s certain, if he
had the good fortune to conquer his antagonist, he should be looked upon
as the head of all modern bucks and bloods--esteemed by the men as
a brave fellow, and admired by the ladies as a fine gentleman and an
agreeable rake. The meeting took place--the profligate gambler not
content with declaring, actually exulted in his guilt. But his triumph
was of short date--a bullet through the head settled his account with
this world.

The husband, after a long conflict in his bosom, between justice and
mercy, tenderness and rage, resolved--on what is very seldom practised
by an English husband--to pardon his wife, conceal her crime, and
preserve her, if possible, from utter destruction. But the gates of
mercy were opened in vain--the offender refused to receive forgiveness
because she had offended. The lust of gambling had absorbed all her
other desires. She gave herself up entirely to the infamous pursuit and
its concomitants, whilst her husband sank by a quick decay, and died the
victim of grief and anguish.(99)

(99) Doings in London.

Of other English gamestresses, however, nothing but the ordinary success
or inconveniences of gambling are recorded. In the year 1776, a lady
at the West End lost one night, at a sitting, 3000 guineas at Loo.(100)
Again, a lady having won a rubber of 20 guineas from a city merchant,
the latter pulled out his pocket-book, and tendered L21 in bank notes.
The fair gamestress, with a disdainful toss of the head, observed--'In
the great houses which I frequent, sir, we always use gold.' 'That may
be, madam,' said the gentleman, 'but, in the _LITTLE_ houses which I
frequent, we always use paper.'

(100) Annual Register.

Goldsmith mentions an old lady in the country who, having been given
over by her physician, played with the curate of the parish to pass the
time away. Having won all his money, she next proposed playing for the
funeral charges to which she would be liable. Unfortunately, the lady
expired just as she had taken up the game!

A lady who was desperately fond of play was confessing herself. The
priest represented, among other arguments against gaming, the great loss
of time it occasioned. 'Ah!' said the lady, 'that is what vexes me--so
much time lost in shuffling the cards!'

The celebrated Mrs Crewe seems to have been fond of gaming. Charles
James Fox ranked among her admirers. A gentleman lost a considerable sum
to this lady at play; and being obliged