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diff --git a/77478-0.txt b/77478-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c655b0 --- /dev/null +++ b/77478-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8346 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77478 *** + + + + +Transcriber’s Notes: + + Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ + in the original text. + Equal signs “=” before and after a word or phrase indicate =bold= + in the original text. + Carat symbol “^” designates a superscript. + Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. + Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs. + Deprecated spellings have been preserved. + Typographical and punctuation errors have been silently corrected. + + + + +In addition to the numerous illustrations scattered throughout the +text, there are twenty-eight separately inserted old Lottery Bills in +facsimile on papers of various tints. It will be noted that the dirty +red ink in some of them is exactly imitated. + +The “skeleton” bills were issued in 1816, and those of the “14 of June” +in 1821; most of the others are dated. + +They are placed as follows:-- + + Facing _title page_; facing _pages_ 1, 16, + 32, 48, 70, 96, 112, 128, 138, 144 (_two_), + 146 (_two_), 160, 170, 176, 192 (_two_), + 196, 208, 220, 224 (_two_), 240, 280 + (_two_), 324. + +[Illustration] + + + + + A HISTORY OF + ENGLISH LOTTERIES + + _NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME WRITTEN_. + + BY + JOHN ASHTON. + + [Illustration] + + 1893. + + PUBLISHED BY + The Leadenhall Prefs, Ltd: + 50, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C. + Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Ltd: + New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 743 & 745, Broadway. + +[Illustration] + + THE LEADENHALL PRESS, LTD: LONDON, E. C. + (T. 4630) + +[Illustration] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +In the following pages I have endeavoured to trace the history of the +lottery in England, from the year 1569 to the present time; and it is +somewhat surprising that such has not been previously attempted. It +is possible that a paucity of material may have had something to do +with it; but, in my case, I cannot complain of insufficient matter, +but almost of an _embarras des richesses_; for not only could I draw +on the stores of information contained in the library of the British +Museum, but I also had the privilege of having the very fine collection +of Mr. Andrew Tuer placed unreservedly at my disposal. Thus, I have +been enabled to pick and choose my examples of lottery handbills and +engravings, without having to utilize all the material that came +to hand. I am especially indebted to the Leadenhall Press for the +very great care they have taken in rendering the engravings as near +facsimiles of the originals as possible. + +I have tried, as far as in my power lay, to make this book one which +will be, I hope, not only agreeable and interesting to the general +reader, but one which, I also hope, will find its place in very many +libraries, as a book of reference, and an authority on the subject on +which I have written, as I have been very scrupulous as to verifying +dates, giving correct Acts of Parliament, etc. + + JOHN ASHTON. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. + PAGE + Antiquity of _the Lot_--Old lotteries--Derivation of + word--First lottery in England: its scheme 1 + + CHAPTER II. + Posies and mottoes--Forcing the subscriptions--Towns and + their mottoes--Lottery for armour in 1585--A Royal lottery + at Harefield in 1602 17 + + CHAPTER III. + + The Virginia lottery of 1612--Private lottery--Licence for + lottery to supply London with water--Two other schemes + --Lottery in behalf of fishing vessels--Irish Land + Lottery--One for redeeming English slaves--One for poor + maimed soldiers--Gambling lottery, concession for--“Royal + Oak” Lottery--Evils of lotteries--“Royal Fishing Company” + Lottery--Patentees 28 + + CHAPTER IV. + A book lottery--One for poor military officers--Lottery for + Prince Rupert’s jewels--A penny lottery--First State + lottery--Another in 1697--Private lotteries suppressed + --Statelottery in 1710--Curious history of a private + lottery--State lotteries in the reigns of Anne and + George I.--Private lotteries again suppressed--Raine’s + Charity--Marriage by lottery 44 + + CHAPTER V. + Penalties on private lotteries--State lottery not subscribed + for--Lapse in State lotteries--Private lotteries + --Westminster Bridge lottery--State lotteries--Discredit + thrown on them--British Museum lottery--Leheup’s fraud 59 + + CHAPTER VI. + Crowd at a lottery--Another State lottery, eighty-seven + blanks to a prize--A ticket sold twice over--Extravagant + prices paid for tickets--Praying for success--A lucky + innkeeper--Lottery for Cox’s Museum--Adam’s Adelphi Lottery + --Blue-coat boys and the lottery--Future arrangements for + drawing 71 + + CHAPTER VII. + Counterfeiting lottery tickets--Curious lotteries--Suicide + --Method of starting a State lottery--Lottery + office-keepers to be licensed--Charles (or “Patch”) Price 86 + + CHAPTER VIII. + Lottery for the Leverian Museum--Prosecution of unlicensed + lottery office-keepers--Suicide--Robbery of employers--Sharp + practice over a prize--Cheating by lottery office-keepers + --Complaint of a prisoner 103 + + CHAPTER IX. + Winners of prizes--Attempt to put down the practice of + insuring--Steps taken to prevent it--Specimen handbill + --Bish, the lottery office-keeper--Lottery for the “Pigot” + diamond--Lottery-office agencies--Shortening the time of + drawing the lottery--Story of Baron d’Aguilar 118 + + CHAPTER X. + The Boydell Lottery--Bowyer’s “Historic” Lottery 133 + + CHAPTER XI. + Launching a lottery--“The City” Lottery for houses--Poetic + handbills thereon--Parliamentary Committee on the lottery + --Report and evidence 147 + + CHAPTER XII. + “The Lottery Alphabet”--“The Philosopher’s Stone”-- + “Fortune’s Ladder”--Enigmatical handbill--Lottery drawn + on St. Valentine’s Day--“Public Prizes”--and other + poetical handbills 162 + + CHAPTER XIII. + “Twenty Thousand; or, Tom Truelove’s Journal”--“London + and the Lottery”--“The Persian Ambassador”--“An Enigma” + --“Gently over the Stones” 180 + + CHAPTER XIV. + “Master and Man”--“Altogether”--Dr. Thornton’s “Royal + Botanical Lottery”--“Two Gold Finches”--“Dennis + Brulgruddery”--“Shakespeare’s Seven Ages” 189 + + CHAPTER XV. + A lucky Spaniard--Miss Mitford’s prize--The _Spectator_ + on lucky numbers--Other anecdotes on luck--“Gretna Green” + --“A Prize for Poor Jack” 204 + + CHAPTER XVI. + Beginning of the end of lotteries--Curious handbills 217 + + CHAPTER XVII. + Protests against lotteries--Epitaph on Vansittart--“Three + Royal Weddings”--More opposition to the lottery-- + “Twelfth Night Character” handbills--Ditto of tradesmen 221 + + CHAPTER XVIII. + “A Dialogue”--“The Race of Fortune”--“The Wish”--Enigmatical + handbill 245 + + CHAPTER XIX. + Tomkins’s picture lottery--The lottery abolished--Handbills 252 + + CHAPTER XX. + The last lottery--Attempts to get up excitement--The + procession--Alteration of date--Advertising car--“A + Ballad, 1826”--Drawing of the last lottery 265 + + CHAPTER XXI. + Handbills--Metrical list of lottery-office keepers--Bish’s + manifesto--“Epitaph in Memory of the State Lottery”-- + “Little Goes”--The _Times_ thereon--Their effect + on the public 279 + + CHAPTER XXII. + Description of lottery office-keepers--Insuring numbers + in the lottery--Servants bitten by the mania--_Morocco + men_--Many prosecutions--Cost to the country--Several + law cases--Story of Mr. Bartholomew 293 + + CHAPTER XXIII. + Suicides caused by the lottery--Story of a footman--Anecdote + told by Theodore Hook--Description of a lottery from its + commencement to its end 310 + + CHAPTER XXIV. + The lottery wheels--Anecdotes connected with the lottery-- + The Glasgow lotteries--Advertising foreign lotteries-- + “Art Union” Act--Dethier’s “Twelfth Cake Lottery”-- + Tontines--Raffling--Pious lotteries--Sweet-stuff lotteries + for children--Hamburg lotteries 325 + + CHAPTER XXV. + “The Missing Word Competition:” its rise and fall 339 + + + INDEX 353 + +[Illustration] + + + + +A HISTORY OF ENGLISH LOTTERIES. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +Antiquity of _the Lot_--Old lotteries--Derivation of word--First +lottery in England: its scheme. + + +[Illustration: + + “A lottery _is a Taxation_ + _Upon all the Fools in Creation;_ + _And Heaven be prais’d_ + _It is easily raised,_ + _Credulity’s always in Fashion:_ + _For Folly’s a_ FUND, + _Will never lose ground,_ + _While Fools are so rife in the Nation._”] + +So sang Henry Fielding in his play of “The Lottery,” which was first +acted at Drury Lane Theatre, January 1, 1732; and I think those who +have patience to read these pages will endorse his words. + +Gambling, in some shape, is inherent in man, and dice for the casting +of LOTS have been found belonging to the Egyptians and Assyrians, in +the tombs of prehistoric man, were used alike by the refined Greeks and +Romans, and by the barbarous Northmen. The Bible teems with notices +of the LOT. It was recommended by Solomon as a means of deciding +disputes. “The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between +the mighty” (Prov. xviii. 18). It was used as a means of dividing land. +“Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the +names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. According to +the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few” +(Numb. xxvi. 55, 56). Nay, one of the Apostles, Matthias, was chosen by +LOT (Acts i. 26). But if any one is curious to know how often the LOT +is mentioned in Holy Scripture, let him look at Cruden’s _Concordance_. + +In this short sketch we see the antiquity of the Lot; but the LOTTERY, +the form of gambling of which this book treats, is of comparatively +modern invention. The Romans had something of the kind, but it partook +more of our presents from Christmas-trees than the modern lottery. +First of all were the _Apophoreta_, gifts which were presented to the +guests at table, and which they carried home with them--a custom which +obtained during the Saturnalia (something like a Silver King presenting +his guests with a silver _menu_ card, or the presents given to guests +at City Companies’ dinners); and this was sometimes done in a whimsical +manner, as is on record that Heliogobalus, at a banquet, presented one +guest with a ticket for a gold vase, and another for six flies. Other +prizes, which were drawn haphazard, were ten bears, ten pounds of gold, +or ten ostriches; and, whilst one might draw a thousand pounds, another +would gain a prize of a dead dog. + +It is said that lotteries began in Italy in the sixteenth century, and +that its name is derived from the _Lotto_ of Florence; but I beg leave +to traverse both propositions. There is no doubt but that the Venetian +and Genoese merchants made use of the lottery as a vehicle whereby to +dispose of their stale goods, or to get rid of a valuable thing for +which they could not obtain a purchaser; but the earliest I can find +recorded was that of the widow of Jan van Eyck, which took place at +Bruges, on February 24, 1446, where the town archives record a payment +to her of two livres for her lottery.[1] + +[1] Crowe and Cavalcaselle, _Early Flemish Painters_ (London, 1857), p. +68; _Messager des Sciences et des Arts_ (London, 1884), p. 51; and M. +Gilliodt’s dissertation in _La Flandre_ (Bruges, 1867). + +As for the name. I think that there can hardly be two opinions about +it. Long before the Italian _Lotto_, was the Anglo-Saxon _Hleot-an_, +sortiri, to cast lots. In the Dutch the same meaning is expressed by +_Lot-en_, _Loot-en_; in Swedish, _Lotta_; whilst the Lot itself is in +Gothic, _Hlauts_; Anglo-Saxon, _Hlot_; German, _Los_; Dutch, _Lot_; +Swedish, _Lott_; French, _Lot_; and Italian, _Lotto_. So that there can +be very little doubt of its northern derivation, the Latin synonym, +_Sors_, being so totally different. + +There is no doubt but that the lottery was imported into England from +abroad; and the first of which we have any record was one in the reign +of Queen Elizabeth, projected in 1566, but not drawn till 1569. As +far as is known, there is but one authentic record of this lottery in +existence, which has been happily preserved in the muniment-room at +Loseley House, in Surrey. It is in black letter, interspersed with +ordinary text and italics, and the bill is five feet long by nineteen +inches wide; and the text is surrounded by a border of ornamental +type. At top, it has an illustration of the prizes in plate, tapestry, +and money--and it is twenty inches in depth. As it is such an unique +curiosity, I give the bill at length. + + “A verie rich Lotterie Generall, without any blancks, + contayning a number of good prices, as wel of redy + money as of plate, and certaine sorts of marchaundizes, + having ben valued and priced by the comaundement of + the Queene’s most excellent majestie, by men expert + and skilfull; and the same Lotterie is erected by her + majesties order, to the intent that such commoditie as + may chaunce to arise thereof, after the charges borne, + may be converted towardes the reparation of the havens + and strength of the Realme, and towardes such other + publique good workes. The number of lots shall be foure + hundreth thousand, and no more; and every lot shall be + the summe of tenne shillings sterling onely, and no + more. + + “THREE WELCOMES. + + “The first person to whome any lot shal happen, shall + have for his welcome, (bysides the advantage of his + adventure,) the value of fiftie poundes sterling, in a + piece of sylver plate gilte. + + “The second to whome any lot shall happen, shall have + in like case for his welcome, (bysydes his adventure) + the summe of thirtie poundes, in a piece of plate gilte. + + “The third to whome any price shall happen, shall have + for his welcome, besides his adventure, the value of + twentie pounds, in a piece of plate gilte. + + “THE PRICES. + + “Whoever shall winne the greatest and most excellent + price, shall receive the value of five thousande + poundes sterling, that is to say, three thousande + pounds in ready money, seven hundred poundes in plate + gilte and white, and the rest in good tapisserie meete + for hangings, and other covertures, and certain sortes + of good linen cloth.[2] + +[2] All the following lots are abbreviated. + + “2nd, 'great price’ £3500, _i.e._ £2000 in money, + £600 in plate, the rest in good tapisserie, &c., + as above. + + “3rd, £3000, _i.e._ £1500 in money, £500 in plate, the rest, &c. + + “4th, £2000, _i.e._ £1000 in money, £400 in plate, the rest, &c. + + “5th, £1500, _i.e._ £750 in money, £300 in plate, the rest, &c. + + “6th, £1000, _i.e._ £500 in money, £200 in plate, the rest, &c. + + “7th, £700, _i.e._ £400 in money, £100 in plate, the rest, &c. + + “8th, £500, _i.e._ £250 in money, £100 in plate, the rest, &c. + + “9th, £400, _i.e._ £250 in money, £100 in plate, the rest, &c. + + “10th, £300, _i.e._ £200 in money, £50 in plate, the rest, &c. + + “11th, £250, _i.e._ £150 in money, £50 in plate, the rest, &c. + + “12th, £200, _i.e._ £150 in money, the rest in good tapisserie + and linen cloth. + + “13th, £140, _i.e._ £100 in money, £40 in plate, tapisserie, + or linen cloth. + + “12 prices, every price of the value of £100, that + is to say, 3 score and 10 pounds ready money, + and £30 in plate, tapisserie, or linen cloth. + + “20 and 4 prices, every price of £50, £30 in + ready money, £20 in plate, tapisserie, &c. + + “3 score prices of 4 and 20 pounds and ten shillings + (£24 10/-), £17 in ready money, and £7 10/- + in plate, &c. + + “4 score and 10 prices, every price of £22 10/- + _i.e._ £15 in money, £17 10/- in plate, &c. + + “One hundreth and 14 of £18, _i.e._ £12 in + money, £6 5/- in plate gilte and white. + + “120 prices of £12 10/-, _i.e._ £7 10/- in money, + £5 in like plate. + + “150 prices of £8, _i.e._ £5 in money, £3 in linen + cloth. + + “200 prices of £6 10/-, _i.e._ £4 in money, 50/- + in linen cloth. + + “300 prices of £4 10/-, _i.e._ 50/- in money, 40/- + in linen cloth. + + “500 prices of £3 10/-, _i.e._ 40/- in money, 30/- + in linen cloth. + + “500 prices of 50/- in money. + + “2000 prices of 40/- in plate. + + “6000 prices of 25/- in money. + + “10,000 prices of 15/- in money. + + “9418 prices of 14/- in money. + + “And all the rest, to the accomplishing of the aforesayd + number of lottes, shall be allowed for every adventure + at the least 2 shillˢ and 6 pens in ready money. + + “Conditions ordained for the advantage of the Adventurers + in this Lotterie, bysides the Prices before mentioned + in the Charte. + +“The Queenes Majestie, of hir power royall, giveth libertie to all +maner of persons that will adventure any money in this Lotterie, to +resort to the places underwritten, and to abyde and depart from the +same in manner and forme foliowing; that is to say, to the Citie of +London, at any time within the space of one moneth next following the +feast of S. Bartholomew this present yeare 1567, and there to remain +seven days. And to these cities and towns following: York, Norwich, +Exceter, Lincolne, Coventrie, Southampton, Hull, Bristol, Newcastell, +Chester, Ipswich, Sarisbury, Oxforde, Cambridge, and Shrewesbury, in +the Realme of Englande, and Dublyn and Waterforde in the Realme of +Irelande, at any time within the space of three weekes next after the +publication of the Lotterie in every of the sayd severall places, +and there to remaine also seven whole days, without any molestation +or arrest of them for any maner of offence, saving treason, murder, +pyracie, or any other felonie, or for breach of hir Majesties peace, +during the time of their comming, abiding, or retourne.[3] + +[3] This, however, was not acted on, for in the Domestic State Papers +in the Rolls Office is one dated April 30, 1569, endorsed, “I. Aldaye +to Cecill. Is a prisoner in the Counter for debt. Thought he should +have been protected under the Proclamation for the Lottery, but it was +made a jest of.” + +“And that every person adventuring their money in this Lotterie may +have the like liberty in comming and departing to and from the Citie of +London, during all the time of the reading of the same Lotterie, untill +their last adventure be to them answered. + +“Also, that whosoever under one devise, prose or poesie, shall +adventure to the number of thirtie lottes and upward, within three +monethes next following after the sayd feast of Saint Bartholomew, and +by the hazarde of the prices contained in this Lotterie gaineth not the +thirde pennie, or so much as wanteth of the same, shall be allowed +unto them in a yearely pencion, to begin from the day when the reading +of the sayd Lotterie shall ende, and to continue yearely during their +life. + +“Whoever shall game the best, second, and third great prices, having +not put in the posies whereunto the sayd prices shall be answerable +into the Lotterie within three moneths next after the said feast of +Saint Bartholomew, shall have abated and taken out of the summe of +money contained in the said best price, one hundreth and fiftie pounds, +and of the sayd second price, one hundreth pounds, and out of the said +third price four score pounds, to be given to any towne corporate or +haven, or to any other place, for any good and desirable use, as the +partie shall name or appoint in writing. + +“And whosoever shall gaine a hundreth poundes or upwarde in any price, +saving the three severall best prices next aforementioned, having not +put in his lots, whereby he shall gaine any such price, within three +moneths next following the sayd feast of Saint Bartholomew, shall have +abated and deducted (as above is sayd) out of every hundred pounds, +five pounds, to be employed as is next before sayd. + +“Whosoever, having put in thirtie lottes under one devise or posie, +within the sayd three moneths, shalle winne the last lot of all, if, +before that lot wonne he have not gained so much as hath ben by him put +in, shall for his tarying and yll fortune be comforted with the reward +of two hundreth poundes, and for every lot that he shall have put in +besydes the said thirty lots, he shall have twentie shillings sterlyng. + +“And, whosoever having put in XXX lots under one devise or posie, +within the sayd three moneths, shal win the last lot save one, and have +not gayned so much as he hath put in, shal likewise be comforted for +his long tarrying with the reward of C. pounds, and for every lot that +he shal have put in above XXX shall receive ten shillings sterling. + +“Item, whosoever shall adventure from fortie lottes upwarde, under one +devise or posie, shall have libertie to lay downe the one halfe in +readie money, and give in bond for the other halfe to the Commissioner +that in that behalfe shal be appointed to have the charge for that +citie or towne where the partie shal thinke good to pay his money, with +condition to pay in the same money, for the which they shal be bound, +six weekes at the least before the day appointed for the reading of +the lotterie, upon payn to forfaite the money payde, and the benefit of +any price. Which day of reading shall begyn within the Citie of London +the XXV day of June next coming. + +“And in case it shall fortune the same day of the reading to be +prolonged upon any urgent nedeful cause to a further day, the parties +having adventured and put their money into the lotterie, shall be +allowed for the same after the rate of ten in the hundred from the day +of the prorogation of the sayd readyng untill the very day of the first +reading of the lotterie. + +“Item, every person to whome, in the time of reading, any price shall +happen and be due, the same price shal be delivered unto him the next +day following to dispose of the same at his pleasure, without that he +shall be compelled to tary for the same until the ende of the reading. +And, being a straunger borne, he shal have libertie to convert the +same, being money, into wares, to be by him transported into foraine +parts, paying only halfe custome for the same and other duties that +otherwise he should answer therefore. + +“Whosoever at the time of the reading shall have three of his owne +posies or devises, comming together successively and immediately one +after another, the same having put in the sayd three posies within +thre moneths (as before), shall have for the same posies or devises so +comming together one after an other, three pounds sterling over and +besides the price answerable therfore. + +“And whosoever at the time of the reading shall have four posies +or devises comming together successively and immediately one after +another, having put in his sayde posies within three monethes (as +before mentioned) shall have for the sayd foure posies and devises six +poundes sterling, besides the prices. + +“And whosoever at the time of the reading shall have five posies +or devises comming together successively and immediately one after +another, having put in his lottes within thre moneths (as before), +shall have for the sayd five posies or devises ten pounds sterling, +besides the prices. + +“And whosoever shall have the like adventure six times together, having +put in his lots, as afore, shal have for those VI posies or devises XXV +pounds sterling and the prices. + +“And whosoever shall have the like adventure seven times together, +having put in his lots as afore, shall have for those seven posies or +devises a hundreth pounds sterling, and the prices. + +“And whosoever shall have the like adventure eight times together, +having put in his lots as afore, shall have for those eight two +hundreth pounds sterling, and the prices. + +“And so the posies or devises resorting together by increase of number, +he to whom they shal happen in that sorte, having put in his money, +as afore is said, shal have for every tyme of increase one hundreth +poundes sterling, and the prices. + +“The receipt and collection of this present Lotterie shall endure for +the rest of the Realme besides London, until the XVᵗʰ day of April next +coming, which shal be in the yere 1568. + +“And the receipt and collection of the City of London shal continue +unto the first day of May next following; at which dayes, or before, +all the collectors shal bring in their bokes of the collection of +lottes to such as shal be appointed to receive their accomptes, upon +paine, if they do faile to do so, to lose the profite and wages +appointed to them for their travell in that behalfe. Finally, it is to +be understanded that hir Majestie and the Citie of London will answere +to all and singular persons havyng adventured their money in this +Lotterie, to observe all articles and conditions contained in the same +from point to point inviolably. + +“The shewe of the prices and rewardes above mencioned shall be set +up to be seene in Cheapsyde in London, at the signe of the Queene’s +Majesties’ arms, in the house of M. Dericke, goldsmith, servant to the +Queene’s most excellent Majestie. + + “God save the Queen. + + “Imprinted at London, in Paternoster Rowe, + by Henrie Bynneman, anno 1567.” + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + + Posies and mottoes--Forcing the subscriptions--Towns + and their mottoes--Lottery for armour in 1585-- + A Royal lottery at Harefield in 1602. + +We see by this bill that in order that the subscribers should be +anonymous, their shares were not to be taken in their names; but, as in +some competitions nowadays--notably in architecture--the competitors +are only known by their mottoes, so every subscriber to this lottery +was to use a devise or posie. Of the posies of this particular lottery +one at least remains, and it may be found in Geffrey Whitney’s “Choice +of Emblemes” (Leyden, 1586), p. 61. + + “_Written to the like effecte, vppon_ + Video, & taceo + _Her Maiesties poesie, at the great Lotterie in London + begon_ M.D.LXVIII. _and ended_ M.D.LXIX. + + I see, and houlde my peace: a Princelie Poësie righte, + For euerie faulte, shoulde not provoke, a Prince, or man of mighte. + For if that IOVE shoulde shoote, so oft as men offende, + The Poëttes saie, his thunderboltes shoulde soon bee at an ende. + Then happie wee that haue, a Princesse so inclin’de, + That when as iustice drawes hir sworde, hath mercie in her minde, + And to declare the same, how prone shee is to save: + Her Maiestie did make her choice, this Poësie for to have. + _Sed piger ad pænas princeps, ad præmia velox: + Cuique doles, quoties cogitur esse ferox._” + +In a little black-letter book in the Loxley collection, intituled +“Prises drawn in the Lottery, from the XVI to the XXVI day of +February,” which is considered to relate to this lottery, are very many +of these posies, with the names of the persons, etc., whose ventures +they represented, the number of the lots, and the prizes they gained, +which were, naturally, in most cases under the ten shillings subscribed. + + “If Fortune be forward my Angell[4] is gone, + But if Fortune be frendly with encrease it cometh home. + “Alice Crewe, London (268,223), 1_s._ 3_d._” + + “Cast the grapple over the bote + If God wil, for the great lot. + “By me Nicholas Martin, free of the Companie of + Merchauntes of Exon. (18,236), 5_s._” + + “I woulde be contente with a hundred pounde, + In my purse it would give a sounde. + “Per Thomas Chamberlayne, Horsted Teynes, Sussex (1129), + 1_s._ 2_d._” + + “Wee put in one lott, poor maydens we be ten: + We pray God send us a good lotte, that all we may say, Amen. + “Per Dorothie Hawes of Cheapside (44,963), 1_s._ 2_d._” + + “God send a good lot for my children and me, + Which have had twenty by one wife truly. + “Per William Dorghtie de Westholme (195,315), 2_s._ 3_d._” + + “I am a pore maiden and faine would marry, + And the lacke of goods is the cause that I tarry. + ”Per Sibbel Cleyon (51,832), 2_s._ 1_d._” + + “Although I can not wel see, + Yet I will venture in the Lottery. + ”Per Sir Thom. Woodhouse of Warham (109,508), 2_s._ 1_d._” + + “What chaunce to me befal + I am content withal. + ”Sir George Speake of Whitlackington in Somersetshire, + Knight (193,066), 5_s._ 10_d._” + +[4] The gold coin so called. + +The highest prize drawn during these ten days seems to have been £16 +13_s._ 3_d._, and the “devise” or motto was, “Not covetous.” + +The public generally evidently did not take kindly to this venture, for +on September 13, 1567, the Lord Mayor found it necessary to supplement +the foregoing Proclamation of the Queen, of August 23, by one of his +own, guaranteeing the honesty of the scheme. “Nowe to avoyde certaine +doubtes since the publication of the sayde Lotterie, secretely moved +concernyng the answering thereof, wherein though the wiser sort may +finde cause to satisfie themselves therin, yet to the satisfaction of +the simpler sorte, the Lorde Maior of the sayd Citie, and his brethren +the Aldermen of the sayd Citie, by assent of the Common Councell of the +same, doe signifie and declare to all people by this proclamation that, +according to the articles of hir Majesties order conteined in the sayd +charte so published, every person shal be duly answered accordyng to +the tenour of hir highnesse sayd proclamation.” + +Still the public looked askance at it, and the subscriptions came in +but slowly; so the Queen issued another proclamation on January 3, +1568, postponing the drawing, or “reading,” as it was called, giving +her reasons therefor thus: “Forasmuch as in sundry parts of the +realme, the principal persons that were appointed to be the treasurers +for the money that should be gathered in the severall shyres of +the realme, had not received their instructions and charge in such +due time as was requisite, by reason that upon the first nomination +of them, there were, after sundry alterations of some by reason of +sicknesse, of others by reason that they were dead aboute the time of +their nomination; and of some others, that afterward were so otherwise +occupied in publike offices, as the said service could not be by them +executed, so as of the sayd space of three moneths, there passed over a +good part, to the detriment of the adventurers.” + +Yet it did not go off, and, to further stimulate the prosecution of +the scheme, the Earl of Leicester and Sir William Cecil, as Lords of +the Council, on July 12, 1568, sent a circular “To all and every the +Quene’s Ma’t’s Justices of the Peace, Treasurers, and Collectors of +the Lottery, and to all Mayors, Sheriffs, Bayliefes, Constables, and +to all others her highnes officers, ministers and subjects, spirituall +and temporale, as well as w^tin corporations, lib’ties, and franchises, +as w^tout, in the Counties of Kent, Sussex, Surry, Southehampton and +the Isle of Wight,” apprising them of the appointment of a Surveyor +of the Lottery, and enjoining them to do all in their power to get +subscribers. + +This surveyor certainly did put the screw on most unmercifully, +visiting and writing to the country gentlemen, giving them “to +understonde what waie is devised for a further collection, and for +animating or moving the people, desiring you to put the same in +practise as sone as possible you may.” + +This certainly did stimulate the subscriptions, and we find by entries +in their archives and by their posies that the towns all over England +contributed municipally. + +_Winchester._--“July 30, 1568. _Itm._ That £3 be taken out of the +Coffers of the cytie and be put into the lottrey, and so moche more +money as shall make up evyn Lotts wᵗʰ those that are contrybutory of +the cytie, so that it passᵈ not 10_s._” + +_Wells._--“Oct. 15, 1568. At this Convoc’on the M’r and his brethrene +w’the the condiscent of all the burgesses, hath fully agreed that ev’y +occupacōn w’thin the Towne aforesayde shall make their lotts for the +Lottery accordynge, as well to the Queene’s Ma’ty’s p’clamacōn as to +her p’vy L’res assigned in that behalf.” + +Yarmouth seems to have sent two subscriptions. + + “_To the fifteen pounds of the town’s money._ + Yermouth haven, God send thee spede, + The Lord he knoweth thy great nede.” + + “_To the fifteen pounds collected amongst the four and twenties + and the eight and forties._ + Yf Yermouth great in Fortune’s favour be, + The greteste lott may chanse to fall to me.” + + “Louth linct in love, + Lucky be thy lot.” + + “In good hope, poor East Greenwiche, God send us to remain, + And of some good lotte to have the gaine.” + + “Armouth for a haven is a fit place, + And a haven it may be, if it please the Queenes grace.” + + “'Be meeke in spirite,’ per the parish of Southfleete Kent.” + + “Give the best prise, I pray thee, good fortune, + Unto the Queene’s Majesties towne of Launston.” + + “_For the hamlet of Radcliffe._ + Mariner, hoist up thy saile, + If God sende us a good lot, it may us prevaile.” + + “Topsham is buylded upon a red rydge, + I pray God sende a good lot to maintayne the kay and bridge.” + + “Draw Brighthemston a good lot + Or else return them a turbot.” + + “From Hastings we come, + God send us good speed; + Never a poor fisher town in England, + Of ye great lot hath more need.” + +All the City Companies subscribed, and, at last, the lottery was drawn, +as Holinshed tells us (1569) that “A great lotterie being holden at +London in Poules Church yard, at the west dore, was begun to be drawne +the eleuenth of Januarie, and continued daie and night till the sixt of +Maie, wherein the said drawing was fullie ended.” Let us hope that the +ports and havens benefited therefrom. + +The next lottery of which we have any knowledge is mentioned by Stowe +in his “Annales,” under date of 1585. “A lotterie for marvellous rich +and beautifull armor was begunne to be drawne at London in _S. Paules_ +Churchyard, at the great West gate (an house of timber and boord being +there erected for that purpose) on _S. Peters_ day in the morning, +which lotterie continued in drawing day and night, for the space of two +or three dayes.” + +In 1602 Queen Elizabeth visited Sir Thomas Egerton, the Lord Keeper +of the Great Seal, at his mansion at Harefield, Middlesex. She had a +particular liking for presents, and on the preceding New Year’s Day +he had given her an amulet of gold garnished with sparks of rubies, +pearls, and half-pearls, and his wife, dame Elizabeth, presented her +Majesty with “a round kirtell of velvet satten, cut and embroidered +all over like _Esses_ of Venice gold, and a border embroidered like +pyramids; and a doublet of silver chamlett, embroidered with pearls +like leaves, flourished with silver.” He was well aware of her +proclivities, for when she paid him this visit, he presented her with a +_divertissement_ called “a Lottery.” Enter-- + +“A Marriner with a boxe under his arme, contayning all the severall +things following, supposed to come from the Carricke,[5] came into the +Presence, singing this Song:-- + + “_Cynthia_, Queene of Seas and Lands, + That Fortune euery where commands, + Send forth Fortune to the Sea, + To try her Fortune euery way: + There did I Fortune meet, which makes me now to sing, + There is no fishing to the Sea, nor service to the King.