rtune favoured him
at first, and he won about a hundred pounds.

Instead of leaving off he only became the more excited by his success,
when his luck began to change, and he lost and lost until he staked
the last coin he had in his pocket. He then pawned to the master of the
table successively every ring and trinket he had, for money to continue
the stakes. All in vain. His luck never returned; and he made his way
down-stairs in a mood which may well be imagined. But what was
his surprise when the master of the table came running after him,
saying--'Sir, these things may be valuable to you--do me the favour
to take them with you. Next time I hope you will be more lucky,' and
returned all his rings and trinkets.

The moon was shining brightly at the time, and the young man swore by
it, that he would never again enter a gaming house, and he kept his
oath. Of course the generosity was but a decoy to entice the youth to
further ruin.

HOSPITALITY OF GAMING HOUSES, AND POPULARITY OF CITY MEN AT THEM.

Joseph Atkinson and his wife, who for many years kept a gaming house
at No. 15 under the Piazza, Covent Garden, gave daily magnificent play
dinners,--cards of invitation for which were sent to the clerks of
merchants, bankers, and brokers in the city. Atkinson used to say that
he liked CITIZENS--whom he called FLATS--better than any one else, for
when they had DINED they played freely, and after they had lost all
their money they had credit to borrow more. When he had CLEANED THEM
OUT, when THE PIGEONS WERE COMPLETELY PLUCKED, they were sent to some
of their solvent friends. After dinner play was introduced, and, till
dinner time the nest day, different games at cards, dice, and E O were
continually going on.

THE TRAFFIC IN HUSH MONEY.

Theophilus Bellasis, an infamous character, was well known at Bow
Street, where he had been charged with breaking into the counting-house
of Sir James Sanderson, Bart. Bellasis was sometimes clerk and sometimes
client to John Shepherd, an attorney of Bow Street; while at other times
Shepherd was prosecutor of those who kept gaming houses, and Bellasis
attorney. Sir William Addington, the magistrate, was so well aware that
these two men commenced prosecutions solely for the purpose of HUSH
MONEY, that he refused to act. The Joseph Atkinson just mentioned at one
time gave them L100, at another L80; and in this way they had amassed an
immense sum, and undertook, for a specific amount, to de