very high. The instances revealed by exposure at the police-
courts give but a faint idea of the extent of skittle sharping.

Amidst such abuses of the game, it can scarcely surprise us that
the police have been recently directed to prohibit all playing at
skittles and bowls. However much we may regret the interference
with popular pastimes, in themselves unobjectionable, it is
evident that their flagrant abuse warrants the most stringent
measures in order to prevent their constantly repeated and dismal
consequences. Even where money was not played for, pots of beer
were the wager--leading, in many instances, to intoxication, or
promoting this habit, which is the cause of so much misery among
the lower orders.


CHAPTER II.

PROFESSIONAL GAMESTERS AND THEIR FRAUDS.

A gambling house at the end of the last century was conducted by
the following officials:--

1. A Commissioner,--who was always a proprietor; who looked in
of a night, and audited the week's account with two other
proprietors.

2. A Director,--who superintended the room.

3. An Operator,--who dealt the cards at the cheating game called
Faro.