ord Kenyon, made the following solemn
observations before passing sentence:--

'Gaming is a crime of greater enormity, and of more destructive
consequences to society, than many which the laws of the country have
made capital. What is the crime of stealing a sheep, or picking a pocket
of a handkerchief, when placed in comparison with this crime, traced
through all its consequences?

'With regard to those in the higher walks of life, experience tells us
it often leads to self-murder and duelling, about gambling debts, which
terminate in the total ruin of families once opulent, and reduce to
beggary their innocent and helpless children; and as for those in a
lower sphere of life, when they have lost their money, they often betake
themselves to housebreaking and the highway, in order to replenish their
coffers, and at last end their lives by the hand of justice.'

With many other most excellent observations on the tendency of this
selfish and avaricious vice, he concluded by sentencing Miller to a fine
of L500, one year's imprisonment, and security for his good behaviour
for seven years, himself in L500 and two others in L250 each,
adding:--'It appeared that you played with loaded dice. The Court has
not taken that into consideration, because it was not charged in the
indictment.'

ATTACKS ON GAMING HOUSES.

In 1797 the Bedford Arms, Covent Garden, kept by one John Twycross, was
attacked, under warrant. The gaming-room stood an hour's siege, for
the doors were so plated with iron that the repeated blows of a
sledge-hammer made no impression on them. The officers at length entered
the back through the window. They found fifteen persons at table, but
not actually playing, so no conviction could take place.

In the same year a party of Bow Street officers searched a gaming
house at 19, Great Suffolk Street. They were an hour in effecting their
entrance. Two very stout doors, strongly bolted and barred, obstructed
them. All the gamesters but one escaped by a subterraneous passage,
through a long range of cellars, terminating at a house in Whitcomb
Street, whence their leader, having the keys of every door, conducted
them safely into the open air.

In the previous year a party, mostly French emigrants, were taken at a
house in Oxendon Street, with the table, cards, &c. A city magistrate
and a city officer had a dispute at cards, and a knock-down game ensued.

In 1799 the Marlborough Street officers apprehended at the g