“Seated within the box, to window nearest, See _Crocky_, richest, cunningest, and queerest Of all the motley group that here assemble To sport their blunt, chaff, blackguard and dissemble; Who live (as slang has termed it) on the mace, Tho’ _Crocky’s_ heavy pull is, now, _deuce ace_. His wine, or grog, as may be, placed before him, And looking stupid as his mother bore him, For _Crock_, tho’ skilful in his betting duty, Is not, ‘twill be allowed, the greatest beauty; Nor does his _mug_ (we mean no disrespect) Exhibit outward sign of intellect; In other words, old _Crocky’s_ chubby face Bespeaks not inward store of mental grace; Besides, each night, he’s drunk as any lord, And clips his mother English every word. His head, howe’er, tho’ thick to chance beholders, Is screw’d right well upon his brawny shoulders; He’s quick as thought, and ripe at calculation, Malgrè the drink’s most potent visitation. His pencil, list, and betting book on table, His wits at work, as hard as he is able, His odds matur’d, at scarce a moment’s pains, Out pops the offspring of his ready brains, In some enormous, captivating wager, ‘Gainst one horse winning _Derby_, _Oaks_ and _Leger_. The bait is tak’n by some astonished wight, Who chuckles, thinking it a glorious bite, Nor takes the pains the figures o’er to run, And see, by calculation, that _he’s done_; While _Crocky_ books it, cash, _for certain, won_. And why, forsooth, is _Crocky_ to be blamed More than those legs who’re _honourable_ named, Whose inclination is plain sense to jockey, But who lack brains to _work the pull_ like _Crocky_? Who, by the way, gives vast accommodation, Nor bothers any one by litigation. And, if a bet you’d have, you’ve nought to do, But give it _Crock_, and, with it, _sovereigns two_; You’ll quickly, if you win it, touch the treasure, For _Crock_ (unlike some legs) dubs up with pleasure.” Crockford was indicted on several occasions, and by different persons, for his share in the nuisance of the public gaming-house in King Street; but his policy always led him to a settlement of the matter with the prosecutor, in preference to the risk of imprisonment and the treadmill. On one occasion an indictment was preferred, and a true bill found against him and others, for keeping the before-mentioned house; and it was not without difficulty and delay, creative of direful alarm, that the matter could be arranged so as to prevent the parties being brought to trial.