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THE WESTERN LITERARY INSTITUTION, gave their third concert for the season, on the thirteenth. The music class of this society, is certainly the best of any other institution, and we seldom hear amateur concerts, given with such effect as these. Owing to the absence of many gentlemen from illness, some confusion was caused in the arrangements, but the director acting with decision, rather improved the original plan. The applause throughout was unanimous.

Wednesday, January 4th. THE PADDINGTON AMATEUR MUSICAL SOCIETY, began the year with considerable êclat, at least we should say so, and we are sure the unmerous and respectable audience were of the same opinion. This society although yet in its infancy, gives promise of future excellence, and as we are ardent in the cause of amateur performances, they have our earnest wishes for their success. The orchestra performed several overtures with great precision, of which, Bishop's Slave, and Auber's Cheval de Bronze, were particularly effective. Amongst the vocal music, Tom Starboard was given in a touching manner, by the possessor of a rich and flexible voice, although the effect of the song was marred by a slight lapsis lingua of the singer, oocasioned by hoarseness, and therefore excusable: we like his singing much, and hope on a future occasion to hear him with greater advantage. A fantasia of Romberg's for the violoncello, was decidedly the gem of the evening, and was loudly applauded. We intend renewing our visit to this society, and shall be rejoiced in their prosperity.

SOCIETY OF BRITISH MUSICIANS, held their first concert of the season, on Wednesday, January 11, at the Hanover Square Rooms, which was well and notwithstanding the early period of the season fashionably attended. The pieces selected for the occasion were nearly all good, and some of them beautiful. We may notice the following as having merited and obtained the warmest applause. A symphony, G minor (composed for the Philharmonic Society) by Cipriani Potter. Cavatina "Come with me," in which Miss Birch was enthusiastically encored. A quartet by Messrs. Westrop, Willy, Musgrave, and Hatton for the piano-forte, violin, tenor, violoncello, and a solo on the violin, by Mr. H. G. Blagrove, all of which were beautiful compositions, remarkably well executed. Miss E. Howard made her debut in a recitative and air, which (making allowances for the great trepidation under which she laboured) gave promise of great future success.-She has a very sweet voice, and, when more accustomed to a large audience, will we think make great use of it. Messrs. Wilson, Leffler, Leoni Lee, Bradbury, &c. were among the vocalists. Mrs. Geesin was prevented from attending, by indisposition.

THE EUTERPEON GOTHIC HALL, HAYMARKET. Of the numerous ways of spending an hour which London affords, we do not know of one more pleasant than a visit to witness the performance of this instrument, which comprises the effect of a full orchestra of choice performers, it has not, however, the volume of tone, and consequently is not so effective as the Apollonicon, but its comprehensive variety of sounds renders it an object of general admiration.

THE VOCAL SOCIETY gave their first concert for the season on Monday, the 9th. There were two or three madrigals charmingly executed; the best was Wilbye's "Sweet honey-sucking bees," which was loudly applauded. Among the songs, Purcell's "I attempt from love's sickness to fly," which was delightfully sung by Mr. Hobbs, and Horn's "Come, mariner down in the deep with me," tastefully sung by Miss Hawes--were rapturously encored. Mr. Eliason performed some variations on the violin in a very beautiful manner-and Mr. Bellamy sang with undiminished energy and effect.— Nearly every piece was encored.

J. FELLOWES, PRINTER, 36, TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD,

THE

New London Magazine.

THE GAMING HOUSES OF LONDON.

LETTER III.

"Sed mihi, fas audita loqui."

"What I have heard, permit me to relate."

DEAR W.

In imagination I have been present at your perusal of my last, and in my mind's eye I have witnessed the intense interest, and watched the varied emotions that have passed in succession over your expressive countenance. In conjecture, too, I have heard the friendly and heartfelt ejaculation of delight on my deliverance, as it were, from evil-in having escaped with a whole skin from the jaws of Pandemonium. I have absolutely revelled in the luxury of contemplating this exercise of your generous and friendly anxiety on my account, and my heart has responded thereto in feelings of grateful emotion. The distinguished author whom I have before referred to, and whose extensive works abound in aphorisms of the most moral and valuable tendency has in his usual eloquent and impressive style laid down that "reflection is a soil which soon repays us for whatever trouble we bestow on its culture;" and I may with confidence assert that the material for this necessary culture has been amply supplied from the hot bed or dungheap of vice and profligacy which I have attempted to describe; to enrich the soil with the means obtained, must be my task, as it is my determination, and I doubt not of the fruitful result.

