Almacks, a suite of assembly rooms situated at No. 26 King street, St. James's, London, so called after Almack, a tavern-keeper, whose original name was M'Call, and who founded the establishment in 1765. They are now called Willis's rooms after Frederick and Charles Willis. Here take place concerts, charity balls, and select public meetings. The annual balls, however, which are held during the season, constitute the chief claim to the prominence of Almack's. They are managed by a committee of ladies, and the only mode of admission is by vouchers or personal introduction. The exclu-siveness of the lady patronesses, great as it is now, was incomparably greater at the time of the opening of the rooms. Down to about 1830 Almack's retained a great deal of its ancient prestige, but since that time it has been gradually declining. - The name of Almack's has been given to similar places of entertainment in European watering places. A gambling club of the same name, opened under the auspices of the same proprietor in Thatched House tavern, 85 St. James's street, was rather notorious toward the end of the 18th century, the play there having been deeper than either at White's or Brookes's. Before Brookes's club house was built, the whig party used to meet at Almack's, where a regular book was kept of the wagers laid by the different members.

The following are specimens: "March 11,1775. Lord Boling-broke gives a guinea to Mr. Charles Fox, and is to receive 1,000 from him whenever the debt of this country amounts to £171,000,000 sterling. Mr. Fox is not to pay the £1,000 till he is one of his majesty's cabinet." "Aug. 7, 1792. Mr. Sheridan bets Lord Lauderdale and Lord Thanet 25 guineas each, that parliament will not consent to any more lotteries after the present one, to be drawn in February next."