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dency be good, how can it be improved? If bad, how can it be rendered less injurious? How can we draw the sting from the serpent, or suck out the poison from the wound? For my own part, I have no hesitation in expressing my conviction, that this influence of the stage can be made more beneficial, or less pernicious, whichever you please to call it, than it has hitherto been: and that we can help to make it so. Need I add, that to this important purpose our whole aims and labours should be directed? In proposing a plan for its accomplishment, I shall steal something from both of you; and thus endeavour to reconcile your opinions. On the one hand, as Urbanus has said, we must study to ameliorate the moral habits of the people, in order that our play-houses may be no longer disgusting scenes of disorder and licentiousness. On the other, we must consider how dramatic pieces should be written, and dramatic exhibitions should be regulated. Of course, therefore, in any future disputation, the existing state of our national theatre, in both these respects, must come under our severe animadversion. We must next look out for some plan, by which its abuses may be corrected, and its condition altered: by which we may assist in promoting the interests of morality, and resuscitating the dramatic genius of the country. In fact, the Projector, we all know, has some scheme of the kind already devised. If we can put it into execution, we shall have effected one of the leading objects for which our Council was established.

LETTER TO THE RIGHT HON. NICHOLAS VANSITTART, CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER,

ON

GAMING AND THE LOTTERY.

SIR, We address to you a letter, which has a reference to matters of police, as well as to the principles of finance. It cannot therefore be said to belong wholly to your department of administration. Many of our remarks will

have a more immediate bearing upon the functions of the Secretary for the Home Department; and might be addressed to Mr. Peel, with almost more propriety than to yourself. But we have chosen on this occasion to speak personally to you; as being the older member of the Cabinet; and a man, we are convinced, to whom nothing which regards the welfare of the state can be a subject of indifference.

Our letter will embrace two topics-Gaming and the Lottery. They have, however, a necessary and intimate connexion; and are distinct in name rather than in reality. We expect an excellent result from their juxta-position; and seize the first opportunity of stating, that we mean to draw an argument, in our opinions irresistible, from the severities which are practised with respect to the former against the encouragement which is afforded to the latter.

As, on the one hand, we are always anxious to support the just measures of the Government, we feel it obligatory upon us, on the other, to declare our minds without evasion or reserve, when its measures betray an appearance of injustice and inconsistency. It is an unthankful office, we know, to tell people of their faults;—but still it is the office of a friend. If we perform our task with firmness and determination, but at the same time with decency and respect, the Government itself ought to be grateful for our labours. We have no wish to displease the Ministers but if they are displeased, we shall neither seek their favour, nor deprecate their wrath. So much by way of preface:-we shall now come to the point. The present letter shall be brief; but if it fails in producing an effect, you shall hear from us again.

You cannot, Sir, but be aware of the strict and summary methods, to which the Police has lately had recourse in many instances for the purpose of putting down the gaming-houses in the metropolis. We shall, however, extract verbatim from the newspapers of the day, an account of the last transaction of the kind, which was attended by circumstances of a peculiar nature-circumstances, which, we sincerely hope, will be as completely without imitation, as they appear to us to have been without precedent. The humour, with which it is written,

may amuse; but the principles, to which they may lead, ought to alarm us.

POLICE.

BOW-STREET. GAMBLERS.-The second act of a piece, properly bearing the title of "The Gamesters," was represented on the boards of this office on Saturday morning; and although the heroes of the story did not terminate their adventures quite so tragically as the hero of a piece got up elsewhere, under a similar name, still their countenances, until the curtain fell, exhibited a mournful aspect,

In order that our readers may understand the character of the performance, it may be expedient that we commence by giving a short outline of the plot.

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It has long been known that in the neighbourhood of St. James's, and, what is not a little extraordinary, in that neighbourhood only, there have been established a considerable number of what are technically termed Hells," but what, in plain English, are known as gaming-houses. Some of these are visited by "Corinthians" of the first order, whose capitals being large, never degrade themselves by playing for less than gold; while others in a more humble style are attended by an inferior "fag," who are content, probably from necessity alone, to confine their stakes to silver. A house of the former description, in Pall-mall, was treated with an inquisitorial visit some short time back, and the proprietors are now under prosecution; and the success which attended that speculation induced a plan for surprising one of the latter, which is situate No. 10, Kingstreet. A regular information having been laid before the magistrates at this office, its execution was intrusted to Salmon, Ruthven, Smith, Purton, Nicholls, Perry, Lock, and other officers, who have been for several nights engaged in watching the premises, and laying their plans for an "agreeable surprise." All efforts to obtain admission by stratagem having proved fruitless, it was at length determined to take the citadel by a coup de main; and on Friday night, the preliminaries having been previously arranged, the assailants arrived at their respective posts. Several of the friends of the garrison were seen to enter, but they were admitted with such extraordinary caution, that there offered no chance of entrance under that disguise. At last one of the officers gave a sort of familiar tap at the postern, in the hope that it might be opened without suspicion ; but the sentinel was too precise in the performance of his duty to permit this to avail. It is true the door was opened, but then an envious chain forbad further advance without due inspection, and the first peep at the visage of the obtruder at once created the alarm of "an enemy." The preconcerted signals for such a chance were immediately given, upon which the whole body of the assailants advanced to the attack, and by main force broke the chain in fragments. By this, however, they only surmounted one of the difficulties. There were still two doors to pass-one of which was soon demolished, but the third, which was securely fastened by iron bars, resisted all the force which was applied to it. While the attack was at the hottest, Purton, one of the patrole, more cunning than

