Real Life In London, Volumes I. and II.
_telegraph_{3} with his pal; and if you take the broads in hand in their
company, you are sure to be work'd, either by glazing, that is, putting
you in the front of a looking-glass, by which means your hand is
discovered by your antagonist, or by private signals from the pal. On
the turf he will pick up some nobleman or gentleman, who he knows is
not _up to the rig_--bet him fifty or a hundred on a horse--pull out his
pocket-book--set down the name, and promise to be at the stand when
the race is over; but takes care to be seen no more, unless he is
the winner, which he easily ascertains by the direction his pal takes
immediately on the arrival of the horses. But hold, we must dismiss the
present subject of contemplation, for here we are at the very scene of
action, and now for ocular demonstration.”
No. 40, now 32, Pall Mall, was the place of destination, a house well
known, said, in Koubel's time, to be more _à la Française_, and of
course more of a gambling-house, than any other of the same description
in London. The former were good judges of their business, and did things
in prime order; but, if report say true, the new Establishment
1 Broads--A cant term for cards.
2 Turf--A cant term for horse-racing.
3 Telegraph--To work the telegraph, is to impart information
by secret signs and motions, previously concerted between
the parties.
~195~~has completely eclipsed their precursors: it is now conducted
wholly by aliens--by Frenchmen!!! who are said to have realized 80,000L.
within a very short space of time; and that a certain nobleman, whose
name is not Dormouse, has serious reason to remember that he has been a
visitor.
These concerns are considered of so much importance, and are found to be
so very productive, that regular co-partnerships are entered into,
the business is conducted almost with the precision of a mercantile
establishment; all kinds of characters embark in these speculations, and
rapid fortunes are to be made by them; this alone ought to deter young
men from play, since it sufficiently indicates how much the chances are
in favour of the tables. But many high and noble names resort to them.
“There's N--g--nts proud Lord, who, to angle for pelf,
Will soon find the secret of diddling himself;
There's Herbert, who lately, as knowing one's tell,
Won a tight seven hundred at a House in Pall Mall.
Captain D--v--s, who now is a chick of the game,
For altho' in high feather, the odds will soon tame;
And the Marquis of Bl--ndf--rd, who touch'd 'em up rare
For a thousand in Bennet Street (all on the square);
There's Li--d and C--m--ck, who'd a marine to be,
For none drills a guinea more ably than he;
There's a certain rum Baronet, every one knows,
Who on Saturday nights to the Two Sevens{1} goes,
With J---- and Cl----, Billy W---- and two more,
So drunk, that they keep merry hell in a roar.
Long D--ll--n, their C--rt--r, a son of a gun;
Bill B----, the Doctor, that figure of fun;
Bankers, Dealers and Demireps, Cuckolds in droves,
A T--l--r, a T--nf--Id, a Cr--kf--Id, and CI--ves;
A H--rtf--rd, a Y--rm--th, of frail ones ten score;
X--ft--e, S--br--gt and E--ll--s, and still many more.”
“Come along,” said Merrywell, “let us see what they are made of; are
either of you known? for Cerberus, who keeps the door, is d----d
particular, in consequence of some rows they have recently had, and the
devil is careful to pick his customers.”
“To pluck them, you mean,” said Tom; “but perhaps you are in possession
of the pass-word--if so, lead on.”
1 The _Two Sevens_--A nick-name for the well-known house,
No. 77, Jermyn Street.
~196~~Tallyho had already heard so much about Hells, Gambling-houses,
and Subscription-houses, that he was all anxiety for an interior view,
and the same feeling animated Mortimer. As they were about to enter,
they were not a little surprised to find that houses which are spoken of
so publicly, have in general the appearance of private dwellings, with
the exception that the hall-door is left ajar during the hours usually
devoted to play, like those of trap-cages, to catch the passing pigeons,
and to obviate the delay which might be occasioned by the necessity of
knocking--a delay which might expose the customers to the glances of an
unsuspecting creditor--a confiding father, or a starving wife; and, as
Merrywell observed, “It was to be understood that the entrance was well
guarded, and that no gentleman could be permitted to risk or lose his
money, without an introduction.” A very necessary precaution to obviate
the danger of being surprised by the officers of the law; but that rule
is too easily to be broken, for any gentleman whom the door-keeper
has sufficient reason to think is not an Officer of Justice, finds the
avenues to these labyrinths too ready for his admission.
On passing the outer-door, they found themselves impeded by a second,
and a third, and each door constructed with a small spy-hole, exhibiting
the ball of a ruffian's eye, intently gazing on and examining their
figures. It is necessary to observe, that if the visitor is known to
be a fair pigeon, or an old crow, he is at once admitted by these
gentlemen, and politely bowed up stairs; and as Merrywell appeared to be
well known, no obstruction was offered, and they proceeded through the
last, which was an iron door, and were shewn directly into the room,
which presented a scene of dazzling astonishment.
