Gaming

.—a vice originating in avarice, almost universally predominant.—The example of the great serves to encourage it, the lower classes being never very slow in endeavours to imitate their superiors. Gaming, therefore, rages through all ranks and conditions—from the tennis-courts in James’-street, to the skittle-alleys in St. George’s-fields;—from the speculating, peculating adventurer, who, at one stroke with the Minister, fains 50,000l. by the purchase of a lottery, down to the unfortunate female servant, who pawns to her last rag to ensure the number of which she dreamt last night. It is impossible for a gambler to fisque his money so disadvantageously as in lotteries; but they are dresse dup in a meretricious garb, to antrap the ignorant and inexperienced.

Nothing can betray the profligacy of a minister more, than his everlasting recourse to this murderous instrument of revenue, this encouragement which he annually holds forth to the deprevation of morals, and to the general injury of society. But what signify the morals of the people? It is his business to corrupt them; for he knows full well, that if people had any morals, they would soon hurl him from his place; for which reason, gaming and all other enormities are encouraged which bring in grist to his mill, and which have a tendency to preserve his authority.

Gaming is an abominable vice, and always thrives in proportion to the corruption and degeneracy of a people. It was ingeniously observed by a French moralist, respecting gamblers:

As this is too often the case, an honest man had better be content in any station, then embark on the dangerous ocean of Play. The French Republic have abolished lotteries, and enacted severe laws againt gaming. But the French are Atheists, and what is much worse, they are Republicans.