From “The London Mercury” of January 13, 1721-2.
There are, it seems, in the parish of Covent-garden, twenty-two such
houses, some of which clear sometimes 100_l._, and seldom less than
40_l._ a night. They have their proper officers, both civil and
military, with salaries proportionable to their respective degrees, and
the importance they are of in the service, viz.
_A commissioner_, or commis, who is always a proprietor of the
gaming-house: he looks in once a night, and the week’s account is
audited by him and two others of the proprietors.
_A director_, who superintends the room.
_The operator_, the dealer at faro.
_Croupees_ two, who watch the card, and gather the money for the bank.
_A puff_, one who has money given him to play, in order to decoy others.
_A clerk_, who is a check upon the puff, to see that he sinks none of
that money.--A _squib_ is a puff of a lower rank, and has half the
salary of a puff.
_A flasher_, one who sits by to swear how often he has seen the bank
stript.
_A dunner_, waiters.
_An attorney_, or solicitor.
_A captain_, one who is to fight any man that is peevish or out of
humour at the loss of his money.
_An usher_, who takes care that the porter, or grenadier at the door,
suffers none to come in but those he knows.
_A porter_, who, at most of the gaming-houses, is a soldier hired for
that purpose.
_A runner_, to get intelligence of all the meetings of the justices of
the peace, and when the constables go upon the search.
Any link-boy, coachman, chairman, drawer, or other person, who gives
notice of the constables being upon the search, has half a guinea.
* * * * *
~Omniana.~