Chapter II: Part 2

The antechamber leads to the several gaming rooms, furnished with
tables, round which are seated the individuals playing, called
_pontes_ (punters), each of whom is furnished with a card and a pin
to mark the _rouge_ and _noir_, or the number, in order to regulate
his game. At each end of the table is a man called _bout de table_,
who pushes up to the bank the money lost. In the middle of the
table is the man who draws the cards. These persons, under the
reign of Louis XIV., were called _coupeurs de bourses_
(purse-cutters); they are now denominated _tailleurs_.
After having drawn the cards, they mate known the result as
follows:--_Rouge gagne et couleur perd.--Rouge perd et couleur
gagne_.

At _roulette_, the _tailleurs_ are those who put the ball in
motion and announce the result.

At _passe-dix_, every time the dice are thrown, the _tailleurs_
announce how many the person playing has gained.

Opposite the _tailleur_, and on his right and left, are persons
called _croupiers_, whose business it is to pay and to collect
money.

Behind the _tailleurs_ and _croupiers_ are inspectors, to see
that too much is not given in payment, besides an indefinite
number of secret inspectors, who are only known to the proprietors.
There are also _maîtres de maison_, who are called to decide
disputes; and _messieurs de la chambre_, who furnish cards to
the _pontes_, and serve them with beer, &c., which is to be
had _gratis_. Moreover, there is a _grand maître_, to whom the
apartments, tables, &c., belong.

When a stranger enters these apartments, he will soon find near
him some obliging men of mature age, who, with an air of prudence
and sagacity, proffer their advice. As these advisers perfectly
understand _their own_ game, if their _protégés_ lose, the mentors
vanish; but it they win, the counsellor comes nearer, congratulates
the happy player, insinuates that it was by following his advice
that fortune smiled on him, and finally succeeds in borrowing a
small sum of money on honour. Many of these loungers have no
other mode of living.

There is likewise another room, furnished with sofas, called
_chamber des blessés_, which is far from being the most
thinly peopled.

The bank pays in ready money every successful stake and sweeps
off the losings with wooden instruments, called _rateaux_
(rakes).

It was in one of the houses in this quarter that the late Marshal
Blucher won and lost very heavy sums, during the occupation of
Paris by the allied armies.

There are two gaming-houses in Paris of a more splendid description
than those of the Palais Royal, where dinners or suppers are given,
and where ladies are admitted.--_Galignani's History of Paris_.

* * * * *

A RETROSPECT.

Oh, when I was a tiny boy,
My days and nights were full of joy;
My mates were blithe and kind!--
No wonder that I sometimes sigh,
And dash the tear-drop from my eye.
To cast a look behind!

A hoop was an eternal round
Of pleasure. In those days I found
A top a joyous thing;--
But now those past delights I drop;
My head alas! is all my top,
And careful thoughts the string!

My marbles--once my bag was stor'd,--
Now I must play with Elgin's lord,--
With Theseus for a taw!
My playful horse has slipt his string.
Forgotten all his capering,
And harness'd to the law!

My kite--how fast and fair it flew.
Whilst I, a sort of Franklin, drew
My pleasure from the sky!
'Twas paper'd o'er with studious themes,--
The tasks I wrote--my present dreams
Will never soar so high!

My joys are wingless all, and dead;
My dumps are made of more than lead;
My flights soon find a fall;
My fears prevail, my fancies droop,
Joy never cometh with a hoop,
And seldom with a call!

My football's laid upon the shelf;
I am a shuttlecock, myself
The world knocks to and fro;--
My archery is all unlearn'd,
And grief against myself has turn'd
My sorrow and my bow!

No more in noontide sun I bask;
My authorship's an endless task,
My head's ne'er out of school;
My heart is pain'd with scorn and slight;
I have too many foes to fight,
And friends grown strangely cool!

The very chum that shar'd my cake
Holds out so cold a hand to shake,
It makes me shrink and sigh:--
On this I will not dwell and hang,
The changeling would not feel a pang
Though these should meet his eye!

