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THE GAME PLAYED IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY.
Mrs Law, executrix of George Law, late proprietor of the Smyrna
Coffee House, St James's Street, in 1807, found, among her
husband's papers, several notes and memoranda of money advanced
to a Mr Nelthorpe, which she put in suit. The latter alleged
that they were for gambling purposes, and called Mrs Law to say
whether her husband did not keep a common gambling house; and his
counsel contended that it was clear the notes were for gaming
transactions, BECAUSE they were for 100 GUINEAS, 200 GUINEAS, and
so on--disdaining the vulgar enumeration of pounds. But the lord
chancellor said that THE GAME PLAYED IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY--as
far as counsel was concerned--was for GUINEAS.
THE ORIGINAL OF A RECENT PROPOSAL.
Not long since an advertisement appeared, and was noticed by
several of the papers, purporting to enable any person to realize
a large fortune by a small advance to the advertiser. It will
readily be seen that the following is the ORIGINAL of the scheme,
put forth in the Morning Chronicle, in 1818:--
'Important Offer. A gentleman of respectability has discovered a
method of winning at any game of chance, fairly and honourably,
to a certainty, by a method hitherto unknown;--he will SELL THE
SECRET for a consideration, or treat with a gentleman able to
join him with a capital of L300, by which a fortune may be made;
in either case he will engage with one person only.
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