Playing For High Stakes

Here is a little picture of pastimes at the court of George II. and his queen. It is in a letter froni Lady Bristol to her husband. under date of Jaa. 7, 1729: ■"The miserable setting out which I had both in body and mind still continúes its wretched course; my three days' journey was supporced by as many doses of laudanum, the strength of which enabled me to go into court yesterday morning, where I was most graoiouflj" received and you were most kindly inquired after. I introduced .ady Ilervey to the Prince of Wales, ie most agreeable young man that it s possible to imagine, without being he least handsome, his person little ut very well made and genteel, a Hveness in his eyes that is indescribable, nd the most. obliging address that can )e conceived; but the crown of all his erfections is that just duty and regard ie pays to the king and queen, with uch a mixture of affection, as if obligng them with the greatest pleasures of is life, and they receive it with the tmost Joy and satisfaction, and the ather's fondness seems to equal the enderness of the mothar, so that I jelieve the world never produced a royal family so happy in one another; pray God long continue it. I thought to have told you of this and a great deal more by the coach, and set out this morning at 4 o'clock, therefore excused myself from all hazard at night to have the evening for that purpose; but as I sat in my chair I received a letter with a request from the Princess Amelia to come and receive L50 of her money for a share with me at all hazard, and that I must play; I thought it would not be civil to refuse her, besides, the inolination one can't but have to do whatever she desires; therefore, I sent to my old aily, Lord Godolphin, and the Duke of Grafton, who both offered their purses. We four lost L30 apiece, the king lost all of his, the queen part of hers, the prince lost L200, after having won doublé that sum, but the winning and losing was with an equal good air, throwing at all; the Princess Royal won L464, the Duehess of Marlborough had lost L500 and rose a winner of L390, all of which, she got of the Duke of Grafton, who lost L800; the other three men I can't teil no particulars of; they were the Duke of Norfolk, Lord William Manners and Lord Ashburnham; but I must return to the Duehess of Marlborough, whose spirits were beyond anything I ever saw for the vhole time, tho' she was forced to be carried to the table in a chair, and fixed there, before the king and queen carne; after this had company to sup. and sat up till between 3 and 4 this morning."