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 , and in Spanish America it is called . 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 :[1]  '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 ; and One and Thirty, which does not seem a very extravagant game, judging by 's account of it.[2] 

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

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, , were to be brought in to be stamped, and pay a duty of one halfpenny per pack, and dice 6d. 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.' [4] 

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.

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: [7]  '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 .'

The Groom Porter's own Gaming House must have been the scene of brawls.[8] 

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

'Lantrillou is a kind of a 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

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

,[10]  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.'

These professional swindlers belonged to all classes of society, and some who died in this reign have left names

' Once Mr. 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 look 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 £pound;pound;2,500. The Duke of Bavaria being also there, he took up the cudgels, and losing £pound;pound;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. The Elector admir'd at his bold Challenge, which never the less accepting, he tost up for £pound;pound; 15,000, and lost the Money

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:[12]  'An Inditement is presented against a Person in , for playing away his Wife to another Man, which was done with her own consent.'

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

Then, Sir, here is two Hundred Guineas lost to my Lord Lovegame, upon Honour. That's another Debt I shall not pay. 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. He that makes no Conscience of Wronging the Man

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 . ' 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 10s. Entrance, and 10s. towards the first Claim for each Life, and shall have a Policy for £pound;pound; 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 , 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 , 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.

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 , Sept. 14/ 16, 171O: '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 , June 28/July I, , which enacted 'That every Person who, after the 24 June , shall erect, set up, or keep any Office or Place for making Insurance on Marriages, Births, Christnings, or

Of course, morally speaking, the Government had no right to complain, for they had begun the system--by legalising a lottery for £pound;pound;1,500,000 in -from which time until 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 £pound;pound;10 each, making £pound;pound; 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 £pound;pound; to £pound;pound;5 per annum; the rest were blanks-a proportion of thirtynine 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. .-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.' [14] 

And the same authority tells us [15]  that 'Mr. Thomas Barnaby, who lately belonged to the 6 clerk's office, has got the £pound;pound; per ann. ticket in the lottery.'

Among the prize-holders of the next lottery (at least, so

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

The accompanying engraving shows us exactly how the lotteries were drawn; and, as it is taken from a book published in , in all probability it is a correct representation of the famous first State lottery of . Bluecoat boys, then, as in , 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 (191) comments on an advertisement in the of Sept. 27, - ' This is to give notice, That Ten Shillings over and above the Market Price will be given for the Ticket in the £pound;pound;1,500,000 Lottery No. 132, by Nath. Cliff, at the Bible and Three Crowns in .'

[1] Ward's Adam and Eve strit of their Furbelows.

[2] Journal to Stella, letter 53.

[3] 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.

[4] 'The Gaming Lady, or Bad Luck to him that has her,' in Adam and Eve stript of their Furbelows.

[5] Epilogue to The Gamester, ed. 1705.

[6] The Tender Husband.

[7] The London Gazette, Dec. 6/10, 1705.

[8] The Busy Body.

[9] The Works of Mr. Thomas Brown, ed. 1705.

[10] The London Spy.

[11] 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.

[12] The English Post, October 12/14, 1702.

[13] 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.

[14] Luttrell

[15] Ibid. August 15, 1710.