7 and 8 **** St, St James's.'
This circular was sent to Stockdale, the publisher, in 1820, who
published it with the names in asterisks suppressed. It was
evidently intended to expose some doings in high places.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE DOCTRINE OF PROBABILITIES APPLIED TO GAMBLING.
A distinction must be made between games of skill and games of
chance. The former require application, attention, and a certain
degree of ability to insure success in them; while the latter are
devoid of all that is rational, and are equally within the reach
of the highest and lowest capacity. To be successful in throwing
the dice is one of the most fickle achievements of fickle
fortune; and therefore the principal game played with them is
very properly and emphatically called 'Hazard.' It requires,
indeed, some exertion of the mental powers, of memory, at least,
and a turn for such diversions, to play well many games at cards.
Nevertheless, it is often found that those who do so give no
further proofs of superior memory and judgment, whilst persons of
superior memory and judgment not unfrequently fail egregiously at
the card-table.
The gamester of skill, in games of skill, may at first sight seem
to have more advantage than the gamester of chance, in games of
chance; and while cards are played merely as an amusement, there
is no doubt that a recreation is more rational when it requires
some degree of skill than one, like dice, totally devoid of all
meaning whatever.
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