e called being
the chance of his setter. Before the main is called, the caster throws
down his stake, which any person present has the option of covering, or,
as it is called, "setting," by placing a similar sum on the table. For
instance, if the caster, after being "set," call five the main, and
throws immediately four and one, or three and two, he "nicks" it, that
is, wins his money at once. If he throws six and one, five and two, or
four and three, each of which two numbers makes seven, he bets the ODDS,
which are three to two in his favour--inasmuch as there are three ways
of throwing seven, and only two of throwing five; and he continues
throwing until either five or seven come off. By the former he loses, by
the latter he wins.

'If he calls seven the main, and throws three and one, or six and four,
the odds are two to one against him--inasmuch as there are only three
ways each of throwing, the four and the ten and six wins, throwing the
seven, that is, three on each die.(48) If the caster wishes, he calls
a main, and continues to do so till he loses, which, in the technical
phraseology, is "throwing out." He then passes the bow to the person
next on the left hand, who, in like manner, passes it to his neighbour.
Morley is remunerated for his table very handsomely. When the caster
throws in three mains successively, he pays to Morley what is called a
box (one of the pieces of the house with which the game is played). The
prices are eighteen-pence each, and he gives them in exchange for notes,
and retakes them. The caster pays nothing unless he wins. The players
generally leave off play at eleven or twelve o'clock. On Saturday
there is most play, as Morley on that day always gives a dinner at four
o'clock, immediately after which the play commences. On other days tea
and coffee are given.'

(48) I confess I do not understand the above passage.

A number of young men, most of whom were clerks, were called to confirm
the evidence as to the system, but none of them appeared.

In a letter published in the Times of July 22, 1824, we read as
follows:--

'The action against the keepers of a certain notorious "hell," which was
noticed in the different journals as "coming on," is withdrawn, or, more
properly speaking, is "compromised." Thus it will always be; and the
different hells still flourish with impunity, to the enrichment of a
few knaves, and the ruin of many thousands, till more effectual laws are
framed to