HARVARD COLLEGE 1930 LIBRARY Gratis B Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by HENRY F. ANNERS, in the clerk's office of the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. (2) ADVERTISEMENT. THE very high reputation which Hoyle's Games have deservedly maintained for nearly a century, has led to innumerable Editions of his Treatises-all, as the phrase is, "revised," "corrected," "much improved," and "considerably enlarged." But it seems to have escaped the observation of his numerous Editors, that Hoyle wrote for those who were previously in some measure acquainted with the mode of playing the various games of which he treats, and that his Work was intended rather to enlighten the already instructed, than to instruct the wholly uninitiated. In this Edition, an attempt has been made-successfully, it is confidently hoped-to incorporate the "Reading made Easy" with the "Grammar" and "Philosophy" of Cards-in other words,to give such a plain and perspicuous description of each game, from the cutting for deal to scoring the last point, as will enable the person who never saw a pack of cards, by perusing the three or four prefatory pages, and the treatise on the game he wishes to acquire a knowledge of, to understand its principles, and, with a little practice, to play it well. A number of new Games, never before published, have been inserted in the present Edition, among which may be mentioned the fashionable game of Ecarte, freely translated from the French treatise, with "Catch the Ten," or Scotch Whist, and the Irish game of "Five and Ten;" besides several new Round Games, and varieties of some of the old ones. Edin. 1st April, 1838. E. T. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE AMERICAN EDITION. FOR many years the want of a uniform standard of reference was much felt and regretted by the fashionable world, and innumerable were the evils resulting therefrom. The appearance of this work was therefore hailed with rapture, as being likely to supply the wished for desideratum from the confidence inspired by the acknowledged talents of the Editor, and his intimate acquaintance with the subject on which he treats. The public expectations which were greatly excited, were not disappointed, and the lucid arrangements and perspicuous method adopted by the Editor, raised it at once to popularity and caused it to become the text book of all the most fashionable clubs, in regard to the most correct method of playing the different games, and as a reference for the adjusting of all disputed points. Its authority is now become unquestionable. The high reputation which the present work has attained throughout the Empire of Great Britain, has induced the publisher to issue this edition carefully arranged and specially adapted to the United States. It contains Thirteen games entirely new in this country, and not to be found in any other edition, which considerably enhances its value, and to the amateurs of the delightful pastime of which it treats, must render it a most invaluable acquisition The publisher confidently trusts that the intrinsic merit of the work, added to the neatness and portability of this edition, will cause it to become as popular in the United States, as it most deservedly is, where originally published. |