[6] + + “All the Nymphes of Thetis’ traine, + Did _Cinthia’s_ Fortune entertaine: + Many a Iewell, many a Iem, + Was to her Fortune brought by them. + Her Fortune sped so well, as makes me now to sing, + There is no fishing to the Sea, nor service to the King. + + “Fortune, that it might be seene + That she did serue a Royall Queene; + A franke and royall hand did beare, + And cast her favors euery where. + Some toyes fel to my share; which makes me now to sing, + There is no fishing to the Sea, nor service to the King.” + +[5] A small merchant vessel. + +[6] When Queen Elizabeth visited Cowdray, in August, 1591, whilst +walking in the garden, a pseudo-angler met her, and made a long speech, +in the course of which he said, “Madame, it is an olde saying, 'There +is no fishing to the sea, nor service to the King;’ but it holdes when +the sea is calme, and the King vertuous.” + +“And the Song ended, he uttered this short speech: God save you, +faire Ladies all; and for my part, if ever I be brought to answere my +sinnes God forgive me my sharking, and lay usury to my charge. I am +a Marriner, and am now come from the sea, where I had the Fortune to +light upon these few trifles. I must confesse I came but lightly by +them; but I no sooner had them, but I made a vow, that as they came +to my hands by Fortune, so I would not part with them but by Fortune. +To that end I ever since carried these Lots about me, that, if I met +with fit company, I might devide my booty among them. And now (I thanke +my good Fortunes) I am lighted into the best company of the world, a +company of the fairest Ladyes that ever I saw. Come, Ladyes, try your +Fortunes; and if any light vpon an vnfortunate Blanke, let her thinke +that Fortune doth but mock her in these trifles, and meanes to pleasure +her in greater matters.” + +There were thirty-three lots, of which five were blanks, and the +“Marriner” had an appropriate couplet to say to all. The prizes were +as follow:--1, Fortune’s Wheel (?); 2, a Purse; 3, a Maske;[7] 4, a +Looking Glasse; 5, a Hand-kerchiefe; 6, a Plaine Ring; 7, a Ring with +this posie: “As faithfull as I finde;” 8, a Paire of Gloves; 9, a Dozen +of Points;[8] 10, a Lace; 11, a Paire of Knives; 12, a Girdle; 13, a +Payre of Writing Tables; 14, a Payre of Garters; 15, a Coyfe[9] and +Crosse Cloath;[10] 16, a Falling Band; 17, a Stomacher; 18, a Paire +of Sizzers; 19, a Chaine; 20, a Praier Book; 21, a Snuftkin;[11] 22, +a Fanne; 23, a Paire of Bracelets; 24, a Bodkin; 25, a Necklace; 26, +a Cushinet;[12] 27, a Dyall; 28, a Nutmeg with a blanke parchment in +it.[13] + +[7] Used instead of a veil when in the open air. + +[8] Staylaces. + +[9] A lady’s head-dress. + +[10] To wrap round the head or bosom. + +[11] A small muff. + +[12] A pin-cushion. + +[13] Davison’s “Poems.” London, 1621. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + + The Virginia lottery of 1612--Private lottery--Licence + for lottery to supply London with water--Two + other schemes--Lottery in behalf of fishing + vessels--Irish Land Lottery--One for redeeming + English slaves--One for poor maimed soldiers-- + Gambling lottery, concession for--“Royal Oak” + Lottery--Evils of lotteries--“Royal Fishing + Company” Lottery--Patentees. + +The next public lottery of which we hear was that of 1612, when “the +King’s maiestie in speciall favor for the present plantation of English +Colonies in _Virginia_, granted a liberall Lottery, in which was +contained five thousand pound in prizes certayne, besides rewardes of +casualitie, and began to be drawne, in a new built house at the West +end of _Paul’s_ the 29th of June, 1612. But of which Lottery, for want +of filling uppe the number of lots, there were then taken out and +throwne away threescore thousande blanckes, without abating of any one +prize; and by the twentith of July all was drawne and finished. This +Lottery was so plainely carryed, and honestly performed, that it gave +full satisfaction to all persons. _Thomas Sharpliffe_, a Taylor, of +London, had the chiefe prize, _viz._ foure thousand Crownes in fayre +plate, which was sent to his house in very stately manner: during the +whole tyme of the drawing of this lottery there were alwaies present +diuers worshipfull Knights and Esquiers, accompanied with sundry graue +discreet Cittizens.” + +In 1612, one Cornelius Drebbel wrote a letter in Latin to Prince Henry, +complaining that the Lord Mayor had refused him permission to hold a +lottery; that he had no other means of subsistence, and he begged the +Prince to use his influence with the Lord Treasurer (Salisbury) for +leave to have one beyond the jurisdiction of the city. He also wrote to +the Lord Treasurer, enclosing a scheme of the proposed conditions of +his lottery. + +In 1620 the holding of lotteries was suspended by Order in Council; but +on March 31, 1627, a licence was given to Michael Parker and Everard +Mainwaring to raise money by means of a lottery, to be employed in +carrying out the object indicated in the grant of same date to Sir +Nicholas Saunder, Henry Saunder, and Michael Parker, which gave them +power to convey water by a covered aqueduct from certain springs near +Hoddesdon, in co. Herts, and to disperse the same through the streets +and houses, paying to the Crown a rent of £4000 per annum. And again, +on February 11, 1831, Parker and Mainwaring obtained a licence to set +forth lotteries for raising money for bringing springs of water to +London. It is said, though I can find no warrant for it, that the first +lottery with money prizes was drawn in 1630. + +There was another scheme for bringing water to London, for in 1637 +the Regent and Professors of the _Musæum Minervæ_ petitioned the King +for money, and proposed several schemes for raising the same, the +third of them being, “By the Lottery granted to George Gage and others +for bringing a river to London, much money was collected, but, the +undertaking failing, the money remains _in deposito_, to be disposed +to Sir Edward Peyto and Colonel Hambleton upon the like project. It +is proposed that either this money be employed for the building of an +academy, or that another lottery may be granted for that purpose.” + +Yet another water scheme. “Jan. 14, 1689. Warrant to pass the Privy +Seal appointing Sir Robert Pointz, K.B., and Edward Rudge, alderman of +London, for the just carriage and managing of the lottery authorized +by the King for the use of the aqueduct undertaken by Sir Edward +Stradling, Sir Walter Roberts and others.” + +On February 9, 1640, the Earl of Pembroke sent a remonstrance to the +King about the damage the “Dunkirkers and other subjects of the King +of Spain” had done to the English _busses_, or fishing vessels, and +suggesting that “towards the cost of setting out their busses the +next summer, they pray a grant of a standing lottery, as the Virginia +Company had in 1612, to be managed by the most discreet of their +association;” and this his Majesty, Charles I., was graciously pleased +to grant. + +In 1653, according to the _Perfect Account of the Daily Intelligence_, +November 23 of that year, a lottery was held, and this is the + + “ADVERTISEMENT + + _At the Committee for Claims for Lands in Ireland._ + + Ordered, That a Lottery be at Grocers Hall, + London, on Thursday, 15 Decem. 1653, both for + Provinces and Counties, to begin at 8 of the + clock in the forenoon of the same day; and all + persons concerned therein are to take notice + thereof.” + +There was a lottery scheme August 7, 1660, which was granted. “The +Petition of Capt. Thomas Gardiner to the King, to empower him to hold +a lottery in England and Wales for three years, for ransom of English +slaves in Tunis, Algiers, or the Turkish galleys, or for any other +charitable use, paying in a third of the profits, and reserving the +rest for his expenses, and repair of his fortunes, ruined by loyalty.” + +In November, 1660, Captain William Pleydell petitioned “for leave to +sell by lottery, during one year, some plate which he and others have +procured, in order to gain relief for himself, and to obtain £10 each +per annum for 12 poor maimed soldiers, named, of Lord Cottington’s +life-guard, who live by begging in the street.” + +[Illustration] + +This was a comparatively worthy object, although the “relief for +himself” might be capable of a very broad construction; but Charles +II. was liberal in his concessions. There was one man, Francis, or +Francisco, Corbett who was groom of the Privy Chambers to the Queen, +who obtained a licence for a gambling lottery--possibly something +like _roulette_ at Monte Carlo, called _L’Ocha di Catalonia_. On +November 23, 1661, an order was made forbidding a lottery carried on by +Francisco Finochelli, as being the same with the _L’Ocha di Catalonia_, +for which the sole licence was granted to Francisco Corbett, of whom we +shall hear more; but it is best to proceed chronologically, if possible. + +We next hear of him in connection with the famous “Royal Oak Lottery,” +for on August 25, 1663, when a licence was granted to Captain James +Roche, Adjutant of the Guards, and Francis Corbett to set up and +exercise the lotteries of the Royal Oak and Queen’s Nosegay, in any +place in England and Wales; none else to set up the same, or any +lottery that approaches it, except Sir Anthony Des Marces, Bart., and +Lawrence Dupuy, to whom a similar licence has already been granted. +Meanwhile, Corbett and Finochelli had become partners, as we see by +the docket on the memorial of August 28 of same year, of one Simon +Marcelli, of money transactions between Captain Roche, Francis Corbett, +and Jean Francisco Finochelli, relative to the lottery of the Royal Oak +set up at Smithfield Fair. Captain Roche furnished £95, on condition +of not giving the company the patent till repaid; but, the sum being +paid, he gave up the patent. + +Corbett must have found the lotteries profitable, for on December 3 +of the same year, a grant was made to Francis Corbett of licence to +set up lotteries of a new invention, called the Royal Oak and Triomfo +Imperiale, in any city in the kingdom, permitting no others to exercise +the same except Sir Anthony Des Marces, Lawrence Dupuy, and Captain +James Roche, to whom a similar privilege is given, on paying five +shillings weekly to the poor where the lotteries are. But as soon as +he got the concession, Corbett seems to have sold out; for there is a +petition of Sir Anthony Des Marces, Bart., Lawrence Dupuy, and Richard +Baddeley, for a licence to exercise the lottery of the Royal Oak and +all others in England, Wales, and Ireland, as they had purchased the +other partners’ interests, spent large sums of money thereon, and +were checked in the exercise of them. Yet, still later on in the same +month, in order to obtain this licence, they had to sign an indenture +by which they agreed to pay a certain sum yearly to Sir John Crosland +and Captain Edward Bennett, in consideration of the services of +Secretary Bennet in procuring for them the licence. On that indenture +being signed came at once, the warrant for them to set up the lotteries +of the Royal Oak and L’Ocha di Catalonia, applying the whole profits +to support the fishing trade only, _the patentees receiving fit +recompense for their trouble_. So that we see that there were small +“Panama scandals” in those days. Indeed, this lottery seems to have +been a swindle; for, in a letter, January 6, 1664, from Nathaniel Cale, +who had been Mayor of Bristol, to Joseph Williamson, secretary to Sir +Henry Bennet, and afterwards keeper of State Papers, he says he “will +forward any lottery at the Bristol fair, except the Royal Oak, which +broke half the cashiers in Bristol, when last there.” Yet, on the 11th +of the same month, he writes to the same that he has prevailed with the +Mayor, Sir John Knight, to allow the Royal Oak Lottery during the eight +days of the fair; and, perhaps, the leave may be extended. But he has +a prejudice against it; for, at its last being there, many young men +ruined themselves, and his own son lost £50. + +The sequel to this story is told later on. On February 14, 1664, Sir +John Knight wrote to Williamson that he had received his letters in +behalf of the Royal Oak Lottery men, who have spent three weeks there. +Last year they were there five months, and the cry of the poor sort of +people was great against them, because, not being allowed by the great +seal, they were clear against law. Will tolerate them some longer, but +thinks they will soon be warped out. Nathaniel Cale writes that the +Mayor has granted fourteen days to the Royal Oak, and then will grant +more. + +It would be impossible to close the notice of this lottery without +quoting from a very rare little 12mo book,[14] as it gives us the inner +life of the scheme; and, besides, is amusing. The indictment, as the +wont of such documents, is cumbrous and heavy, and was terrible. The +first witness called was Captain Pasthope, who was examined by one of +the managers. + +[14] “The Arraignment, Trial, and Condemnation of Squire Lottery, +_alias_ Royal Oak Lottery.” London, 1699. + +“_Man._ Sir, do you know Squire _Lottery_, the prisoner at the Bar? + +“_Pasthope._ Yes, I have known him intimately for near 40 years; ever +since the Restoration of King _Charles_. + +“_Man._ Pray, will you give the Bench and Jury an Account of what you +know of him; how he came into _England_, and how he has behav’d ever +since? + +“_Pasthope._ In order to make my Evidence more plain, I hope it will +not be judg’d much out of form, to premise two or three things. + +“_Man._ Take your own method to explain yourself; we must not abridge +or direct you in any respect. + +“_Pasthope._ In the year 60 and 61, among a great many poor Cavaliers, +’twas my hard fate to be driven to Court for a Subsistence, where I +continued in a neglected state, painfully waiting the moving of the +waters for several months; when, at last, a Rumour was spread that a +certain Stranger was landed in _England_; that, in all probability, if +we could get him the Sanction of a Patent, would be a good Friend to us. + +“_Man._ You seem to intimate as if he was a Stranger; pray, do you know +what Countryman he was? + +“_Pasthope._ The report of his Country was very different; some would +have him a _Walloon_, some a _Dutchman_, some a _Venetian_, and others, +a _Frenchman_; indeed, by his Policy, cunning Design, Forethought, +etc., I am very well satisfied he could be no _Englishman_. + +“_Man._ What kind of Credentials did he bring with him to recommend him +with so much advantage? + +“_Pasthope._ Why, he cunningly took upon him the Character of a +_Royal Oak Lottery_, and pretended a mighty friendship to antiquated +Loyalists; but, for all that, there were those at Court that knew he +had been banish’d out of several Countries for disorderly Practices, +till at last he pitch’d upon poor easy credulous _England_ for his +Refuge. + +“_Man._ You say, then, he was a Foreigner, that he came in with the +Restoration, usurp’d the Title of a _Royal Oak_, was establish’d in +Friendship to the Cavaliers, and that for disorderly Practices he had +been banish’d out of several Countries; till, at last, he was forc’d to +fix upon _England_ as the fittest _Asylum_. But, pray, Sir, how came +you so intimately acquainted with him at first? + +“_Pasthope._ I was about to tell you. In order to manage his Affairs, +it was thought requisite he should be provided with several Coadjutors, +which were to be dignify’d with the Character of _Patentees_; amongst +which number, by the help of a friendly Courtier, I was admitted for +one. + +“_Man._ Oh! then I find you was a _Patentee_. Pray, how long did you +continue in your Patentee’s Post? and what were the Reasons that urg’d +you to quit it at last? + +“_Pasthope._ I kept my Patentee’s Station nine years, in which time I +had clear’d £4000, and then, upon some Uneasiness and Dislike, I sold +it for £700.” + +Francisco Corbett seems to have regretted the sale of his portion of +this lucrative lottery, for, in 1663, he petitioned for a share, at +least, in the lottery granted him by his Majesty, of which he was +deprived by the interposition of others during his late absence; also +for restoration to his place as groom of the Privy Chambers to the +Queen, into which another had intruded, and for payment of some part +of a pension promised him by his Majesty. We hear of him once more in +a petition to the King written in Italian, probably in 1664, in which +he said he was ill, on his journey to Paris, and too ill on his arrival +to see Madame. His Majesty promised him favour, if, owing to the +impediments that Sir Henry Bennet makes to his game, he cannot profit +by his promised letter of change. Had received no profit, and failed to +obtain the money he hoped for in Paris, and begged that he might return +to throw himself at his Majesty’s feet; but what became of him, I do +not know. + +That these lotteries were an acknowledged evil is well shown by the +Domestic State Papers. Take, for instance, “July 11, 1663.--The King +to the Mayor, Sheriffs, etc., of Norwich. Is informed of the ill +consequences resulting from the frequency of lotteries, puppet-shows, +etc., whereby the meaner sort of people are diverted from their work. +Empowers him and his successors, magistrates of the city, to determine +the length of stay of such shows in the city, notwithstanding any +licences from his Majesty, or the Master of Revels.” + +In 1664 this permission was relaxed, for Secretary Bennet wrote to +the Mayor of Norwich, that, although the King had given authority +to the magistrates of that town to allow or disallow the keeping of +shows, games, and lotteries, in order to avoid abuses happening by +their licentious exercise; but now he signified his pleasure that no +lotteries are to be allowed, except as appointed by Sir Anthony Des +Marces, to whom the management of the same is granted for the benefit +of the Royal Fishing Company. + +Yet we find Court favour superseding this arrangement, for the same +year a warrant was made out for a licence to Thomas Killigrew to set +up a lottery for three years, after the expiration of the three years’ +lottery granted to the Royal Fishing Company, called the Pricking +Book Lottery, on rental of £50, to be paid to the said company. But +Killigrew could not wait, and wrote offering £600 at once, or £650 in +two payments, for the Pricking Book Lottery, of which Sir Anthony Des +Marces had the power of disposal, and suggested that it was about the +best offer he could expect. + +However, there were others in the field hankering after this profitable +gamble, for there is a letter from some person unknown to Killigrew, +asking him to prevail with Sir Henry Bennet that some friends may +have liberty from Sir Anthony Des Marces and Co. to use the Pricking +Lottery, paying £200 a year as long as Sir Anthony has the management +of it; which, excepting £100 fine, is as much as the Fishing +Commissioners ever offered. The reasons why they offered no more +were--that there were never more than eight lotteries in England, and +they were licensed by the Master of the Revels, and let at such rent +as from £25 to £30 a year. Another person offered to give Sir Anthony +£1000 for the reversion of the two unexpired terms in the lottery. + +I fancy all this lusting after the profits of lotteries was noticed in +high places, for there is a proclamation dated from Whitehall, July +21, 1665, forbidding any persons to use or exercise lotteries in Great +Britain or Ireland, except Sir Anthony Des Marces, Louis Marquis de +Duras, Joseph Williamson, Lawrence Dupuy, and Richard Baddeley, to whom +the sole right of managing them is granted, in order to raise a stock +for the Royal Fishing Company. But Sir Anthony was not content with +this concession. He petitioned in 1666, together with his partners, +for a grant for seven years of all lotteries in Scotland, and the +foreign plantations. It seems possible that the interests of these +patentees, or monopolists, was sold; for, on February 25, 1667, the +Marquis of Blanquefort and George Hamilton petitioned the King for the +sole licence of holding lotteries in his Majesty’s dominions, giving +as a reason that the Royal Company to whom it was granted, in 1664, +for three years now expired, were indifferent to the renewal of their +licence. And this must evidently have been arranged, for, on the same +date, a warrant was issued giving them the sole licence of all sorts of +lotteries in the kingdom of England and Ireland and the plantations for +seven years. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + + A book lottery--One for poor military officers--Lottery + for Prince Rupert’s jewels--A penny lottery--First + State lottery--Another in 1697--Private lotteries + suppressed--State lottery in 1710--Curious history + of a private lottery--State lotteries in the reigns + of Anne and George I.--Private lotteries again + suppressed--Raine’s Charity--Marriage by lottery. + +Very numerous were the unfortunate Cavaliers who had been ruined by +supporting the Royal cause, and who could get no compensation from the +Government. To help them, some asked to get rid of their plate, etc., +by lottery, as we have seen in 1660, and, for their assistance, in 1668 +a book lottery was established. In the _Gazette_ of May 18 of that +year is the following advertisement:--“Mr. Ogilby’s lottery of books +opens on Monday, the 25th instant, at the Old Theatre between Lincoln’s +Inn Fields and Vere Street, where all persons concerned may repair on +Monday, May 18, and see the volumes, and put in their money.” On May 25 +is announced, “Mr. Ogilby’s lottery of books (adventures coming in so +fast that they cannot, in so short a time, be methodically registered) +opens not till Tuesday, the 2nd of June; then not failing to draw, at +the Old Theatre,” etc. + +Letters patent, in behalf of the Loyalists, were from time to time +renewed, and from the _Gazette_ of October 11, 1675, it appears, +by those dated June 19 and December 17, 1764, there were granted, +for thirteen years to come, “all lotteries whatsoever, invented, or +to be invented, to several truly loyal and indigent officers, in +consideration of their many faithful services and sufferings, with +prohibition to all others to use or set up the said lotteries,” unless +deputation were obtained from those officers. + +Prince Rupert died November 29, 1682, and his jewels were to be +disposed of by means of a lottery, but the public had been so cheated +by previous schemes, that they would not subscribe unless the King +consented to see that all was fair, and that Francis Child, the +goldsmith (or banker) at Temple Bar, should be trustee on their behalf. + +The _London Gazette_, September 27-October 1, 1683, has the following +notice of this lottery: “These are to give Notice, that the Jewels of +his late Highness Prince _Rupert_, have been particularly valued and +appraised by Mr. _Isaac Legouch_, Mr. _Christopher Rosse_, and Mr. +_Richard Beauvoir_, Jewellers, the whole amounting to Twenty Thousand +Pounds, and will be sold by way of Lottery, each Lot to be Five Pounds. +The biggest Prize will be a great Pearl Necklace valued at £8000, and +none less than £100. A printed Particular of the said Appraisement, +with their Division into Lots, will be delivered _gratis_ by Mr. +_Francis Child_, Goldsmith, at Temple Bar, _London_, into whose hands, +such as are willing to be Adventurers, are desired to pay their Money, +on or about the first day of _November_ next. As soon as the whole +sum is paid in, a short day will be appointed (which ’tis hoped will +be before _Christmas_) and notified in the _Gazette_, for the Drawing +thereof, which will be done in His Majesties Presence, who is pleased +to declare, that he himself will see all the Prizes put in amongst +the Blanks, and that the whole shall be managed with all Equity and +Fairness; nothing being intended but the Sale of the said Jewels at a +moderate Value. And it is further notified for the satisfaction of all +such as shall be Adventurers, that the said Mr. _Child_ shall and will +stand obliged to each of them for their several Adventures, till the +said Lottery be drawn. And that each Adventurer shall receive their +Money back, if the said Lottery be not drawn and finished before the +first day of _February_ next.” + +There are three other notices of this lottery, one of which (_London +Gazette_, November 22-26, 1683) tells us the _modus operandi_ of its +drawing. “As soon as the Money is all come in, a day will be prefixed, +and published for the drawing thereof, as has been formerly notified. +In the morning of which day His Majesty will be pleased, publickly, in +the Banquetting-House to see the Blanks told over, that they may not +exceed their Number, and to read the Papers (which shall be exactly +the same size with the Blanks) on which the Prizes are to be written; +which, being rolled up in his presence, His Majesty will mix amongst +the Blanks, as may also any of the Adventurers there present, that +shall desire it. This being done, a Child appointed by His Majesty, or +the Adventurers, shall, out of the Mass of Lots so mixed, take out the +number that each Person adventures for, and put them into boxes, (which +shall be provided on purpose) on the covers whereof, each Adventurer’s +Name shall be written with the number of Lots He or She adventures +for; the Boxes to be filled in succession as the Moneys was paid in. As +soon as all the Lots are thus distributed, they shall be opened as fast +as may be, and the Prizes then and there delivered to those that win +them; all which, ’tis hoped, will be done and finished in one day.” + +I cannot find whether this lottery was ever drawn. + +Perhaps the smallest sum ever adventured in a regular lottery was a +penny, which was drawn at the Dorset Garden Theatre, near Salisbury +Square, Fleet Street, on October 19, 1698, with a capital prize of +a thousand pounds. There was a metrical pamphlet (price threepence) +published thereon in the same year, entitled “The Wheel of Fortune; or, +Nothing for a Penny,” etc., “written by a Person who was cursed Mad he +had not the Thousand Pound Lot.” He thus describes the drawing-- + + “So a Lord of high Title and Birth, + First vow’d he was just, + And in, Sirs, he thrust + The Tickets, which caus’d mighty mirth. + Those who were before sad, + Look’d jocund and glad, + Not doubting but right would be done; + Since a Peer who laid claim + To Honour and Fame, + Swore that all should be paid that was won. + For tho’ we all knew + ’Twas certain and true, + That the Tickets should all be drawn out, + Yet some were afraid + They would never be paid, + And, at what time they will’s, yet a doubt.” + +[Illustration] + +But not long after this, the State began to see what a profitable +business lottery-keeping was, and applied it to its own purpose. +In 1694, by Act of Parliament (5 Will. and Mary, c. 7), a loan of +£1,000,000 was authorized to be raised by lottery in shares of £10 +each, the contributors being entitled to annuities for sixteen years +from September 29, 1694, charged on a yearly fund of £140,000, +appropriated out of certain salt and beer duties named in the Act. +Holders of the blanks received 10 per cent. on every share, and 2500 +fortunate ticket-holders a larger payment; of which the principal prize +was £1000 a year. The contributors were allowed 14 per cent. for prompt +payment from the day of payment to September 29, 1694. + +In 1697 (8 Will. III. c. 22) a loan of £1,400,000 was authorized to be +raised by a lottery of 140,000 tickets of £10 each. Of these, 3500 were +to be prizes of from £10 to £1000; the holders of 136,500 blanks, and +of 2800, £10 prizes, were to receive back £10 with interest from June +24, 1697, at the rate of ¼ _d._ per day (_i.e._ 2½ per cent. per day, +or £3 16_s._ 0½_d._ per cent. per annum) until the whole was paid. + +Then came a virtuous wave, and by 10 and 11 Will. III. c. 17 lotteries +were suppressed after December 29, 1699, the preamble to which Act +sets forth that, “Whereas several evil-disposed persons, for divers +years past, have set up many mischievous and unlawful games, called +_lotteries_, not only in the Cities of _London_ and _Westminster_, +and in the suburbs thereof, and places adjoining, but in most of the +eminent towns and places in _England_, and in the Dominion of _Wales_, +and have thereby most unjustly and fraudulently got to themselves great +sums of money from the children and servants of several gentlemen, +traders and merchants, and from other unwary persons, to the utter +ruin and impoverishment of many families, and to the reproach of the +_English_ laws and government, by cover of several patents or grants +under the great seal of _England_ for the said lotteries, or some of +them; which said grants or patents are against the common good, trade, +welfare and peace of His Majesty’s kingdoms: for remedy whereof be +it enacted, adjudged and declared, and it is hereby enacted, adjudged +and declared by the King’s most excellent Majesty, by and with the +advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, +in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the +same, That all such lotteries, and all other lotteries, are common and +publick nuisances, and that all grants, patents and licences for such +lotteries, or any other lotteries, are void and against law.” + +But this show of virtue only lasted a very short time, for in 1710 +(8 Anne, c. 4) a loan of £1,500,000 was negotiated by means of a +lottery--of £150,000 tickets at £10 each, every ticket-holder becoming +entitled to an annuity for thirty-two years, the blanks to 14_s._ per +annum, and the prizes to greater annuities, from £5 to £1000 per annum. + +Previous to this there was a private lottery, the story of which +Hutchins tells in his “History of the County of Dorset.”