I proceed now to the interesting explanations of my friend L. in respect to the persons whom I had encountered at the play table, and in reference to whom, soon as we again inhaled the open atmosphere of the street, he thus commenced. We have been somewhat fortunate, said he, in our visit of this morning, for the table presented none of the light and shade or variety of character that is usually to be met with on one visit. With about eight or ten exceptions, the party consisted of attachees or confederates of the house. These persons are considered essentially component parts of a Gaming House Establishment, and are consequently included in the general arrangements and expenditure. The soi-disant GENTLEMEN, for instance, whom you observed seated on each side of the dealer are of this description-the one a proprietor and partner in the bank incog., the other an employée at a weekly stipend, and both acting as caps or make-plays for the table; and so placed, by

NO. III.-VOL. I.

I

judicious arrangement, as to prevent any collusion between him and the player. By like arrangement two others of the same stamp and avocation were similarly located near to the croupier, for the same vigilant and preventive purposes. The dealers and others employed in the routine of the game require but little mention-generally they are or should be, mere servants of the establishment, and, appearing as they do in real character and under no disguise, are the least objectionable members of a rouge et noir table-that is to say, so long as they refrain from vulgar insolence and confine themselves to their mechanical duty of turning the cards, &c. in a fair and honest manner; but at many of the hells (and the observation is particularly applicable to the one we have just quitted) the bankers themselves are dealers, and their avarice being continually on the work by the excitement of large sums staked, in which their individual interest is immediately concerned, resort is too frequently had to fradulent means to expedite the work of destruction to the player. To slip or drop a card or secure a coup or event against the known system of any player, and other slight-of-hand tricks is quite within the practicability of many of these professors, whose dexterity rates at a higher per centage in the devil's market. These artists, however, know the time when, and the persons on whom, to practise their nefarious tricks, and the fellow whom we left dealing, and who is proprietor and occupant of the house, is said to have realized some thousands by his aptitude in packing coups, and other honest and honourable means. It is but just, however, to express a belief that such malpractices are not of very frequent occurrence, less so, perhaps, for want of opportunity, than for lack of inclination. No matter—the game itself is sufficiently destructive to complete the ruin of any man.

The person on whom you appeared to bestow some portion of your attention, seated on your right, “wearing on his lip the beard of Hercules, and frowning Mars," and punting or playing with all the apparent interest and anxiety of the most determined and inveterate gamester, is also an attacheé of the house; in other words, a bonnet, or makeplay. Such persons are employed for the purpose of giving an appearance of play, for many visitors are loth to commence their speculation, unless they observe, on their entrance, that others are already so engaged; hence the utility of these caps or bonnets, for the terms are synonimous. These worthies are usually in attendance at the earliest opening of the house, and at the sound of a bell, announcing the advent of a bona-fide player, are ready as soldiers at beat of drum to duty-they drop mechanically into their allotted seats at the table, and stake their money with all due system, and under as much pretended excitement, and irritability under loss, as the man who is really smarting under the mortification. These fellows are made up of counterfeit, 66 can weep at will, feign agony, and conceal delight, and act to all around." The persons thus honourably employed are usually men of reduced means, occasioned by previous habits of dissipation and vice. Many are engaged in such service through policy, by way of quitting them from legal proceedings, for recovery of their losses, or other mischievous intentions against the proprietors. Such outcasts (all pity for whose misfortunes is lost in contempt for their debased and degrading occupation) usually assume the cognomen of captain, doctor, or some appellation of service or profession to which consequence and respectability attach ; when adopting the former they put on as much of the military exterior as their various tastes and forms will admit.

The persons, se described as forming part of the general arrangement of a gaming house, are of infinite service to those who employ them, for

in cases of dispute, (which are frequent), respecting the accuracy of the dealer in his disposal of the cards, or on any question as to the correct drawing or payment of money, the point in contention is generally left to the table, as it is termed, that is, to the general opinions of the individuals who may, at the time, be engaged in play, or occupying a seat at the table, and the certain consequence of such an appeal is a decision in favour of the bank; and how should it be otherwise?-those who could give a correct, honest, and unbiassed opinion, decline so to do from motives of policy, fearing to be made a party to disputes that might lead to publicity, and exposure of their own imprudent propensity to play— hence it is left to the voice of the less scrupulous confederacy-who, like Irish members in a certain great house, never fail to constitute a decisive majority. These results alone must more than compensate the bankers for the expence they may be at in retaining such auxiliaries, for sums of considerable amount are frequently disputed in this way, and depend upon such just and honourable opinion. Now and then, however, a rough customer is met with, who, awake to the characters of the tribunal appealed to, dissents from their adjudication, and in the event of his right being withheld, resorts to the summary revenge of smashing lamps, looking glasses, windows, &c. to the discomfiture of the whole circle. Disturbances of this kind have been frequent of late years, and have supplied much matter for police report.

