THE DOCTRINE OF CHANCES, OR THE THEORY OF GAMING, MADE EASY TO EVERY PERSON ACQUAINTED WITH COMMON ARITHMETIC, SO AS TO ENABLE THEM TO CALCULATE THE PROBABILITIES OF EVENTS IN LOTTERIES, CARDS, HORSE RACING, DICE, &C. WITH TABLES ON CHANCE, NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED, FROM WHICH MERE INSPECTION WILL SOLVE A GREAT VARIETY OF QUESTIONS

London: Printed by Gye & Balne, Gracechurch Street, for the Author, Published by Lackington, Allen & Co, [1814]. FIRST EDITION. 222 x 137 mm. (8 3/4 x 5 1/4"). lvi, [57]-350, [1] leaf (errata).
Excellent retrospective half calf over marbled boards, raised bands, spine panels with leafy gilt centerpiece, red morocco label. Engraved title page with vignette of gentlemen playing cards, throwing dice, and watching a horse race. With two folding tables (one divided into two charts) mounted on tabs at rear of volume. Title page faintly foxed, leaves a little yellowed with age, but A FINE COPY, clean and fresh internally, the folding plates without tears, and the sympathetic binding unworn.

This is an extremely pleasing copy of a work that introduces the principles of probability to a general audience, including fundamental concepts, real-world decision-making, and, in particular, applications in gambling, with chapters devoted to cards, dice, lotteries, and horse-racing. To teach these concepts, the author presents a series of 90 gambling problems and their solutions, demonstrating how one can calculate the odds of winning instead of relying on mere luck. Rouse also takes a cautionary stance in his introduction, noting that "a knowledge of calculations is likely to prevent, or, at least, to lessen, the final fatal consequences of gaming, which arise more from the inequality of chances or skill in the players, than from any thing intrinsic in any species of play." Although the present work is influenced by earlier treatises, such as Abraham de Moivre's "Doctrine of Chances" (1718), Rouse's work is more accessible and practical, aimed at readers with an interest in probability without requiring advanced mathematical knowledge..