The Poker Club

The Poker Club

The Poker Club was one of several clubs at the heart of the Scottish Enlightenment where many associated with that movement met and exchanged views in a convivial atmosphere. The Poker Club was created out of the ashes of The Select Society.

The Poker was the name given to the Militia Club at its third or fourth meeting. The Militia was formed in Edinburgh to promote the cause of establishing a militia in Scotland. It was thought[who?] that the formation of a democratic national force was essential to grace the dignity of the nation and the aim was to make up for the omission of that provision in the Militia Act of 1757 which applied only to England and the vetoing of the Scottish Militia Bill 1708. The aim of the club provoked some unwelcome opposition and, at the suggestion of Adam Smith the name was changed so as to be enigmatic to the general public.[citation needed] Much as a fireplace poker stirs a fire to flame up, The Poker was to "stir up" the militia question.

The club was said by Dr Carlyle to consist of all the literati of Edinburgh and its surroundings.[citation needed] The establishment was frugal and moderate, "as that for all clubs for a public purpose should be. The dinner was set soon after two o'clock, at one shilling a head, the wine to be confined to sherry and claret, and the reckoning to be called at six o’clock".

The first fifteen members were chosen by nomination, the rest by ballot, "two black balls to exclude the candidate". A new "preses" (chairman) was chosen at each meeting. There were three office bearers: the Secretary, Sir William Pulteney, the Assassin, Andrew Crosbie and the Assassin’s Assessor, David Hume "without whose assent nothing could be done, so that between "plus" and "minus" there was likely to be no bloodshed".[citation needed]

The minute book of 1776 names forty three members,[citation needed] including Joseph Black, "Jupiter" Carlyle, Sir John Clerk of Eldin, Henry Dundas, Adam Ferguson, Lord Elibank, Sir John Dalrymple, John Hume, David Hume, William Robertson, John Robison, George Dempster, and Adam Smith.

David Hume found the company of The Poker a relief from his skeptical depression - "Most fortunately it happens that since reason is incapable of dispelling these clouds, nature herself suffices to that purpose ... I dine, I play a game of backgammon, I converse, and am merry with my friends; and when after three or four hours amusement, I return to these speculations, they appear so cold, and strain'd, and ridiculous, that I cannot find it in my heart to enter into them any farther."[citation needed]

See also

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • The Ivy Club — The Ivy Club, was founded in 1879 with Arthur Hawley Scribner as its first head.cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=A. H. Scribner Dead. Headed Book Firm. Son of Founder of Noted Publishing House Is Victim of Heart Attack in… …   Wikipedia

  • The Gaming Club World Poker Championship — was held at the Merrion Casino Club in Dublin, Ireland during 2004.The international field included 6 World Champions (Phil Hellmuth Jr, Noel Furlong, Chris Jesus Ferguson, Juan Carlos El Matador Mortensen, Chris Moneymaker and Greg Fossilman… …   Wikipedia

  • Gutshot Poker Club — The Gutshot Poker Club (also known as The Gutshot Poker Collective or simply The Gutshot) is a poker club, bar, restaurant and internet cafe located on Clerkenwell Road, London, England. The club opened in March 2004, and since claims almost… …   Wikipedia

  • Celebrity Poker Club — is a British television show featuring celebrities playing poker. The program debuted on Challenge TV in 2003 as a spin off to the popular Late Night Poker series. Liam Flood is the casino manager for the program, and Cayt Dear is the… …   Wikipedia

  • The Select Society — The Select Society, established as The St. Giles Society but soon renamed, was an intellectual society in 18th century Edinburgh, Scotland.Emerson, Roger L. The Social Composition of Enlightened Scotland: The Select Society of Edinburgh, 1754… …   Wikipedia

  • Club — This article is about the type of organization of formal or informal membership. For other uses, see Club (disambiguation). A club is an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal. A service club, for example, exists… …   Wikipedia

  • Club Regent Casino — is a casino located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is one of two casinos in the city (the other being the McPhillips Street Station Casino), both are owned and operated by the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation, and in turn, the Government of Manitoba [1] …   Wikipedia

  • The Young and the Restless minor characters — The following are characters from the American soap opera The Young and the Restless who are notable for their actions or relationships, but who do not warrant their own articles. Contents 1 Current Characters 1.1 Genevieve …   Wikipedia

  • The Real Housewives of New Jersey — Format Reality television Starring Current Teresa Giudice Caroline Manzo Jacqueline Laurita Melissa Gorga (season 3 present) Kathy Wakile (season 3 present) Recurring Kim Granatell (season 2 present) Kim DePaola (season 2 present) …   Wikipedia

  • The Dangerous Days of Daniel X —   …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”