"We state it as a fact, within our own knowledge, that two Ladies of Fashion who keep open houses for Gaming, at the West End of the Town, have lately paid large _douceurs_, to ward off the hand of justice."--(_Times, Apr. 23, 1796._) * * * * * "The Gambling-houses in and about Oxenden St., live in a stile of unprecedented luxury, and dissipation. It was stated some time ago, in the Court of King's Bench, that their dinners amounted to £150,000 per annum."--(_Times, May 27, 1796._) [Illustration: A kick-up at a Hazard Table. (No.1)--1790.] [Illustration: A kick-up at a Hazard Table. (No.2)--1790.] [Illustration: Modern Hospitality] [Illustration: Dividing the Spoil, St. James's.--1796.] These two illustrations are almost Hogarthian in their contrast, and preach a homily, better than pages of text would do, on the similarity of plunder. St. James, with Lady Archer and Lady Buckinghamshire quarrelling over gold, bank notes, a sword, and an Order. One other lady, probably Lady Mount Edgcumbe, scrutinising a bill--whilst the fourth, with a pile of gold, and notes, before her, looks calmly on. The artist (who, unfortunately, is anonymous,) shows what very little difference there is between that, and the woman of St. Giles--who, to the accompaniment of Gin, are dividing _their_ spoil, a pipe, a foot rule, a razor, &c.--little things reft from working men--on a very common deal table. It was about this time that special attention was called to this gaming mania, and Gillray (?) on the 16th May, 1796, published a Caricature called "Faro's Daughters, or the Kenyonian blow up to gamblers." Here we see the Lady Archer, and Mrs. Concannon, placed together in the pillory, and mutually upbraiding each other. The _motif_ for this picture was a speech of Lord Kenyon's, who, at a trial to recover £15, won at gaming, on Sunday, at a public house--commented very severely on the hold, the vice of gaming had, on all classes of society, from the highest, to the lowest. The former, he said, set the example to the latter--and, he added, "They think they are too great for the law; I wish they could be punished,"--and then continued, "If any prosecutions of this kind are fairly brought before me, and the parties are justly convicted, whatever be their rank, or station, in the country--though they be the first ladies in the land--they shall certainly exhibit themselves in the pillory."