'
If this evidence was not satisfactory, it was, at any rate, very
characteristic.
A few interesting facts came out before the parliamentary
committee on Gaming, in 1844, respecting Crockford's.
It was said that Crockford gave up the business in 1840, because
there were no more very high players visiting his house.
'A number of persons,' according to the admission of the
Honourable Frederick Byng, 'who were born to very large
properties, were very nearly ruined at Crockford's.'
The sums won on the turf were certainly larger than those won by
players at Crockford's; a man might lose L20,000 in one or more
bets, to one or more persons; but against this he might have won
an equivalent amount in small sums from 200 or more persons.[40]
[40] This is not very clearly put, but the meaning is that much
more money was lost at Crockford's than on the turf.
Some years previously to Crockford's retirement, it is said that
he found the debts so bad that he was obliged to leave off his
custom of paying cheques; and said he would cancel all previous
debts, but that in future gentlemen would have to pay with money.
He made them play for money instead of with counters, in
consequence of the large sums that were owing to him upon those
counters.
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