JOHN ELLIS."

T1he Society for the Reformation of Manners published a Statement of their proceedings almost immediately after, by which it appears, they had prosecuted from December 1, 1724, to December 1, 1725, 2506 persons for keeping lewd and disorderly houses, swearing, drunkenness, gaming, and proceeding in their usual occupations on Sundays. The total amount of their prosecutions for 34 years amounted to the amazing number of 91,899[141:A].

2A grand masqued ball, given at the Opera-house in February 1726, commenced at 12 o'clock on Monday night the 13th; deep play at Hazard succeeded, when one of the company threw for 50_l._ and lost; and still holding the box without paying, threw a second time for 150_l._ with no better success; the winners then insisted upon a deposit of the money, which was complied with in four supposed roleaus, of 50 guineas each; but, some suspicions arising, they were opened and found to be rolls or parcels of halfpence; the sharper was immediately seized and committed to the custody of an officer of the guard, whom he soon terrified into a release, by declaring he was a lawyer thoroughly acquainted with the acts concerning unlawful games at Hazard, and, at the same time, advising him not to incur the penalties usually inflicted on those who committed trespasses on the liberty of the subject by false imprisonment. When carried to a Magistrate, he obliged that respectable guardian of the public peace to acknowledge that he could do nothing with him, and he was discharged accordingly.

3The King directed the following note

4"To the Right Honourable the Lord De la Warr, Chairman of the Session for the City and Liberty of Westminster; or, in his Lordship's absence, to the Deputy Chairman.

5_Windsor Castle, Oct. 8, 1728._