Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-08-20
ICoNNuSIcArEp.
MR.. ROBERT X. COLLIER

MR.. ROBERT X. COLLIER
Your communications published in this paper, taken in
connection with the disclosures you have heretofore made
have naturally attracted attention. and ancpa-
ted that the ample opportunities you represent your
self as having possessed OF learning the frauds prac.
tsed in various games OF chance would have given the
world some specific description Of the Of the Gambler,
which would enable those Inclined such pursuits To
guard against the inevitable consequence. attending them
You will pardon in affirming that the disclosures
made by you, only add the general convictions Of the
evils Of gaming without furnishing direct proof the
manner in which advantages may he taken OF unwary
You seem more intent upon your personal Jusca.
ton, than instgacd by hatred Of vice, the wish
deem the you'll, Of your country from its influences and
you leave the Gambler desncc; that you have
professcd such hostility 10 his pursuits and have
duccd proof OF your charges that you have sought alone
TO Justify yourself by incorporating him. Such. sir
the inference with those who neither know yourself nor
the motives by which you have been acua,ed Something
is due from you prove sincerity, by sustain
ing your charges Systematic fraud with undo evil
dence least deprive the fraternity against whom these
charges have been published, Of the triumphant defence
which denial has given them.
You will bc offended the language of this com
munication-iur If actuaied by the you have nssu
med, then you will be willing supply defect obvious
in your publications. II you have such MOVIES then il
will be Of matter OF indifference whether you
take offence not.
You have placed yourself in position interesting To the
moralist You have boldly denounced the arts Of the
Gambler. You have experienced the miseres o.
his victim Who 81 fit as Yourself. To lead the ASSAULT
against a vice which has inflicted injury upon virg
nin than those who indulge in will admit or those who
L. , ..,, .,,..;,.
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i"u '"e !" '' county, " u'''''se All you KNOW To
every effort from others the shacklcs which
have bound YOURSELF and for the evil which your
example may have oecasoned-not alone by describing
,h. r,,n,,, m which ,dvpptoc-s may h. ,,c,,.d ,
on L ,,;;. ,,n.s IC ,h. ,,,. ~ ,,o -
'3 ~ guns ~ N ~ ~ VI w" "''hcSe' eh'"se
win inc eSgohey' "his' names would be an ePhemoTai
protecuon but II urged upon you 10 perSovere until you
give some tangible evidences Of sincery which will rs
sure Won public confidence and thus ipvokc tho
MD of ,oc,.,v IN Iovi.. s,,,, ,,,,,..,, ., ,, II
~ " ~ F" "S''"'' ''o e'i
you nave uePrecaeu 10 su.sest I" you measure which
~ to sone extent elect the last object is the purpose Of
this communication.
An observation OF national character woud show that,
however great may he climatic Influence in prnmn,i tho
vice of gaming IL is inyarahry f,und mar, t tcvaiI
amongst an indolsnt and UNEMPLOYED popuation than
amongst those who have regular pursuits, and
it will appear always have prevailed greater extent
in communities where the resourc.s of the n,nua,on do
not with the scale OF indulgence which fashion
has the vice of gaming has its foundation IN IN.
desire Of It's yotnries may ege love of
ment or habit rs Its cnusc but YOU SIR will sustain the nj
frmaon the Of gain is the motive which ac,a,es
every confirmed gambler he may have amusement
at FIRST have loved It's adventurous of
eriy or property but the habit confirmed il one whoa.
sole object turning advantage tho superior skill or
ingenuity which the gambler fancie himself TO possess
This vice must therefore be peculiarly prevalent in Viz
pina where so large n proportion of the Young men have
been born all tho pIopenstes OF fashionable society
and yet from the Character of slave
have been denied the mea rs of gratifying their ncnaons
where mechanical agricultural and commercial pursuits
have been degraded and society whilst she demanded
life OF luxurious indulgence has storny prescribed those
avocaons by which the Of sustaining the necessary
expenditure can alone be realized Can we be then sur
prised that youth impeled by inclination social enjoy.
l..
~ TO supply the means should resort TO the fashionable
vice OF gaming, obtain that which fortune has denied
and fashion has pronounced indispensable that this vice
lie prevalent formerly, is principally owing
TO the fact the pursuits of industry arc becoming homo
rabo and thus aJdng more field for tho energies of our
youth but ITS admitted prevalence calls the for
combined effort for its removal
Your own disclosures and those of Mr. Green have
awakened the community TO the fact thu gaming /. pur,ued
throughout the county profession in which men en-
dowed with native talent have qualified themselves TO de-
and doiraud the until those who rely
upon the uncertainties Of fortune or Of honorable
SKILL in games OF chance. but helpless their
hands and II Is curious upon perusB of these exposons
10 observe the tendency among the American people To
introduce every conceivable Improvement upon even the
vices and iolles OF other nations Games introduced on
Rinay amongst the most elevated society OF Europe have
been simped, stripped Of the terms, which would have
rendered them difficult OF acquisition, and now familiar at
field and board OF flat boat Faro the
delight Of the nobility IN the days of Wapole has now
descended professional gamblers and is prescribe IN
almost every code tho silver box invented according to
tradition TO prevent manual tricks has been introduced,
and the game exhibited, though ostensbly fair Is
repetc with all the advantages which inquy conceive
and practise. Whilst apparently the iairest game
At cards has been subjected the system improve
meni aud tho deXtery OF the gameser Is far han
match for tho sugnciy and tact Of the honest pSyer 9th
games, Loo Bfnr, &c, introduced from Europe
hsVc been 50 lar perfected to be too "soDg" for
amusement and observation has shown that game
howsOover fair IL may osonsbly appear may not be rem
dered the certain o dofraudng who indulge IN
IT. indeed, II would seem, that the practice Of gaming
would subsidc from the Tapaous rascay professors
were It not iha new inventions continually succeed those
which have been exposed aud exploded.
To close this letter which has Ipandod into an
Of restricting Of supptcssug Thu vire col.