dreamed of
such a thing--never could, never would. Hie you, then, and prosecute
this wretched gang of betting-touts, congregating at the corner of Bride
Lane, Fleet Street; quick, lodge informations against this publican who
has suffered card-playing to take place, raffles, or St Leger sweeps to
be held in his house. "You have seen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar,
and the creature run from the cur. There thou might'st behold the great
image of authority: a dog's obeyed in office." You have--very well.
Take crazy King Lear's words as a text for a sermon against legislative
inconsistencies, and come back with me to Hombourg Kursaal.'

CHAPTER VII. GAMBLING IN BRIGHTON IN 1817.

The subject of English gambling may be illustrated by a series of events
which happened at Brighton in 1817, when an inquiry respecting the
gaming carried on at the libraries led to many important disclosures.

It appears that a warrant was granted on the oath of a Mr William
Clarke, against William Wright and James Ford, charged with feloniously
stealing L100. But the prosecutor did not appear in court to prove the
charge. It was quite evident, therefore, that the law had been abused
in the transaction, and the magistrate, Sergeant Runnington, directed
warrants to be issued for the immediate appearance of the prosecutor
and Timothy O'Mara, as an evidence; but they absconded, and the learned
Sergeant discharged the prisoners.

The matter then took a different turn. The same William Wright, before
charged with 'stealing' the L100, was now examined as a witness to
give evidence upon an examination against Charles Walker, of the Marine
Library, for keeping an unlawful Gaming House.

This witness stated that he was engaged, about five weeks before, to act
as _punter_ or player (that is, in this case, a sham player or decoy) to
a table called _Noir, rouge, tout le deux_ (evidently a name invented
to evade the statute, if possible), by William Clarke, the prosecutor,
before-mentioned; that the table was first carried to the back room of
Donaldson's Library, where it continued for three or four days, when
Donaldson discharged it from his premises.

He said he soon got into the confidence of Clarke, who put him up to the
secrets of playing. The firm consisted of O'Mara, Pollett, Morley, and
Clarke. There was not much playing at Donaldson's. Afterwards the table
was removed into Broad Street, but the landlady quickly sent it away. It
was then car