You must have observed one or two persons at the table unoccupied by play, mere lookers on, but occasionally indulging in passing observation on the events of the game. Of such persons there are two distinct classes; the one consisting of men broken in fortune, but still rich in their early impressions of becoming pride and correct and honourable feeling; men, whom the infatuation of play has brought to misery and distress, and who still linger about the scene of their ruin in all the fondness and fatuity of error, looking for some miracle in the fluctuations and chances of fate or fortune to redeem them from their half state of starvation. With these gentlemen (for such, intrinsically speaking, they are) may be classed many half-pay officers, and others of limited income, who frequently make away with the resources of a quarter ere a week has elapsed since its receipt, and are thus reduced to inactivity in their speculations, and to the more melancholy state of sad and bitter reflection created by their folly and imprudence. The other class referred to, is composed of the idle and unprincipled; vagabonds that have no earthly recognition, but, being of most officious capacity, address themselves, in terms of the most impertinent familiarity, to persons of whom they had not the slightest previous acquaintance; and by such assurance, too frequently succeed in levying contributions from the generous and unsuspecting, for whose ear they have always ready some plausible tale calculated to excite a kind and considerate feeling. Such fellows are usually employed as touts, or spies-newsmongers and reporters of all that is going on at the different gaming houses to which they have admission-they fetch and carry like water dogs, and fail not to give to the establishment that best pays, the earliest possible intelligence of a new man in the market with money to lose. These wretches

add to their other qualites, a certain blood-hound kind of sagacityonce put on the scent, they will track their prey to the most remote corner of the kingdom to secure him as a victim. Supplied with means, they prowl about the theatres, and thence to the most notorious saloons, and houses of nocturnal revelry and debauch, where they too often succeed in picking up men under the excitement of liquor, fit subjects for their knavish designs. These demireps turn every move to account;

they will frequently ingratiate themselves with a novice at the play table,
point out to him what they term the advantages of the game; and from
any profits that chance may give, they fail not to draw largely on their
dupe, impressing on him that their judgment alone led to the beneficial
result: on the other hand, if loss ensue, they coolly attribute it to the
common course of events, argue that the most unlooked-for circum-
stances will occur, 'and excite a hope that a further speculation will
redeem all with interest. These harpies are also at the beck and call
of the bank, and are ready on all occasions to swear to any falsehood,
however gross and palpable, that holds out a prospect of reward for their
perjury. To name such worthless vagabonds in the same page with
men, whose only disqualification is poverty arising from imprudence,
and who more than redeem their error by preserving honourable minds,
and by
"daring to be honest" though steeped in misfortune, demands
apology to the latter. Such apology cannot be better conveyed, than
in applying to their sad condition the beautiful sentiment of Mr. Sheridan
Knowles, as eloquently expressed by him:-

"For 'tis the mind that makes the body rich,
And as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds,
So honour peereth in the meanest habit."

The garb of poverty cannot obscure the light that shines from within, and which must ever distinguish the intrinsic man from the impostor.

I have now, said my friend, given you an outline of the fictitious characters that are usually to be met with in the gaming houses of London. With shame be it said, the illustration serves as well to convey an idea of the higher as of the lower description of hells; for even at the great aristocratic pandemonium (Crockford's) are to be found men, titled and honourable by courtesy, who are base enough to cater for the great demon, and who are in every sense as degraded and contemptible as the miscreants I have described. I trust you will bear in faithful recollection all you have met with; not as it appeared on first view to your inexperience, but as it is now apparent to your more matured judgment under the explanation given. You possess, for the present, sufficient knowledge to guard you against such mischievous design and imposition. On some future occasion, we will increase that knowledge by a visit to one of those nocturnal scenes of riot and dissipation, called Hazard Houses, of which you can have but very faint idea; till then, I leave you to reflect on what you have already witnessed.

I will not fail, my dear W., to give you every interesting detail of my further study of, or acquaintance with, the gaming world. Let me hope that the relation I have already given, though it may have moved you to pity for the failings and vices of mankind, has not been void of useful and interesting matter.

EXPOSITOR.

DREAMS. It is said of Avicenna, a celebrated mathematician, that he sometimes solved problems in his dreams, which were too difficult for him in his waking hours. Of this there have been many modern instanSt. Augustine informs us that his friend and disciple, Favonius Eulogius, obtained in a dream the true meaning of an obscure passage in Cicero, which had occurred to him the preceding day.

ces.

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