COFFEE-HOUSE SHARPERS.
Sir John Fielding thus describes the men in the year 1776.
`The deceivers of this denomination are generally descended from
families of some repute, have had the groundwork of a genteel
education, and are capable of making a tolerable
appearance. Having been equally profuse of their own
substance and character, and learnt, by having been undone, the
ways of undoing, they lie in wait for those who have more wealth
and less knowledge of the town. By joining you in discourse, by
admiring what you say, by an officiousness to wait upon you, and
to assist you in anything you want to have or know, they
insinuate themselves into the company and acquaintance of
strangers, whom they watch every opportunity of fleecing. And if
one finds in you the least inclination to cards, dice, the
billiard table, bowling-green, or any other sort of Gaming, you
are morally sure of being taken in. For this set of gentry are
adepts in all the arts of knavery and tricking. If, therefore,
you should observe a person, without any previous acquaintance,
paying you extraordinary marks of civility; if he puts in for a
share of your conversation with a pretended air of deference; if
he tenders his assistance, courts your acquaintance, and would be
suddenly thought your friend, avoid him as a pest; for these are
the usual baits by which the unwary are caught.'[42]
[42] The Magistrate: Description of London and Westminster.
In 1792, Mr Br — gh — n, the son of a baronet,
one day at a billiard-table in St James's Street, won
£7000 from a Mr B — , but the latter, at the close of the
day, recovered the loss, and won £15,000 more. Payment was
thus arranged — £5000 on the death of the father of the
former, and £10,000 secured by a reversionary annuity, to
commence on the father's decease, on the life of the Duc de
Pienne, between whom and B — a previous gaming account existed.
In 1794, Mr — — was a billiard player of the first class,
ranking with Brenton, Phillips, Orrel, and Captain Wallis, who
were the leaders of the day in this noble game of skill, tact,
and discretion.[43] Having accidentally sported his abilities
with two other players, he was marked as a `pigeon' whom every
preparation was made for `plucking.' Captain Cates, of Covent
Garden celebrity, was pitted against him at the coffee-room
billiard-table, during
Epsom races, to play 21
games, for two guineas each game, and five guineas the odds. Mr
— — won 13 games to eight from his veteran opponent, who was
invariably backed by the leading sportingmen of the day, whilst
the company at large were casually the adherents of Mr — — .
[43] The game of Chess may be played in application of the
principles of
Strategy; the game of Billiards in
application of
Tactics; indeed, all man's favourite
diversions and pastimes most significantly relate to
war —
which has been called his natural state — exemplifying always
either the brute-force that crushes, the skill that foils, the
stratagem that surprises, or the ruse that deceives; and such is
war to all intents and purposes. The philosophic diversions of
science also come in and lend their aid in the game of war — the
pastime of heroes and the necessary defence of nations.
The match was renewed at the ensuing Ascot meeting, at the
rooms of the celebrated Simson, so much frequented by the
Etonians — where Mr — — again obtained the victory, by 36 games
to 17. Immense sums were sported on these occasions.
Mr — — resided at Windsor, and was surprised by a message
on the Sunday evening preceding the Winchester races, purporting
that a gentleman wished to see him on very particular business.
It proved to be a request to play a match at Billiards during the
races at Winchester, for which the parties offered 10 guineas for
the journey. But it was explained to him that the match was of a
particular kind, and must be played in a particular way —
either to win or lose — so that those concerned
might be sure of winning upon the whole, let the match terminate
how it would! . . . .
This villainous proposal being made without the presence
of a third person, Mr — — indignantly
rejected it, instantly left the room, and communicated the
facts for the protection of the unwary against a set of desperate
sharpers.