No skies so blue or so serene
As these;--no leaves look half so green
As cloth'd the play-ground tree!
All things I lov'd are altered so,
Nor does it ease my heart to know
That change resides in me.

O, for the garb that mark'd the boy!
The trousers made of corduroy.
Well ink'd with black and red;
The crownless hat, ne'er deem'd an ill--
It only let the sunshine still
Repose upon my head!

O, for that small, small beer anew!
And (heaven's own type) that mild sky-blue
That wash'd my sweet meals down!
The master even!--and that small turk
That fagg'd me!--worse is now my work,--
A fag; for all the town!

The "Arabian Nights'" rehears'd in bed!
The "Fairy Tales" in school-time read
By stealth, 'twixt verb and noun!
The angel form that always walk'd
In all my dreams, and look'd, and talk'd.
Exactly like Miss Brown!

The _omne bene_--Christmas come!
The prize of merit, won for home'--
Merit had prizes then!
But now I write for days and days
For fame--a deal of empty praise,
Without the silver pen.

Then home, sweet home! the crowded coach--
The joyous shout--the loud approach--
The winding horn like ram's!
The meeting sweet that made me thrill,
The sweetmeats almost sweeter still,
No "_satis_" to the "_jams!_"

* * * * *

ENGLISH DRESS.

(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.)

Mr. Editor.--In No. 200 of the MIRROR, you will find an article, entitled _Female Fashions during the early part of the Last Century_. The author then promised to give a description of the dress of the English gentlemen of the same period, but as no such description has _yet_ appeared in your pages, I trust you will insert the annexed at your first convenient opportunity.

G.W.N.

_Dress of the English Gentlemen during the Early part of the Last Century._

In the reign of King William III., the English gentlemen affected to dress like their dependents. Their hats were laced, and their coats and waistcoats were embroidered with gold and silver fringe; indeed it really became extremely difficult to distinguish a man of quality from one of his lackeys. They did not, however, long persevere in this ridiculous imitation, for they soon afterwards, like the ladies, servilely followed the French fashions. The great partiality of the English _beau monde_ towards the _bon ton_ of France, was a wonderful advantage to that country--an advantage which the English government in vain endeavoured to abolish, although a heavy duty was imposed on all French ribbon and lace imported into this kingdom. Many millions were annually expended in French cambric, muslin, ribbon, and lace, which useless expenditure very sensibly injured our commercial transactions with other nations.

Perukes and long wigs were worn at the revolution; but these being greatly inconvenient in all weathers, some people _tied up_ their wigs, which was the first occasion of short wigs coming into fashion. Some few years afterwards, bob-wigs were adopted by the gentlemen, especially by those of the army and the navy.

The English costume was remarkably neat and plain anterior to the year 1748; at which period, however, all gentlemen rather resembled military officers than private individuals, for their coats were not only richly embroidered with gold and silver, but they even assumed the cockade in their hats, and carried _long_ rapiers at their sides. At length this imposing attire was adopted by the merchants and tradesmen of the metropolis, and soon afterwards by the most notorious rogues and pickpockets in town, so that when any person with a laced coat, a cockade, and a sword, walked along the streets of London, it was absolutely impossible to determine whether he affected to be thought a nobleman, a military officer, a tradesman, or a pickpocket, for he bore an equal resemblance to each of these characters.

In the year 1749, hair-powder was used by the _finished_ gentlemen, though the use of it, a year or two previous, was prohibited in every class of society. Of the costume of this period (_i.e._ about 1749), the immortal Hogarth, in his works, has left us numerous specimens, which need no comment here: his productions, indeed, are so equal in merit, that it is impossible to decide which is his _ne plus ultra_.

In conclusion, I would advise the reader to refer to a few of Hogarth's prints, for they will admirably serve to illustrate the above observations on the fashions and habits of our forefathers.

* * * * *

_Astronomical Occurrences_

_FOR NOVEMBER, 1827._

(_For the Mirror_.)