[15] The +Sydenham here spoken of was the nephew of the celebrated Thomas +Sydenham, M.D., who adopted the cool treatment in small-pox, and used +quinine (or bark, as it was then called) and laudanum in agues. “This +manor and farm continued in the Sydenhams, till William Sydenham, the +last of the family, esquire of the body to King William III., and the +last that held that office, put up his estate at a private lottery. It +was generally supposed that there was some trick designed; for it was +contrived, or at least hoped, that the fortunate ticket would fall to +the share of a confidant in the family, who they imagined would have +been prevailed upon to return the estate upon a small consideration. +That ticket happened to be hers; but, to their great disappointment, +she immediately married Doyly Michel, Esq. But, it being necessary +that Mr. Sydenham and his two daughters should make a formal surrender +of the estate to the vendee, on their refusal they were committed to +Dorchester prison about 1709, where they ended their days.” + +[15] Ed. 1864, vol. ii. p. 706. + +In 1711 there were two State Lotteries. The first (9 Anne, c. 6) was +for a loan of £1,500,000 by the sale of 150,000 lottery tickets at +£10 each; the whole money to be repaid, both on blanks and prizes, +in thirty-two years, with interest at 6 per cent. per annum, payable +half-yearly; and the additional sum of £428,570 to be divided amongst +the prizes, and paid with the same interest in thirty-two years. The +second (9 Anne, c. 23) was a loan of £2,000,000, by the sale of 20,000 +lottery tickets at £100 each, divided into five classes with the chance +of receiving from £10 to £135, according to the class drawn, with +interest at 6 per cent. until paid off. This lottery consisted of all +prizes, these being formed by dividing an additional sum of £602,200 +among the subscribers, those in the lowest class obtaining a profit of +£10. + +There were also two in 1712. One (10 Anne, c. 19) was a loan of +£1,800,000 by the sale of 180,000 tickets at £10 each; the whole sum +advanced, with an additional capital of £541,740, to be repaid in +thirty-two years, with interest at 6 per cent., payable half-yearly. +The other (10 Anne, c. 26) was for the same amount, only they were to +be £100 tickets divided into five classes, with an additional capital +of £541,990, to be repaid with interest at 6 per cent. in thirty-two +years. + +Next year, 1713 (12 Anne, stat. I. c. 11), there was a comparatively +small lottery of half a million, granted to discharge the debt and +arrears of the civil list, raised by the sale of 50,000 lottery tickets +at £10 each; the whole sum, with an additional capital of £133,010, +to be repaid with interest at 4 per cent. in thirty-two years. In the +last year of the reign of Queen Anne, 1714 (12 Anne, stat. II. c. 9), a +loan was negotiated of £1,400,000, by means of 140,000 lottery tickets +at £10 each, the blanks to have their whole money repaid, with interest +at 5 per cent. in thirty-two years, and the prizes to be formed by an +additional capital of £476,400: the whole capital of the prizes to bear +4 per cent. interest. + +Whether Jacobite trouble was the cause or not, there was no State +lottery until 1719. But private lotteries seem to have been to the +fore, so much so that in 1718 they were again made illegal by Act of +Parliament (5 Geo. I. c. 9, s. 43), whereby a fine of £100 could be +inflicted on the transgressors, but the Act was a dead letter. In 1719 +two State lotteries were launched (5 Geo. I. c. 3), both for the same +amount, and under similar conditions, except that the first was to bear +interest at 4 per cent. until redeemed by Parliament, and the second +was to be paid at the expiration of thirty-two years. They were each +for half a million, to cover which, 168,665 tickets of £3 each were +issued, making a total of £505,995, the excess over the half-million +being taken for the expenses of the lottery. + +In 1719 was instituted a very curious lottery, which exists to this +day, and is thoroughly legal. It is no less than a marriage portion +given by lottery every year to a girl who has been brought up in +Raine’s School, in the parish of St. George-in-the-East, London. I +take the following newspaper cutting, which, though not dated, the +occurrence it narrates must have taken place between 1842 and 1862, +during the time the Rev. Bryan King was rector. + +“Wednesday, being the first of May, a most interesting ceremony took +place connected with the asylum and schools founded in 1719 by Mr. +Henry Raine, formerly a brewer, near Parson’s Island, Wapping. This +gentleman, having amassed a princely fortune, endowed, by deed of +gift, the above charity. There are vested in trustees, formed into a +corporation, a perpetual annuity of £240 a year, and the sum of £4000, +which is laid out in a purchase. The charity combines two objects. It +provides for the scriptural education of fifty boys and fifty girls; +and in the asylum provision is made for forty other girls, who are +taught needle and house work, in order to qualify them for service, to +which they are put when they have been put upon the foundation three or +four years. During the whole of this time they are entirely maintained; +and, after the age of twenty-two years, six of them, producing +certificates of their good behaviour during their servitude, and +continuing unmarried, and members of the Episcopal Church of England, +draw twice a year for a marriage portion of £100, to settle them in the +world, with such honest and industrious persons as the majority of the +trustees shall approve of. The bridegrooms must belong to the parish of +St. George-in-the-East, St. John, Wapping, or St. Paul, Shadwell, and +be members of the Church of England. + +“On Wednesday morning, at nine o’clock, Sarah Salmon and Mary Ann +Pitman were married in consonance with the terms of the will; after +which the whole of the trustees and children of both establishments +attended Divine Service. The procession to and from the church was +most orderly, and thousands assembled to witness the interesting +scene. Immediately after the return of the governors and children +to the asylum, the process of 'drawing’ took place. There were +four candidates, and four pieces of paper being rolled up by the +governors, three of which were blanks, were dropped into a wide-necked +tea-canister, and shaken well together. After a hymn had been sung, +each candidate was taken by the arm by a governor, and led to the +drawing. Having taken out one roll each, they were led to the opposite +end of the room. The rector, the Rev. B. King, then desired each of +them to open their tickets, and the prize of £100 was discovered to be +in the possession of Jane McCormack. The successful candidate was then +addressed in a most touching manner by the rector, and exhorted to seek +a partner for life who would strive to make her happy by his affection, +and keep her comfortable by his industry. Those who were unsuccessful, +he also addressed with much earnestness and feeling, bidding them not +despair, as they would have the opportunity of trying again. To witness +this part of the ceremony, not fewer than a thousand persons were +present, including the principal families in the neighbourhood, and a +great number of ladies.” + +Since the above was written, this charity has been revised, and, by the +scheme of January 26, 1886, the governors are empowered to set apart +the yearly sum of £105 out of the income of the foundation, to provide +marriage portions, according to the will of the founder; but they may, +in any year, intermit the payment of any marriage portion, and they +may, at any time, by resolution, altogether abolish the payment of +marriage portions, and devote the money to educational purposes under +the scheme. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + Penalties on private lotteries--State lottery not + subscribed for--Lapse in State lotteries--Private + lotteries--Westminster Bridge lottery--State + lotteries--Discredit thrown on them--British Museum + lottery--Leheup’s fraud. + + +Once more came a wave of virtue against private lotteries, and in +1721, by the 36th sec. of 8 Geo. I. c. 2, was prescribed a penalty +of £500 for carrying on such lotteries, in addition to any penalties +inflicted by any former Acts; the offender being committed to prison +for one year, and thenceforward until such times as the £500 should be +fully paid and satisfied. Yet the Government themselves, the very same +year, brought out a lottery to raise £700,000 by 70,000 tickets at £10 +each; 6998 prizes from £10,000 to £20; 63,002 blanks at £8 each, about +nine blanks to a prize, paid soon after being drawn. And there were +lotteries for the same amount and on the same terms in 1722, 1723, and +1724. + +After that a curious thing in the history of lotteries happened, the +reason whereof may be that the offer was not sufficiently tempting. In +1726 a lottery was launched for raising a million, by 100,000 tickets +at £10 each, the prizes to be made stock at 3 per cent. But 11,093 of +these tickets were returned into the Exchequer unsold, and drawn in +prizes and blanks only £103,272 10_s._, whereby £7657 10_s._ was lost +to the Exchequer. + +This may probably account for there being no other State lottery till +1731 (4 Geo. II. c. 9), when £800,000 was raised by 80,000 tickets of +£10 each, the blanks being entitled to £7 10_s._ each, and the whole +bearing interest at 3 per cent. This capital was merged (25 Geo. II. +c. 27) into the Consolidated Three per Cents., and this course of +converting into stock, instead of paying the money, was adopted in many +subsequent lotteries. + +Once more they were prohibited by legislation, for “An Act for the more +effectual preventing of excessive and deceitful gaming” was passed in +1739 (12 Geo. II. c. 28), the first section of which dealt with private +lotteries. Yet the Government acted on Shakespeare’s dictum-- + + “That in the Captain’s but a cholerick word-- + Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy;” + +and, as we shall see, kept lotteries to themselves, whilst condemning +them as sinful in the hands of private speculators--which was perhaps +necessary, as in the _Gentleman’s Magazine_, 1739, p. 329, I find a +private lottery for £325,000, in which there were two prizes of £10,000 +each (and in number 16,310), down to £10, whilst there were 48,690 +blanks. + + +“THE STATE LOTTERY.” + +This was a lottery drawn between December 10, 1739, and January 25, +1740, for building the first bridge over the Thames, in lieu of the old +Horse-*ferry--12,500 tickets at £5 each, not more than three blanks to +a prize. It really was drawn at Stationers’ Hall, but there is no doubt +but that the illustration is meant for the Guildhall. Below the design +are the following verses, which show the valuation put upon the lottery +even then:-- + + “The Name of a Lott’ry the Nature bewitches, + And City and Country run Mad after Riches: + My Lord, who, already, has Thousands a Year, + Thinks to double his Income by vent’ring it here: + The Country Squire dips his Houses and Grounds, + For tickets to gain him the Ten Thousand Pounds: + The rosie-jowl’d Doctor his Rectorie leaves, + In quest of a Prize, to procure him Lawn Sleeves. + The Tradesman, whom Duns for their Mony importune, + Here hazards his All, for th’ Advance of his Fortune: + The Footman resolves, if he meets no Disaster, + To mount his gilt Chariot, and vie with his Master. + The Cook-Maid determines, by one lucky Hit, + To free her fair Hands from the Pot-hooks and Spit: + The Chamber-maid struts in her Ladies Cast Gown, + And hopes to be dub’d the Top Toast of the Town: + But Fortune, alas! will have small Share of Thanks, + When all their high Wishes are bury’d in Blanks. + For tho’ they for Benefits eagerly watch’d, + They reckon’d their Chickens before they were hatch’d.” + + +“THE LOTTERY.” + +This has connection with the same lottery, but a description would be +too long for these pages, so I only quote the three concluding lines +of the verses under the engraving, to show how, in the height of its +folly, they could moralize on the lottery-- + + “To Knaves and Fools the Wheels turn round; + The various kinds do come and go + With five to one ’tis Thro’ Bridge Ho.”[16] + + “THE LOTTERY; or, The Characters of several in + genious, designing Gentlewomen, that have put into it. + A Noted lottery Pachter.”[17] + +[16] Shooting the arches of London Bridge at high tide was always a +dangerous experiment. + +[17] Pactor--a dealer, maker of bargains. + +This was probably intended as a satire upon Cox, who kept a lottery +office near the Royal Exchange, and was a bookseller, which is shown in +his portrait (a very fat man, with his coat buttoned all down, and a +sash round his body), where in his sash is stuck a book, marked “Book +Sold.” + +Up to the early eighteenth century, the only communication between +Westminster and the Surrey side of the river was by a ferry (still +commemorated in Horse-ferry Road), which was the property of the +Archbishop of Canterbury, and for the privilege of which he paid an +annual rent of twenty pence. The landing-place on the Surrey side was +close to the Episcopal palace. This ferry, however, was inconvenient, +and, in 1736, an Act of Parliament was procured (9 Geo. II. c. 29), +after much opposition on the part of the city of London, “For building +a bridge cross the river _Thames_, from the _New Palace Yard_, in +the city of _Westminster_, to the opposite shore in the County of +_Surrey_.” Commissioners for building the bridge were to be chosen, to +meet in the Jerusalem Chamber, June 22, 1736, and adjourn to appoint +in what manner and with what materials the bridge shall be built. No +houses to be erected thereon. + +The result of their deliberations was another Act (10 Geo. II. c. +16) for explaining and amending the above. By this £700,000 was to +be raised by way of lottery, the residue of the money after payment +of the prizes to be applied towards the building of the bridge, and +tolls might be levied at the following rates:--“Every coach, etc., +drawn by six horses, 2_s._; by four horses, 1_s._ 6_d._; by less than +four horses, 1_s._ For every waggon, etc., drawn by four horses, 1_s._ +6_d._, and by less than four horses, 1_s._ For every horse, etc., not +drawing, 2_d._ For every foot passenger on Sundays, 1_d._, and on every +other day, ½_d._ For every drove of oxen, 1_s._ per score. For every +drove of calves, hogs, sheep, or lambs, 6_d._ per score.” + +I have before me the originals of two schemes for the erection of +this bridge. One is “For raising £60,000 without any Tax upon the +Inhabitants of the City of _Westminster_, for the building a Bridge +cross the River of _Thames_, the Legs of Stone, and the Arches turn’d +with Bricks (made on purpose, like those us’d in the Dome of _St. +Paul’s_ which is 110 Foot wide) after the manner of the Brick-Bridge +of _Thoulouse_, the greatest Arch of which is 100 Foot span; and to +become a free Bridge, in twenty-one years, except a small Duty to +keep it in repair.” It was proposed to raise a loan of £60,000 at 5 +per cent. interest on the security of the tolls to be levied, which, +it was calculated, would be repaid within the period specified, the +tolls being estimated to produce £6000 per annum. The other is “A +Plan of a Lottery to raise upwards of £100,000, free of all Expences +and Deductions, for Building a Bridge at _Westminster_,” and it was +proposed to have a lottery of £625,000, in 125,000 tickets at £5 each, +only three blanks to a prize, and to deduct 16 per cent. from all +prizes, which would amount to £100,000. + +There was another Act passed in 1738 (11 Geo. II. c. 25) respecting +this bridge, which provided that the bridge should be built from the +wool staple at Westminster, of what materials the Commissioners should +think fit, and they were to account yearly. On January 29, 1739, the +first stone was laid by Henry, Earl of Pembroke, and the same year +another Act was passed (12 Geo. II. c. 33), which not only empowered +the Commissioners to make compulsory purchases of houses and land, +but allowed them to issue a lottery of £325,000, and to take 15 per +cent. of that sum, amounting to £48,750, for the purpose of building +the bridge. An Act confirming this was passed (13 Geo. II. c. 16), +and on December 8, 1740, the drawing of the Bridge Lottery began at +Stationers’ Hall. The total cost of the bridge, which took eleven years +and nine months to build, was £389,500, and it was opened on November +17, 1750. + +There were State lotteries in 1743-4-5-6-7-8, for sums varying from +£1,000,000 to £6,300,000, all of which were converted into stock by +Acts of Parliament in the reign of George III. In 1751 the next State +lottery was authorized by Parliament (24 Geo. II. c. 2), £700,000 +in tickets of £10 each; but, somehow, this did not go down with the +public. The _Gentleman’s Magazine_ for July, 1751 (p. 328), says, +“Those inclined to become adventurers in the present lottery were +cautioned in the papers to wait some time before they purchased +tickets, whereby the jobbers would be disappointed of their market and +obliged to sell at a lower price. At the present rate of tickets the +adventurer plays at 35 per cent. loss.” + +This was further illustrated by some figures which appeared in the +_London Magazine_ for August, same year, giving the following odds +against winning, the chances being-- + + 34,999 to 1 against a £10,000 prize. + 11,665 ” ” 5,000 ” or upwards. + 6,363 ” ” 3,000 ” + 3,683 ” ” 2,000 ” + 1,794 ” ” 1,000 ” + 874 ” ” 500 ” + 249 ” ” 100 ” + 99 ” ” 50 ” + 6 ” ” 20 ” or any prize. + +In fact, such discredit was thrown upon this lottery, that a Mr. +Holland publicly offered to lay four hundred guineas, that four hundred +tickets, when drawn, would not, on an average, amount to more than £9 +15_s._ each, prizes and blanks; and his offer was never accepted. As +Adam Smith observed, it was an incontrovertible fact that the world +never had seen, and never would see, a fair lottery. + +Hone, in his “Every-Day Book,” gives the two following illustrations +of the drawing of this lottery. Unfortunately, I have been unable to +verify them, but it strikes me that the first one is of earlier date, +judging by the costumes, and that the halls in which the lottery is +drawn are totally different. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: Drawing of the Lottery in Guildhall, 1751.] + +By an Act of Parliament (26 Geo. II. c. 22), passed in 1753, the +nation purchased for £20,000 the library and collection of Sir Hans +Sloane, and incorporated with it the library of Sir Robert Cotton, and +that known as the Harleian library, thus forming the nucleus of the +British Museum. The next thing was to find a house wherein to keep +this collection, and to raise money for the same, at the least cost. +This was done, in the same Act, by means of a lottery, the managers +and trustees of which were, singularly enough, the Archbishop of +Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, and the Speaker, each of whom was +to have £100 for his trouble. The subscription to the lottery was +£300,000, in tickets of £3 each. £200,000 was to be distributed in +prizes varying from £10,000 to £10, and the remainder was to go towards +the purchasing of the Sloane collection and library, and the Harleian +library, finding suitable cases for the property acquired, house-room +and attendants. The lottery was to be drawn on November 26, 1753, +and all prizes were to be paid by December 31, 1754, when those not +presented would be forfeited. + +And this Act is the only trace I can find of this lottery, although I +have had the willing and zealous aid of the officials of the British +Museum in searching after it. + +In connection with this lottery was a gross fraud, into which the House +of Commons caused an inquiry to be made, and the committee eventually +reported that Peter Leheup, Esq., had privately disposed of a great +number of tickets before the office was opened, to which the public +were directed, by an advertisement, to apply; that he, also, delivered +great numbers to particular persons, upon lists of names which he +knew to be fictitious; and that, in particular, Sampson Gideon became +proprietor of more than six thousand, which he sold at a premium. The +House resolved that Leheup had been guilty of a violation of the Act +and a breach of trust, and the Attorney-General was instructed to +prosecute him. On June 9, 1855, he was found guilty, and sentenced to +pay a fine of £1000, which he could well afford, as it is said he had +made £40,000 by his rascality. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + + Crowd at a lottery--Another State lottery, eighty-seven + blanks to a prize--A ticket sold twice over--Extravagant + prices paid for tickets--Praying for success--A lucky + innkeeper--Lottery for Cox’s Museum--Adam’s Adelphi + Lottery--Blue-coat boys and the lottery--Future + arrangements for drawing. + +In 1755 there was a State lottery (28 Geo. II. c. 15) for £1,000,000, +tickets £10 each, the drawing of which commenced on October 6. At this +lottery the crowd at the Bank, willing and eager to subscribe, was so +great that the counters were broken by their eagerness to get at the +books. In the next year, 1756, one was started for £500,000 (29 Geo. +II. c. 7). + +Then comes a lottery in 1757 (30 Geo. II. c. 5), called “The Guinea +Lottery,” by which it was sought to raise £1,050,000 by the sale of +tickets at one guinea each; half the amount to be applied to the +service of the year, and the other half to be returned in prizes. But +it was only partially successful, less than half the full number of +tickets being sold. The prizes ranged from £10,000 to £10. Blanks +received nothing; eighty-seven blanks to a prize. The prizes were +paid in ready money; but, as one half of the subscription only was +divided into prizes, these tickets were worth only half a guinea each, +notwithstanding the avidity with which they were bought up. The drawing +at the Guildhall commenced on September 5 and ended on October 15. +Connected with this is a sad story, which I find in the _Gentleman’s +Magazine_ for the year, p. 528. “November 5.--Mr. Keys, late clerk +to Cotton & Co., who had absented himself since the 7th of October, +the day the £10,000 was drawn in the lottery (supposed to be his +property), was found in the streets raving mad, having been robbed of +his pocket-book and ticket.” + +There were State lotteries in 1758 (31 Geo. II. c. 22) for £500,000; in +1759 (32 Geo. II. c. 10) for £660,000; in 1760 (33 Geo. II. c. 7) for +£240,000, in £3 tickets; in 1761 (1 Geo. III. c. 7) for £600,000, in +£10 tickets, prizes from £10,000 to £20, blanks £6, about four blanks +to a prize; in 1763 (3 Geo. III. c. 12) for £350,000 in £10 tickets, +prizes from £10,000 to £20, blanks £5, about five blanks to a prize; +in 1765 for £600,000, in £10 tickets, prizes as usual, £6 blanks, +which were as four to one to the prizes; and another in 1766 (3 Geo. +III. c. 39), precisely similar in amount, etc. There was an incident +connected with this lottery, which was that a ticket was sold twice +over. No. 2099 was purchased in Change Alley for Pagen Hale, Esq., of +Hertfordshire, and the same number was divided into shares at a lottery +office near Charing Cross, and some of the shares actually sold. The +number purchased in the Alley was the real number, but that divided +by the office-keeper was done in mistake, for which he had to pay a +considerable sum. + +In 1767 (7 Geo. III. c. 24) was another £600,000 lottery, with rather +more stringent terms. In the interval between the purchase of a ticket +and the drawing of the lottery, the speculators were in a state of +intense excitement. On one occasion a fraudulent dealer managed to +sell the same ticket to two persons, and it came up a five hundred +pounds prize. One of the two went raving mad when he found that the +real ticket was, after all, not held by him. Circumstances excited +the public to such a degree that extravagant biddings were made for +the few remaining shares in the lottery, until one hundred and twenty +guineas were given for a ticket on the day before the drawing. Nay, a +lady residing in Holborn had a lottery ticket presented to her by her +husband, and, on the Sunday preceding the drawing, her success was +_prayed for_ in the parish church in this form: “The prayers of this +congregation are desired for the success of a person engaged in a new +undertaking.” + +The great prize of £20,000 fell to the lot of a tavern-keeper at +Abingdon. We are told that he gave the broker who went from town to +carry him the news, £100. All the bells in the town were set a-ringing. +He behaved very generously with his new-found fortune. He called in +his neighbours, and promised to assist this one with a capital sum, +that with another; gave away plenty of liquor, and vowed to lend a poor +cobbler money enough to buy leather to stock his stall so full that he +should not be able to get into it to work; and, lastly, he promised +to buy a new coach for the coachman who brought him down the ticket, +and to give a set of as good horses as could be bought for money. Yet +another anecdote of this lottery. During its progress Mr. Hughes, a +stockbroker, had his pocket picked in Jonathan’s Coffee-house of fifty +lottery tickets, the value of which--at the then current price--was +£800. On the same evening three other stockbrokers had their pockets +picked. A man was afterwards apprehended, on whose person was found +thirty-five of the stolen tickets. The others were never recovered, and +it was supposed they had been sent to Holland. + +There was a State lottery in 1768 (8 Geo. III. c. 31) for £600,000, +another in 1769 (9 Geo. III. c. 33) for £780,000, and one in 1771 (11 +Geo. III. c. 47) for £650,000. + +In 1773 were two private lotteries, Cox’s Museum and the Adelphi, the +first being legalized by Act of Parliament (13 Geo. III. c. 41). James +Cox was a jeweller in Shoe Lane, who delighted in making automata, +which he hoped to dispose of in the East Indies; but he found that “on +account of the great value and price thereof, and also on account of +the present distress and scarcity of money in the _East Indies_, as +well as in _Europe_, it cannot easily be disposed of in the common way +of sale.” He therefore, as he had contracted large debts in completing +the said Museum, petitioned Parliament to grant him facilities for a +lottery by which he might dispose of his White Elephant; and his prayer +was granted. This was the scheme of the lottery. + + 2 prizes of the value of £5000 = £10,000 + 2 ” ” 3000 = 6,000 + 12 ” ” 1500 = 18,000 + 18 ” ” 750 = 13,500 + 52 ” ” 450 = 23,400 + 100 ” ” 300 = 30,000 + 212 ” ” 150 = 31,800 + 2 ” ” 50 = 100 + 2 ” first drawn 100 = 200 + 2 ” last drawn 750 = 1,500 + 120,000 tickets of admission to + the Museum at 10_s._ 6_d._ = 63,000 + -------- + £197,500 + + 60,000 tickets marked A } + } 120,000 at £1 11_s._ £126,000 + 60,000 ” ” B } + + Balance in favour of the public 71,500 + -------- + £197,500 + +There were two automata of “a pair of bulls, with clocks, chimes, +mechanism and pedestal eight feet high,” which have been immortalized +by Sheridan in _The Rivals_--“And her one eye shall roll like the +bull’s in Cox’s Museum.” He even included in his collection the larger +forms of animal life, for he had “a Rhinoceros, with timepiece, musick +and mechanism,” and “an Elephant and silver temple, with musick, +mechanism, clock and pedestal;” in fact, there were two of both these. +It is impossible to give the whole of the prizes in this curious +Museum: two must serve as illustrations. “An automaton figure of a +Chinese, that plays