make just fifteen, he. as being eldest hand, is sure of winning the game. But if he overdraw himself, and make more than fifteen, he loses, unless the dealer should happen to do the same; which circumstance constitutes a drawn game, and the stakes are consequently doubled. In this manner they persevere, until one of them has won the game, by standing, and being nearest to fifteen.

4. At the end of each game, the cards are packed and shuffled, and the players again cut for deal.

5. The advantage is invariably on the side of the elder

hand.

CONNEXIONS.

THIS game may be played by either three or four people; if the former number, ten cards each are to be given; but if the latter, then only eight a-piece, which are dealt and bear the same import as at whist, except that diamonds are always trumps here.

The connexions are formed as follows,

1. By the two black aces.

2. The ace of spades and king of hearts. 3. The ace of clubs and king of hearts.

For the first connexion 28. are drawn from the pool; for the second 18.; and for the third, and by the winner of the majority in tricks, 6d. each is taken. These sums are supposing guineas staked, but when only silver is pooled, then pence are drawn.

A trump played in any round where there is a connexion wins the trick, otherwise it is gained by the player of the first card of connexion, and after a connexion any following player may trump without incurring a revoke, and also whatsoever suit may be led, the person holding a card of connexion is at liberty to play the same, but the others must, if possible, follow suit, unless one of them can answer the connexion, which should be done in preference.

No money can be drawn till the hands are finished, then the possessors of the connexions are to take first, according to precedence, and those having the majority of tricks take last.

LOTO.

For this which may game, be played by an unlimited number of persons, boxes containing 100 counters; 14 fishes, every one reckoned as ten counters; 12 contracts, valued at ten fish a-piece; a pack of 24 very large cards, with fifteen different numbers marked on each, and in a bag 90 knobs or balls, numbered from 1 to 90; besides a board with ten cavities cut therein, for the purpose of placing the knobs as drawn; are sold at the Tunbridge ware or turners' shops. Fresh covers for the cards may be purchased, ready printed, and any bookbinder can easily make a new or repair the old pack.

RULES.

1. Every player should draw two cards, and deposit a stake previously agreed upon; and if the party is not too numerous, then any may take four or six cards, laying down a double or treble stake accordingly; and when the players are more than twelve, then some are only to have one card, paying half a stake, and likewise should the players not take all the cards among them, the remainder of the pack is to be laid aside until some other persons join the set From the

cards not taken, players may exchange one or more of those drawn, or they may change with one another; similar exchanges, if the company consent, may also be made previous to each drawing, and likewise prior to replenishing the pool. Cards may be thrown up, or additional ones drawn from those put by; stakes being paid proportionably.

2. The stakes are to be put together in a pool, placed on the middle of the table, and also on the table a quantity of counters sufficient for the number of cards taken; upon the counters a value is to be fixed adequate to the stakes first deposited, from the whole of which a sum must be reserved, enough to pay, at the conclusion of the game, all the counters laid upon the table.

3. Then after counting the 90 knobs so as to be certain they are right, the eldest hand shall first shake them well together in the bag, and afterwards draw out ten successively,

not only declaring the number of each as drawn, but also placing the same conspicuously on the board.

4. As soon as the number is declared, each player having the same on one or more cards, is to take up counters suffi cient to lay one upon that number every time it occurs, and so on until the ten knobs are drawn.

5. When only part of the pack is taken, and a number drawn happens not to be upon any player's card, then the players may put away that knob till some person takes the card on which it is printed.

6. When ten knobs are drawn out, every player examining the cards separately, and having only one counter upon any horizontal line, wins for that no more than the said counter, which is styled gaining by abstract; where two counters are on the same horizontal line of a separate card, the player gains an ambo, and becomes entitled to five counters, besides the two; when three are upon the same line, the player obtains a terne, and is to receive 25 additional counters; if four are on the same line, that is called a quaterne, winning 100 counters additional; when five occur on the same line, that makes a quinterne, gaining 250 additional counters, and the player is entitled to payment out of the pool for all the above-mentioned acquisitions previous to another drawing. Instead of giving counters, payment for the same may at once be made from the stock in the pool.