his comrades, called off two of the force, and descending into the area with an iron crow, with which he was prepared, forced open the kitchendoor, which had been strongly bolted within. Followed by his companions, he instantly advanced, and putting aside some of the fair sex who attempted to interpose, and whose screams operated as a sort of bugle for sounding a retreat to those who were above, he rushed up stairs into the very sanctum sanctorum of the fortress, which was on the first floor. Here he found a Rouge et Noir table, and one solitary gentleman apparently reading a newspaper perfectly at his ease; the cards, the money, and all the et cætera of play, however, had been removed, and for this, from the delay which had taken place in forcing an entrance, ample time had been allowed. The other officers were then admitted, and a general search commenced for the members of the garrison, whose sudden disappearance could not be accounted for. This search proved most successful; and on mustering the prisoners, five-and-twenty of all descriptions, great and small, old and young, Englishmen as well as foreigners, were secured. Some of these had been found in the beds, some under the beds, some up the chimneys, some in the back yard, and some half metamorphosed into servant-maids, having endeavoured to disguise themselves in the female attire which they found in the house. They all appeared trembling under the terrors of exposure; and a few of them, we do not allude to those who candidly confessed they had been "cleaned out," offered large bribes to be permitted to escape. It was all in vain, however; and they were conducted in due form to the watch-house, where they remained all night in a state of pleasing excitation. One of the corps luckily escaped altogether, although at the expense of a night's lodging on the roof of the house, where he amused himself taking a part in Grimaldi's duet with the tom-cat, and occasionally warbling the parody of My Lodging is on the cold Tiles." Purton endeavoured to secure him, but he escaped his grasp, and did not descend till day-light, when he saw the coast was clear.

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Such was the plot, and the first act of the performance; and, we now come to describe the second act, and fortunate denouement of the whole.

This morning this office was crowded by the friends of the incarcerated; while the street in front was filled with groups of persons attracted by the novelty of the scene.

At twelve o'clock Mr. Alley and Mr. Adolphus were in attendance for the prisoners, while Mr. Hanson, the attorney, appeared for the informer ; and at his request the examination was put off for a short period, to afford time for his client to attend.

Mr. Alley having at length expressed some impatience at the unnecessary delay which was taking place, when so many persons were in custody, Mr. Minshull, who presided, called on the case; and the officers were despatched to bring in their prisoners. In a few seconds the group were marched into the office in single files, and placed in front of the magistrate. Their countenances betrayed the strong anxiety of their minds; and being desirous of concealing their features, there was rather a ludicrous scramble to see who should be able to get farthest from observation; and

it would seem that their alarm was not altogether without foundation, for by the Act of the last Sessions respecting Vagrants, it is provided, "That all persons found playing at unlawful games, shall be deemed rogues and vagabonds, and be subject to three months' imprisonment and hard labour." The terrors of Coldbath-fields, and the rotatory wheel, therefore, stared them full in the face.

At this moment, however, their sorrow was suddenly turned to joy, from the declaration of Mr. Hanson, the attorney, who said that his instructions were not to proceed against those gentlemen, and his client was not in attendance.

Mr. Minshull said, the prisoners were in custody of the officers of that office, and it was his duty to hear upon what charge they had been taken into custody.

Mr. Alley submitted that the person upon whose information they had been detained, was not in attendance, and consequently they were entitled to their discharge.

Mr. Adolphus urged the same observation.

Mr. Minshull said, he knew nothing of the business until he came into the office; but now that the prisoners were before him, he should hear what the officers had to say before he discharged them.

Smith, the officer, to whom the warrant had been directed, was then examined. He stated, that between the hours of nine and twelve o'clock the preceding night, he went to the house, No. 10, King-street, St. James's, and demanded admission. This was refused, and an alarm was given up stairs by knocking. After some time, he and his brother officers got in by force, and on going up stairs, they found a gentleman sitting in a room reading a newspaper. There was a table in the room which had evidently been used for playing the game of Rouge et Noir. It was covered with a cloth with red and black divisions. (The cloth was produced.) He also found some cards which were marked with holes, and which were used in marking the chances of the game.

George Ruthven also deposed to what he had seen: he had no doubt the articles produced were used in playing the game of Rouge et Noir; he had seen it played.

In answer to a question from Mr. Minshull, the officers denied that they knew the person who kept the house, although they believed it to be a man of the name of Davis.

Mr. Minshull. Can any body say that these parties were assembled in the house in question for the purpose of playing at an unlawful game? They officers said they had no doubt they had assembled for the purpose of play.

Mr. Alley submitted that the belief of the officers was nothing, unless proofs were adduced that the parties had actually been playing. This had been decided in a case before Lord Kenyon. Mr. Alley here made some observations on the conduct of the officers, in dragging two children from a bed, and otherwise misconducting themselves; but this charge appeared to have originated in a mistake, and the prisoners acknowledged that the officers had behaved most correctly.

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