on the flute with musical chimes and mechanism, +upon a commode of lapis and gold stone, which contains an Organ, and +in front, artificial water works, with a water mill and bridge; and +terminates with a spiral star; nine feet high.” “A swan, large as life, +formed of silver, filled with mechanism, beating time with its beak to +musical chimes, seated on artificial water, within reflecting mirrors; +under the swan are water works, terminating at the top with a rising +sun, upwards of three feet in diameter; the whole eighteen feet high.” + +COX’S LOTTERY. + +A SONG, TO THE TUNE OF “THE ROAST BEEF OF OLD ENGLAND.” + + Whoe’er in this season of public distress, + Would court Lady Fortune with certain success, + To her shrine let him now with alacrity press, + For tickets in Cox’s new lottery, + Let him haste, and buy tickets of Cox. + + The sly slippery Goddess here plays you no tricks, + Nor smiles in your face, while your pocket she picks; + A method is found out her wheel how to fix, + If we buy into Cox’s new lottery, + Then let us buy tickets from Cox. + + In his matchless Museum, the boast of our land, + For a guinea, a ticket we all may command; + Then, if for our country we’d gloriously stand, + O haste, and buy into the lottery, + Let us haste, and buy tickets of Cox. + + Whoe’er in this Lott’ry judiciously buys, + Will give a most exquisite feast to his eyes, + And is sure in that feast of a capital prize: + Then haste, and buy into the Lott’ry, + Let us haste and buy tickets of Cox. + + But besides this luxurious regale to the sight, + (Worth ten times the price, did we pay for delight) + Their own obvious int’rest should all men excite + To buy into Cox’s new Lott’ry, + Then haste, and buy tickets from Cox. + + You may get for your guinea, it plainly appears, + Five thousand hard pounds, or an income for years, + Or earrings worth more than a whole head and ears: + Then haste, and buy into the Lott’ry, + O haste, and buy tickets from Cox. + + Here, birds made of jewels their plumage unfold; + Here fly ruby lizards, here chase snakes of gold, + And wonders too mighty in words to be told, + Are prizes in Cox’s new Lott’ry, + Then haste, and buy tickets from Cox. + + If genius or splendor with pleasure you view, + See here more than Athens or Rome ever knew, + And feel for those Arts, which pour honour on you; + O haste then, and buy in the Lott’ry, + O haste, and buy tickets from Cox. + + Thus Britain’s white sails shall be kept unfurl’d, + And our commerce extend, as our thunders are hurl’d, + Till the Empress of Science is Queen of the World, + If we haste to buy into the Lott’ry, + If we haste to buy tickets from Cox. + +A fraud was attempted with regard to the drawing of this lottery. +On June 1, 1775, a man was brought before the Lord Mayor, charged +with attempting to bribe the two Blue-coat boys who drew the lottery +tickets, to conceal one, bring it to him, and he would return it to +them next day. His intention was to insure it in all the offices, with +a view to defraud the office-keepers. The boys were honest, gave notice +of the intended fraud, and pointed out the delinquent; who, however, +was discharged, there being no law to punish the offence. + +The preamble to the other Lottery Act of this year (13 Geo. III. c. +75) sets forth that “Whereas John, Robert, James, and William Adam ... +have erected many great and expensive buildings, with commodious wharfs +and warehouses, upon a piece of ground formerly called _Durham Yard_, +now called _the Adelphi_, situate in the parish of _St. Martin in the +Fields_, and adjoining to the river _Thames_; and have, by means of +subterraneous streets, pointed out a new and effectual method to keep +the access to the houses distinct from the traffick of the wharfs and +warehouses, thereby connecting grandeur and magnificence with utility +and commerce; and have also erected some great and expensive buildings +in _Queen Anne Street_ and Mansfield Street in the Parish of St. Mary +le bon, and are possessed of several shares of Stock in the Carron[18] +Company, and of many valuable statues, pictures and antiquities,” etc. +They found themselves in debt, and in want of money to complete their +works; so they petitioned that they might sell such of their property +as they wanted to, and that they might have a lottery, not to exceed +£224,000, in tickets of £50 each. Their prayer was granted, and it was +duly drawn: there were 110 prizes--the first drawn ticket receiving +£5000, and the last drawn £25,000. + +[18] A large iron foundry and engineering works at Larbert, co. +Stirling, principally employed in founding ordnance. _Carronades_ were +first made here. + +It is singular that two similar cases of swindling should have been +perpetrated in the same year; but, on December 5, 1775, a man appeared +before the magistrates at Guildhall, charged, with another man not +in custody, with defrauding a lottery office keeper of a large sum +of money. “The latter said that, about a fortnight previously, the +prisoner insured No. 21,481 six times over, for the following day of +drawing; that the conversation he had with the prisoner at that time, +and the seeming positiveness there appeared in the latter that the +ticket would come up, caused him to inquire at other lottery offices, +when he found the same number insured in the prisoner’s name at all +the principal offices about the 'Change; that the ticket was drawn the +first hour of drawing the subsequent day; that this, with his former +suspicions, alarmed him, and he immediately went to Christ’s Hospital +and saw the boy who drew the ticket; that he interrogated him whether +he had clandestinely taken that number out of the wheel, or whether he +had been solicited to do so; which the boy positively denied; and that, +observing that he answered rather faintly, he importuned him to tell +the truth, which, after some hesitation, produced an acknowledgment of +the fact. The next witness was the Blue-coat boy. He said that, about +three weeks ago, the person who is not in custody, and whom he had +known before he went into the hospital, took him to a coffee-house, +where they breakfasted together; that he wanted to know of the witness +whether it was possible to get a ticket out of the wheel, to which +the latter answered, No; that, being afterwards solicited by him for +the same purpose, to secrete a ticket, he, at length, promised to +do it; that he took two at one time out of the wheel, gave one to +the person who called it over, and put the other in his pocket; that +the person who induced him to do it, was then in the gallery, and +nodded his head to witness to signify when was a proper time; that, +after witness came out of the hall, he gave the ticket to the person +who sat in the gallery, and who was then waiting for the witness in +Guildhall Yard; that next time the witness drew the lottery, the +person returned him the ticket, which the witness put into the wheel, +and drew out the same day; that he did this three several times, and +received from the person for whom he did it, several half-guineas; that +he had heard the prisoner’s name mentioned by him, but never heard +the latter acknowledge any connection between them in insurance, and +had never before seen the prisoner.” The prisoner acknowledged that +he had insured the ticket seventy-nine times for one day, but--he was +discharged! + +To prevent, for the future, a repetition of such frauds, the Lords of +the Treasury (on December 12, 1775) issued an Order, from which the +following is an extract: “IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, for preventing the +like wicked practices in future, that every boy, before he is suffered +to put his hand into either wheel, be brought by the proclaimer to +the managers on duty, for them to see that _the bosoms and sleeves +of his coat be closely buttoned, his pockets sewed up, and his hands +examined_; and that, during the time of his being on duty, _he shall +keep his left hand in his girdle behind him, and his right hand open, +with his fingers extended_: and the proclaimer is not to suffer him, +at any time, to leave the wheel, without first being examined by the +Manager nearest him.” + +[Illustration] + +It was also “requested of the Treasurer of Christ’s Hospital, not to +make known who are the twelve boys nominated for drawing the lottery +till the morning the drawing begins; which said boys are all to attend +every day, and the two who are to go on duty at the wheels are to be +taken promiscuously from amongst the whole number, by either of the +secretaries, without observing any regular course or order; so that no +boy shall know when it will be his turn to go to either wheel.” + +Here we have a very good representation of the Blue-coat boy with his +hand in his girdle behind his back, and also of the lottery wheel and +boxes. They were in those days marked A and B; later on they had the +King’s cypher crowned.[19] + +[19] The earliest lottery ticket I have seen, is in the collection of +Miss Sophia Banks, sister of the famous Sir Joseph (Brit. Mus. 1890, +_e_). It represents an eighth share in the lottery of 1775. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + + Counterfeiting lottery tickets--Curious + lotteries--Suicide--Method of starting a State + lottery--Lottery office-keepers to be licensed + --Charles (or “Patch”) Price. + +In 1776 was a lottery for £600,000 (16 Geo. III. c. 34), and in 1777 +was one (17 Geo. III. c. 46) for £500,000. On January 6, this year, two +Jews, Samuel Noah and Joseph Aarones, were examined before the Lord +Mayor, charged with counterfeiting the lottery ticket, No. 25,590, a +prize of £2000, with intent to defraud Mr. Keyser, an office-keeper, +knowing the same to be false and counterfeit. Mr. Keyser had examined +the ticket carefully, and had taken it into the Stock Exchange to sell, +when Mr. Shewell came into the same box, and desired to look at the +ticket, having, as he recollected, purchased one of the same number a +day or two before. This fortunate discovery laid open the fraud, and +the two Jews were committed to take their trial for their ingenuity. +It was so artfully altered from 23,590 that not the least erasure +could be discovered. Aarones had but just come to England, and Noah was +thought to be a man of property. On February 21, Joseph Aarones and +Samuel Noah were tried for forging and counterfeiting a lottery ticket; +their defence was that the prisoner Aarones found it, and persons were +brought to swear to the fact; on which they were acquitted. The figure +altered was so totally obliterated by a certain liquid, that not the +least trace of it could be perceived. The numbers being written in +ordinary ink rendered this extremely easy. + +On February 24, 1777, Daniel Denny was tried for forging, +counterfeiting, and altering a lottery ticket, with intent to defraud; +and, being found guilty, he was condemned. He, probably, was not +prepared with false witnesses as were the Jews--a custom which, +unfortunately, as regards the foreign importations, exists to an +alarming extent in our own time. + +With regard to this lottery, the _Annual Register_ for 1777 says +(p. 206), “The following is a true state of the different methods +of getting money by lottery-office keepers, and other ingenious +persons, who have struck out different plans of getting money by the +State lottery of 1777. First, His Majesty’s royal letters patent for +securing the property of purchasers. Secondly, a few office-keepers +who advertise 'By authority of Parliament’ to secure your property in +shares and chances. Thirdly, several schemes for shares and chances, +only entitling the purchasers to all prizes above twenty pounds. +Fourthly, a bait for those who can only afford to venture _one +shilling_. + +“Then come the ingenious sett of lottery merchants, viz. Lottery +magazine proprietors, Lottery taylors, Lottery stay-makers, Lottery +glovers, Lottery hat-makers, Lottery tea-merchants, Lottery snuff and +tobacco merchants, Lottery handkerchiefs, Lottery bakers, Lottery +barbers (where a man, being shaved, and paying threepence, may +stand a chance of getting ten pounds), Lottery shoe-blacks, Lottery +eating-houses (one in Wych Street, Temple Bar, where, if you call for +sixpenny-worth of roast, or boiled beef, you receive a note of hand, +with a number, which, should it turn out fortunate, may entitle the +eater of the beef to sixty guineas), Lottery oyster stalls, by which +the fortunate may get five guineas for threepenny-worth of oysters. +And, to complete this curious catalogue, an old woman, who keeps a +sausage-stall in one of the little alleys leading to Smithfield, wrote +up in chalk, 'Lottery _sausages_, or five shillings to be gained for a +farthing relish.’” + +Sad to say, this year’s lottery led to at least one suicide, for, on +January 10, the body of a young man, clerk to a merchant in the city, +was found in the river, below bridge; he had been dabbling in the +lottery with his master’s money, and chose this method of settling his +accounts. + +In 1778 there was a lottery for £480,000 (18 Geo. III. c. 22), another +in 1779 (19 Geo. III. c. 18) for £490,000, one in 1780 (20 Geo. III. +c. 16) for £480,000. At this time, and afterwards, the State lotteries +became a regular institution. At first they were spasmodic, and were +of help to the Government at a time when rates were hardly known; they +now developed into a voluntary taxation, appealing to the national +taste for gambling, and fostered by the Government, in order to help +out the annual supplies. The _modus operandi_ was that the Chancellor +of the Exchequer would invite a few of the leading stockbrokers to +a conference, in which he would state his views. That he intended +to issue a lottery for, say, £500,000 in £10 tickets--all to be +distributed in prizes; and then he asked them at what price they would +tender for them. In the competition that ensued, a final offer would be +accepted, and the whole lot disposed of at, say, five pounds premium +per share, which would give the Government a clear profit, without +risk, of £250,000. Of course, those who got the concession put up +the price of the tickets at once, but, as single shares were seldom +bought--most people taking a fourth, an eighth, or a sixteenth of a +ticket--the rise was not much felt by the public, and at this time they +seem to have been thoroughly subscribed for. + +In 1780 and 1781 were drawn lotteries (20 Geo. III. c. 16, and 21 Geo. +III. c. 14) for £480,000 each, and in 1782 another for £405,000 (22 +Geo. III. c. 8). + +Private lotteries, although illegal, still flourished, and the +Government, in order to keep up its own monopoly in this lucrative +gambling, got an Act passed in 1782 (22 Geo. III. c. 47) whereby +lottery-office keepers were to pay £50 licence, under a penalty for +not doing so of £100. In 1783 there was a lottery (23 Geo. III. c. 35) +for £480,000, and one in 1784 (24 Geo. III. c. 10) for £360,000; but +this seems to have been rather unfortunate, as not more than a third of +the tickets were sold before drawing. From this time lotteries, as aids +to State revenue, were disconnected from loans, with which they had +hitherto been associated, and in 1785 (25 Geo. III. c. 59) was one for +£650,000, of which £500,000 was given in prizes, and it yielded a net +profit to the Government of £137,250. Next year, 1786 (26 Geo. III. c. +65), one for £688,750, prizes £500,000, net profit £176,000. + +An episode of crime in the annals of the lottery may well be introduced +here, for on January 25, 1786, Charles, _alias_ “Patch,” Price +hanged himself, and so terminated his worthless life. The following +particulars respecting him are condensed from the very lengthy +biography in Hone’s “Every-Day Book.” + +[Illustration: CHARLES PRICE. + +Ordinary Dress. Disguise.] + +He was the son of a tailor, who came, about 1702, from South Wales to +London, where, in 1710, he settled in Monmouth Street (a famous place +for cheap tailors and second-hand clothes) as journeyman to a salesman +there. He afterwards set up for himself in the Seven Dials. Charles +was sent to school when six years old, and when twelve years of age +had to help his father; but he developed such cunning and roguery that +he had to be apprenticed to a hatter and hosier, whom he tricked, and, +being discovered, he ran away. His father died, disinheriting him; +but before his death Charles went as servant to two gentlemen, with +one of whom he went the tour of Europe. He became a brewer, then set +up a distillery, defrauded the revenue, was sent to the King’s Bench, +released by an Insolvent Act, again turned brewer, and defrauded a +gentleman out of £6000. He then became a lottery office-keeper, courted +a Mrs. Pounteney, and ran away with her niece. He practised innumerable +frauds, became an adept at swindling, and had the effrontery to avow +his depredations and laugh at those he injured. + +Price was intimate with a Mr. R____, a grocer retired from business, +with whom he had, for a long time, passed as a stockbroker. Price, who +then lived at Knightsbridge, frequently used to request the favour +of Mr. R____ to take a bank-note or two into the city, and get them +changed into small ones. In this he had a twofold plot. He informed his +friend that he was intimately acquainted with a very old gentleman, +exceedingly rich, who had been an eminent broker in the Alley, but had +long retired; that his monies in the funds were immense; that the only +relation he had in the world was one sister, to whom he intended to +bequeathe the best part of his property; and that his sister was near +fifty years of age, had never been married, and was determined never to +marry; and that it was impossible that the old gentleman could live +long, as he was very old, very infirm, and almost incapable of going +out of doors. This old gentleman, Price said, had often asked him to +become his executor; and besought him to recommend another person, in +whose fidelity, character, and integrity he could repose an entire +confidence, and that he would make it well worth their while if they +would undertake so friendly and solemn an office. “Now,” said Price to +Mr. R____, “here is an opportunity for us to make a considerable sum +in a short time, and, in all probability, a very capital fortune in a +few years; for, the sister being determined not to marry, and having +no relations in the world, there is no doubt but she will leave us the +whole of the estate; and, after his decease, she will become totally +dependent upon us. I shall see the old gentleman, Mr. Bond, to-day, +and, if you will join in the trust, the will shall be immediately made.” + +To this proposal Mr. R____ consented. In the evening Price returned +to Knightsbridge. He told Mr. R____ that he had visited Mr. Bond, +who expressed great happiness and easiness of mind on such a +recommendation, and desired to see Mr. R____ the next day. Price +appointed to meet him at twelve o’clock at Mr. Bond’s. At the appointed +hour Mr. R____ knocked at the door. He was shown upstairs by the +aforementioned sister, and introduced to Mr. Bond, seated in a great +chair, his legs in another, and his head covered with a night-cap. +The poor, infirm, weak, debilitated old gentleman regretted the +absence of his ever dear friend, Mr. Price, the most worthy man in the +world, and rang a peal on his friendship, honour, honesty, integrity, +etc., accompanied with emaciated coughs--was obliged to go to a City +coffee-house--a punctual man--never failed an appointment--it was the +soul of business; and he then told Mr. R____ that his dear friend +desired to meet Mr. R____ there, exactly at one o’clock. He approved +highly of Mr. Price’s recommendation, and was now quite happy in his +mind; it wanted but a quarter to one, he believed, and he hoped Mr. +R____ would not fail, as his dear friend was very exact indeed. The +usual compliments passed; the sister conducted Mr. R____ to the door, +who posted away to the City coffee-house, and left old Mr. Bond, who +was in reality no other than Price, and his maiden sister, who was Mrs. +Pounteney, to laugh at Mr. R____’s credulity. Mr. R____ had not been +five minutes in the coffee-house before he was joined by his friend +Price, to whom Mr. R____ recapitulated what had passed; and, as soon +as Price had despatched some pretended business, he proposed calling +on Mr. Bond. This was readily acquiesced in by Mr. R____, and away +they drove to Leather Lane. When they got there, they were informed by +the lady that her brother had just gone out in a coach, on an airing, +to Highgate. In short, Price carried on the scheme completely for +several days, during which time Mr. R____ had twice or thrice seen the +old gentleman. The will was made, and, on the strength of the joint +executorship and expectancy, Mr. R____ was swindled out of very nearly +a thousand pounds in cash, and bonds to the amount of two hundred +pounds. This seems to have been his first attempt at disguise. + +As a lottery office-keeper he continually cheated his clients, and, +to avoid their clamour and importunity, he had to shift his offices +frequently, the last he had being at the corner of King Street, Covent +Garden, from which he privately decamped. + +[Illustration] + +Having a wife and eight children to support, and being incapable of +earning an honest living, he commenced forging the notes of the Bank +of England. His first attack on the Bank was about the year 1780, when +one of his notes had been taken there, so complete in the engraving, +the signature, the water-marks, and all its parts, that it passed +through various hands unsuspected, and was not discovered till it +came to a certain department, through which no forgery whatever can +pass unnoticed. The appearance of this note occasioned considerable +alarm among the directors; and forgery upon forgery flowed in, about +the lottery and Christmas times, without the least probability of +discovering the first negotiators. Various consultations were held, +innumerable plans were laid for detection, and they were traced, in +every quarter, to having proceeded from one man, always disguised, and +always inaccessible. + +Had Price permitted a partner in his proceedings, had he employed an +engraver, had he procured paper to be made for him, with water-marks +upon it, he must soon have been discovered; but he “was himself +_alone_.” He engraved his own plates, made his own paper with the +water-mark, and, as much as possible, was his own negotiator. He, +thereby, confined a secret to himself, which he deemed not safe in +the breast of another; even Mrs. Price had not the least knowledge or +suspicion of his proceedings. Having practised engraving till he had +made himself a sufficient master of the art, he then made his own ink +to prove his work. He next purchased implements and manufactured the +water-mark, and began to counterfeit hand-writings. + +All attempts to discover him proving fruitless, the Bank issued a +minute description of his disguise, and of Mrs. Pounteney’s appearance, +which forced him to refrain from the circulation of his forgeries, +and for some months to put a total stop to them. But his wits did not +fail him, and he obtained a negotiator for his notes, in answer to an +advertisement for a man-servant who had been used to live with a single +gentleman. A very honest fellow, whose Christian name was Samuel, +called upon him, and was engaged, at a salary of eighteen shillings per +week, to attend on a young nobleman who was then in Bedfordshire; and, +pending his arrival, he was to wait on an old invalid gentleman named +Brank (Price), at 39, Tichfield Street, Oxford Street. + +A few days afterwards Samuel was told that the young nobleman wished +to buy some lottery tickets, and was given some seeming banknotes, one +for £20, and another for £40. With the first he was to purchase an +eight-guinea chance at a lottery office in the Haymarket, and then was +to go to another, and purchase a similar chance out of the second note. +He executed his commission, and was entrusted with more notes, which he +duly changed. This time Mr. Brank called to him out of a coach, saying +how fortunate it was he had met him; made him get in, and, driving to +the City, gave him false notes of presumably £400 value, and told him +to purchase chances at the different offices round the Exchange, after +which he was to call on Mr. Brank at a coffee-house. The lad did as +ordered, waited a little for the invalid, who came hobbling up, and +the two drove in a coach to Long Acre. For his attention and fidelity, +Samuel received a guinea. + +Samuel was made the innocent means of passing numerous forged notes, +until he was arrested and committed to Tothill Fields Bridewell; but +the authorities believed his artless tale, and a watch was set. After +a few days a message came for Samuel to meet Mr. Brank next day at +Mill’s Coffee-house, exactly at eleven o’clock. The police told him to +keep the appointment, but to be five minutes late. Brank was punctual, +and waiting close by in a coach, when he observed Samuel talking to a +Bow Street runner in disguise, whereupon he took to immediate flight. +The police made a raid at once upon the house in Tichfield Street; +but Mr. Brank had only occupied the apartments for a week, and had +long since left. The advertisements were again issued, and handbills +showered around to no purpose. Poor Samuel, however, having tolerably +established his innocence, was, after suffering eleven months’ +imprisonment, discharged with a present of £20. + +In the ensuing lottery, Price played the same artful game with notes of +higher value; those of £20 and £40 were grown too suspicious. Another +lad was taken, another _rush_ made, and Price was missed again by a +moment. + +These are only a few of his rogueries. He was caught at last, and taken +to Bow Street, where he was extremely insolent, until he was confronted +with Samuel, who, never having seen him except in a disguise, could +only swear to his voice. He was committed to Tothill Fields Bridewell, +where he sent for his wife and eldest son. To his wife’s utter +astonishment he confessed everything to her, and having written a +letter, which he concealed in the sole of his son’s boot, told him to +go with it to Mrs. Pounteney, who, upon receipt thereof, burnt all his +disguise, had his press and apparatus taken down and duly burnt, tried +to melt the engraved plates, and gave them to Price’s son to take to +the adjacent fields and distribute them beneath the dust-heaps; and the +pieces lay there till, by a stratagem, they were discovered and taken +to Bow Street. + +As there was no shadow of doubt as to his guilt and ultimate +punishment, and wishing to avoid a public execution, he informed his +son that the people of the prison came into his room sooner than he +wished, and that he had something secret to write, which they might get +at by coming suddenly upon him, which he wished to prevent. On this +pretence, he gave his son money to purchase two gimlets and a sixpenny +cord, pointing out to him how he would fasten the gimlets in the post, +and tie the cord across the door, which opened inwards. The poor youth +obtained the implements, and Price, having fastened the gimlets under +two hat screws, hanged himself effectually. He, having committed +suicide, was buried at a cross-road; but, in about a week, his body was +privately removed by night. + +Mrs. Pounteney, although both cajoled and severely interrogated, would +not say a single word which could possibly incriminate her former +lover, and was never punished for her share in the frauds. