Page:London spy, or, The frauds of London described (2).pdf/6

(6) of deluding and cheating are practiſed with ſucceſs, viz. Gaming-houſes, Horſe Races, Cockfighting, Bowling, Billiards, Tennis, Pharoh Rouge et nair, Hazard, &c. together with Routs, Aſſemblies, Maſquerades, and Concerts of a particular or private nature; in the latter of theſe you will find notorious gamblers of the female ſex, who deal in art and deception, as well as ſome more notorious male cheats, who frequently barter one commodity for another, provided diſcount is allowed.

In this great city are ſeveral houſes not only converted, but others built, for the aſſembly of gamblers, into which, however, none under a certain degree are admitted, unleſs a friend of a ſubſcriber is introduced as a novice in the art, in order to be initiated into thoſe rules of fraud and cunning they ſnare their actions by: his admittance may be effected at the expence of five or ten thouſand pounds, and a qualification is given of his adeptneſs in the ſcience, which will enable him to exhibit with eclat at Newmarket or York races.—Theſe pretenders to honour and honeſty, have been detected many times in practiſing the vileſt frauds at play, particularly at the game of Hazard, which is much