Should the afternoon of Saturday, the 3rd of the month, prove favourable, we shall be afforded an opportunity of witnessing another of those interesting phenomena--eclipses, at least the latter part of one, a portion of it only being visible to the inhabitants of this island; the defect above alluded to is a lunar one. The passage of the moon through the earth's shadow commences at 3 h. 29 m. 34 s. afternoon; she rises at Greenwich at 4 h. 45 m. 34 s. with the northern part of her disk darkened to the extent of nearly 10 digits. The greatest obscuration will take place at 5 h. 7 m. 42 s. when 10-1/2 digits will be eclipsed; she then recedes from the earth's shadow, when the sun's light will first be perceived extending itself on her lower limb towards the east; it will gradually increase till she entirely emerges from her veil of darkness, the extreme verge of which leaves her at her upper limb 32 deg. from her vertex, or highest point of her disc.

We have the following in "Moore," some years ago, on the nature and causes of eclipses of the sun and moon:--

"Far different sun's and moon's eclipses are,
The moon's are often, but the sun's more rare
The moon's do much deface her beauty bright;
Sol's do not his, but hide from us his sight:
It is the earth the moon's defect procures,
'Tis the moon's shadow that the sun obscures.
Eastward, moon's front beginneth first to lack,
Westward, sun's brows begin their mourning black:
Moon's eclipses come when she most glorious shines,
Sun's in moon's wane, when beauty most declines;
Moon's general, towards heaven and earth together,
Sun's but to earth, nor to all places neither."

The Sun enters _Sagittarius_ on the 23rd, at 1 h. 2 m. morning.

Mercury will be visible on the 10th, in 10 deg. of _Sagittarius_, a little after sunset, being then at his greatest eastern elongation; he is stationary on the 20th, and passes his inferior conjunction on the 30th, at 1-3/4 h. afternoon.

Venus is in conjunction with the above planet on the 24th, at 9 h. evening; she sets on the 1st at 5 h. 7 m., and on the 30th at 4 h. 47 m. evening.

Jupiter may be seen before sunrise making his appearance above the horizon about 5 h.; he is not yet distant enough from the sun to render the eclipses of his satellites visible to us.

A small comet has just been discovered, situated in one of the feet of _Cassiopea_. It is invisible to the naked eye, and appears approaching the pole with great rapidity.

PASCHE.

* * * * *

RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS.

* * * * *

DOMESTIC ECONOMY OF THE ROMANS IN THE FOURTH CENTURY.

A recent discovery has added to our information the most extensive series of statistical data, which make known from an official act, and by numerical figures, the state of the Roman empire 1500 years ago; the price of agricultural and ordinary labour; the relative value of money; the abundance or scarcity of certain natural productions; the use, more or less common, of particular sorts of food; the multiplication of cattle and of flocks; the progress of horticulture; the abundance of vineyards of various qualities; the common use of singular meats, and dishes, which we think betrays a corruption of taste; in short the relation of the value existing between the productions of agriculture and those of industry, from whence we obtain a proof of the degree of prosperity which both had reached at this remote period.

This precious archaeological monument is an edict of Diocletian, published in the year 303 of our era, and fixing the price of labour and of food in the Roman empire. The first part of this edict was found by Mr. William Hanks, written upon a table of stone, which he discovered at Stratonice, now called Eskihissar in Asia Minor. The second part, which was in the possession of a traveller lately returned from the Levant, has been, brought from Rome to London by M. de Vescovali, and Colonel Leake intends to publish a literal translation of it. This agreement of so many persons of respectable character, and known talents, excludes all doubts respecting the authenticity of the monument.

The imperial edict of Diocletian is composed of more than twenty-four articles. It is quite distinct from that delivered the preceding year for taxing the price of corn in the eastern provinces, and it contained no law upon the value of corn. It fixed for all the articles which it enumerated a maximum, which was the price in times of scarcity. For all the established prices it makes use of the _Roman Denarii_; and it applies them to the _sextarius_ for liquids, and to the _Roman pound_ for the things sold by weight.

Before the Augustan age, the _denarius_ was equal to eighteen sous of our money; but it diminished gradually in value, and under Diocletian its value was not above nine sous of French money, and 45 centimes. The Roman pound was equivalent to 12 ounces, and the _sextarius_ which was the sixth part of a conge, came near to the old Paris chopin, or half a litre.

