.

'It is a fact that most of those who played very high were pretty well
cleaned out.'

'Crockford increased gambling everywhere.' 'Persons of the middling
classes, butchers, and gentleman's servants went to the low gambling
houses.'

These places held out inducements to robbery. 'If a servant or shopman
could scrape together L200 or L300, he had, by the agency of the keepers
of these houses, the opportunity of lending out his money to the losers
at 60 per cent.'

DESPERATION AT GAMING HOUSES.

The most particular inspection was made of the player's person by the
gaming house keeper's spies, and even his dress was strictly observed.
He was obliged, before entering the saloon, to deposit his great coat
and cane, which might perchance afford the introduction of some WEAPON;
and the elegance of the covering did not save him from the humiliation
of having it taken from him at the door. The attempts which
were sometimes made on the lives of the bankers led to these
precautions--like the indignities which are practised only in prisons
for the security of the unhappy inmates. It is certain that gamesters,
reduced to desperation, and on the eve of committing suicide, have
conveyed into these places infernal machines with an intention of
destroying at once their cruel plunderers and themselves.

'DEVILISH DOINGS IN A "HELL." '

In 'Doings in London,' a work published as lately as the year 1850, we
find under this startling title a strange story.

'A scandalous scene of violence, which often happens at these places,
but seldom becomes publicly known, on account of the disgrace attending
exposures, occurred lately at a low "hell" in King Street, St James's.
A gentleman who had lost considerable sums of money at various times,
announced his full determination never to come to a place of the sort
again with money. His visits, therefore, were no longer wanted, and
so orders were given to the porters not to admit him again. About two
o'clock on a subsequent night, which happened to be Saturday, he sought
admittance, and was refused. A warm altercation ensued in the passage
between him and the porters, which brought down some of the proprietors.
One of them--a powerful man--a bankrupt butcher--struck him a tremendous
blow, which broke the bridge of his nose, covered his face with blood,
and knocked him down. On getting up he was knocked down again. He arose
once more, and instantly received another blow, which would have lai