"JOHN MILNER, ISAAC TILLARD, R. THORNHILL, THOMAS PINDER, JOHN MERCER, WM. COTESWORTH, JOHN ELLIS." The Society for the Reformation of Manners published a Statement of their proceedings almost immediately after, by which it appears, they had prosecuted from December 1, 1724, to December 1, 1725, 2506 persons for keeping lewd and disorderly houses, swearing, drunkenness, gaming, and proceeding in their usual occupations on Sundays. The total amount of their prosecutions for 34 years amounted to the amazing number of 91,899[141:A]. A grand masqued ball, given at the Opera-house in February 1726, commenced at 12 o'clock on Monday night the 13th; deep play at Hazard succeeded, when one of the company threw for 50_l._ and lost; and still holding the box without paying, threw a second time for 150_l._ with no better success; the winners then insisted upon a deposit of the money, which was complied with in four supposed roleaus, of 50 guineas each; but, some suspicions arising, they were opened and found to be rolls or parcels of halfpence; the sharper was immediately seized and committed to the custody of an officer of the guard, whom he soon terrified into a release, by declaring he was a lawyer thoroughly acquainted with the acts concerning unlawful games at Hazard, and, at the same time, advising him not to incur the penalties usually inflicted on those who committed trespasses on the liberty of the subject by false imprisonment. When carried to a Magistrate, he obliged that respectable guardian of the public peace to acknowledge that he could do nothing with him, and he was discharged accordingly. The King directed the following note "To the Right Honourable the Lord De la Warr, Chairman of the Session for the City and Liberty of Westminster; or, in his Lordship's absence, to the Deputy Chairman. _Windsor Castle, Oct. 8, 1728._ "MY LORD, "His Majesty, being very much concerned at the frequent robberies of late committed in the streets of London, Westminster, and parts adjacent; and being informed, that they are greatly to be imputed to the unlawful return of felons convict who have been transported to his Majesty's Plantations, has been graciously pleased, for the better discovering and apprehending of such felons, to give orders to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, to cause to be paid to any person or persons, who, before the first day of March next, shall discover any of them, so as they may be apprehended and brought to justice, a reward of 40_l._ for each felon convict returned, or that shall return from transportation before the expiration of the term for which he or she was transported; who shall, by the means of such discovery, be brought to condign punishment.