Proceeding on these data, M. Moreau de Jonnes has formed a table, showing, 1. the maximum in Roman measures, the same as the established imperial edict; and 2. the mean price of objects _formed from_ half the maximum, and reduced into French measures.

The following is the table drawn up by M. Moreau de Jonnes. The slightest inspection of it will enable us to appreciate the importance of this archaeological discovery, for no monument of antiquity has furnished so long a series of numerical terms, of statistical data, and positive testimony of the civil life and domestic economy of the Greeks and Romans:--

I.--PRICE OF LABOUR.

Maximum Mean Price
in Roman in English
Money. Money.

£. s. d.
To a day labourer 25 Den. 0 4 8
Do. for interior works 50 0 9 4
To a mason 50 0 9 4
To a maker of mortar 50 0 9 4
To a marble-cutler, or maker of mosaic work 60 0 11 4
To a tailor for making clothes 50 0 9 4
Do. for sewing only 6 0 1 1-1/2
For making shoes for the patricians 150 1 8 1
Do. shoes for workmen 120 1 2 8
for the military 100 0 18 8
for the senators 100 0 18 8
for the women 60 0 11 4
Military sandals 75 0 14 0-1/2
To a barber for each man 2 0 0 4-1/2
To a veterinary surgeon for shearing the
animals and trimming their feet 6 0 1 1-1/2
Do. for currycombing and cleaning them 20 0 9 9
For one month's lessons in architecture 100 0 18 8
To an advocate for a petition
to the tribunal 250 2 6 9
For the hearing a cause 1000 9 7 6

II.--PRICE OF WINES.

Maximum Mean Price of
of the the English
Sextarius. Pint, Wine
Measure.

£. s. d.
Picene, Tiburtine, Sabine, Aminean,
Surentine, Setinian, and Falernian wines 30 Den. 0 5 4
Old wines of the first quality 24 0 4 2-3/4
Do. of second quality 16 0 2 10
Country wine 8 0 1 5
Beer 4 0 0 4-3/4
Beer of Egypt 2 0 0 2
Spiced wine of Asia 30 0 5 4
Barley wine of Attica 24 0 4 2-3/4
Decoction of different raising 16 0 2 10

III.--PRICE OF MEAT.

Maximum Mean Price of
of the Roman the French
pound. pound.

£. s. d.
Flesh of oxen 8 Den. 0 2 0
Do. of mutton, or of goat 8 0 2 0
Do. of lamb, or of kid 12 0 3 0
Do. of pork 12 0 3 0
The best lard 16 0 4 0
The best ham from Westphalia, from Cerdagne,
or from the country of the Marses 20 0 5 0
Fat fresh pork 12 0 3 0
Belly and tripe 16 0 4 0
Pig's liver, enlarged by being
fattened upon figs 16 0 4 0
Pig's feet, each 4 0 0 9
Fresh pork sausages, weighing one ounce 2 0 0 4-1/2
Do. of fresh beef 16 0 2 9-1/2
Pork sausages and seasoned 16 0 4 0
Do. of smoked beef 10 0 2 9-1/2

IV.--POULTRY AND GAME.

Maximum Mean Price of
of each each in English
in Roman Money.
Money.
£. s. d.
One fat male peacock 250 Den. 2 6 9
One fat female peacock 200 1 17 9
One male wild peacock 125 1 3 4-1/2
One female wild peacock 100 0 18 8
One fat goose 200 2 6 9
Do. not fat 100 0 18 8
One hen 60 0 11 4
One duck 40 0 7 4
One partridge 30 0 5 8
One hare 150 1 8 1
One rabbit 40 0 7 4

V.--FISH.

Maximum Mean Price of
of each each in English
in Roman Money.
Money.
£. s. d.
Sea fish, first quality 24 Den. 0 4 6
Do. second quality 16 0 3 0
River fish, first quality 12 0 2 3
Do. second quality 8 0 1 6
Salt fish 6 0 1 1-1/2
Oysters, per hundred 100 0 18 8

VI.--CULINARY VEGETABLES.

