A Runner,--who was to get intelligence of the Justices' meetings.

17. Link Boys, Coachmen, Chairmen, Drawers, and others, who brought the
first intelligence of Justices' meetings, of constables going out, at
half a guinea reward.

18. Common Bail, Affidavit Men, Ruffians, Bravos, Assassins, &c. &c.

It may be proper to remark that the above list of officials was only
calculated for gambling houses of an inferior order. In these it is
evident that the fear of interruption and the necessity for precaution
presided over the arrangements. There were others, however, which seemed
to defy law, to spurn at justice, and to remain secure, in every way, by
the 'respectability' of their frequenters. These were houses supported
at an amazing expense--within sight of the palace--which were open
every night and all night--where men of the first rank were to be
found gambling away immense sums of money, such as no man, whatever
his fortune might be, could sustain. 'What, then,' says a writer at
the time, 'are the consequences? Why, that the UNDONE part of them sell
their VOTES for bread, and the successful give them for honours.

'He who has never seen the gamblers' apartments in some of the
magnificent houses in the neighbourhood of St James's, has never
seen the most horrid sight that the imagination of a thinking man can
conceive.

'A new pack of cards is called for at every deal, and the "old" ones are
then thrown upon the floor, and in such an immense quantity, that the
writer of this letter has seen a very large room nearly ANKLE-DEEP, in
the greatest part of it, by four o'clock in the morning! Judge, then, to
what height they must have risen by daylight.'

It is a melancholy truth, but confirmed by the history of all nations,
that the most polite and refined age of a kingdom is never the most
virtuous; not, indeed, that any such compliment can be paid to that
gross age, but still it was refined compared with the past. The
distinctions of personal merit being but little regarded--in the
low moral tone that prevailed--there needed but to support a certain
'figure' in life (managed by the fashionable tailor)(4), to be
conversant with a few etiquettes of good breeding and sentiments of
modern or current honour, in order to be received with affability and
courteous attention in the highest circles. The vilest sharper, having
once gained admission, was sure of constant entertainment, for nothing
formed a greater cement of uni