Brookes's Subscription House

“This print is a very good representation of the great room at Brookes's Subscription-House, in St. James's-street. The house was built by the late Mr. Brookes, about the year 1777, for the express purpose of accommodating the political club which had been formed some years before that period, under the tutelar auspices of the late Mr. Charles Fox, at Almack's.

The room is 37 feet long, 22 wide, and 25 high. The architect was Mr. Henry Holland. This club is known by the title of Brookes's, and is honoured by the names of the Prince of Wales, the Dukes of York and Clarence, and the principal nobility and gentry, who have usually appeared in the ranks of opposition with the late Mr. Fox.

The number of its members is limited to four hundred and fifty; the candidate for admission must be nominated by a member, and his name exposed in a list for that purpose at least one week before the ballot, which can only take place during the meeting of Parliament, and when at least twelve members are present. A single black ball is sufficient to exclude. The Royal Family do not undergo this ceremony for admission, and they are not competent to exercise the invidious power of voting at the election of other members.

The business of the club is managed by a committee of six gentlemen, who are chosen annually. All new rules proposed are balloted for. The members of the club are permitted by courtesy to belong to the clubs at Bath, and also to Miles's, and other respectable clubs, without being balloted for. The subscription is 11 guineas per annum. The game of hazard is seldom or ever played, and there is no billiard-table.

....This club has continued at Brookes's for upwards of thirty years, and is more properly an association of noblemen and gentlemen, connected by politics, than gaming: it is not to be denied, that a few years since this destructive propensity was carried beyond all the purposes of amusement or pleasure, and that some of our great popular characters have been accused of indulging a most inordinate passion for it; but the taste for play seems, in considerable degree, to have abated, although some men, of sanguine tempers and ardent dispositions, still continue partial to this amusement.

During the time this club met at Almack's, a regular book was kept of the wagers laid by the different members, as well as of the sums won or lost at play, which were carried to the accounts of the respective parties with all the forms of mercantile precision. We are old enough to remember the circumstances which gave rise to some of these wagers; which, as they shew the opinions entertained by persons who shone so conspicuously in politics, upon the particular subjects to which they allude, may be considered at least as interesting as some of the Ana with which the public have been entertained: we shall therefore insert a few.

‘March 11, 1774, Almack's. Lord Clermont has given Mr. Crawford ten guineas upon the condition of receiving 500l. from him whenever Mr. Charles Fox shall be worth 100,000l. clear of debts.’

‘Lord Northington bets Mr. C. Fox, June 4, 1774, that he (Mr. C. F.) is not called to the bar before this day four years.’

‘March 11, 1775. Lord Bolingbroke gives a guinea to Mr. Charles Fox, and is to receive a thousand from him whenever the debt of this country amounts to 171 millions. Mr. Fox is not to pay the 1000l. till he is one of his Majesty's cabinet.’

‘April 7, 1792. Mr. Sheridan bets Lord Lauderdale and Lord Thanet, twenty-five guineas each, that Parliament will not consent to any more lotteries after the present one voted to be drawn in February next.’”