Lettuces, the best, five together 4 0 0 9
Do. second quality, ten together 4 0 0 9
Common cabbages, the best, single 4 0 0 9
Cauliflower, the best, five together 4 0 0 9
Do. second quality, ten together 4 0 0 9
Beet root, the best, five together 4 0 0 9
Do. second quality, ten together 4 0 0 9
Radishes, the largest 4 0 0 9

VII.--OTHER PROVISIONS.

Maximum Mean Price of
of the each in English
Sextarius in Money.
Roman Money.

£. s. d.
Honey, the best 40 Den. 0 15 0
Do. second quality 20 0 7 6
Oil, the best quality 40 0 15 0
Do. the second quality 24 0 9 1
Vinegar 6 0 3 3
A stimulant to excite the appetite, made
of the essence of fish 6 0 2 3
Dried cheese, the Roman pound 12 0 3 4 Fr. lb.

We are much surprised at the very high prices in this table. Labour and provisions cost ten and twenty times as much as with us. But when we come to compare the price of provisions with the price of labour the dearness of all the necessaries of life appears still more excessive. M. Moreau de Jonnes makes this comparison. He brings together from the edicts of Diocletian a great many facts given by historians, and he shows, that, if the abundance of the precious metals has any influence on raising the prices, the want of labour, industry, and of produce, must cause it also.

These considerations point out in the strongest manner the poverty of this royal people, of whom two-thirds, if not three-fourths, were reduced to live on fish and cheese, and drink piquette, when the expense of the table of Vitellius amounted, in a single year, to 175 millions of Francs.--_Brewster's Journal of Science._

* * * * *

THE GATHERER.

"I am but a _Gatherer_ and disposer of other men's stuff."--_Wotton_

* * * * *

TWELVE GOLDEN RULES OF CHARLES I.

1. Profane no divine ordinances. 2. Touch no state matters. 3. Urge no healths. 4. Pick no quarrels. 5. Maintain no ill opinions. 6. Encourage no vice. 7. Repeat no grievances. 8. Reveal no secrets. 9. Make no comparisons. 10. Keep no bad company. 11. Make no long meals. 12. Lay no wagers.

* * * * *

EPIGRAMS,

_Written on the Union_, 1801, _by a celebrated Barrister of Dublin._

_Adapted to the Commercial Failures_, 1800.

Why should we exclaim, that the times are so bad,
Pursuing a querulous strain?
When Erin gives up all the rights that she had,
What _right has she left to com_plain?

* * * * *

The Cit complains to all he meets,
That grass will grow in Dublin streets,
And swears that all is over!
Short-sighted mortals, can't you see,
Your mourning will be chang'd to glee--
For then you'll live in _clover_.

* * * * *

_Necessitas non habet legem._

ON SIR JOHN ANSTRUTHER.

_By the Honourable Thomas Erskine._

Necessity and Law are alike each other:
Necessity has no Law--nor has Anstruther.

* * * * *

EPITAPH ON A CONTROVERSIALIST.

On the death of that turbulent and refractory enthusiast, John Lilburne, _alias Free-born John, alias Lilburne the Trouble-world_, there appeared the following epigrammatic epitaph:--

Is John departed, and is Lilburne gone?
Farewell to both, to Lilburne and to John!
Yet being gone, take this advice from me,
Let them not _both_ in one grave buried be.

Here lay ye John; lay Lilburne thereabout,
For if they both should meet, they would fall out.

This alluded to a saying, that John Lilburne was so quarrelsome, that if he were the only man in the world, John would quarrel with Lilburne, and Lilburne with John. Lilburne, it will be remembered, was a sad thorn in Cromwell's sore side, for which the protector amply repaid him.

* * * * *

HOSPITAL OF SURGERY.

A new surgical hospital is to be forthwith erected in the neighbourhood of Charing Cross, where the King, with his usual and characteristic munificence, has given a spot of ground on which it is to be erected. A benevolent individual has given, within these few days, 1,500 l. towards a fund for the building.

* * * * *

_Printed and Published by J. Limbird, 143, Strand, (near Somerset House,) and sold by all Newssmen and Booksellers._