GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS IN LIVERPOOL. [WRITTEN IN JULY 1830.] "Facilis descensus Averdi: Noctes atque dies patet atri janua Dites: The gates of hell stand open night and day, That is the task ;-'tis there the labour lies. In the year 1350, we are informed, by respectable authors, that a pestilence, called the sable or black death, overspread Europe, sweeping away myriads of the population. This was an awful visitation; but if the moral plague, of which the dire symptoms have recently appeared amongst us in Liverpool, should spread its pestiferous influence around; if no means be devised to check its progress, or to effect a radical cure of the dangerous malady, the consequences will be more deplorable than the recurrence of a physical pestilence as malignant as that which, as we have just stated, visited Europe about five centuries ago. Our readers who know our opinions on the subject of gambling will be at no loss to understand that we allude to the threatened establishment of Gaming Rooms, or, as they are very properly styled Hells, in Liverpool. It ap. pears from what passed at the last Common Council, that the magistrates are fully aware of what is going forwards, as the managers of one of these establishments are, it appears, tenants of the Corporation. It is not a little singular that, whilst ample accommodations can be thus found for gambling-rooms, no suitable place can be procured for a permanent night asylum for the houseless poor.* This was written at a time when several applications had been made in vain for suitable premises for the Night Asylum, which has since been We have heard it whispered that a cock-pit is also about to be established here, but we most fervently hope that the town will escape this indelible disgrace. As the subject of gambling, owing to recent circumstances, possesses at this moment peculiar interest, we shall make no apology for here transcribing a portion of an editorial article which appeared in the Kaleidoscope of Sep tember 6, 1825: "The vice of gaming, so indefensible in principle and ruinous in its consequences to the happiness of society, stands most pre-eminent in the catalogue of crimes. Many other vices which disgrace and disturb society may plead some redeeming feature in extenuation of their enormity. The highwayman or the housebreaker may sometimes have been impelled to the commission of crime by absolute want, or the irresistible cries of a perishing family. The sot may have been betrayed into his pernicious vice by a fondness for convivial company and good cheer, which, under proper regulations, is natural and allowable. His social habits, which originate in virtue rather than in vice, have insensibly led him astray, and his crime is the want of that fortitude and self-command, the possession of which is the boast of philosophy and stoicism. But the gamester is a wretch who can offer no rational plea in his behalf. Men are not prone to gambling as they are to the indulgence of sensual passions; and indeed the feelings which ordinarily actuate the gamester are diametrically opposed to the natural ingenuousness and warm-heartedness of youth: they originate in mean and sordid selfishness; and his highest gratification arises from the wretchedness of others. In order to exhibit established in Freemason's-row, and which is admitted eminently useful by the general consent. The superintendent of the establishment will, at any time, show the premises, and explain the economy of its management to those who feel any interest on the subject.-Sunday afternoon or evening is recommended for the visit. this detestable habit in its full deformity in few words, it is only necessary to say, that the gamester's exhaltation and enjoyment are generally enhanced precisely in the degree of the depression and despair of his victim. "Gambling, fascinating and irresistible as it is generally found to be, when the habit is once formed, is a propensity which, in the first instance, is more easily resisted than the approach of almost any other species of vice. It is a vortex from whose influence men may readily keep aloof, but once having entered it, there is little hope of return or escape. This consideration ought to induce us to resist every species of game or rivalship, wherein our own gain or the losses of another are put to the issue of chance. Let parents rigorously prohibit every youthful sport, which tends, however remotely, to encourage the sad propensity we are lamenting; and let every rational man lay it down as an invariable rule, never to offer or accept a bet on any account. There are games enough, and of the best description too, which require no other stimulant than that amour propre which is inseparable from our nature; and which, under proper regulations, is the germ from which our most virtuous actions emanate. TO THE FREEMEN OF LIVERPOOL. WRITTEN IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE EXCLUSION OF THE REPORTERS FROM THEIR MEETING. Oh, Gentlemen, 'twas somewhat rude, Thus the reporters to exclude; They only meant to take some notes, But you forbade it by your votes, And swore that they should not take any, Though you had pocketed so many, DOGGEREL EPISTLE TO A FRIEND ABROAD. Accompanied with the London Newspapers announcing the Appointment of Mr. Canning to the Premiership, and the Resignation of Lord Eldon and his Party. [WRITTEN IN APRIL 1827.] The newspapers I herewith send For time and tide will wait for none. Our Cabinet, for some time past, Oh that the classic sconce of Canning, Some hideous being will arise- No better than the former set. Worms, though we head and body sever, Will re-unite as close as ever; The polypus will lose its head, And get a new one in its stead; But though the parts combine together, The reptiles are as foul as ever. E'en so, when Canning's "master mind," The parts of his administration, THE ELYSIUM OF ANIMALS. A DREAM.-NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. (Continued from page 300.) "Is it not surprising, living, as we say, in the nineteenth century, when the progress of civilization, and the diffusion of rational knowledge, has become so general, that any person can be found with temerity sufficient to offer even an apology for this infamous and degrading sport :-is it not surprising, we say, that there should exist, crawling upon the earth, beings who bear the external impression of human nature, but are so defective in its noblest attributes, as to sanction, support, and participate in this most disgraceful amusement. A low tone of morals can be referred to no cause more reasonably than to a continuance of an inhuman custom, the tendency of which is to deteriorate the character of a community;-to nip the opening blossoms of virtuous youth; to loosen the ties of humanity, and weaken the sinews of public morals. Such a custom might comport with the barbarism and darkness of past ages; might suit the genius of an uncivilized race; but surely it must be regarded as an indelible stain upon the history of an enlightened and professedly Christian people."-Tract upon the Stamford Annual Bull Running. As soon as the horse had concluded his narrative, he retired into the general group, and, on a signal from the elephant, a stately bull, advancing a little forwards, thus addressed the assembly : "My narrative will be much more brief than that of our friend who has just finished the recital of the wrongs and sufferings he endured on earth under the common tyrant of the creation. In the days of my purgatory, I was occasionally subjected to greater torments than those which our friend, the horse, has so forcibly described; but my sufferings were not of such perpetual recurrence, as I enjoyed more intervals of repose or respite from pain than appear to have fallen to his lot. "In my youth I was gay and happy, having nothing to do but to enjoy myself in browsing and frisking about in luxuriant pasturage, associated with others of my kind, as ༡:: |