582 THE HOUSE. 



morals ; and if these popular sports are to be preserved at 

 all, it is the imperative duty, too long neglected, of the legis- 

 lative powers to provide for their fitting control. Can any- 

 thing be more monstrous than that, when harsh laws are 

 levelled against humble sports, a system of gambling, une- 

 qualled for foul dealing in any country in the world, is suf- 

 fered to take root in the heart of society, without a single 

 check to its utmost abuse ? Can the continued contact of 

 such contamination be without its effects on the moral feel- 

 ings of the people ? Can the youth of the country come 

 safely within the poisoned atmosphere of the betting-room, 

 and learn that men may, without reproach, rise to affluence 

 by the basest arts ? Can the gentlemen of England main- 

 tain the honour of their rank while mixing in the pursuits of 

 felons, and sharing a dishonest spoil ? Few lessons, let us 

 be assured, are more dangerous to the people than that of 

 successful fraud : And woe it is to a country, when men are 

 taught to look lightly on offences which touch the principles 

 of honest dealing. Excessive public gambling, under any 

 circumstances, is perhaps to be regretted ; but when it is 

 fraudulent at the same time, it calls for all the punishment 

 which laws tempered with mercy can inflict on thieves and 

 swindlers. It may be said that it would be difficult to reach 

 this class of offences ; and so it is to reach the crimes of 

 forgery and other secret acts against society ; but ought the 

 laws therefore to sleep, and allow the plunderer to carry off 

 the spoil in safety ? It cannot be doubted that a system of 

 law vigilantly executed, applicable to the concerns of the 

 turf, would quickly abate the existing evils, and restore this 

 popular sport to at least its former character. This is not 

 the place to enter on so wide and delicate a subject. A par- 

 liamentary inquiry would seem to be the most suitable course, 

 the effect of which would be to expose the full degree of the 

 evil, and suggest the fitting remedies. All men who abhor 

 fraud and value public decency should support such an in- 