7. The knobs are then to be returned, and the bag given to the next player in rotation, who is to shake the same, and draw, &c. as before stated.

8. Whenever the pool is exhausted, the players must contribute again, according to the number of cards taken; and when it is resolved to finish the game, they agree among themselves to have only a fixed number of drawings more.

9. At the last drawing each player proceeds as heretofore directed, but the drawing concludes when no more counters are left on the table. The players then beginning with the eldest-hand, are to be paid out of the pool, as far as the money will go; and when that is expended, the others remain unpaid, which is styled a Bankruptcy; next the players are to re-unite the counters with those that were on their cards, and receive payment for them out of the fund reserved at the commercement of the game.

10. There are also cards of a new combination, which may be played by 6-12-18=or 24, observing that when six cards only are taken, but one counter is given; if 12, two; if 18, three; and when 24, four counters; and also when but six cards are taken, they must be either from 1 to 6-7 to 12-13 to 18-or 19 to 24; if 12 cards, from 1 to 12-or 13 to 24 for 18 cards, from 1 to 18; and when 24, the whole number.

11. The counters may refer for the payment to the amourt of the stakes deposited in the stock.

There are other methods of playing at Loto, but the beforementioned is the most approved.

POPE, OR POPE JOAN.

POPE, a game somewhat similar to that of Matrimony, is played by a number of people, who generally use a board painted for this purpose, which may be purchased at most turners' or toy shops.

The eight of diamonds must first be taken from the pack, and after settling the deal, shuffling, &c. the dealer dresses the board by putting fish, counters, or other stakes, one each to ace, king, queen, knave, and game; two to matrimony, two to intrigue, and six to the nine of diamonds, styled Pope. ⚫ This dressing is in some companies at the individual expense of the dealer, though in others the players contribute two stakes apiece towards the same.

The cards are next to be dealt round equally to every player, one turned up for trump, and about six or eight left in the stock to form stops; as for example, if the ten of spades is turned up, the nine consequently becomes a stop; the four kings and the seven of diamonds are always fixed stops. and the dealer is the only person permitted in the course of the game to refer occasionally to the stock for information what other cards are stops in that respective deal.

If either ace, king, queen, or knave, happens to be the turned-up trump, the dealer takes whatever is deposited on that head; but when Pope is turned up, the dealer is entitled both to that and the game, besides a stake for every card dealt to each player. Unless the game is determined by Pope being turned up, the eldest hand begins by playing out as many cards as possible; first the stops, then Pope if he has it, and afterwards the lowest card of his longest suit, particularly an ace, for that never can be led through; the other players are to follow when they can, in sequence of the same suit, till a stop occurs, and the party having the said stop, thereby becomes eldest-hand, and is to lead accordingly, and so on, until some person parts with all his cards, by which he wins the pool (game), and becomes entitled besides to a stake for every card not played by the others, except from any one holding Pope, which excuses him from paying; but if Pope has been played, then the party having held it is not excused, having already received the stakes for that card.

King and queen form what is denominated matrimony, queen and knave make intrigue, when in the same hand; but neither they, nor ace, king, queen, knave, or pope, entitle the holder to the stakes deposited thereon, unless played out, and no claim can be allowed after the board is dressed for the succeeding deal; but in all such cases the stakes are to remain for future determination.

This game only requires a little attention to recollect what stops have been made in the course of the same; as for instance, if a player begins by laying down the eight of clubs, then the seven in another hand forms a stop, whenever that suit is led from any lower card, or the holder when eldest may safely lay it down in order to clear his hand.

VINGT-UN.

VINGT-UN, or twenty-one, is very similar to Quinze, and may be played by two or more people. It is essentially a family game, and when played as such, the stakes are usually represented by counters, which may be of any value; say, sixper.ce the dozen, or more. It is common to limit the