Online Casino Players.com

Volume I

The Gaming Table by Andrew Steinmetz, Volume II

I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII | IX | X | XI | XII | XIII | XIV

Doings In Gaming Houses

FORTUNATE RISE OF A CLUB-HOUSE WAITER.

'A waitership at a club sometimes led to fortune. Thomas
Rumbold, originally a waiter at White's gaming club, got an
appointment in India, and suddenly rose to be Sir Thomas, and
Governor of Madras! On his return, with immense wealth, a bill
of pains and penalties was brought into the House by Dundas, with
the view of stripping Sir Thomas of his ill-gotten gains. This
bill was briskly pushed through the earlier stages; suddenly the
proceedings were arrested by adjournment, and the measure fell to
the ground. The rumour of the day attributed Rumbold's escape to
the corrupt assistance of Rigby; who, in 1782, found himself, by
Lord North's retirement, deprived of his place in the Pay Office,
and called upon to refund a large amount of public moneys
unaccounted for. In this strait, Rigby was believed to have had
recourse to Rumbold. Their acquaintance had commenced in earlier
days, when Rigby was one of the boldest "punters" at White's, and
Rumbold bowed to him for half-crowns as waiter. Rumbold is said
to have given Rigby a large sum of money, on condition of the
former being released from the impending pains and penalties.
The truth of the report has been vehemently denied; but the
circumstances are suspicious. The bill was dropped; Dundas, its
introducer, was Rigby's intimate associate. Rigby's nephew and
heir soon after married Rumbold's daughter. Sir Thomas himself
had married a daughter of Dr Law, Bishop of Carlisle. The worthy
bishop stood godfather to one of Rumbold's children; the other
godfather was the Nabob of Arcot, and the child was christened
"Mahomet." So, at least, Walpole informs Mann.'[47]

[47] Timbs, Club Life in London.

Previous ... Next
Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33