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + + Lottery for the Leverian Museum--Prosecution of unlicensed + lottery office-keepers--Suicide--Robbery of employers + --Sharp practice over a prize--Cheating by lottery + office-keepers--Complaint of a prisoner. + +Sir Ashton Lever, who was born in 1729, and who died in 1788, was the +eldest son of Sir James Darcy Lever, whose seat was at Alkrington, +near Manchester. He was an ardent collector of specimens of natural +history, minerals, fossils, and shells, and his museum was famous. In +the May number of the _Gentleman’s Magazine_ for 1773, is a letter from +a gentleman who had visited it late in the previous year, and, from +his account, we find that, not only did he collect every legitimate +specimen of natural history he could lay hold of, but also any _lusus +Naturæ_ that came across his path; as, for instance, “A double-headed +Calf: A Pig with eight legs, two tails, one backbone, and one head: +a Leveret with seven legs, eight feet, and one head: A Kitten, a +perfect Polypheme, having one eye only, and that in the middle of +the head: a Pupp with two mouths and one head.” Stuffed birds, fish +preserved in spirits, reptiles, crustaceæ, fossils, marbles, medals, +and casts, all were in profusion, nor did he disdain comparatively +trifling curiosities, such as “A few pictures of birds in straw, very +natural, by Miss Gregg; a basket of flowers cut in paper,--a most +masterly performance; the flowers are justly represented, not the least +dot of the apices of the stamina wanting, or the least fault in the +proportion; every part is so truly observed, that it was new to me +every time I went to see it, and gave me great delight. This curious +basket of flowers was executed by Mrs. Groves. There are a number of +antique dresses of our own and other nations.... Here is a head of his +present Majesty, cut in Cannil Coal, said to be a striking likeness; +indeed, the workmanship is inimitable. Here, also, is a drawing in +Indian Ink of a head of a late Duke of Bridgewater, valued at 100 +Guineas,” etc., etc. + +This collection was costly, and Sir Ashton’s income could not +stand it. In 1774 he brought it to London, and christened it the +_Holophusikon_, and, having taken Leicester House, in Leicester +Square, formerly the residence of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and in +modern times, Miss Linwood’s Gallery of Needlework, Madame Wharton’s +_Posés Plastiques_--on its site now stands the “Empire Palace of +Varieties”--it filled sixteen rooms, and various passages and +staircases, and he advertised that they were on view, from ten to four, +“admittance 5_s._ 3_d._ each person.” + +But, as his purse could not stand the drain upon it, he made up his +mind to part with his collection, applying to Parliament for power to +dispose of it by lottery. The committee valued it at £50,000, and he +offered it to the nation at a considerable reduction on this valuation, +but the trustees of the British Museum declined to purchase it. So he +got an Act of Parliament in 1784 (24 Geo. III. c. 22), by which he was +empowered to dispose of his museum by lottery, without being liable +to any penalty. Sum to be raised not to exceed £37,800, and number of +tickets 36,000. To advertise such sale by December 25, 1784, and before +he sell, etc., any tickets, with an account of the pieces composing +the museum, in the _London Gazette_. To consist of one prize, to be +determined by the lottery of 1785, if it consists of 36,000 tickets, +or upwards. If no lottery in 1785 that shall consist of 36,000 tickets, +then by a private lottery, after February 2, and before March 25, 1786, +under the inspection of ____, or any three of them, and the first +number to be the prize. + +Here is an advertisement of his show, taken from a newspaper +advertisement, January 28, 1785:-- + +“SIR ASHTON LEVER’S Lottery Tickets are now on sale at Leicester House, +every day (Sunday excepted) from nine in the morning till six in the +evening, at one guinea each; and, as each ticket will admit four +persons, either together or separately, to view the Museum, no one will +hereafter be admitted but by the Lottery Tickets, excepting those who +have already annual tickets. + +“This collection is allowed to be infinitely superior to any of the +kind in Europe. The very large sum expended in making it, is the cause +of its being thus to be disposed of, and not from the deficiency of +the daily receipts (as is generally imagined), which have annually +increased, the average amount for the last three years being £1833 per +annum. + +“The hours of admission are from Eleven till Four. + +“Good fires in the Galleries.” + +The lottery was drawn, but poor Lever only sold 8000 tickets out of his +36,000, and the lucky winner was a Mr. James Parkinson, who erected, +for its reception, a curious building, called the “Rotunda,” on the +Surrey side of Blackfriars Bridge. Here the collection was exhibited, +until it was sold on July 18, 1806, the sale lasting sixty-five days, +and the lots numbering 7879. The “Rotunda” fell from its high estate, +and became a low music-hall, or “penny gaff.” + +In 1787 (27 Geo. III. c. 41) was a State lottery which produced +£756,875. £500,000 was distributed in prizes, and it resulted in a +net profit to the Government of £243,925. As we have seen, an Act was +passed in 1782 compelling lottery-office house keepers to pay a £50 +licence, but this did not prevent illegal practices. Sales of chances +still continued to be made by unlicensed persons, and other schemes +were prepared with so much ingenuity as to evade the Act. Accordingly, +in 1787, an Act was passed (27 Geo. III. c. 1) to render more effectual +the laws then in being for suppressing unlawful lotteries. The licensed +lottery office-keepers complained, and made a representation to the +Lords of the Treasury as to the nature and extent of the mischief +of these fraudulent proceedings. They stated that the sale of these +chances was equal to the whole of the State lottery, and that it +was impossible for them to find a market for the sale of the duly +authorized lottery tickets. In consequence of these representations, +proceedings were taken, under the Act of 1787, to have persons who sold +the illegal tickets apprehended and committed, under the third section, +as rogues and vagabonds. The convictions obtained effectually put an +end to the system, and it was never afterwards renewed. + +Here is a specimen of one of these unauthorized lotteries, from +a handbill (1787) of Mr. John Clarke, who had just received from +the Grand Lottery Committee, held at the Royal Exchange, London, +the “Annual Gold Lottery Medal, given to the Author of the best +Plan, or Plans, for the Public to purchase in.” He “submits, with +the utmost deference and respect, his New Plans, for the present +Lottery, to the general perusal. _First Plan_ at Sixpence--_Second_ +at Half a Crown--_Third_ at Five and Sixpence--_Fourth_ at half a +guinea--_Fifth_ at One Guinea.” And his scheme was, at 6_d._ If you +were participant in a prize of £20,000, you might receive an annuity +of £20, or a capital sum of £40. If £10,000 prize, annuity of £10, or +£30 money; if £5000, annuity of £5, or £25; £2000 prize, annuity of £2, +or £20; £1000, annuity of £1, or £15; £500, annuity of 10_s._, or £15. +If, however, you paid half a crown, on winning £20,000 you would get +an annuity of £100, or a capital sum of £200; and for a prize of £100, +an annuity of 10_s._, or £50. The other shares of five and sixpence, +half a guinea and one guinea, were based on the same scale, only each +doubled the other. + +We read in the _Gentleman’s Magazine_ of this year of a suicide clearly +traceable to lottery speculation, and it gives what purports to be +“a copy of a paper left by the unhappy young gentleman who lately +shot himself with two pistols in Queen Street, Westminster,” wherein +he curses “the head that planned, and the heart that executed, the +baneful, destructive plan of a lottery.” + +In this same year, during the debate on cap. 1 before quoted, a member +of Parliament, named Francis, said his own family furnished a striking +instance of the dreadful effects of a passion for gambling in the +lottery. He had given at different times, to a female servant, sums +of money, to the amount of two hundred pounds, to pay his tradesmen’s +bills; but, to his great surprise, he afterwards found that, regardless +of his character, or her own, she had risked the entire sum in insuring +in the lottery, and had lost it. He would have been glad had the loss +of money been the only one, for he would have taken it upon himself; +but the poor woman lost her life within a week after this discovery had +been made, dying broken-hearted and distracted. + +In 1788 (28 Geo. III. c. 21) a State lottery, nominally for £480,000, +realized by tender the sum of £750,600, of which the net profit to the +Government was £256,958 9_s._ 8_d._ + +In this lottery, a guinea share of a ticket drawn, a prize of +£20,000, had been duly registered by Shergold and Co., who sold it, +and acquainted the holder, by letter, that it entitled him to £1500. +This lucky man, who lived in the country, attended his club the same +evening, and imparted the good news he had received. His joy, however, +was considerably damped by a person present, who assured him that +he would never be paid, that his prize was not worth a groat, and +that he himself knew one, at the beginning of the lottery, who had +half-a-guinea share in a prize of £20,000, and was entitled to £700, +but was glad to compromise it for £50. After reciting a variety of +circumstances to the same effect, and cunningly working up alarm to +the highest pitch, he at length told the owner of the prize that he +knew some of the proprietors in Shergold’s house, and he believed +he might be able to get some money where another could get none; he +would, therefore, venture to give £100 for the prize. This proposal +being rejected, he advanced to £200, thence to £300, and at last +to £600, which was accepted. He accordingly paid the money to the +_fortunate_ adventurer, got possession of the prize, immediately set +off for London, and received the £1500 without difficulty. Several +eminent lawyers, on considering the misrepresentations used in this +transaction, were of opinion that it was what is termed a catching +bargain, and advised the owner, who was cozened out of £900, to apply +to Equity for relief. He seems to have been afraid of the remedy, for, +though he took Counsel’s opinion, it does not appear that he followed +it into Chancery. + +1789 had its lottery (29 Geo. III. c. 33), bringing in the Government +£771,562 10_s._, of which £500,000 was distributed in prizes, +leaving a net gain of £258,175 13_s._ About this time there were one +or two somewhat shady lottery office-keepers, notably Mr. Margray +and Shergold--of whom we shall hear more in 1791. In this lottery, +Margray, in his prospectus, says, “So that it may be said, without +any Exaggeration, that by an adventure of a guinea and a half, in +this Plan, a person may become possessed of Prizes of £18, up to +£30,000, considering at the same time, that the Subscription Money +is returned if drawn a Blank, or a Prize of Eighteen pounds, during +half the drawing of the Lottery: Adding to this the Security of the +Office, in which, on the same Spot, Business has been transacted for +upwards of Twenty Years with the strictest Honour and Integrity,” etc. +Shergold and Co. say in their prospectus, “The integrity and solidity +of Shergold’s House have been fully tried and proved. They give +clear, plain reference to eminent Bankers where any one can satisfy +themselves. They possess and have merited the public confidence in a +most eminent degree.” + +[Illustration] + +In 1790 was the usual lottery (30 Geo. III. c. 30), when £500,000 was +distributed in prizes, and the Government netted £277,606 3_s._ 1_d._; +and in 1791 another (31 Geo. III. c. 53), same amount given in prizes, +net Government profit £291,108 10_s._ 7_d._ + +In 1791, at Covent Garden Theatre, was produced a comedy called _The +School for Arrogance_, and the prologue was spoken by a news-hawker, +who, “_after sounding, and calling 'Great News!’ without, enters with a +postman’s horn, newspapers, cap, and livery_.” + + “Great news! here’s money lent on bond, rare news! + By honest, tenderhearted, Christian Jews! + Here are promotions, dividends, rewards, + A list of Bankrupts, and of new-made Lords. + Here the debates at length are, for the week; + And here the deaf and dumb are taught to speak. + Here Hazard, Goodluck, Shergold, and a band + Of gen’rous gentlemen, whose hearts expand + With honour, rectitude and public spirit, + Equal in high desert, with equal merit, + Divide their tickets into shares and quarters. + And here’s a servant maid found hanging in her garters! + Here! here’s the fifty thousand, sold at every shop! + And here’s the _Newgate Calendar_, and drop.” + +That portion relating to the lottery office-keepers is, evidently, “rit +sarcastical,” for both Shergold and Margray, who had brought their +honour and integrity before the public, were convicted of evading +the law, by a peculiar mode of dividing and insuring tickets; and in +Michaelmas Term, 1791, the question was argued, in the King’s Bench, +whether the sellers of their receipts were liable to be apprehended +and committed as vagrants under the Lottery Act of 1787, and the Court +decided that they were vagrants within the true intent of the Act. + +One at least was committed to the Fleet, for here is his moan and +plaint from that place of confinement:-- + + “READER, + + “Look to the following Caution, which + has been published by Order of the Stamp + Commissions. + + SHERGOLD & CO., MARGRAY & CO., &C., &C., &C. + + CAUTION TO THE PUBLIC. + +“It is hoped that the following Affidavit of _Nicholas Williams_, late +of Exeter, Coal-dealer, will serve as a Caution to all Vendors of +illegal LOTTERY SHARES, not to offend against the Statute in future. + +“In the Exchequer, between _Richard King_ and _Nicholas Williams_. +_Nicholas Williams_, late of the City of Exeter, in the County of +Devon, Coal-dealer, but now a Prisoner in His Majesty’s Prison of the +Fleet, and the Defendant in the above Cause, maketh Oath, and saith, +that about the 9th Day of October last, he, this Deponent, received +a Letter, dated the 7th Day of the said Month of October, signed _W. +Sherman_, which is now in the Defendant’s custody, including several +Pieces of Paper, with the Name _Shergold and Co._ written thereon; +which Pieces of Paper were therein described as Share Receipts, by +which this Deponent understood was meant legal Shares in the Irish +Lottery; and this Deponent was desired to sell the same, and for which +he was to be allowed £10 per cent. for his Trouble. + +“And this Deponent further saith, that being ignorant that the said +Pieces of Paper were _illegal Shares of Lottery Tickets, and liable +to a Penalty of £50, for the Sale of each_, he, this Deponent, did +sell several such Pieces of Paper, signed _Shergold and Co._, and +for which Offence, the Commissioners of the Stamp Office, as this +Deponent had been informed and believes, ordered this Prosecution to +be commenced against him for £500 Penalties, incurred by such Sale, as +aforesaid. And this Deponent further saith, that on applying to the +House of the said _Shergold and Co. No. 50 Lombard St._ for Assistance +in bailing him from Prison, it was refused, and, therefore, he was +carried to Jail; and this Deponent now remains there, in Consequence +thereof, at the Mercy of the said Commissioners of the Stamp Office. +And this Deponent further saith, that he never knew the person of the +said _Shergold_ whose name is signed to the before mentioned Pieces of +Paper, nor does he believe that there is, in being, any such Person.” + +His brother brokers sat heavily on this “Mrs. Harris,” and said and +published hard things concerning the peccant firms. In one handbill, +premising that the printer of a morning paper had been fined £100 for +inserting in his paper the advertisements of Shergold and Margray, and +noting that every printer throughout the realm was liable to a penalty +of £50 for inserting one of their advertisements, _inter alia_, it +says, “After the solemn Declaration of Lord Kenyon, upon the Bench, +that Shergold and Co. and Margray and Co., and all of their Description +were the most PROFLIGATE, the most INFAMOUS and the most ABANDONED of +Mankind”--“_Shergold and Co._ (and, when I mention one Impostor, I mean +all) sell a _Thing_--a Slip of Paper--a printed Scrap--for SIX GUINEAS, +which, according to fair and honest Calculation, is not worth SIX +PENCE: Here in the First Instance is a most _Infamous Fraud_. _Shergold +and Co._ pretend to have a real and responsible Existence:--Now it +is well known, that there are no such Persons living--no Person of +the name of _Shergold_, that dares to answer for the iniquitous +Transactions of that scandalous House. Consequently, assuming a false +Name, for illegal Purpose, is an _Infamous Fraud_.” And very much more +to the same purpose. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + + Winners of prizes--Attempt to put down the practice + of insuring--Steps taken to prevent it--Specimen + handbill--Bish, the lottery office-keeper--Lottery for + the “Pigot” diamond--Lottery-office agencies--Shortening + the time of drawing the lottery--Story of Baron + d’Aguilar. + +As usual, the annual lottery for 1792 was passed in Parliament (32 +Geo. III. c. 28), which, giving £500,000 in prizes, brought in a net +profit of £300,136 6_s._ 10_d._ This lottery began drawing February 18, +1793, and in a handbill of Messrs. Richardson, Goodluck, and Co., a +very respectable firm of office-keepers, whose offices were by the Bank +of England, we learn to what varied grades in life the lottery prizes +fell. It was No. 12,087 ticket, a £30,000 prize in the last lottery, +sold by this firm in sixteenths. + + 1 sixteenth to a Clergyman near Brigg, Lincolnshire. + ” ” Tradesman at Dartford, Kent. + ” ” Gentleman in Scotland Yard, Westminster. + ” ” Housekeeper in a Gentleman’s family, + King Street, Grosvenor Square. + ” ” Tradesman in Long Acre. + ” ” Servant at Newbury, Berks. + ” ” Gentleman and Lady in St. Martin’s Lane. + ” ” Innkeeper at Gillingham, Kent. + ” ” Gentleman at Malverton, Somersetshire. + ” ” Gentleman at Hazlemere, Surrey. + ” ” Two Gentlemen’s Servants, in Hamilton + Street, Hyde Park Road. + ” ” Two Gentlemen at Newmarket. + ” ” Two young ladies (sisters), Bloomsbury. + ” ” Two Servants to a Widow Lady at Epsom. + ” ” Six Servants at a Merchant’s, + St. Mary-at-Hill. + ” ” Twelve Tradesmen in King’s Gate Street, + Holborn. + +Hornsby and Co., another respectable firm, advertise the capital prizes +sold by them in the last two lotteries. + + No. 33,979 a Prize of £30,000 + 42,569 ” 30,000 + 41,346 ” 10,000 + 36,986 ” 2,000 + 41,574 ” 2,000 + 9,192 ” 1,000 + 35,254 ” 1,000 + 44,057 ” 1,000 + 43,875 ” 1,000 + 43,549 ” 500 + 33,225 ” 500 + 1,144 ” 500 + 41,081 ” 500 + 9,950 ” 500 + +In 1793 was a lottery drawn February 17, 1794 (33 Geo. III. c. 62), +which was not so successful as its predecessors, for though the same +amount, £500,000, was distributed in prizes, the Government reaped but +a poor net profit of £160,218 10_s._ 10_d._ In connection with this +lottery a determined stand was made against the custom of insuring +lottery tickets, of which I shall have more to say by-and-by. These +insurances consisted in the payment of a small premium to insure the +payment of a larger sum, if any given number in the lottery, on a given +day, were drawn blank or a prize. The premiums were adapted to all +descriptions of people; any sum might be insured from one to twenty +guineas, so that persons of the poorest class might be accommodated. +The price of an insurance for a guinea, at the commencement of the +drawing of a lottery, was eight-pence and gradually increased as +the drawing of the lottery proceeded, and the numbers to be drawn +diminished from day to day. + +Every exertion was made, by prosecutions for penalties, as well as +by proceeding against the offenders, as rogues and vagabonds, under +the third section of the Act of 1787, to put an end to this growing +evil; but these exertions were ineffectual, owing to the apparently +inexhaustible fund of ingenuity practised in evading the laws. In +connection with these prosecutions, a most serious nuisance sprang up +from the power given to magistrates, by the Act, 27 Geo. III. c. 1, +to commit the persons prosecuted to the House of Correction, there +to remain till the next General Quarter Sessions. It was open to any +common informer, aided by professional attorneys, to issue process +at his own discretion against any persons he might think proper, +specifying the amount of penalties sued for, and to arrest them for +the same. Hundreds of persons were sent to prison upon the oaths or +pretended oaths of people who could not afterwards be found, and solely +for the purpose of extorting money. The arrests were, usually, on a +Saturday evening, in order to keep the party in custody on a Sunday, +as being the most favourable day for the prosecutor to make his terms +of compromise; and there was too much reason to believe that some +of the sheriff’s officers were in collusion with the common informer +or his attorney. The writs of _Capias_ were said to have become so +numerous, that the sheriff represented that his officers could do no +other business, so that it became necessary in this year’s Lottery +Act (33 Geo. III. c. 62) to insert a clause, that no prosecution for +penalties should be instituted, except in the name of His Majesty’s +Attorney-General. + +The evil, however, of illegal insurance appears to have continued +unabated, by the distribution of the knowledge of the numbers of the +tickets drawn, the easy access to the Guildhall, where the lotteries +were drawn, and the facility with which numerical books were obtained. +Any person might take down the numbers of the tickets as they came out +of the wheel; and so prevalent was the mischief, that the insurance was +carried on, even from hour to hour, during the drawing. The evidence +given before the Commission of 1808 states that the seats provided +for persons who attended to take down the numbers, were not confined +to the clerks of licensed lottery office-keepers, but any person who +could raise enough money to pay for a seat was admitted, and many of +the persons who attended to take down the numbers, were employed solely +to enable themselves and others to carry on the system of insurance. +Immediately after each day’s drawing, they assembled at different +places appointed for the purpose, where a great number of others also +met to post their books. The result of each day’s drawing becoming +known by this means, the persons interested were enabled to ascertain +the event of their insurance, and to renew the same, if so minded, from +day to day, during the continuance of the drawing. + +The profits derived from letting these seats in the Guildhall made part +of the revenue of the Corporation of the City of London, and amounted +to between four and five hundred pounds per annum. + +To remedy this evil, the Commissioners of Stamp Duties directed that an +agreement should be made with the Corporation to rent that part of the +hall during the drawing of the lottery, in order that the seats might +be under their authority, and be confined to the clerks appointed by +the managers and directors, and also the clerks of the office-keepers +licensed by the Commissioners of Stamps. + +In order that the agreement might have full effect, regulations were +introduced, in 1793, in the annual Lottery Act of 33 Geo. III. c. 62-- + +(1) That no person should attend to take down the numbers of the +tickets, as the same should be drawn, unless employed as clerk to the +managers and directors, or be licensed to do so by the Commissioners of +Stamp Duties. + +(2) That every person so licensed should provide proper numerical +books, of large dimensions, to be stamped by the Commissioners on +every leaf thereof, and that they should grant such licences to such +persons who should be duly licensed to keep lottery offices, and to no +others, and that one person only should be licensed for each office; +and that all persons present at the drawing, not being duly authorized, +who should take down the number of the tickets, should be liable to +penalties, and that magistrates should have power to issue their +warrants to apprehend offenders, and to commit them for non-payment. + +(3) That persons summoned as witnesses, and not appearing, should be +subject to a penalty of £50. + +In this way the event of each day’s drawing became known only to the +licensed lottery office-keepers, and the effect was to check the +illegal insurances very considerably, and to lead to the shutting up of +a great number of offices, hitherto kept open solely for transacting +the business of insurance. + +In a handbill anent this lottery, it says, “_Somebody must_ have a +_Prize_. _Any body may_ have a _Prize_. _Nobody_ can tell who _will_ +have a _Prize_. And, therefore, _Every body_ is justified in trying +for a _Prize_. Thus, _Hope_ animates their waking thoughts--_Hope_ +inspires their dreams--_Passions_ are _corrected_ by the _Hope_ of a +_Prize_--_Tempers_ are _sweetened_ by it. The fireside brightens when +the prudent parent communicates to his wife and children that they have +a chance for the THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS.... In England and Ireland +there are Ten Millions of people. There are but 50,000 tickets for the +whole. To rate persons of property in both Kingdoms at Five Hundred +Thousand, (and the Fund holders, alone, nearly amount to that,) there +is but the _tenth part_ of a _Ticket_ for each of them--but, when we +consider the _Middle Classes_, who, if not _Rich_, are, _generally, +highly comfortable_ in their _circumstances_, and who buy, at least, +30,000 tickets in Shares, can we possibly doubt, for a single Moment, +but that _tickets this year_ will at least be + + EIGHTEEN GUINEAS. + +But we can _now_ buy for less than _Sixteen Guineas_, we can _now save +Two Guineas_ a ticket; and, by _saving_ we _gain two Guineas_. We will +therefore _buy now_.... + + “In pining Love what healing Balm is found + To ease the Heart, like THIRTY THOUSAND POUND? + To the dull Mind, when anxious Cares abound, + What Joys burst forth in THIRTY THOUSAND POUND! + We that have oft complain’d that Fortune frown’d, + Now seek her Smiles in THIRTY THOUSAND POUND! + They dread no Claims when Quarter-day comes round, + Who boast a share of THIRTY THOUSAND POUND! + The Bells ring out, we hail the welcome Sound, + And clasp with Bliss the THIRTY THOUSAND POUND!” + +In 1794 there was the usual Lottery Act passed (34 Geo. III. c. 40), +£500,000 given in prizes, and this year an improvement in the price +paid to the Government, the net gain being £229,893 0_s._ 7_d._ In +1795 (35 Geo. III. c. 36), the prizes being £500,000, the net gain was +£245,208 18_s._ 11_d._ This lottery was drawn on February 22, 1796, and +it is in connection with it that we are first introduced to the name +of T. BISH, who afterwards was the best-known lottery office-keeper, +especially noted for his varied powers of advertising, before whom our +most celebrated advertising firms must “hide their diminished heads,” +and from whom they might take many useful lessons. Of his origin, or +previous career, we know nothing, but in this year he was a partner +with a very respectable stockbroker and lottery office-keeper, James +(afterwards Sir James) Branscomb, who had been established in business +for thirty years. They dissolved partnership at the end of 1798, and +Bish took over Branscomb’s offices at 4, Cornhill, and started a branch +at Manchester. He afterwards had branch establishments or agents in all +the principal towns in England, Scotland, and Ireland. We know that he +contemplated obtaining a seat in Parliament, for a highly ornamental +card is extant. “Mr. Bish, Candidate to represent in Parliament the +Ancient and Independent Borough of LEOMINSTER, solicits the Honour of +your Vote and Interest.” We also know that he was the prominent broker +in every lottery from 1799 to the last one in 1826, and that is all we +know of him. + + Prizes. Net Profit. + £ £ _s._ _d._ + 1796 (36 Geo. III. c. 104) 500,000 267,831 13 10 + 1797 (37 Geo. III. c. 113) 500,000 130,919 11 8 + 1798 (38 Geo. III. c. 75) 500,000 154,824 6 8 + 1799 (39 Geo. III. c. 91) 500,000 191,385 8 8 + 1800[20] (39 & 40 Geo. III. c. 52) 500,000 311,191 19 11 + 1801 (41 Geo. III. c. 27) 500,000 185,589 6 11 + +[20] Bish’s price in December, 1800, for a ticket in this lottery was +£16 18_s._, and he says, “Tickets and Shares will rise gradually, as +the Drawing approaches.” + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + +The Right Hon. George, Lord Pigot, died, and, among his other property, +was a large diamond of the estimated value of £30,000. As his property +had to be divided amongst his heirs, and no purchasers could be found +for a diamond of this size, an Act was passed (39 and 40 Geo. III. c. +102) to enable his heirs to dispose of it by lottery--11,428 tickets at +two guineas each, or £23,998 16_s._ This lottery was drawn on January +2, 1801, and the diamond was won by a young man. It was afterwards +sold at Christie’s on May 10, 1802, to Messrs. Parker and Birketts, of +Princes Street, pawnbrokers, for 9500 guineas, Mr. Christie remarking +at the sale “that its owners were unfortunate in its being brought to +a market where its worth might not be sufficiently valued, where the +charms of the fair needed not such ornaments, and whose sparkling eyes +outshone all the diamonds of Golconda. In any other country the Pigot +diamond would be sought as a distinction where superior beauty was +rarely to be found.” + +It was again sold, and is said to have passed into the possession of +Messrs. Rundell and Bridge, Court jewellers, Bond Street, who are +reported to have sold it to an Egyptian Pasha for £30,000. It is not +known in whose possession it is now. There is some discrepancy among +authorities as to its weight, Mawe giving it as forty-nine carats, +Emanuel as eighty-two and a half. + +To show how widely spread was the lottery fever at this time, and how +deep were its ramifications all over the country, we need only look +at Branscomb and Co.’s list of agencies--Aberdeen, Bath, Beverley, +Bristol, Blandford, Boston, Bridgewater, Birmingham, Bury, Coventry, +Canterbury, Chatham, Chester, Chichester, Dorchester, Dundee, Exeter, +Gloucester, Glasgow, Gosport, Hull, Liverpool, Marlborough, Newark, +Norwich, Northampton, Plymouth, Portsea, Reading, Salisbury, Stamford, +Shrewsbury, Sherborne, Tiverton, Weymouth, Wolverhampton, Worcester, +Yarmouth, and York. + +In 1802 was the largest lottery (42 Geo. III. c. 54) since 1755, the +amount given in prizes being £900,000, and the net profit accruing +thereon being £340,458 5_s._ 1_d._ + +In this Act alterations were introduced as to the preparing and method +of drawing tickets, and fixing the days of drawing, etc., and, as the +method now introduced, for the first time, of drawing the lottery in +eight days instead of forty-two days was designed to considerably +reduce the illegal insurance, if not put an end to it, several new +regulations were introduced into this and subsequent Lottery Acts, with +a view to extend the sale of lottery tickets and the legal shares of +tickets as much as possible. By the same statute the Irish lotteries +were abolished, and the tickets of the lottery in Great Britain were +divided into three separate drawings. After the conclusion of the +third drawing, directions were given by Mr. Vansittart, then one of +the secretaries of the Treasury, that inquiry should be made as to +the effect of these regulations. It was elicited, that by drawing the +lottery in eight instead of forty-two days, the business of illegal +insurance had undergone a complete change, by being rendered dangerous +and unprofitable to both parties. It had driven all the men of large +capital out of the business, and the agents usually employed by them, +who had before gained a livelihood by collecting the insurances in +coffee-houses and private families, and others who kept unlicensed +offices for that purpose, were reduced to the greatest distress, and +rendered incapable of obtaining a living. + +There is a story told in connection with the lottery drawn this +year, that old Baron d’Aguilar, the Islington miser, was requested +by a relation to purchase a particular ticket, No. 14,068, in this +lottery, but it had been sold some few days previously. The baron died +on the 16th of March following, and the number was the first drawn +ticket on the 24th, and, as such, entitled to £20,000. The baron’s +representatives, under these circumstances, published an advertisement, +offering a reward of £1000 to any person who might have found the +said ticket, and would deliver it up. Payment was stopped. A wholesale +linen-draper in Cornhill (who had ordered his broker to buy him ten +tickets, which he deposited in a chest), on copying the numbers for the +purpose of examining them, made a mistake in one figure, and called +it 14,168 instead of 14,068, which was the £20,000 prize. The lottery +being finished, he sent his tickets to be examined and marked. To his +utter astonishment, he then found the error in the number copied on his +paper. On his demanding payment at the lottery office, a _caveat_ was +entered by old d’Aguilar’s executors; but, an explanation taking place, +the £20,000 was paid to the lucky linen-draper. + +The lottery office-keepers plumed themselves on their sale of tickets +which became prizes, and certainly did not hide their lights under +bushels. The following is a list of “Capital Prizes sold by Richardson, +Goodluck, and Co. in the State Lotteries drawn in and for the year +1802”:-- + + Three prizes of £20,000 + Three ” 5,000 + One ” 2,000 + Three ” 1,000 + Four ” 500 + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +The Boydell Lottery--Bowyer’s “Historic” Lottery. + +1803 had its usual annual lottery (43 Geo. III. c. 91), in which +£710,000 was given in prizes, and the Government netted £204,354 4_s._ +9_d._ Another in 1804 (44 Geo. III. c. 93) has £800,000 in prizes, and +the net profit was £266,924 5_s._ 11_d._ + +This year is famous for the Shakespeare, or Boydell, Lottery. John +Boydell was an engraver in the city of London, of which he was elected +Alderman in 1782, Sheriff in 1785, and Lord Mayor in 1790. He died, +on December 12, 1804, aged 86. He was very ambitious, and brought +himself to financial grief over a magnificently illustrated edition of +Shakespeare, on which he employed all the best artists of the day. Let +him tell his own story, as contained in a letter from him to Sir John +William Anderson, and read by the latter in the House of Commons, when +applying for leave to dispose of the Shakespeare paintings, etc., by +lottery. + +“You will excuse, my dear sir, some warmth in an old man on this +subject, when I inform you that this unhappy Revolution has cut up, +by the roots, that revenue from the Continent, which enabled me to +undertake such considerable works in this country.... Had I but laid up +ten pounds out of every hundred my plates produced, I should not now +have had occasion to trouble my friends, or appeal to the Public; but, +on the contrary, I flew with impatience to employ some new artist, with +the whole gains of my former undertakings. I now see my error, for I +have thereby decreased my ready money, and increased my stock of Copper +plates to such a size, that all the printsellers in Europe could not +purchase it, especially at these times, which are so unfavourable.” The +letter concludes with the suggestion that Parliamentary sanction should +be given to a lottery. “The objects of it are my pictures, galleries, +drawings, etc., etc., which, unconnected with my copper plates and +trade, are much more than sufficient to pay, if properly disposed of, +all I owe in the world.” + +The following is the scheme of the + +“SHAKESPEARE LOTTERY, + +To be drawn pursuant to an Act of Parliament passed in the 44th year of +His Majesty’s reign, entitled 'An Act to enable John Boydell, Esq., one +of the Aldermen of the City of London, and Josiah Boydell, his Nephew +and Partner, to dispose of their Collection of Paintings, Drawings, and +Engravings, together with the Leasehold Premises in Pall Mall, called +the Shakespeare Gallery, by way of Chance.’ + +“The number of Tickets to be 22,000, at the price of THREE GUINEAS a +Ticket. + +“The Capital Prizes are 62, which are to be decided by the sixty-two +Tickets first drawn. The holders of each and every of the 21,938 +undrawn Tickets, are to receive a Print or Prints aggregately of the +estimated value of One Guinea, from the Collection of the said John and +Josiah Boydell, consisting of 4432 Copper-plates, according to their +Alphabetical Catalogue, lodged at the Shakespeare Gallery, in Pall +Mall, pursuant to the said Act. + +“The Capital Prizes and Prints to be obtained by the holders of the +22,000 Tickets, amount to upwards of £69,800, according to the prime +cost proved before both Houses of Parliament; where evidence was also +given that the Copper-plates engraved from the pictures and drawings +that constitute the following prizes, had cost Messrs. Boydell upwards +of £300,000. + +“The whole may be viewed at the Shakespeare Gallery--Admittance One +Shilling each person--such exhibition being reserved to Messrs. Boydell +by the Act. + +“The Catalogue of the Shakespeare Pictures to be had as above, at one +shilling and sixpence each; and the Alphabetical Catalogue at the same +price. Both Catalogues may be seen and inspected at the Gallery, and at +No. 90, Cheapside.” + +The first twenty-six prizes were framed paintings, by Poussin, Titian, +Teniers, Rubens, Caracci, Vernet, Hogarth, Copley, Northcote, Rigaud, +Peters, Stodhart, Angelica Kauffman, and other artists. + +The next eighteen prizes were framed drawings, by Guido, Rubens, +Rembrandt, Vanderwerff, Both, Smirke, Westall, West, Angelica Kauffman, +Wright of Derby, Gainsborough, etc. + +Prize No. 45 was thirty-seven drawings (unframed) by Linck. + +The fourteen succeeding prizes were prints, and books with prints. + +The sixty-first prize was twenty-eight large framed drawings by Richard +Westall, R.A., in colours, for the poetical works of Milton. + +But the plum was the sixty-second and last prize, which consisted of +“the whole of the large pictures, from Shakespeare, now exhibiting, +and from which the large plates have been taken. Also the whole of +the small pictures, from which the plates have been engraved, for +the Embellishment of the Great National Edition of Shakespeare in +Nine Volumes, Folio. Also Seven Pictures of the Ages, by Smirke, R.A. +Together with all the Estate, Right and Interest of Messrs. John and +Josiah Boydell, in these Premises, which were erected by them, and in +which they hold an unexpired Term of sixty-four years, at a Ground Rent +of £125 per Annum. + +“The Pictures are all framed, and are fully described in the +Shakespeare Gallery Catalogue, and amount, in the Whole, to 167; +besides which there are Three Supernumerary Pictures, not in the +Catalogue, and which have not been engraved. + +“This Prize will also include the Alto Relievo in Front of the Gallery, +by T. Banks, R.A., and two Basso Relievos by the Hon. Anne Damer. + +“What is given in this last Prize, for the Sixty Second Drawn Ticket, +has cost the Proprietors upwards of £30,000.” + +This prize was won on June 28, 1805, by Mr. Tassie, a sculptor, who +lived in Leicester Square, and he, not wanting such a white elephant, +sent the pictures to Christie’s, where they were sold on May 17, 18, +and 20, 1805, realizing 10,237½ guineas. + +On June 27, 1805, was passed another State lottery (45 Geo. III. +c. 74), which gave £750,000 in prizes, and yielded a net profit of +£363,070 9_s._ 11_d._ £250,000 of this lottery was drawn on September +30, 1805. On May 31 was drawn the last portion of the 1804 lottery. + +Probably encouraged by the success of Boydell’s lottery, another +engraver followed his example, and had a lottery to get rid of his +unsaleable stock. It was drawn before September 30, 1805. + +[Illustration] + +“MR. BOWYER presumes he need not inform the Friends of Literature +and the Arts, that the Works which he has received the Sanction of +Parliament to dispose of by way of Lottery, are deemed the most +splendid Publications in Europe; he can, however, at all events, assure +them that these Works have cost him above a Hundred Thousand Pounds; +and that, after the Lottery is over, a single Copy of either cannot be +had on any terms whatever. + + HISTORIC LOTTERY. + + _Without a Possibility of the least Loss._ + + TICKETS, THREE GUINEAS EACH. + + _Contains One Thousand Four Hundred and + Fifty-One_ CAPITAL PRIZES. + +“Every Ticket not drawn one of the Capital Prizes will, never the less, +be entitled to and the Holder will _fairly_ and HONOURABLY receive +the FULL AMOUNT _of the Original Cost of the Ticket in_ BEAUTIFUL +ENGRAVINGS, most of them new Subjects never yet published; and that +Purchasers may be SATISFIED of receiving no other Engravings for the +Blanks but those of the VERY FIRST CLASS; Specimens of the WHOLE are +now exhibiting at the Historic Gallery, Pall Mall, and No. 73, Cornhill. + + And of these they are warranted to receive fine + Impressions. + + “LIST OF THE PRIZES. + + _For the First drawn Ticket, Value Ten Thousand + Pounds._ + + £ _s._ _d._ + No. of | All the Pictures composing the + prizes. | Historic Gallery in Pall Mall, + | painted by Members of the + | Royal Academy, and have cost + | the Proprietor, as proved before + | the Committees in both + | Houses of Parliament 8,433 4 0 + | Four sets of the History of + | England, at £73 10/- each 294 0 0 + | Four sets of do., the Plates on + | India Paper, at £147 588 0 0 + 1 --| Four sets of the Engravings, at + | £50 each Copy 200 0 0 + | Four sets of the Historical + | Engravings, £24 10/- each Set 98 0 0 + | Four sets of the Etchings of the + | above Work, at 30 Guis. each 126 0 0 + | Four complete Sets of Views in + | Egypt, etc., etc., at £55 4/- 100 16 0 + | One large Picture of the Battle + | of the Nile, by R. Smirke, jun., + | from a design by Anderson 160 0 0 + | --------------- + | £10,000 0 0 + + _For the Second to the Three Hundred and First drawn + Tickets, both inclusive._ + + |THREE HUNDRED PRIZES. Each £ _s._ _d._ + | Prize to consist of a complete + | Set of the History of England, + | in Seventy Numbers, at one + | Guinea each Number. This + | work contains nearly 200 Engravings, + 300 | has cost upwards of + | £68,000, and is deemed the + | most magnificent Work in + | Europe. Three Hundred + | Prizes, therefore, at £73 10/- + | each, the price to Subscribers, + | is 22,050 0 0 + + _For the three Hundred and Second to the Eight + Hundred and First drawn Tickets, both inclusive._ + + |FIVE HUNDRED PRIZES. Each + | Prize to consist of a Complete + | Set of Engravings, being near + | Two Hundred in Number, + 500 | and which form the entire + | Embellishments to the Splendid + | Work of the History of + | England, at the price to + | Subscribers, being £50 per set 25,000 0 0 + + _For the Eight Hundred and Second to the Nine Hundred + and Fifty First drawn Tickets, both inclusive._ + + |ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY + | PRIZES. Each of these Prizes + | to consist of a Complete Set of + 150 | the Historical Engravings to + | the above Work, at £24 10/- + | each Set 3,675 0 0 + + _For the Nine Hundred and Fifty Second to the Twelve + Hundred and Fifty First drawn Tickets, both inclusive._ + + | THREE HUNDRED PRIZES. Each + | of these Prizes to consist of a + | Series of Four Engravings, 29 + | Inches high by 17 Inches wide, + | to commemorate the four great + | Naval Victories of the late + | War, and containing near One + 300 | Hundred Portraits of the + | Admirals and Captains who + | were engaged in those National + | Achievements. The Work is + | done up in Boards, with a + | History of each Action, printed + | by Bensley, at the Subscription + | price of Nine Guineas, is 2,835 0 0 + + _For the Twelve Hundred and Fifty Second to the + Fourteen Hundred and Fifty First drawn Tickets, + both inclusive._ + + | TWO HUNDRED PRIZES. Each of + | these Prizes to consist of a + | Complete Copy of a magnificent + | and interesting Work, just + | finished, of Views in Egypt, + | Palestine, and other parts of + | the Ottoman Empire, from the + | celebrated Collection of Drawings + 200 | in the possession of Sir + | Robert Ainslie, Bart., in 2 Vols. + | Folio, containing Ninety-six + | Views, beautifully coloured to + | imitate the original Drawings; + | with a History of those Countries, + | at the Subscription Price, + | per Copy, of Twenty-four + | Guineas, is 5,040 0 0 + ----- --------------- + 1,451 Capital Prizes. £68,600 0 0 + ------ =============== + 20,549 Tickets, which, if not drawn either of the + 22,000 Tickets. Capital Prizes above mentioned, will, + ====== nevertheless, be entitled to new and + beautiful Engravings, of the Estimated + Value of 3 Guineas, being the Price of + each Ticket. + + The whole of the Collection is, by the Act, vested in + Trustees for the Holders of the Tickets.” + +The scheme then goes on to say that, if any one, taking more than one +share, should have duplicate engravings allotted to them, they will be +exchanged for others. The following were some of the subjects, and had +never before been published:-- + + “Matrimony; } These four Engravings are executed + Confirmation; } by Meadow, from four of the + Christening; } most beautiful Drawings ever + and the Lord’s } made by Mr. Westall. Size of + Supper. } Plates, 24 in. by 18. + + } From the two celebrated Pictures + The Tired } by Opie, which were exhibited + Soldier, and its } two years ago at the Royal + Companion. } Academy. Size of Plates, 24 + } in. by 19. + + The Young } From two exquisite Pictures by + Cottager, and } Gainsborough. Size of Plates, + Companion. } 28 in. by 20. + + Rural Innocence; } From two very fine Pictures by + Cottage } Sir Francis Bourgeois. Size, + Cares. } 28 in. by 20. + + The Blind } From an interesting Picture by + Hermit. } Stothard. Size, 28 in. by 20. + + Winter and } + Cottagers; } From beautiful Pictures by Morland. + Summer and } Size, 24 in. by 19. + Fishing. } + + Wood Cutter, } All from Drawings by Morland. + and Six other } Size, 22 in. by 18. + Engravings. } + + Fishermen } From two Pictures by Bigg. Size, + going out; } 24 in. by 19.” + Ditto returning. } + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + +This lottery rather hung fire, and, before its drawing, an additional +stimulus was given by the promise that every purchaser, at the time +of buying a ticket, should be presented with an engraved portrait of +Nelson or Collingwood, at their option. + +In 1806 a State lottery was granted (46 Geo. III. c. 148), July 22, in +which £900,000 was the amount of prizes, and net profit £378,039 16_s._ +2_d._ + +Bish issued a handbill relative to the lottery began to be drawn on +February 3 this year. + + “FIRST 5000 TICKETS. + +T. BISH, Contractor for the approaching grand Lottery, solicits the +Public to notice that the first 5000 Tickets drawn are sure to be + + ALL PRIZES, + + From £22 to £20,000, and the First drawn Ticket, + MONDAY, February 3^{rd}, cannot be less than + + £10,022, + +And may be more: The advantage in buying before the Drawing begins, is, +therefore, obvious, as those whose Tickets are drawn early will be + + SURE TO GAIN, + +And, if their tickets are not drawn Capital Prizes in the _first_ +instance, they will have the advantage of CHANGING them (without any +additional expence) for + + _Undrawn Tickets_ + +Or Shares, by which means they have a DOUBLE CHANCE for the numerous +Prizes with which the Scheme abounds, from + + £50 to £20,000; + +Or, if they should wish to part with them, there is not a doubt but +they may easily find Purchasers (at a profit), as Tickets at that +time[21] will be scarce, especially as the first drawn Ticket on the +fourth Day is entitled to + + £20,000. + +[21] “In the Lottery which drew this time last year, every Ticket was +sold before the third day of Drawing, notwithstanding they were as high +as £22 before the Drawing began.” + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + + Launching a lottery--“The City” Lottery for houses--Poetic + handbills thereon--Parliamentary Committee on the + lottery--Report and evidence. + +By the 47 Geo. III. sess. 2, c. 9, July 25, 1807, another lottery was +legalized. £700,000 was given in prizes, and a profit resulted of +£308,888 18_s._ 5_d._ And here we may note the method of starting a +lottery, which is taken from a newspaper cutting of February 15, 1807. + +“On Thursday morning, the gentlemen who had given in their proposals +for the ensuing lottery, waited upon the Minister to receive his +answer. To the former lists were added those of Messrs. Walsh and +Nesbit, and they then stood as follows:-- + +“Messrs. Bish and Co.; Messrs. Cope and Co.; Messrs. Richardson, Swift, +and Co.; Messrs. Hensley, Pulley, and Co.; Messrs. Towgood and Co.; +Messrs. Walsh, Nesbit, and Co. + +“Lord Grenville opened a sealed paper, which mentioned the lowest price +at which Government would dispose of the lottery, namely, at the rate +of £16 10_s._ per ticket. Upon examination of the several biddings, +it was found that the five former lists had offered each the sum of +£16 2_s._ 6_d._ per ticket, and Walsh and Nesbit £16 1_s._ 1_d._ per +ticket; consequently, the proposals falling short of the lowest sum +which Government had determined to take, the gentlemen were informed +that none of these would be accepted. It was suggested, on the part +of the Minister, that the contractor for the late lottery took it at +several shillings above the prices now proposed; and, from the present +appearance of things, it was likely to turn to a beneficial account. +This was answered by saying that the City Lottery (as it was called), +being about to be drawn, would materially affect the next regular +lottery by diminishing the sale of tickets. + +“The conversation terminated without any future day being proposed for +a fresh bidding. + +“If no proposition should be made equal to the sum expected by +Government, it is, we understand, intended that the tickets should be +sold to the public at the bank.” + +That they did come to terms is evident, for I find in another newspaper +cutting of March 22, 1807, that the present price of-- + + Whole tickets £19 17_s._ 0_d._ + Half ” £10 3_s._ 0_d._ = 20 6 0 + Quarter ” 5 3 0 = 20 12 0 + Eighth ” 2 12 0 = 20 16 0 + Sixteenth ” 1 6 6 = 21 4 0 + +“The City Lottery,” alluded to above, was a large affair, which took +three drawings, the first of which, consisting of house property valued +at over £100,000, at Temple Bar and Snow Hill, the approaches to both +places having been improved. The scheme of the first drawing is as +follows:-- + + + SCHEME. + + First drawn ticket a capital, substantial Freehold + Dwelling House, with extensive warehouses and manufactory, + valued at-- + + £10,000. + Being No. 44 in SKINNER STREET. + + 2nd draw, a ditto. No. 13, Skinner St., on lease at £250 + per annum. + 3rd ” ” ” 46 ” not occupied. + 4th ” ” ” 10 ” on lease £225 per annum. + 5th ” ” ” 5 ” on lease £185 per annum. + 6th ” ” ” 16 ” not occupied. + 7th ” ” ” 47 ” ” ” + 8th ” ” ” 2 ” on lease £200 per annum. + 9th ” ” ” 27 ” ” £180 ” + 10th ” ” ” 3 ” not occupied. + 11th ” ” ” 12 ” ” ” + 12th ” ” ” 1, Pickett Street, Temple Bar, + not occupied. + 13th ” ” ” 8 ” ” ” + 14th ” ” ” 9 ” ” ” + 15th ” ” ” 3 ” ” ” + 16th ” ” ” 2 ” ” ” + 17th ” ” ” 6, Skinner Street, on lease £150 per annum. + 18th ” ” ” 7 ” not occupied. + 19th ” ” ” 1 ” on lease £155 per annum. + 20th ” ” ” 11 ” ” £120 1_s._ ” + 21st ” ” ” 28 ” at the corner of Green + Arbour Court in the Old + Bailey, on lease £105 + per annum. + 22nd ” ” ” 14 ” on lease £89 3_s._ 4_d._ + per annum. + +The next drawing took place on April 26, 1808, of which twenty lots, +amounting in value to £104,000, were prizes ranging from the Grand +Hotel, No. 9, Skinner Street, appraised at £25,000, to property worth +£2500. The third and last portion, valued at £101,500, was disposed of +on December 4, 1808, the chief prize being premises said to be worth +£15,700, and the lowest a house put down at £500. + +[Illustration: ONE OF THE CAPITAL PRIZES.] + +Bish naturally burst into verse on this occasion--his earliest effort +in this direction, as far as I am aware, but the pioneer of countless +rhymes. + + “FREEHOLDS AND FORTUNES. + + _By_ PETER PUN. + + _Tune_--'Drops of Brandy.’ + + Dame Fortune is full of her tricks, + And blind, as her portraits reveal, sir; + Then the best way the Goddess to fix, + Is by putting a spoke in her wheel, sir; + Her favours the Lott’ry unfolds, + Then the summons to Bish’s don’t scorn, sir; + For, as _her_ Cornucopia _he_ holds, + He’s the lad for exalting your horn, sir. + _Rum ti iddity, etc._ + + With Poverty who would be known, + And live upon orts in a garret, sir; + Who could get a good _house_ of his own, + And fatten on roast beef and claret, sir; + In the _City_ Scheme this you’ll obtain, + At Bish’s where all folks _pell-mell_ come; + By a Ticket a _Free_-hold you’ll gain, + And it cannot be more _free_ than _welcome_. + _Rum ti iddity, etc._ + + This House, when you once realize it, + Upholders will look sharp as lynxes, + For an order to _Egyptianize_ it, + With Catacomb fal-lals and sphynxes. + Chairs and tables, a _mummy_ like crew, + With Crocodile Grooms of the Stole, sir, + Sarcophagus _coal_ scuttles too, + And at Bish’s you’ll fill them with _cole_,[22] sir. + _Rum ti iddity, etc._ + + For, when you’re thus furnish’d in state, + And a pretty establishment got, sir, + Ten to one but it pops in your pate, + You’ll want sticks to be boiling the pot, sir; + Then to Bish’s away for supplies, + For _mopusses_[23] they are so plenty, + You may chuse a _Ten Thousand_ Pound prize, + And, if you don’t like it, a Twenty. + _Rum ti iddity, etc._ + + Then Bish for my money, I say, + The likes of him never was known, sir; + As _Brulgruddery_ says in the play, + '_That man’s the philosopher’s stone, sir_.’ + Then what shall we do for this man, + Who makes all your fortunes so handy? + Buy his Tickets as fast as you can, + And drink him in _Drops of Brandy_. + _Rum ti iddity, etc._” + +[22] A slang term for money. + +[23] A slang term for money. + +Pickett Street owed its name to Alderman Pickett, who, in 1789, +propounded a plan for making it; and between the years 1795 and 1811, +Acts of Parliament were obtained, and, at an expense of over £250,000, +the houses were pulled down, the street widened, and the site let for +long terms to contractors for the new buildings. But, unfortunately, as +Leigh Hunt observed, “They turned out to be on too large a scale,” the +lease-holders being fast ruined, for they had soon expended £850,000 +on the buildings, which, since 1802, had remained unlet. At last they +hit upon a plan to release themselves, which was to obtain an Act +of Parliament to enable them to dispose of their interest in their +property, and also other property in Skinner Street and Fleet Market, +by means of a lottery. + + “THE TRADESMAN. + + The man who depends on the profits of trade, + When debts are collected and bills are all paid, + May think himself happy to find he stands clear, + With Credit still good at the end of the year; + Or, should his endeavours, and constant attendance, + Obtain in the end but a small independence, + ’Tis more than is likely, while many as willing, + Strive hard all their lives, and can ne’er save a shilling. + How diff’rent the Chance of the Lott’ry from this, + By vent’ring a trifle, you scarcely can miss: + Your business is done, you may rise beyond bounds, + Possess’d of Ten, Twenty, or Five Thousand Pounds. + Some ground would you gain, with No Land Tax to pay? + ’Tis time to look out, and get rich while you may; + New Houses you’ll have, when in April they deal + Estates at Guildhall, from the City’s Rich Wheel.” + +[Illustration] + +The usual Lottery Act was passed on June 30, 1808 (48 Geo. III. c. +139), but it was only for £600,000--for a reason given below--and the +net profit thereon was £146,527. + +This year a Committee of the House of Commons was appointed, to inquire +how far the evils attending lotteries had been remedied by the laws +passed respecting the same, and to report their observations thereon, +as well as upon such further measures as might be necessary by way of +remedy. Pending the completion of the evidence, the committee reported +resolutions to the House, of which the following is the first--the +others being more or less stringent. + +“That (if it was thought expedient to continue State Lotteries) the +number in each year should be limited to two lotteries of not more +than 30,000 tickets each; that the number of days allowed for drawing +should be reduced from ten to eight; that the number of tickets to be +drawn each day should be uncertain, and left to the discretion of the +Commissioners of Stamp Duties, and kept secret till the close of the +drawing each day, care being taken, as the lottery proceeded, not to +leave too great a number undrawn on the latter days of drawing, but +that one moiety or upwards, be drawn on the four first days thereof.” + +In the report of this Committee, various instances were adduced of +the most serious evils arising from lotteries, by most respectable +witnesses, some of which are so striking, that mention must be made +of them. One case, which was attested by the Rev. W. Gurney, is +particularly interesting, as it shows to what an amazing extent this +kind of gambling will carry persons, who, had it not been for the +temptations held out by lotteries, might have lived with comfort and +respectability, but who, from these kinds of speculations, have been +reduced to the most abject state of poverty and distress. + +“I knew,” said Mr. Gurney, “a widow in a good line of business as a +silk dyer, which, I suppose, brought her in about £400 a year, clear. +She kept a very good house, and I was in habits of intimacy with +the family. The foreman she had was in the habit of insuring in the +lottery; he was led astray by an acquaintance, and he and his mistress +insured to the amount of £300 to £400 in a night, although the foreman +had only £30 a year wages. It appeared, on his decease, he had insured +immense sums of money within the last year of his life. I found that +he had expended upwards of 100 guineas in the lottery, purchasing one +ticket at £16, and insuring away the rest. It came up a blank at last, +and I verily believe the disappointment was the cause of his death. He +died insolvent, and I acted as his executor, and paid three or four +shillings in the pound to his creditors. He had received a great many +bills for his mistress which he had never accounted for, and was the +ruin of her also. She was not able to pay three shillings in the pound, +was obliged to go into an almshouse, and died there in four or five +months. They would send all the plate she possessed to raise money to +carry on an insurance, which had, perhaps, begun at a low rate. The +gentleman who drew the foreman into this practice was also ruined by +it. His wife had an annuity of £400 per annum settled upon her; he sold +her life-interest, and she was obliged to live afterwards upon charity, +while her husband, who had formerly kept his carriage and lived in +a good house in Queen Square, spent the last hours of his miserable +existence within the rules of the Fleet Prison.” + +Various other instances of a similar kind were mentioned in the +Appendix to the Report of the Committee, where the parties, formerly in +respectable circumstances, were reduced to misery and distress. What, +however, served to mark the evil of lotteries the stronger is--that it +was not only the unsuccessful adventurer that was ruined by the failure +of his speculation, but there were many cases where a successful +speculator had reason to deplore his first connection with this species +of gambling. + +Robert Baker, Esq., deposed that “he remembered one very strong +instance of distress arising out of the transactions in the lottery +four or five years ago. It was the case of a journeyman who belonged +to a Club, which Club purchased a ticket which came up the great +prize. The share of this man was £100, or thereabouts; he had been an +industrious working man previously, and he was persuaded by his friends +to invest the money in the Stocks, in the joint names of himself and +wife, in order to prevent his making away with it. He did so, but +soon fell into habits of idleness after he became possessed of the +money; and he wanted his wife to join in the transfer of it. This +occasioned quarrels, which proceeded to assaults; he changed his habits +of industry to those of drunkenness and idleness, he destroyed all his +domestic comfort, and was the ruin of the peace of his family.” + +Many other cases of a similar description are given in this Appendix. +In some of them, mothers had neglected their children, and left them +destitute of the common necessaries of life, while the money by which +those necessaries could have been purchased, had been gambled away +in the insurance of certain numbers in the Lottery. In other cases, +the wife had robbed an industrious and careful father of the small +and hard-earned savings of many months, and even of many years; and +he, instead of finding his little treasure in the drawer in which it +was deposited, and which he was about to increase by another small +addition, found that the whole had been gambled away in lottery +speculations, and every article of his clothes, which were not likely +to be immediately wanted, had been pawned, in order to recover the +former loss. In other cases, children had robbed their parents, +servants their masters; suicides had been committed, and almost every +crime that can be imagined had been occasioned, either directly or +indirectly, through the baneful influence of lotteries. + +[Illustration] + +The Committee, in the course of their Report, declared that, “the +foundation of the lottery system is so radically vicious, that your +Committee feel convinced that under no system of regulations which +can be devised will it be possible for Parliament to adopt it as an +efficacious source of revenue, and, at the same time, divest it of all +the evils of which it has, hitherto, proved so baneful a source.” + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + + “The Lottery Alphabet”--“The Philosopher’s + Stone”--“Fortune’s Ladder”--Enigmatical + handbill--Lottery drawn on St. Valentine’s Day-- + “Public Prizes”--and other poetical handbills. + +Three of Bish’s handbills belong to this lottery. + + “THE LOTTERY ALPHABET. + + =A= stands for _All_ who for Affluence wish, + =B= means _Be_ sure _Buy_ a Ticket of BISH. + =C= _Cash_ in plenty by BISH you may gain; + =D= _Don’t Delay_ soon a Chance to obtain; + =E= Shows that _Every One_, if he is wise, + =F= would _Find out_ where to purchase a Prize; + =G= _Gives_ the place; it is 4, in Cornhill; + =H= _Has_ a prize, for _Have_ it who will, + =I= _Independence_ by BISH you may gain; + =J= _Join_ with me, a grand Prize to obtain; + =K= _Keep_ in view, in October’s the day + =L= _Lott’ry_ draws; then no longer delay. + =M= _Many_ prizes the Scheme has in view; + =N= _No one_ knows but a winner are you. + =O= shows that _Opulence_ there may be found; + =P= _Proves_ that _Prizes_ in _Plenty_ abound. + =Q= _Questions_ not but the Scheme will delight ye; + =R= most _Respectfully_ begs to invite ye. + =S= _Stands_ for _Shares_, if a Ticket don’t suit ye, + =T= _Turns_ your Luck, and with _Treasure_ recruits ye + =U= shows that all, with _Unanimous_ wishes, + =V= _Vow_ they’ll _Venture_ and purchase at BISH’S. + =W= _Would Wish_ in a Club to unite ye; + =X= _Ten_ to One but good luck will requite ye. + =Y= hopes that _You_ have, like others, a wish, + =Z= with _Zeal_ to adventure and purchase of BISH.” + + + “THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE. + + BY AN ALCHYMIST. + + TUNE--'_Golden Days of good Queen Bess._’ + + Ye Alchymists, attend my lay, and occult speculators, + I’ve made a grand discovery, according with your natures; + I ha’n’t found out the longitude, nor motion that’s perpetual, + But the Stone that’s called Philosopher’s, a Thousand Pounds I’ll + bet you all. + And merry be his memory, who such a thing invented, + Tho’ some folks, if they could make gold, would never be contented. + + Perhaps you might have read about an ancient sage philosopher, + Whom Hudibras informs you had read Alexander Ross over; + Who Alick Ross was, I don’t know, and you are not much wiser; + But he first gave the hint of what I mean to advertise here. + And merry, etc. + + It isn’t Loan--it isn’t Scrip--nor long, nor short Annuities, + But, if I don’t explain the thing, what matter what to you it is? + In short, then, ’tis the Lottery, from which this fact’s deducible, + It makes Gold ten times faster than the Alchymist’s fam’d Crucible. + And merry, etc. + + The 5th of OCTOBER they draw, and when the wheel goes round, + sir, + If you’re lucky, you may gain a Twenty Thousand Pound, sir; + Ye souls of Venture, then, who hope to share the Lott’ry’s riches, + To Fortune straight your suit unfold, and She’ll befriend your + wishes. + And merry, etc. + + And should you wish to get a Prize, if ’tis but Twenty Thousand, + You’ll not be disappointed much; and would you know the house, and + The owner’s name, it BISH is, and he, with zeal quite + fervent, + Declares himself to be, kind sir, your very humble servant. + And merry, etc. + + And, if you doubt of buying Prize, you are only to be told, sir, + That Three of Twenty Thousand Pounds, last Lottery he sold, sir, + And so disinterested be, if you your luck would try it, + He says he hates to sell a blank, as much as you to buy it. + And merry, etc.” + + “FORTUNE’S LADDER. + + (TO BE READ FROM THE BOTTOM.) + + The drift of this Ladder, to well comprehend, + Take a Paddy’s advice and _begin_ at the _end_. + + (3) + +[Illustration] + + She answer’d thus, “If you are wise, + You’ll try at BISH’S for a Prize.” + The thought inspir’d with hope the man, + Who off to BISH’S quickly ran. + + (_Go to No. 4._) + + (2) + +[Illustration] + + “My dearest wife, the times are bad, + And, as to Cash, it can’t be had, + In this sad plight, what what shall we do? + Or, pray, what plan can we pursue?” + + (_Go to No. 3._) + + (1) + +[Illustration] + + A wight, by poverty oppress’d, + By duns and creditors distress’d, + Thus to his dame in dudgeon said, + While dreams of horror fill’d his head. + + (_Go to No. 2._) + + (6) + +[Illustration] + + Not long he waits, the lucky youth + Who drew the Prize, proclaims the truth, + And in his breast “fond hopes arise, + It is a Twenty Thousand Prize!” + + (_Go to No. 7._) + + (5) + +[Illustration] + + At home arriv’d, he tells his dear, + And anxiously expects to hear + The glorious, heart-inspiring sound, + “’Tis drawn, a Twenty Thousand Pound!” + + (_Go to No. 6._) + + (4) + +[Illustration] + + And, passing by, he saw the Scheme, + Of universal praise the theme; + Then went to BISH, a Ticket bought, + In hopes that Fortune he had caught. + + (_Go to No. 5._) + + (9) + +[Illustration] + + His friends, relations, uncles, cousins, + To wish him joy, flock in by dozens; + And those, who ’gainst him clos’d their door, + Obsequious bend unto the floor. + + (_Go to No. 10._) + + (8) + +[Illustration] + + And, now, behold how chang’d the scene, + To what it formerly had been; + No duns to vex--of gold a hoard, + While wealth and plenty crown his board. + + (_Go to No. 9._) + + (7) + +[Illustration] + + To BISH he goes with Prize in hand, + Who pays the Money on demand, + With many thanks for favours past, + And hoping that his luck may last. + + (_Go to No. 8._) + + (10) + +[Illustration] + + Possess’d of all that wealth can give, + In style he now begins to live; + His carriage keeps, but yet can spare + A Fortune to his son and heir. + + _Finis._ + +On June 10, 1809, sanction was given by Parliament to a lottery (49 +Geo. III. c. 94), for the £600,000 recommended by the Committee, and +the net profit derived therefrom was £327,006 0_s._ 10_d._ + +In this year Bish produced an enigmatical handbill, such as were very +popular about that time, and for ten years later. + +The solution to the handbill on p. 169 is, “If you are a man struggling +to get through the world, or surrounded by crosses; or if you wish to +lay by a fortune for your children, go to BISH or his agents, who may +make you independent, and above the frowns of the world.” + +[Illustration] + +This other one (p. 170) is notable principally for the costumes. