Of _Asia’s_ Troops, and _Africk’s_ Sable Sons; With like Confusion different Nations fly, In various Habits, and of various Dye, The pierc’d Battalions dis-united fall In Heaps on Heaps; one Fate o’erwhelms them all. The _Knave_ of _Diamonds_ now exerts his Arts, And wins (oh, shameful Chance!) the _Queen_ of _Hearts_. At this, the Blood the Virgin’s Cheek forsook, A livid Paleness spreads o’er all her Look; She sees, and trembles at th’ approaching Ill, Just in the Jaws of Ruin, and _Codille_. And now, (as oft in some distemper’d State) On one nice _Trick_ depends the gen’ral Fate, An _Ace_ of _Hearts_ steps forth; The _King_, unseen, Lurk’d in her Hand, and mourn’d his captive _Queen_. He springs to Vengeance with an eager Pace, And falls like Thunder on the prostrate _Ace_. The Nymph exulting, fills with Shouts the Sky, The Walls, the Woods, and long Canals reply.” Things did not improve in the next reign, for Malcolm tells us, that gaming was dreadfully prevalent in 1718, which might be demonstrated by the effect of one night’s search by the Leet Jury of Westminster, who presented no less than thirty-five houses to the Justices for prosecution. And in the reign of George II. we have numerous notices of gambling: and the first number of the _Gentleman’s Magazine_ in 1731 gives for the information of its readers the following list of officers established in the most notorious gaming houses:— “1. A _Commissioner_, always a Proprietor, who looks in of a Night, and the Week’s Accompt is audited by him, and two others of the Proprietors.—2. A _Director_, who superintends the Room.—3. An _Operator_, who deals the Cards at a cheating Game, called _Faro_.—4. Two _Crowpees_,[25] who watch the Cards, and gather the Money for the Bank.—5. Two _Puffs_, who have Money given them to decoy others to play.—6. A _Clerk_, who is a Check upon the Puffs, to see that they sink none of the Money that is given them to play with.—7. A _Squib_, is a Puff of a lower Rank, who serves at half Salary, while he is learning to deal.—8. A _Flasher_, to swear how often the Bank has been stript.—9. A _Dunner_, who goes about to recover Money lost at Play.—10. A _Waiter_, to fill out Wine, snuff Candles, and attend in the Gaming Room.—11. An _Attorney_, a _Newgate_ Solicitor.—12. A _Captain_, who is to fight a Gentleman that is peevish at losing his money.—13. An _Usher_, who lights Gentlemen up and down Stairs, and gives the Word to the Porter.—14. A _Porter_, who is, generally, a Soldier of the Foot Guards.—15. An _Orderly Man_, who walks up and down the outside of the Door, to give Notice to the Porter, and alarm the House, at the Approach of the Constables.—16. A _Runner_, who is to get Intelligence of the Justices meeting.—17. _Linkboys_, _Coachmen_, _Chairmen_, _Drawers_, _or others_, who bring the first Intelligence of the Justices Meetings, or, of the Constables being out, at Half a Guinea Reward.—18.