“_15 July 1806._ The noble Marquis, who has been so great a gainer this season, at _hazard_, never plays with anyone, from a PRINCE, to a _Commoner_, without having the stakes _first_ laid on the table. His lordship was always considered as a _sure card_, but, now, his fame is established, from the circumstance of his having cleared £35,000, after deducting all his losses for the last six months.” “_Morning Herald, 16 June 1804._ A noble Lord, lately high in office, and who manifests a strong inclination to be re-instated in his political power, lost, at the UNION, a night or two back, 4000 guineas before twelve o’clock; but, continuing to play, his luck took a turn, and he rose a winner of a 1000 before five the next morning.” I have, also, two newspaper cuttings, but know not whence they came. “_Mar. 28, 1811._ The brother of a Noble Marquis is said to have lately won, at _hazard_, upwards of £30,000, all in one night!” “_April 3, 1811._ A young gentleman of family and fortune lost £7000, on Sunday Morning, at a gaming house in the neighbourhood of Pall Mall.” This brings us to the time when, owing to the mental affliction of George III., the Prince of Wales became Regent, and during his reign, both as Regent and King, gambling throve; and I propose to quote somewhat from Captain Gronow, whose chatty Reminiscences are about the best of those times. But before doing so I must tell the following anecdote which relates to that General Scott whom Gronow mentions. Lord C—— had a most unfortunate propensity to gamble; and, in one night, he lost £33,000 to General Scott. Mortified at his ill-fortune he paid the money and wished to keep the circumstance secret; it was, however, whispered about. His lordship, to divert his chagrin, went, a few nights afterwards, to a Masquerade at Carlisle House, Soho, and he found all the company running after three Irish young ladies of the name of G—— e, in the character of the three witches in _Macbeth_. These ladies were so well acquainted with everything that was going on in the great world that they kept the room in a continual roar of laughter by the brilliancy of their wit, and the happiness of its application to some people of rank who were present. They knew Lord C—— and they knew of his loss, though he did not know them. He walked up to them, and, in a solemn tone of voice, thus addressed them:— “Ye black and midnight hags,—what do ye do? Live ye? or are ye aught that man may question? Quickly unclasp to me the book of fate, And tell if good, or ill, my steps await.” _First Witch._ “All hail, C——e! all hail to thee! Once annual lord of thousands thirty-three!” _Second Witch._ “All hail, C——e! all hail to thee! All hail! though poor thou soon shalt be!” _Hecate._ “C——e, all hail! thy evil star Sheds baleful influence—Oh, beware! Beware that Thane! Beware that Scott! Or, poverty shall be thy lot! He’ll drain thy youth as dry as hay— Hither, Sisters, haste away!”