2. THE COCOA-TREE CLUB.
This club was remarkable for high if not for foul play.
Walpole, writing to Horace Mann in 1780, says: — `Within this week
there has been a cast at Hazard at the Cocoa-tree (in St James's
Street) the difference of which amounted to one hundred and
fourscore thousand pounds! Mr O'Birne, an Irish gamester, had
won one hundred thousand pounds of a young Mr Harvey of Chigwell,
just started into an estate by his elder brother's death.
O'Birne said, — "You can never pay me.'' "I can,'' said the
youth, "my estate will sell for the debt.'' "No,'' said
O'Birne, "I
will win ten thousand, — you shall
throw for the odd ninety.'' They did, and Harvey won!'
