Clubs were formed of those desperadoes, who assumed the name of the “_Bold Bucks_,” and the “_Hell-fires_.” “_Blind and Bold Love_” was the motto of the former association, the members of which, according to a contemporary writer, “attempt females of their own species promiscuously. Their own sisters fear their violence, and fly their privacies.” Atheism was an indispensable qualification for admission into their society, and their favourite dish for supper, at the taverns they haunted, was called “_A Holy Ghost Pie_;” but their chief house of _rendezvous_ was a tavern near Somerset House, where they usually assembled during Divine service with a loud band of music. Their excesses became so notorious, and proved such a public grievance, that in 1721, a Royal proclamation was issued to suppress those clubs, and about the same time a check was put to duelling by the sentence of death passed on a Major Oneby, who thought it advisable to baulk the executioner and the public curiosity by committing suicide. The following are the particulars of this very important case:—Major Oneby was indicted in the year 1726, for the murder of Mr. Gower, and a special verdict was found, stating that the prisoner being in company with the deceased, and three other persons, at a tavern, in a friendly manner, after some time began playing at hazard; when _Rich_, one of the company, asked if any one would set him three half crowns; whereupon the deceased, in a jocular manner, laid down three halfpence, telling Rich he had set him three pieces, and the prisoner at the same time set Rich three half crowns, and lost them to him. Immediately after which, the prisoner, in an angry manner, turned about to the deceased and said, “It was an impertinent thing to set down halfpence, and that he was an impertinent puppy for so doing;” to which the deceased answered, “whoever called him so was a rascal.” Thereupon the prisoner took up a bottle, and with great force threw it at the deceased’s head, but did not hit him, the bottle only brushing some of the powder out of his hair. The deceased, in return, immediately tossed a candlestick or bottle at the prisoner, which missed him; upon which they both rose up to fetch their swords, which were then hung up in the room, and the deceased drew his sword, but the prisoner was prevented drawing his by the company; the deceased thereupon threw away his sword, and the company interposing, they sat down again for the space of an hour. At the expiration of that time, the deceased said to the prisoner, “We have had hot words, and you were the aggressor, but I think we may pass it over,” at the same time offering his hand to the prisoner, who made for answer, “No, d—n you, _I will have your blood_.”