On entering, they discovered the votaries of gaming around an oblong
table, covered with green cloth, and the priests of the ceremony in the
centre, one to deal cards and decide events, and another to assist him
in collecting the plunder which should follow such decisions. Being
engaged in the play, but little notice was taken of the arrival of the
party, except by two or three eagle-eyed gentlemen, who, perceiving
there were some _New-comes_{1}
1. Newcomes--The name given to any new faces discovered among
the usual visitants.
~197~~and always keeping business in view, made up to Merrywell, began
to be very talkative--was happy to see him--hoped he had been well--and
congratulated him on the introduction of his friends--took snuff, and
handed the box round with all the appearance of unaffected friendship.
“These,” said Tom Dashall to his Cousin, drawing him on one side, “are
the Proprietors{1} of this concern;
1 In order that the class of men by whom houses of this
description are generally kept, and to shew the certainty
they have of accumulating riches, as well as to guard the
young and inexperienced against being decoyed, it may not be
amiss to animadvert upon a few of the most prominent and
well known.
No. 7, Pall Mall, is kept by B----l, who has been a public
and noted gambler for these forty years, and is generally
termed the Father of the Houses. He was at one time a poor
man, but now, by his honest earnings, is in possession of
some tens of thousands. It is said that he was originally a
stable-boy, and, in process of time, arose to be a jobber in
horse-flesh, but has at length feathered his nest with
_pigeons down_.
No. 77, St. James's Street, nick-named the Two Sevens, kept
by Messrs. T. C. C. T. is a well-known House, where things
are conducted with great civility and attention, and the
best possible treatment may generally be relied upon, though
they are rather sparing of refreshments, and apt to grumble
if a customer has a run of good luck. A Prussian Officer,
however, not long ago, kick'd up a devil of a row about
losing a very large sum of money; but it is scarcely
necessary to add it was all in vain, for there was no
redress.
The produce of this Bank, (which Paddy B---- calls the
Devil's Exchequer, whence you can draw neither principal nor
interest,) furnishes elegant houses and equipages, both in
town and country, and, it is possible, may one day or other
send a Member to Parliament, or a General to the field.
No. 10, King Street, St. James's, is conducted by old and
young D----s L----r; the father is too old in iniquity
to remember his progress from poverty to affluence.
No. 5, King-street, is kept by Mr. A----l; the former
residing at No. 3, Leicester-place, the latter No. 3,----
Street; and both live in prime style. The former, in his
youth, was an errand boy, and he became so willing in doing
little jobs, that his employers have paid him most
handsomely. The latter gentleman, who may be seen frequently
driving a dennet, and looking both sides of the road at
once, is a chip of the old block: but as it is not our
intention to visit the sins of the sou upon the father, we
shall not enter into a minute examination of him.
No. 6, in Bury-street, is only about a year's standing.
This table was set up by a broken adventurer, Capt. B----,
with Mr. ----, a jeweller, and a man whose agents keep a
house of ill fame, no way inferior in attribute to his
house in Bury-street. They commenced with narrow funds,
and now, thank the gulls, are independent.
The next door, No. 7, is held by M----g, a map-seller,
living at Charing Cross; Carl--s, formerly an under-
strapper at Ben--t's, living at King's Road, Chelsea; H----ll,
a tallow-chandler, living at No. 8, Bury-street; and
his brother, a brick-layer, residing somewhere off Grosvenor
Place. These fellows have carried on their depredations for
some time, but now have closed for awhile, being one of the
houses against whom a Jew, named Portugal John, and another
named the Young Black Diamond, have commenced proceedings,
for sums had and received, and by indictment.
No. 28, in the same street, is the property of one O----
d, formerly a menial servant, and not long ago a porter to
B----l.
These examples shew by incontestible inference, that the
keepers of those tables have an advantage, which renders
their success certain, while it fleeces the men who attend
them. We always have seen these Proprietors in the same
unchangeable affluence, driving their equipages, keeping
their country houses, &c. &c. while those who play
invariably sink into poverty. It has been often--very often
remarked, that young men who commence this career of folly
and vice, by degrees lose that freshness and fashionable
appearance which they at first possessed, and at last are
seen wandering about St. James's Park _counting the trees_,
and dining on a _gravel hash_, for want of more genial fare,
in a threadbare coat, half-polished boots, a greasy hat, and
a dirty cravat; while the plunderers of their happiness and
property are driving by them in luxury, enjoying their
pleasure by contrast with their victim, and sneering at his
miseries.
Of all the vices which deform this Metropolis (and there are
not a few) the most ruinous is that of Rouge et Noir
gambling, for that is practised in the day time, and it is a
matter of astonishment to think that it has remained
undisturbed by the law, and hitherto unnoticed by the Press.
At this moment no less than twelve of these Hells are open
to the public in the noon-day; and no less than five or six
profane the Sabbath by their sinful practices. Although