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The Gaming Table by Andrew Steinmetz, Volume II

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Doings In Gaming Houses

In 1792, Mr Br--gh--n, the son of a baronet, one day at a
billiard-table in St James's Street, won L7000 from a Mr B--, but
the latter, at the close of the day, recovered the loss, and won
L15,000 more. Payment was thus arranged--L5000 on the death of
the father of the former, and L10,000 secured by a reversionary
annuity, to commence on the father's decease, on the life of the
Duc de Pienne, between whom and B-- a previous gaming account
existed.

In 1794, Mr ---- was a billiard player of the first class,
ranking with Brenton, Phillips, Orrel, and Captain Wallis, who
were the leaders of the day in this noble game of skill, tact,
and discretion.[43] Having accidentally sported his abilities
with two other players, he was marked as a 'pigeon' whom every
preparation was made for 'plucking.' Captain Cates, of Covent
Garden celebrity, was pitted against him at the coffee-room
billiard-table, during Epsom races, to play 21 games, for two
guineas each game, and five guineas the odds. Mr ---- won 13
games to eight from his veteran opponent, who was invariably
backed by the leading sportingmen of the day, whilst the company
at large were casually the adherents of Mr ----.

[43] The game of Chess may be played in application of the
principles of Strategy; the game of Billiards in application of
Tactics; indeed, all man's favourite diversions and pastimes most
significantly relate to war--which has been called his natural
state--exemplifying always either the brute-force that crushes,
the skill that foils, the stratagem that surprises, or the ruse
that deceives; and such is war to all intents and purposes. The
philosophic diversions of science also come in and lend their aid
in the game of war--the pastime of heroes and the necessary
defence of nations.

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