As for those who have already fome Notion of the Game, this easy Method will foon make them Mafters of it. They who play it well, will find the Rules here laid down so exact, and with fo much Justice, as readily to decide thofe frequent Difputes which happen about the Laws of the Game. But as the Terms made use of in this Game, may feem very harsh and uncouth to those who are not acquainted with it, we have taken Care to explain them by their proper Significations, and fhewn of what Ufe and Force they are in the Play. Secondly, The Games of PICQUET and LOTTERY, are described as they are now played in the best Companies. The LOTTERY is a Game but lately invented, tho' already in high Efteem among Gentlemen and Ladies of the politeft Fashion, not only for the Variety of Diverfion it affords, but likewife because it gives a Liberty unlimited for any Number of Perfons to play at it. Thirdly, Thirdly, The Royal Game at CH ÉSS (which fome maintain to be as old as Troy, and that it was invented by the Grecian Captains, to divert their tedious Evenings at the Siege of that famous City) requires Art and Stratagem, and relieves the Mind, when wearied with the Fatigue of Business. The Improvements we have made in the Games of OMBRE, QUADRILLE, PICQUET, and WHIST, are fo large and useful, and the Rules and Directions we have added fo nice and exact, that, we prefume, we have fufficiently pointed out the Rocks and Shelves, on which the Unfkilful and Unwary have often fuffered Shipwreck, which, with a proper Attention, they may not only avoid, but gain great Advantage to themselves. John de Vigney, in his Book, called The Moralization of Chefs, fays, that the Game of Chefs was invented by Xerxes the Philofopher, to improve and correct the Mind of that famous Tyrant Merodach, King of Babylon, 614 Years before the Birth of Chrift. In the Practice of this Game, a Perfon meets with a great many odd Events, which give the fame fort of agreeable Surprize, that we are moved with at the happy Incidents in a Comedy: By the concife Account we have given of it, any Person, that once fees the Men placed upon the Board, may learn to play; but to be excellent in it, requires a fuitable Genius, and good Observation. The Second and Third Parts of this Treatife, were originally written by Charles Cotton, Efq; fome Years fince, but are now rectified according to the prefent Standard of Play. RICHARD SEYMOUR. THE |