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + +The 15th June, 1810, brought its lottery (50 Geo. III. c. 94). Prizes +£600,000, profit £186,886 8_s._ Judging by this small amount of profit, +the public interest in the lottery was waning, and it would seem to +be so, by the extra stimulus given to the handbills issued this year, +which were more numerous than heretofore, especially for that drawn on +14th February. + +[Illustration: An Engraver’s design for heading to a Lottery Handbill.] + +[Illustration: Engraver’s design for a Lottery Handbill.] + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + A VALENTINE. + + No fresh Damask Rose, when held to the Nose, + No Cowslip or Daffy-down-dilly, + No Hyacinth’s bloom, or Pink’s rich perfume, + Nor Jessamine sweet, nor the Lily; + _These_ Emblems of Love, _this_ Knot or _this_ Dove; + _This_ Pair, or _this_ One with a Letter, + _This_ Torch and _these_ Darts, _these_ two wounded Hearts, + Nor Cupid, nor Hymen’s round Fetter; + Not _all these_ Devices can match the great Prizes, + Nor can Bacchus or Venus so brisk, + Afford such a boon + As next Valentine’s Noon, + When the Prizes are gained _without risk_. + +The inevitable Bish comes to the fore with + + “PUBLIC PRIZES. + + BY A PRIZE-MASTER. + + TUNE--'_Ye Scamps, ye Pads, ye Divers_.’ + + In London Town, are Prizes for ev’rything that’s made, + In every profession, manufactory, or trade; + _Prize Cattle_ long have noise made, but don’t the _price_ + decrease, + But I can tell of _Prize Sheep_, each with a _Golden Fleece_. + With a tol, etc. + + How oft you’ll advertis’d see a _Prize Boot_ or a _Shoe_, + Which Crispin’s sons to gain, must either strap or buckle to; + To 'buckle Fortune on your back,’ you’d scrape your _shoe_ to do’t + I’ll tell you, and for a _Prize_, to make a _leg_ to _boot_. + With a tol, etc. + + _Prize Flow’rs_ you hear of in plenty, of every kind and hue, + The best of them but fade at last, however fine to view; + Your Florist’s of Carnations, Pinks, and Tulips forth may hold, + The Prize Flower I present to you, is _Fortune’s Marigold_. + With a tol, etc. + + _Prize Themes_ they write at College, in ev’ry style and tongue, + Producing _Wisdom_, greatest _Prize_, enlightening the young; + My _Theme_ is, too, a _Prize Theme_, a richer scarce is found, + I mean the _Prize_, for that may turn out Eighty Thousand Pound. + With a tol, etc. + + The Theme I mean’s the Lottery, on Valentine they draw, + With Prizes full 5,000, a Scheme to gain _éclat_; + _Two Hundred Thousand Pounds_ in all; among them too you have + _Twelve_ £1000’s, Four £5000’s and Four £20,000’s--brave. + With a tol, etc. + + And BISH is the _Prize-Master_, who sells most of them well, + At Charing Cross, No. 9, or Blue Coat Boys, Cornhill; + For Thousand _Twenties_, _Five and Twenties_, _Thirties_, + _Forties_ too, + He more has sold than all the Trade, and he’ll sell one to you. + With a tol, etc.” + +Hazard and Co. give us the three following:-- + + “The _Prize Bird_ of VENUS, commissioned by LOVE, + The bounties of FORTUNE this Month to display, + Announces to all who her favours would prove, + That the Lottery draws on St. Valentine’s Day. + Young Maidens for Lovers no more need despair, + Since FORTUNE and LOVE have together combin’d, + To bestow their best gifts on the youth and the Fair, + Who by HYMEN’S soft fetters would wish to be join’d.” + + “SWEETHEARTS AND GOLD; + + OR, + + THE MATRIMONIAL RECIPE. + + Sweethearts, blithesome, spruce and gay, + Haste ye, haste ye, haste away, + Soon is Fortune’s holiday! + Why so loiter thus your time? + ’Tis, indeed, a monstrous crime, + Thus to waste your youth and prime! + Haste then, Sweethearts, haste away, + Soon is Fortune’s Holiday! + + Prizes may be had by all, + Rich and Poor, and Great and Small. + If you have a mind to call + Where they always may be had; + And where, too, they’re always glad + To assist where Luck’s been bad! + Haste ye, Sweethearts, haste away, + + Soon is Fortune’s Holiday! + If you would to church be led, + By the Man you’d wish to wed, + (Ne’er to part till one is dead,) + Here the way I’ll surely show, + How most likely to do so, + Get a Prize--he’ll ne’er say 'No!’ + Haste then, Sweethearts, haste away + Soon is Fortune’s Holiday! + + If your lovely Lass has charms, + To excite your Love’s alarms, + Lest she fly to others’ arms, + +[Illustration] + + Buy a Share--a Prize go buy-- + Then for you she’ll heave a sigh, + And with pleasure soon comply! + Haste then, Sweethearts, haste away, + Soon is Fortune’s Holiday! + + Fifty Thousand Guineas rare, + May be had, and I know where, + They’ll the Prizes doubtless share! + HAZARD’S House, with fame o’er grown, + Has for Prizes long been known, + As the House of greatest _ton_. + Haste then, Sweethearts, haste away, + Soon is Fortune’s Holiday! + + Never hesitate, nor stand, + For the time is close at hand, + When this Holiday is plann’d; + Good St. Valentine, you see, + And Dame Fortune, both agree + In the closest harmony. + Haste then, Sweethearts, haste away, + Soon is Fortune’s Holiday!” + + “THE DOUBT. + + To buy, or not to buy, that’s the question, + Whether ’tis nobler in the purse to suffer + The mournful emptiness of Fortune’s daughter, + Or to buy Tickets at a Lott’ry Office, + And by a Prize to end them. A Prize! Hard Cash! + And by possession of that Cash to end + The heart-ache, and a thousand cruel shocks + That Poverty is heir to. ’Tis a consummation + Devoutly to be wish’d--Guineas--Bank-Notes-- + A Prize--perchance a Blank[24]--aye, there’s the rub, + That makes necessity of so long life; + For who would bear the scorn of empty pockets; + The insolence of riches, and the spurns + That ragged small-clothes from the well-drest take, + When he, himself, might a fine fortune make + With a mere Share? + Thus Prudence doth make cowards of us all, + And Lottery Prizes of great pith and moment, + By sad delay are flown from us for ever, + And lose the name of benefits!” + +[24] The present Lottery contains only half the usual proportion, viz. +_Not two Blanks to a Prize_. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: Gye and Balne, Printers, 38, Gracechurch-street.] + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + + “Twenty Thousand; or, Tom Truelove’s Journal”--“London + and the Lottery”--“The Persian Ambassador”--“An + Enigma”--“Gently over the Stones.” + + “TWENTY THOUSAND; + + OR, TOM TRUELOVE’S JOURNAL. + + ’Twas past meridian, half-past four, + _Good Luck_, I thought I’d try to nick it, + At six, up _Cornhill channel_ wore, + And bought of BISH a Lott’ry _Ticket_; + At seven, home with my ticket sped, + At eight, _in air built many a house_, and + At nine I supp’d and went to bed, + And dreamt at ten of _Twenty Thousand_. + + 'Rose six a.m. with hope agog, + In hopes of having pretty pickings, + O’erhaul’d, at seven, Fortune’s log, + And _counted_, tho’ _not hatch’d, my chickens_. + At eight, absorb’d by Fancy’s power, + For breakfast scarcely cared _a sous_, and + At nine, heard Church clock strike the hour + I hop’d would bring me _Twenty Thousand_. + + At ten, I went to _Coopers Hall_, + To see them draw the Blanks and Prizes, + Eleven, my number heard ’em call-- + Here, in my bosom transport rises. + The Hall, I, ere _meridian_, left, + (Your expectation I arouse, and + Will satisfy) of care bereft, + I found my chance was _Twenty Thousand_. + + At one, I sought the gen’rous lass, + Who long for me and love had tarried, + And told her what had come to pass; + At two, we settled to be married; + At three, we bought the wedding-ring, + At four, resolved to take a house, and + Till five, did nought but dance and sing, + For joy of getting _Twenty Thousand_. + + At six, saw BISH, my prize he paid, + In _gold_, with such polite behaviour, + It seem’d--tho’ he’d my fortune made, + As if I’d done him some great favour + At seven, with cargo, sail I set, + (My thoughts in Hope’s delights carouse) and + At eight again my girl I met, + And, in her lap, threw _Twenty Thousand_. + + Next morn, at nine (the licence bought), + I rigg’d, and in my house I waited; + At ten, in consort _Church_ we sought, + And, at eleven, we were mated. + And I, while rapture fill’d each sense, + At twelve saluted Polly’s _bows_, and + With grateful heart thank’d Providence, + Who gave me her, and _Twenty Thousand_.” + +Here is another of Bish’s Handbills for 1810:-- + + “LONDON AND THE LOTTERY. + + _By a_ RARITY HUNTER. + + O! LONDON’S a wonderful city, + In wonderful wonders abounding, + Some astonishment raise, and some pity, + And all faculties some are confounding; + For instance, there’s _Westminster Hall_, + Where at puzzle-cap pleaders play well, sir; + Black _white_ and white _black_ often call, + By the rule of the oyster and shell, sir. + Rum ti iddity, etc. + + _Guildhall_, too, with wonder one treads, + Where the two _wooden giants_ stand guard, sir + And besides _theirs_, enough _wooden heads_ + You’ll find, if you search every Ward, sir; + These giants are guards of the _clock_, + And you’ll own that’s a _time-serving station_; + But each sticks to his _place_ like a stock, + As all time servers do in the nation. + Rum ti iddity, etc. + + At the new _Auction Mart_ you next stare, + Which, a fine place we’re bid to consider; + Like political consciences, where + All things are knock’d down to best bidder; + The fam’d _Stock Exchange_ then you view, + Where there’s plenty of bother and bubble, + And ’twere well if Stock Jobbers, a few, + Were set in the _Stocks_ for their trouble. + Rum ti iddity, etc. + + The Bank your attention receives, + Where Fortune holds court for her minions; + And _Bank Notes_, like fam’d _Sybilline Leaves_, + _Faith_ makes current for “_golden opinions_.” + The _Parliament House_ awe creates, + That guard ’gainst the strong of the weaker; + Where they hold ev’ry day _long_ Debates, + Which is odd, as they have but _one Speaker_. + Rum ti iddity, etc. + + There’s _St. Paul’s_, too, and _Westminster Abbey_, + To the curious to see ’em a feast ’tis; + There’s the _Monument_, crazy and shabby, + And the _Tower_ where they show the wild _Beastes_. + The _British Museum_ Fame sings, + All rarities there they receive ’em; + And they tell you such wonderful things! + And you, if you like, may believe ’em. + Rum ti iddity, etc. + + There’s one _Cooper’s Hall_ I forgot, + Where the Lott’ry they draw every year, sir; + And the 8th of next June, on that spot, + They’ll draw it again, as I hear, sir; + And then there’s a house on _Cornhill_, + Where a man they call BISH advertises, + That he _there_, or at _Charing Cross_ will + Sell most of the _Capital Prizes_. + Rum ti iddity, etc.” + +To show how keenly Bish looked after anything on which he could hang an +advertisement, read the following, which must have been written before +June 8, 1810, as that date is given on the back of the handbill, as +the drawing of the lottery. No doubt the coming of an ambassador from +Persia created almost as great a sensation as that of the Shah in June, +1873, and his Excellency Mirza Abdul Hassan, envoy extraordinary from +the Shah of Persia to the Court of Great Britain, reached these shores +on November 30, 1809, had an audience of George III., and presented his +credentials on December 20. Sir Gore Ouseley, the celebrated Persian +scholar, attended on him during his stay in this country. + + “THE PERSIAN AMBASSADOR. + + By the TOWN CRIER. + + TUNE--“_The Frog in an Opera Hat_.” + + The Persian Ambassador’s come to town; + Heigho! says Boney; + He’s a person of rank and renown, + Says in Persia they’ll knock all French politics down, + With their _Parlez vous_, _Voulez vous_, gammon and spinach too; + Heigho! says Emperor Boney. + + To see the Ambassador all the folks run, + Heigho! says Boney; + 'He has sixty-three children,’ says Boney, 'well done! + What a devil of a fellow! while I haven’t _one_! + With my _Parlez vous_, _Voulez vous_, Josephine and others too,’ + Heigho! says Emperor Boney. + + Till presented he’d been he could not go about; + Heigho! says Boney. + So he went to the _Court_, while the folks made a rout, + And being presented, had leave to go out, + With a _Parlez vous_, _Voulez vous_, Johnny Bull, how d’ye do? + Heigho! says Emperor Boney. + + To the Op’ra the Persian Ambassador went; + Heigho! says Boney; + He said, to go often it was his intent, + For he liked it so much, he scarce knew what it meant, + With his _Parlez vous_, _Voulez vous_, Naldi and Vestris too, + Heigho! says Emperor Boney. + + To the Play-house the Persian Ambassador hied; + Heigho! says Boney; + At the sorrows of _Lear_ he sobb’d and he sigh’d, + And then at the Pantomime laughed till he cried, + With their _Parlez vous_, _Voulez vous_, Joey Grimaldi too, + Heigho! says Emperor Boney. + + With the East India Company next he din’d; + Heigho! says Boney; + To shew him all honour their Worships designed, + So some walked before him, and others behind, + With their _Parlez vous_, _Voulez vous_, tit-bits and turtle too, + Heigho! says Emperor Boney. + + At the Bank he found _Specie_ was scarce in the place; + Ho! ho! says Boney; + But they shew’d him a vast many '_Notes_ on the case,’ + By that learned Annotator on Cash, Henry Hase, + With his _Parlez vous_, _Voulez vous_, Water Mark Promise too, + Heigho! says Emperor Boney. + + To what place next will his Excellence hie? + Heigho! says Boney; + Perhaps, if he means his good fortune to try, + To BISH’S, a Lottery Ticket to buy, + With his _Parlez vous_, _Voulez vous_, good lucky Number too, + Heigho! says Emperor Boney. + + If a Prize the Ambassador chances to bank, + Heigho! says Boney; + And no doubt MR. BISH, to a man of his rank, + Wouldn’t so impolite be as to sell him a blank: + With his _Parlez vous_, _Voulez vous_, Capital prizes too, + Heigho! says Emperor Boney. + + If a best Prize he gets, in A, B, C, or D, + Heigho! says Boney; + Won’t matter, no doubt quite contented he’ll be, + And at going, say, 'Johnny Bull, thank ye for me,’ + With a _Parlez vous_, _Voulez vous_, 'Bish, I’ll remember you,’ + Heigho! says Emperor Boney.” + + An ENIGMA. + + To one-fourth of a passion which governs mankind + Add a circle, and part of my meaning you’ll find; + To these let one-fourth of the killer of kings, + The subverter of empires, and all human things, + Be united; and then if two-thirds of a drink + Used in Europe and China, is added, I think + The best part of the puzzle you’ll guess very well. + One-third of a West Indian spirit then tell; + And if, to all these, the last letter but one + In the Alphabet’s added, the puzzle is done. + If you place all these rightly, the means will be clear, + How an income to gain of five thousand a year. + + EXPLANATION. + + Soft Love is the passion which governs mankind, + And an =L= is the fourth of that word you will find. + The circle’s an =O=; and the killer of kings, + The subverter of empires and all human things, + Is TIME; now the fourth of this word is a =T=; + And the drink used in Europe and China is TEA, + Two-thirds of which word are explain’d by =TE=. + The West Indian spirit is RUM, I declare, + One-third of which word by an =R= is made clear: + And, as the last letter but one is a =Y=. + The whole put together will form LOTTERY. + Now _Five_ Twenty Thousands the Scheme doth contain, + And the whole of these Prizes five Tickets may gain, + If bought of one number: and thus, it is clear, + That an income you’ll gain of five thousand a year. + +“_Gently over the Stones._” + +The Ancients used to mark all lucky Days with a _White Stone_; now +_Blackstone_ was a Judge, and could tell you that _Blue Stone_ is +not half so corrosive as poverty, which brings a man’s nose to the +_Grindstone_, while Riches make his Happiness durable as _Free +Stone_. Now, under this heap of Stones a Truth is hidden, which will +be powerfully elucidated on the 8th of June, the near approach of +which should be a _Whetstone_ to all who intend purchasing a lucky +Number, which, as the Scheme proves, may produce _Mill-Stones_ in +Gold, _Precious Stones_ in Jewels; and, in short, holds out so many +_astonishing_ advantages, that _no Stone_ should be left unturned to +procure a Share of them. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + + “Master and Man”--“Altogether”--Dr. Thornton’s “Royal + Botanical Lottery”--“Two Gold Finches”--“Dennis + Brulgruddery”--“Shakespeare’s Seven Ages. + +The State lottery for 1811 was passed June 26 (51 Geo. III. c. 113), +£600,000 in prizes--net profit, £208,007 17_s._ 8_d._, about five +blanks to a prize. Of this year there are one or two good handbills. + + “MASTER AND MAN. + + A DIALOGUE. + +_Q._ Well, _Richard_, and what brings you to town? + +_A._ Why, I’d a wee bit business to do for mysen, and the like for your +honour’s lady, so I’ve kill’d two birds with one stone, you see. + +_Q._ Well, well, sit down and rest yourself a bit; you seem tired? + +_A._ A small matter, your honour, 'case, d’ye see, I walked all the way +up. + +_Q._ The Devil you did! Why didn’t you ride old Dobbin? + +_A._ I couldn’t, your honour, 'case he’s dead. + +_Q._ Dead! and how came that about? + +_A._ ’Twere my own fault, poor beast!--I rode so hard from Doncaster, +to tell Dame _Bridget_, our Housekeeper, the good News. + +_Q._ What News? + +_A._ Why, that she had got a share in a Capital in the Lottery. + +_Q._ And how came she to buy Lottery Tickets? + +_A._ Oh! bless you, mun! she didn’t buy it at all. + +_Q._ Didn’t buy it? Why, how then? + +_A._ Why, Mistress guv’d it to her, like. + +_Q._ She’d better have say’d the money to pay off the Mortgage. + +_A._ Oh, that’s all settled. + +_Q._ Settled? + +_A._ Yes; she paid it all off on the same day. + +_Q._ What day? + +_A._ Why, the day they paid her the money. + +_Q._ What money? + +_A._ Why, the Lottery money, from t’ Office. + +_Q._ I thought you said, just now, that _Bridget_ had got the Prize? +Your head’s wool-gathering. + +_A._ So she did, but Mistress got one too. + +_Q._ And it was drawn a.... + +_A._ A Prize of Twenty Thousand!--and now your Honour knows all about +it.” + +For a wonder, the above has no lottery office-keeper’s name attached to +it--unlike the following. + + “ALTOGETHER! + + TUNE--'_Reuben, he had wit and grace_.’ + + 'Reuben, he had wit and grace’ + Altogether. + And much esteemed Henry Hase[25] + Altogether. + Quoth he, 'Dear Ruth, a wish I have, + A little store of cash to save, + That Fortune’s frowns we both may brave, + Altogether.’ + Now Ruth, she was a charming maid, + Altogether. + And unto Reuben then she said, + Altogether, + 'The Spirit moveth me to say, + If we’d be put in Fortune’s way, + + To BISH’S we must go this day, + Altogether. + Then Reuben lifted up his eyes, + Altogether; + And to the Damsel thus replies, + Altogether; + 'Friend Ruth, thy counsel likes me well, + I know friend BISH doth Prizes sell, + So, unto him, our mind we’ll tell, + Altogether.’ + Then, unto BISH they straightway went, + Altogether; + And of their walk did not repent + Altogether; + Quoth Reuben, 'Damsel, verily, + We acted right our luck to try, + I love the Mammon heartily, + Altogether.’” + +[25] Secretary or head-cashier to the Bank of England. + +On May 21, 1811, was passed an Act (51 Geo. III. and the first year +of the Regency, c. 113) to enable Dr. Thornton to get rid by lottery +of his very expensive works on botany, which were warranted “entirely +of British Manufacture.” The scheme was 20,000 tickets at two guineas +each, and there were to be 10,000 prizes. + + “BRITONS! join Hand and Heart in promoting + the ARTS and SCIENCES of your COUNTRY, + by the IMMEDIATE PURCHASE OF A TICKET.” + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + ROYAL + BOTANICAL LOTTERY. + + _First_, THE GRAND _Prize_. + +(Intitled the LINNÆAN GALLERY), Being all the Original Paintings of +the choicest Flowers, Allegorical Subjects, and Heads of Botanists, +executed by the most eminent Painters, OPIE, R.A. dec., RUSSELL, R.A. +dec., HOWARD, R.A., REINAGLE, R.A., HENDERSON, &c., &c., accompanied +with a superb Copy of each of the other prizes, most elegantly bound, +valued together at upwards of + + £5,080 0 0 + +_Also 199 Capital Prizes._ + +Each containing THE TEMPLE OF FLORA, being representations of +the choicest Flowers of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, NEW +ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE LINNÆAN SYSTEM and PHILOSOPHY OF BOTANY, making +together Five Grand Volumes, including several Hundred Plates, by +those most eminent Artists BARTOLOZZI, EARLOM, LANDSEER, MILTON, +LOWRY, TOMKINS, DUNKARTON, WARD, &c., &c. (the Plates afterwards to be +destroyed, according to Act of Parliament); each set of these Grand +National Works is valued at £80 + + 15,920 0 0 + +_Also 200 Capital Prizes._ + +Each being a Copy of the BOTANICAL COLOURED PLATES in the TEMPLE OF +FLORA, forming a most elegant Portfolio of Botanical Flower Plates, +with a Descriptive Catalogue in 8vo, value £30 each Copy + + 6,000 0 0 + +_Also 609 Capital Prizes._ + +Each being the TEMPLE OF FLORA 4to Size, richly coloured, and Letter +Press, valued at £15 each + + 9,000 0 0 + +_Also 2000 Capital Prizes._ + +Viz. FLORA of the UNITED KINGDOM, being a Description of every British +Plant, and their Virtues, 400 Plates, Five Volumes 8vo, valued at £10 +each + + 20,000 0 0 + +_Also 7000 Capital Prizes._ + +Viz. ELEMENTS of BOTANY, Two Volumes 8vo, with 200 Plates, valued at £3 +each + + 21,000 0 0 + +Total Value of all the Prizes in the + + ----------- + ROYAL BOTANICAL LOTTERY £77,000 0 0 + =========== + +“_Address to the Public._ + +DR. THORNTON + +Respectfully informs the Nobility and Gentry, that, after a labour of +upwards of Twenty Years, he has accomplished a series of BOTANICAL +WORKS, which he hopes are honourable to the Nation. The House of +Commons, and the Lords, were so well satisfied with them, from +examination, that a LOTTERY for the sale of the same was unanimously +granted; for it was seen, that FEW could afford to give EIGHTY POUNDS +for a book, who would cheerfully venture TWO GUINEAS for the same. To +convince a generous Public of the Value of the Prizes in the ROYAL +BOTANICAL LOTTERY, he begs leave to present Extracts from the Reports +laid before the Honourable House of Commons, being Letters from Persons +of Eminence. + +CERTIFICATES. + +“Sir,--I very readily comply with your request to certify, that _His +Majesty’s_ Library, and also that of _Her Majesty_ the Queen, have +been _enriched_ with your _elegant_ Works; and I heartily wish you may +succeed in your endeavours to recover some of the expense you have +so _liberally_ incurred, in bringing them to their present degree of +_perfection_. + +“I am, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant, + + “FRED. AUG. BARNARD, + “Librarian to the King. + +“Queen’s Palace, Feb. 20, 1811. + +“Sir,--His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Russia, having, with much +satisfaction, received your _splendid_ and _elaborate_ Botanical +Works, has directed me to transmit to you the Ring sent herewith, as a +mark of his benevolence, and a proof of his regard for everything which +is of public utility. + +“I have the honour to be your most obedient, humble Servant, + + “N. NOVOSSILSOFF, + “Pres. of the Imp. Acad. + + “Dec. 30, 1807.” + +Here follow other letters, etc., not worth quoting, and the prospectus +winds up thus: “Dr. Thornton concludes this Address with confidence, +that every ENGLISHMAN who has a love for the honour, glory and +prosperity of the BRITISH NAME, will encourage the Fine Arts and +Science of the Country, by entering into this BOTANICAL LOTTERY, which +is intended to be drawn before the 4th of JUNE, 1812, provided the +encouragement from the Public has been such, that One Third of the +Tickets are disposed of by that time; which, from the present generous +patronage the Public has already exhibited, Dr. Thornton cannot +entertain one moment’s hesitation about. As the Tickets in all the +other PRIVATE LOTTERIES have risen, at the conclusion, from three to +six, or eight guineas, each, the present is the most favourable moment +for the purchase of a Ticket in the ROYAL BOTANICAL LOTTERY.” + +[Illustration] + +The State lottery of 1812 was passed on July 13 (52 Geo. III. c. 125). +Prizes, £600,000, net profit, £221,260 3_s._ 1_d._ I know not by whom +the following handbill was drawn:-- + + “_Two Gold Finches, vis-a-vis,_ + _Are now perching on a Tree._ + +“I explain the above Motto thus--the two Gold Finches are the two +Twenty Thousand Pound Prizes, one of which is the First-drawn Prize +above £25, entitled to £20,000, Next Friday, the 27th, the Second Day +of Drawing; and the other Gold Finch is the _other_ £20,000 the lucky +Sportsman thinks his Ticket will be drawn; so that with getting _one_, +and being entitled to the _other_, he means of his £20,000, to make a +Forty Thousand Pound Prize. This would indeed be killing two Birds with +ONE STONE.” + +53 Geo. III. c. 93, passed July 2, was the Lottery Act for 1813. +Prizes, the usual £600,000; net profit, £212,285 12_s._ 6_d._ For a +few years the stimulating handbills are scarce; still, one or two more +can generally be found. + +[Illustration] + + “_Mrs. B._ WHY, DENNIS BRULGRUDDERY, surely you’re mad! + Are these times, I wonder, to laugh and be glad? + I suppose that, as usual, you’ve been in the cellar, + And, beast as you are, with the ale have got mellow. + + _Dennis._ Be quiet now, Mistress BRULGRUDDERY, dear, + And let me just whisper a word in your ear; + Be aisy, my darling, and open your eyes; + Don’t you see I’ve got hold of a Capital Prize? + + _Mrs. B._ A capital fiddlestick!--DENNIS, you’re crazy. + + _Dennis._ My Jewel!