Time was, when so splendid, so gay, debonair, I’ve had of these vermin a brace at my chair, The slaves of my chamber, the shades at my doors, Subservient, and bowing obedience by scores; For, _soit dit en passant_, when ruin’d’s a rake, The greater’s the plunder his liv’rymen make: Then, the produce of filching, to noble in need, Is lent out on annuity, mortgage, or deed: So, the Peer, or the Commoner going to rack, May sit with his Creditor stuck at his back, Unconscious, howe’er, of so monstrous a bore, The effects of a C—rp—w, a S—dl—y, or M—re, Who the _parties_ procure, ‘mongst such miscreant trash; For nothing’s degrading in touching the cash— A pound is the same, both in value and weight, Though it came from the basest, or first in the State. I grieve, whilst I think of the years which have flown, Of the thousands I’ve squandered, the pleasures I’ve known, Of the many occasions, which fortune has cast In my way to be rich, which I slighted as fast— How oft’, independent I might have retired With enough to live happy—nay, more than required: But Greeks are like Cyprians, and Fate has decreed That they both should spend fortunes, and perish in need; That their treasures, with dreams of enchantment, should pass, And leave them no solace, except from the—glass; That, at length, youth and beauty, good luck, and foul play, Should all thrive a season—then vanish away.” This pamphlet, which has a companion called “The Pigeons,” gives a very curious list of the most fashionable gaming houses in existence in 1817. “Of _hells_ in general, it may be said that they are _infernally_ productive, since Mr T—l—r finds that the banking business is nothing compared to these money mills, and since so many fortunes have been made from them. Who would think that a man could _rise_ from one of these _lower regions_ to a seat in Parliament? or that high military rank could be purchased by ‘The Colour’s red’—‘Gentlemen, make your game!’ Major-General R—— w, M.P., thus got his high promotion and his seat in the British Senate; for his papa was _n’importe_; but, progressively (and in a very odd way too), he got a little money, which, placing in a hell of which he was proprietor, he soon purchased an estate, and bought his son on in the army. Many other instances, too tedious to mention, have occurred of fortune thus made. By a house of fashionable resort being called a club-house, the proprietors are enabled to exclude _wolves in sheep’s clothing_, _i.e._ spies and informers; for, by taking a mere trifle for a subscription, you get a knowledge of the subscriber, whether a _good man and true, or not_; and, being entered in a book—before he can _turn over a new leaf_, he may be _turned to_ good account.