000 by paying 2_s._ 6_d._ for Policies and 1_s._ per Quarter, the Sufferer or Sufferers to receive the benefit of £200 if full, or else in proportion, to be paid in 21 days after Midsummer; the Office was opened on Saturday last, the 27th past, by Hen Willson, Gent, in Jacob Street, Southwark. Note. When 1,000 Policies are taken out, Trustees will be Chosen and Land Security given. Any Person may Insure in all 3 Offices. Proposals at large may be had at the Office. Note, that £6 per cent. will be deducted out of the Money paid for the trouble and charges.'

There were besides--and they sprang up as if by magic--insurances for everything: for marriages, for births, for baptisms--rank swindles all. And lotteries! why, every thing, unsaleable otherwise, was tried to be got rid of by lottery. The papers teemed with advertisements. Take one newspaper haphazard; for example, the _Tatler_, Sept. 14/16, 1710: 'Mr. Stockton's Sale of Jewels, Plate, &c., will be drawn on Michaelmas Day.' 'The Lottery in Colson's Court is to be drawn the 21st Inst.' 'The Sale of Goods to be seen at Mrs. Butler's, &c., will certainly be drawn on Tuesday the 19th Inst.' 'Mrs. Povy's Sale of Goods is put off to Saturday 23rd Inst. 'Mrs. Symond's Sale of Goods will begin, &c., on Wednesday the 20th of this Instant.' 'Mrs. Guthridge's Sixpenny Sale of Goods, &c., continues to be drawn every Day.'

The financial atmosphere was getting unwholesome, Government had to step in, and an Act was passed which duly appeared in the _London Gazette_, June 28/July 1, 1712, which enacted 'That every Person who, after the 24 June 1712, shall erect, set up, or keep any Office or Place for making Insurance on Marriages, Births, Christnings, or Service, or any other Office or Place, under the Denomination of Sales of Gloves, of Fans, of Cards, of Numbers, of the Queen's Picture, for the improving of small sums of Mony,[150] or the like Offices or Places under pretence of improving small sums of Money, shall Forfeit for every such Offence the sum of 500_l._, to be recovered with full Costs of Suit, and to be divided as aforesaid.' This had the desired effect, and both in the _British Mercury_, June 27/30, 1712, and the _Post Boy_, Aug. 21/23, 1712, we hear of prosecutions of illicit lotteries--and they soon ceased.

[Footnote 150: Here is a sample of one of these traps to
catch gulls: 'At Nixon's Coffee House, at Fetter Lane End in
Fleet St, is open'd an Office call'd the Golden Office,
where by putting in Monys, not exceeding 5 Guineas, may
receive Cent per Cent in three Weeks time. Proposals may be
had at the Place aforesaid.'--_Postboy_, April 26/29, 1712.]

Of course, morally speaking, the Government had no right to complain, for they had begun the system--by legalising a lottery for £1,500,000 in 1709--from which time until 1824 no year passed without Parliament sanctioning a Lottery Bill. It is not worth while going into the schemes of the various lotteries in Queen Anne's reign, but it may be interesting to note the constitution of the one which inaugurated an indefensible system of immoral finance, which lasted over a century. There were 150,000 tickets at £10 each, making £1,500,000, the principal of which was to be sunk, and 9 per cent. to be allowed on it for 32 years. Three thousand seven hundred and fifty tickets were prizes from £1000 to £5 per annum; the rest were blanks--a proportion of thirty-nine to one prize, but, as a consolation, each blank was entitled to fourteen shillings per annum during the thirty-two years.

People rushed after the tickets, and they were taken up at once. '21 Jan. 1710.--Yesterday books were opened at Mercer's Chappel for receiving subscriptions for the lottery, and, 'tis said, above a Million is already subscribed; so that, 'tis believed, 'twill be full by Monday 7 night.'[151]

[Footnote 151: Luttrell.]

And the same authority tells us[152] that 'Mr. Thomas Barnaby, who lately belonged to the 6 clerk's office, has got the £1000 per ann. ticket in the lottery.'

[Footnote 152: _Ibid._ August 15, 1710.]

Among the prize-holders of the next lottery (at least, so Swift writes Stella, Aug. 29, 1711) was a son of Lord Abercorn's. 'His second son has t'other day got a prize in the lottery of four Thousand pounds, beside two small ones of two hundred pounds each; nay, the family was so fortunate, that my lord bestowing one ticket, which is a hundred pounds, to one of his servants, who had been his page, the young fellow got a prize, which has made it another hundred.'

In some of the lotteries the prizes were very valuable, for we read in the _Post Boy_, Jan. 6/8, 1713, that 'Yesterday was drawn No. 22858, which entitles the Bearer to £36,000.'

The accompanying engraving shows us exactly how the lotteries were drawn; and, as it is taken from a book published in 1710, in all probability it is a correct representation of the famous first State lottery of 1709. Bluecoat boys, then, as in 1824, drew out the tickets.

As in all lotteries, superstition attaches a peculiar value to some number, or combination of numbers, in the ticket: so it was in Anne's time, and the _Spectator_ (191) comments on an advertisement in the _Post Boy_ of Sept. 27, 1711--'This is to give notice, That Ten Shillings over and above the Market Price will be given for the Ticket in the £1,500,000 Lottery No. 132, by Nath. Cliff, at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside.'