--I tell you again, now, be aisy; + Don’t bother my gig, and I’ll tell you the matter; + But paice now, and let’s have no more of your clatter. + + _Mrs. B._ Well, tell your fool’s tale, and, for my part, I’m dumb; + You know I hate talking--I always am mum; + You should hear Mrs. GABBLE--she.... + + _Dennis._ Will you be quiet? + + _Mrs. B._ Oh, certainly, Sir;--there’s no need of a riot; + I was only a saying,--but on with your tale. } + } + _Dennis._ You know who it was sav’d the Brazier from jail, } + And 10 Thousand Pounds paid him “_down on the nail_.” } + + _Mrs. B._ Mr. PEREGRINE, sure.... + + _Dennis._ T’other day, in the thicket, + He slipp’d in my hand, faith! a Lottery Ticket; + A reward for our kindness to MARY, my dear; + Little share of that matter was yours, though, I fear: + I thank’d him, be sure, and now, by the pow’rs, + A fortune of Ten Thousand Pounds, dear, is ours! + + _Mrs. B._ A Ten Thousand Prize is a _Capital_ thing; + But better luck still, the next venture may bring: + I’ve a Scheme in my pocket, by which it is plain, + That a trifling sum may _twice Ten Thousand_ gain! + + _Dennis._ Good luck to the craturs! and who would say, nay? + I’m off for a Ticket as sure as the day; + Och! this is the saison for making of hay! + + _Exeunt._” + +The Lottery for June 17, 1814 (54 Geo. III. c. 74), was for £600,000; +but the net profit was small, only £174,533 1_s._ 3_d._ + +[Illustration] + + “_SHAKESPEARE’S SEVEN AGES._ + + A PARAPHRASE. + + All the World’s a LOTTERY, + And men and women mere _Adventurers_: + As planets rule, do mortals play their parts + Throughout life’s seven ages. First the _Infant_-- + For him, his mother, anxious to obtain + An independence, buys a _Lottery Chance_, + And marks the _Ticket_ with her darling’s name. + The _School Boy_ next--with Christmas Box well stored, + And face all shining with the rays of hope, + Creeps, in his way to school, t 'a Lott’ry Fane, + Empties his hoard, and buys a _Sixteenth Share_; + Then sums his _Fortune_ by the _Golden Rule_. + +[Illustration] + + The _Sighing Lover_, fond, but poor in purse, + A woeful ballad sings to Beauty’s Goddess, + To crown his purchas’d _Chance_ with plenteous wealth; + That he may speedy gain, in wedded bands, + The greatest _Prize_--the maiden he adores. + The daring _Soldier_ next--full of ambition + To acquire honor, fame, and high command, + Woos the blind Goddess--fav’rer of the bold-- + And swears he’d brave the loaded cannon’s mouth, + T’ obtain a _Prize_ of TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS. + +[Illustration] + + A _Justice_ now--full anxious to support, + With Capons fat, and turtle season’d high, + His big round belly, a _Ticket_ buys, in hope + To gain promotion, and ennobled blood. + The sixth _Advent’rer_, is the _Pantaloon_-- + He eager views, by aid of spectacles, + The luring _Tickets_--buys--and hopes to pouch + A CAPITAL--it rises to his wish-- + His shrunk shank lengthens--and his deep fault’ring voice, + With shrilly pipe proclaims the joyful news. + But, last of all--to crown _advent’rous_ life, + Would be no second childishness; to gain + A _Prize_ that comfort yields--when age becomes-- + Sans teeth--sans eyes--sans taste--sans everything. + + Would every _Age_ know _Where_, with prospect bright, + Of great success, is _Fortune’s_ fav’rite Fane, + FAME tells ’tis kept by BISH--who never fails, + In each new _Scheme_ to Sell--PRIZES IMMENSE.” + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + + A lucky Spaniard--Miss Mitford’s prize--The + _Spectator_ on lucky numbers--Other anecdotes + on luck--“Gretna Green”--“A Prize for Poor Jack.” + +1815, of course, had its State lottery, June 7 (55 Geo. III. c. 73), in +which £624,400 was given in prizes, and it resulted in a net profit of +£224,311 18_s._ 1_d._; but this may be partly owing to the fact that +there was one prize offered of £40,000, the only other instance of such +an enormous prize being in the lottery of 1807. + +There is a curious story about this prize (1815). During the drawing of +the lottery, a Spaniard, Don Tomas Isturity, was walking near the Royal +Exchange, when the inclination to spend some twenty pounds in dabbling +in the lottery came strongly upon him. He entered the office of Martin +and Co., Cornhill, but was unable to make up his mind what numbered +ticket to choose. At last he settled on the number of days he had been +absent from Madrid, which, on reference to his pocket-book, he found +to be 261. He therefore asked for the ticket bearing that number, but +it was nearly half an hour before it could be obtained, and only after +a strict search among the lottery offices in the City. At length a +half-ticket of No. 261 was procured at two o’clock, and at five it was +drawn the £40,000 prize, so that the lucky don lay down that night a +richer man by £20,000 than he had risen in the morning. + +This is not a solitary instance of luck attending the choosing a +lottery ticket. Miss Mitford, in her “Literary Recollections,” tells +a good story of the old lottery days. Speaking of her father, she +says, “In the intervals of his professional pursuits, he walked about +London with his little girl [herself] in hand; and one day--it was +my birthday, and I was ten years old--he took me into a not very +tempting-looking place, which was, as I speedily found, a lottery +office. An Irish lottery was upon the point of being drawn, and he +desired me to choose one out of several bits of printed paper (I did +not then know their significance) that lay upon the counter. + +“'Choose which number you like best,’ said my dear papa; 'and that +shall be your birthday present.’ + +“I immediately selected one, and put it in his hand--No. 2224. + +“'Ah!’ said my father, examining it, 'you must choose again. I want to +buy a whole ticket, and this is only a quarter. Choose again, my pet.’ + +“'No, dear papa; I like this one best.’ + +“'Here is the next number,’ interposed the lottery-office keeper--'No. +2223.’ + +“'Ay,’ said my father, 'that will do just as well. Will it not, Mary? +We’ll take that.’ + +“'No,’ returned I, obstinately, 'that won’t do. This is my birthday, +and you know, papa, I am ten years old. Cast up _my_ number, and you’ll +find that makes ten. The other is only nine.’ + +“My father, superstitious, like all speculators, struck with my +pertinacity, and with the reason I gave, which he liked none the less +because the ground of preference was tolerably unreasonable, resisted +the attempt of the office-keeper to tempt me by different tickets, and +we had nearly left the shop without a purchase, when the clerk, who had +been examining different desks and drawers, said to his principal-- + +“'I think, sir, the matter may be managed if the gentleman does +not mind paying a few shillings more. That ticket, 2224, only came +yesterday, and we have still all the shares--one-half, one-quarter, +one-eighth, and two-sixteenths. It will be just the same, if the young +lady is set upon it.’ + +“The young lady was set upon it, and the shares were purchased. The +whole affair was a secret between us, and my father, whenever he got me +to himself, talked over our future twenty thousand pounds--just like +Alnaschar over his basket of eggs. Meanwhile time passed on, and one +Sunday morning we were all preparing to go to church, when a face I +had forgotten, but my father had not, made his appearance. It was the +clerk of the lottery office. An express had just arrived from Dublin, +announcing that 2224 had been drawn a prize of twenty thousand pounds, +and he had hastened to communicate the good news. + +“Ah, me! In less than twenty years, what was left of the produce of the +ticket so strangely chosen? What, except a Wedgwood dinner-service, +that my father had made to commemorate the event, with the Irish harp +within the border on one side, and his family crest on the other? That +fragile and perishable ware long outlasted the more perishable money.” + +This belief in lucky numbers in the lottery was of old standing; for in +No. 191 of the _Spectator_, October 9, 1711, is the following:-- + +“... When a man has a mind to venture his money in a lottery, every +figure of it appears equally alluring, and as likely to succeed as +any of its fellows. They all of them have the same pretensions to +good luck, stand upon the same foot of competition, and no manner of +reason can be given why a man should prefer one to the other before +the lottery is drawn. In this case, therefore, Caprice very often +acts in the place of Reason, and forms to itself some groundless, +imaginary motive where real and substantial ones are wanting. I know a +well-meaning man that is very pleased to risk his good fortune upon the +number 1711, because it is the year of our Lord. I am acquainted with a +tacker that would give a good deal for the number 134.[26] + +[26] “In the year 1704 a bill was brought into the House of Commons +against occasional conformity; and, in order to make it pass through +the House of Lords, it was proposed to tack it to a money bill. This +occasioned warm debates, and at length it was put to the vote, when 134 +were for tacking; but a large majority being against it, the motion was +overruled, and the bill miscarried. + +[Illustration] + +“On the contrary, I have been told of a certain zealous Dissenter, who, +being a great enemy to popery, and believing that bad men are the most +fortunate in this world, will lay two to one on the number 666 against +any other number, because, says he, it is the number of the Beast.[27] +Several would prefer the number 12,000 before any others, as it is the +number of the pounds in the great prize. In short, some are pleased to +find their own age in their number; some, that have got a number which +makes a pretty appearance in the cyphers; and others, because it is the +same number that succeeded in the last lottery. Each of these, upon no +other grounds, thinks he stands fairest for the great lot, and that he +is possessed of what may not be improperly called 'the golden number.’ + +[27] Rev. xii. 18. + +“These principles of election are the pastimes and extravagances +of human reason, which is of so busy a nature, that it will be +exerting itself in the meanest trifles, and working even when it +wants materials. The wisest of men are sometimes acted[28] by such +unaccountable motives, as the life of the fool and the superstitious is +guided by nothing else. + +[28] Actuated. + +“I am surprised that none of the fortune-tellers, or, as the French +call them, the _Diseurs de bonne Aventure_, who publish their bills +in every quarter of the town, have turned our Lotteries to their +advantage. Did any of them set up for a caster of fortunate figures, +what might he not get by his pretended discoveries and predictions? + +“I remember, among the advertisements of the _Post-Boy_ of September +the 27th, I was surprised to see the following one:-- + +“'This is to give notice, that ten shillings over and above the market +price will be given for the ticket in the £1,500,000 lottery, No. 132, +by Nath. Cliff, at the Bible and Three Crowns, in Cheapside.’ + +“This advertisement has given great matter of speculation to +coffee-house theorists. Mr. Cliff’s principles and conversation have +been canvassed upon this occasion, and various conjectures made why he +should thus set his heart upon No. 132. I have examined all the powers +in those numbers, broken them into fractions, extracted the square +and cube roots, divided and multiplied them all ways, but could not +arrive at the secret, until about three days ago, when I received the +following letter, from an unknown hand, by which I find that Mr. Nath. +Cliff is only the agent, and not the principal, in this advertisement:-- + + “'Mr. SPECTATOR, + + “'I am the person that lately advertised + I would give ten shillings more than the + current price for the ticket No. 132 in the lottery + now drawing; which is a secret I have communicated + to some friends, who rally me incessantly + upon that account. You must know that I have + but one ticket, for which reason, and for a certain + dream I have lately had more than once, I resolved + it should be the number I most approved. I am + so positive that I have pitched upon the great + lots, that I could almost lay all I am worth upon + it. My visions are so frequent and so strong upon + this occasion, that I have not only possessed the + lot, but disposed of the money which in all probability + it will sell for. This morning, in particular, + I set up an equipage which I look upon to be the + gayest in the town; the liveries are very rich, but + not gaudy. I should be very glad to see a speculation + or two upon lottery subjects, in which you would oblige + all people concerned, and in particular, + + “'Your most humble Servant, + “'GEORGE GOSLING. + + “'P.S.--Dear Spec., If I get the £12,000, I’ll + make thee a handsome present.’ + +“After having wished my correspondent good luck, and thanked him for +his intended kindness, I shall for this time dismiss the subject of the +lottery, and only observe that the greatest part of mankind are in some +degree guilty of my friend Gosling’s extravagance.” + +The “Percy Anecdotes” are responsible for the following story:--“A +merchant, somewhat remarkable for absence of mind, had left his +counting-house for the Bank, with a large sum of money which he +intended to deposit there. On reaching Lombard Street, he found his +pocket cut, and his pocket-book missing. He immediately suspected +that his pocket had been picked of all his money, and, returning +home, mentioned the circumstance to his clerk. What, however, was +his astonishment in finding that he had left the money behind, and +that, though his pocket-book had been taken from him, yet it contained +nothing but a few papers of little consequence. + +“Pleased with the integrity of his clerk, who gave him the money +he thought he had lost, he promised him a handsome present; but, +neglecting to fulfil his promise, was reminded of it. Unwilling to +part with money, he gave the clerk one of two lottery tickets he had +purchased. The young man would have preferred money, as he had parents +far advanced in years, who depended upon him for support. He, however, +was contented; and, as it afterwards proved, had cause to be so, for +his ticket was drawn a prize for £20,000, which, enabling him to begin +business for himself, he soon rose to great eminence and wealth as a +merchant.” + +Before closing this subject, I cannot help quoting from a newspaper +cutting (_Daily News_, date unknown), which, although not belonging +to English lotteries, shows how, even in modern times, superstition +plays its part in the lottery. From a letter by a correspondent to +this paper, it appears that, in Venice, it is believed that, in the +event of a stranger dying in one of the hotels, the numbers of his +rooms will be the lucky cyphers at the next drawing of the lottery. An +illustration of this recently occurred on the death of the late Sir W. +Stirling Maxwell at one of the best-known hotels, when, immediately on +his decease, the _employés_ subscribed to take shares in the numbers of +the two rooms occupied by the late Member for Perthshire, both of which +numbers, strangely enough, were afterwards drawn prizes. In talking +over the matter with the writer, a person connected with the hotel +bitterly lamented that he had been prevented, by sudden illness, from +taking the whole of the lucky numbers, and thus realizing a handsome +fortune at one stroke. + +On the opposite page we give a lottery handbill, but with no name of +an office-keeper attached to it. It is called, “Gretna Green; or, The +Elopement.” + + “A PRIZE FOR POOR JACK. + + By JACK JUNK. + + TUNE--'_Poor Jack_.’ + + 'Go, patter to lubbers’ of _Blanks_, do you see; + Let them catch at Fortune who wish; + The chance of a _Lottery Ticket_ give me, + But, mind, I must buy it of BISH. + +[Illustration] + + I know very well it may come up a _Blank_, + And then I’m but where I begun; + But if it should happen to come up a _Prize_, + Then 'hey for the fiddle’ and fun! + The ocean of Fortune may quicksands conceal, + But that never takes me aback: + There’s a nice little Blue Coat Boy stands at the Wheel, + To pull out a Prize for Poor Jack. + + Last Lottery, BISH Twenty Capitals sold, + And why mayn’t he sell Twenty more? + Why not _one_ to _me_ (if I may be so bold), + To pocket of _Thousands_ a score? + You’ll say, as to that, it’s all twenty to one, + About counting our losses and gains; + _You advise_, and if chance I the _Twenty_ should get, + I’ll give you the _One_ for your pains. + On the ocean of Fortune my vessel may reel, + But still I shall keep to my tack: + For the nice little Blue Coat Boy stands at the Wheel, + To pull out a Prize for Poor Jack. + + Of a _new Packet_ launch’d too, moreover, they tell, + Her lading a rare one, you’ll say; + Four Hundred _Whole Tickets_, and that’s pretty well! + And I’d like ’em to come in my way. + If they were not _all Prizes_, why, I’d be content; + For 'Enough is as good as a Feast;’ + And a man, sure, might count on, and not be much out, + _Half the Capitals_ getting, at least. + Then the ocean of Fortune I’ll plough with Hope’s keel, + BISH the Pilot shall be on each tack, + While the nice little Blue Coat Boy fix’d at the Wheel + Will pull out a Prize for Poor Jack.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +Beginning of the end of lotteries--Curious handbills. + +56 Geo. III. c. 61, passed June 20, was the Act for the lottery of +1816, in which the prizes were £609,730, and the profit £164,686 15_s._ +8_d._ Year after year the introduction of the annual Lottery Act was +the occasion of an endeavour to induce the Chancellor of the Exchequer +to discontinue the practice of raising revenue by this means; but, for +a long time, all such pleadings were ineffectual. The reply vouchsafed +was invariably to the same effect, that it was impossible for the +Chancellor of the Exchequer to consent to renounce a sum which must be +supplied by some other tax, which would in all probability operate even +more oppressively on the people. + +And now we come to a very singular series of handbills, which are so +curious that I am loth to leave out one. Some are undoubtedly issued by +BISH, and I should feel inclined to ascribe the others to him, only +they are too modest in not making full use of his name. + + +FORTUNE’S TRAIN, OR THE ROAD TO RICHES! + +[Illustration] + + Go where Fortune leads the way, + Gain her favours while you may. + +[Illustration] + + I’m the wisest, you’ll declare, + For I have bought of BISH a share. + +[Illustration] + + At your feet a suppliant pair, + Lott’ry riches hope to share. + +[Illustration] + + I’m the wisest of the Two, + A Ticket here behold to view. + +[Illustration] + + While other people make wry faces, + We’ll dance ourselves in Fortune’s graces. + +[Illustration] + + I’m the luckiest of the Three, + A £20,000 he sold me! + +[Illustration] + + Madam, will you join the Train? + Fortune’s never sued in vain. + +[Illustration] + + The same to me, but best of all, + _For another I shall call_. + +The Lottery Act for 1817 was passed on May 23 (57 Geo. III. c. 31), +when £599,643 1_s._ 5_d._ was distributed in prizes, at a profit to +Government of £217,966 5_s._ + +Here is a rather clever skit on the newspapers of the day. + + “WAYS AND MEANS; + + OR, FORTUNE’S BUDGET. + + TUNE--'_Lunnun is the Devil._’ + + _Times_ are hard, they say, + _Gazette’s_ with Bankrupts full, Sir, + The _Patriot_ mourns the _Day_, + And pities _Johnny Bull_, Sir, + The _Englishman_ complains + Bad debts his _Ledger_ fill, Sir, + And all the _Statesman’s_ pains, + Can’t remedy the ill, Sir. + + But search the _Globe_ around, + The _Traveller_ will tell us, + _Examiners_ have found + Worse woes than have befel us; + And all this _Hue and Cry_ + A keen _Observer_'ll find, Sir, + Is spread by some deep _Spy_, + Who wants to raise the wind, Sir. + + But _Echo_ spreads the _News_, + SEPTEMBER’S FORTUNE’S BUDGET; + _Dispatch_, then prithee use, + _Express_ to BISH’S trudge it; + For Fortune’s _Herald_, BISH, + Your _Oracle_, advises, + If opulence you wish, + Take _Post_, and buy his prizes. + + _Review_ the Scheme, say I, + Of wealth its _Advertiser_, + Your lucky _Star_ then try, + And BISH’S Tickets buy, Sir; + Each _Journal_ tells his name, + To Luck he is conductor, + He’ll _Pilot_ you to Fame; + Take him as your _Instructor_. + + Buy Shares, if wealth you wish + Of Fortune’s own _Selector_; + A _Phœnix_, Sir, is BISH, + Of Prizes, he’s _Inspector_; + Try him, if wind you’d raise, + A _Monitor_ advises-- + His _Register_ displays + A _Chronicle_ of Prizes.” + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + + Protests against lotteries--Epitaph on Vansittart--“Three + Royal Weddings”--More opposition to the lottery + --“Twelfth Night Character” handbills--Ditto of + tradesmen. + +On June 3, 1818, was passed the Lottery Act (58 Geo. III. c. 71) when +£606,200 were given as prizes; net profit thereon, £212,551 16_s._ +8_d._ But legislators were getting disgusted at the immorality of the +lottery, and during the passage of this Bill, Mr. Parnell protested +against great questions of justice and morality being sacrificed to +expediency, and, in the course of his speech, made the suggestion that +the following humorous epitaph should be inscribed on the tomb of the +Chancellor of the Exchequer:-- + +“Here lies the Right Hon. Nicholas Vansittart, once Chancellor of the +Exchequer; the patron of Bible Societies, the builder of Churches, a +friend to the education of the poor, an encourager of Savings Banks, +and--a supporter of Lotteries!” + +Bish took advantage of every public event to force himself into +notoriety, but why he should only record _three_ Royal marriages +in 1811, when there were _four_, I cannot tell, April 7, Princess +Elizabeth to Prince of Hesse Homburg; June 1, Duke and Duchess of +Cambridge were re-married according to the rites of the Church of +England; and on July 13, the Duke of Kent married Princess Victoria of +Saxe-Coburg, mother of our Queen; and the Duke of Clarence, afterwards +William IV., married Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen. + + “3 ROYAL WEDDINGS + + and + + 3 £30,000 PRIZES. + + O, did you hear + What glorious cheer + There’s for the land providing, O! + O, there’s to be + Such Jubilee + And many a merry _briding_, O! + _Three Royal Weddings_ there will be, + To meet the Nation’s wishes, O! + And _Prizes, Thirty Thousands, Three_, + And these you’ll meet at BISH’S, O! + + ’Tis loudly said, + With Danish maid, + Bold _Clarence_ will be billing, O! + + For better, for worse, + _They’ll_ find a _Purse_, + And Purses, they want filling, O! + The way to fill it, found have I, + To meet the Nation’s wishes, O! + A _Thirty Thousand Pound Prize_, buy, + And that they’ll buy at BISH’S, O! + + Then _Cambridge_, he + From _Germany_, + Across Old Neptune’s gutter, O! + A maid will wed, + Then for their bread, + They’ll want some _Cambridge butter_, O! + And I know where there is a _churn_ + Will make it to their wishes, O! + For _Thirty Thousand Pounds_ 'twill turn, + And may be bought at BISH’S, O! + + The fair _Princess_, + A Prince of _Hesse_, + Has chosen for her hubby, O! + And _John Bull_ ne’er + To _please the fair_, + Is ungallant, or scrubby, O! + He’ll volunteer them _fair supplies_, + And _John_, to meet your wishes, O! + Another _Thirty Thousand Prize_ + You now may buy at BISH’S, O! + + 'Tween you and I, + They mean to buy, + And, if all three, they get ’em, O! + + For you and me + Now left will be, + So take care you don’t let ’em, O! + But make _first_ choice, in luck you’ll be, + _Two_ leaving for their wishes, O! + You’ll get _One_ Thirty, out of _Three_, + That’s if you buy at BISH’S, O!” + +There are very few more lotteries left to chronicle; that of 1819 (59 +Geo. III. c. 65) was passed on July 2. £681,758 11_s._ 6_d._ in prizes, +£213,324 15_s._ 2_d._ net profit; and the following resolutions were +moved in the House of Commons by Mr. Lyttleton:-- + +“1. That by the establishment of State lotteries, a spirit of gambling, +injurious, in the highest degree, to the morals of the people, is +encouraged and provoked. + +“2. That such a habit, manifestly weakening the habits of industry, +must diminish the permanent sources of the public revenue. + +“3. That the said lotteries have given rise to other systems of +gambling, which have been but partially repressed by laws, whose +provisions are extremely arbitrary, and their enforcement liable to the +greatest abuse. + +[Illustration] + +A MILITARY ANECDOTE. + +It was customary with Marshal Basompiere, when any of his soldiers were +brought before him for heinous offences, to say to them--“Brother, +_you_ or _I_ will certainly be hanged”--which was a sufficient +denunciation of their fate. A spy, who was discovered in his camp was +addressed in this language; and next day, as the wretch was about to +be led to the gallows, he pressed earnestly to speak with the marshal, +alleging that he had somewhat of importance to communicate. The marshal +being made acquainted with his request, said, in his rough manner--“It +is always the way of these rascals; they pretend some frivolous story, +merely to reprieve themselves for a few moments; however, bring the +dog hither.” Being introduced, the marshal asked him what he had to +say--“Why, my lord,” said the culprit, “when first I had the honour of +your conversation, you were pleased to say that either you or I should +be hanged; now I am come to know whether it is your pleasure to be so, +because, if _you_ won’t, _I_ must; that’s all.” The marshal was so +pleased with the fellow’s humour, that he ordered him to be released. + +I have told you this for your amusement; now let me impart something +which may prove to your advantage. The new State Lottery, which will +soon be drawn _in One Day_, contains Forty Capital Prizes, amounting +with smaller ones, to the immense sum of £200,000, besides Four Extra +Prizes of Tickets, with all the Prizes they may contain, by which +plan One Ticket may produce the good round sum of £100,000!!! The +great advantages of the Scheme are unparalleled--Tickets will (from +the very great demand at all the offices) most likely be raised in +price--therefore you should not be tardy in availing yourself of an +opportunity of realising a _princely fortune_, by purchasing either +a Ticket or Share; and should it prove fortunate, you will, I hope, +remember the story of Marshal Basompiere. + + James Whiting, Printer, Finsbury Place, London. + +“4. That this House, therefore, will no longer authorize the +establishment of State lotteries under any system of regulations +whatever.” + +The Chancellor of the Exchequer saw no reason for abandoning so +lucrative a branch of the revenue without having some equivalent held +out, by which the public would derive an equal benefit. He thought +it unfair to attribute the principle of gambling to the lottery, and +stated that arguments might be readily adduced to prove that the +spirit of gambling existed independently of the State lottery. It +must be confessed, however, that, in the course of the debate, very +forcible arguments were adduced in favour of the discontinuance of +State lotteries; and, although the resolutions of Mr. Lyttleton were +negatived by a considerable majority, it was clear that the death-knell +of the lottery had sounded, and that its hours were numbered. + +Some of the lottery handbills are very difficult to place, owing +to their giving no date of the year; and this is the case with the +following, which were a set of “Twelfth Night Characters” taken from +popular plays. + +[Illustration] + + FARMER ACRES. + + _Farmer Acres_, he stupidly stares, + And laughs without wherefore or why; + He’s one of the rudest of bears, + And filthy as hogs in a sty. + But still he a merit attain’d, + Which with some hides whatever is base, + _A Prize_ of Ten Thousand he gain’d, + And that you know alters the case. + +[Illustration] + + SIR GABY GUTTLE. + + Sir _Gaby Guttle_, you’re a beast, + To stuff the turtle so; + You’ll one day rue each pois’nous feast + From head to aching toe. + Bless me, your very eye-balls glare; + In _Lott’ry_ chances you had better share, + Than waste your money on such gouty fare. + +[Illustration] + + MOTHER GOOSE. + + Though ’twixt my hooked nose and chin + I scarce can get my dinner in; + Though deaf, half-blind, decrepid, bald, + And simple _Mother Goose_ am call’d; + Yet wit and worth refin’d, if poor, + Get but half the notice I procure. + And why?--I’m rich. My _Goose_, to me, + Is worth a rich _State Lottery_. + +[Illustration] + + SAM SWIG. + + _Sam Swig_, he drinks such a deal, + That his face is like Sylla’s, the Roman, + ’Tis mulberry pepper’d with meal, + To water he is a sworn foe man. + T’afford so much money to spend, + Though only a jockey’s his trade, + He purchas’d _a Share_ with a friend-- + In a twinkling his fortune was made. + +[Illustration] + + LADY BETTY MODISH. + + At every rout I must be seen, + Clad in dresses fine and thin. + Never happy--always gay, + Run in debt--nor hope to pay; + Had a husband--forc’d to part, + Broke his fortune--and his heart. + Laugh at trifles such as these, + Fashion should be quite at ease; + But if the Lott’ry don’t befriend me, + In spite of all--a jail will end me. + +[Illustration] + + COWSLIP. + + Mr. Lingo of old musty poets may speak, + And endeavour his learning to prove; + But, I think, ere he makes me an adept in Greek, + I shall teach him the language of love. + And if in next Lott’ry he gets a good prize, + I’ll speak to some tune with a pair of black eyes. + +[Illustration] + + QUEEN DOLLALOLLA. + + Give me, rogues, a glass of gin, + And put a little bitters in, + And give a glass to Mr. Noodle, + To drink a Prize to Mr. Doodle. + Where’s my royal husband too? + Do prythee call him--Doodle, do. + But if directly come he won’t, + Then don’t stay for him--Doodle, don’t. + +[Illustration] + + MISS VIXEN VINEGAR. + + Not want of wit, or want of charms, + Has kept a husband from my arms; + But all the men are grown so greedy, + They’ll wed no maid, though fair--if needy. + But should I get a Lott’ry Prize, + I need not envy Cowslip’s eyes, + For I’m in hopes of Mr. Noodle-- + But if not him--I’m sure of Doodle. + +[Illustration] + + JOLLY DICK. + + I’m _Jolly Dick_, a happier wight + There surely cannot live; + My heart, as well as heels, are light;-- + So cheerful I, I cheer the night, + And pleas’d, I pleasure give. + Thus of my happy lot aware, + I’ve but one wish--a _Lott’ry Share_. + +[Illustration] + + LADY MARY MOUSETRAP. + + I’m _Lady Mary Mousetrap_, round + Where’er I live the mice abound: + They even jump upon my lap, + And mount my shoulders while I nap + The reason’s plain why thus they teaze; + ’Tis this--I smell like _haut gaut_ cheese. + I’ll purchase _Shares_, get rich, and see, + If vermin _then_ will croud round me. + +[Illustration] + + CALEB QUOTEM. + + _Caleb Quotem_ looks wond’rous wise: + To hear him some gaze with surprize; + But oft he’s pronounc’d a great pest, + And then he says--“_Hic niger est_.” + His lips he ne’er opens to speak + But out flies some Latin or Greek; + They’d be better employ’d loud to call + Each _Prize_ that is drawn in the hall. + +[Illustration] + + CAPTAIN BOBADIL. + + I’m sure I’m notic’d by the fair, + Because where’er I go, they stare; + And when I swear what feats I’ve done, + How many thro’ the body run, + I’m sure the girls are quite delighted, + They scream so loud, and look so frighted. + But bragging, swearing, and red jacket, + Won’t even do for Lady Racket. + Tho’ they love soldiers best of all clothes, + There must be money in the small-clothes. + So I must get a Lott’ry Prize, + To be complete in female eyes. + +1820 brings us to 1 Geo. IV., and on July 15 an Act (c. 72) was passed, +authorizing another State lottery, of £718,606 4_s._ in prizes, which +gave a net profit of £199,643 16_s._ Here are two shares in the lottery +tickets. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + +The Lottery Act of 1821 (1 and 2 Geo. IV. c. 120) was passed on July +11. £600,000 in prizes; profit £184,409 3_s._; and in this year there +is almost an _embarras de richesses_ in the illustrated lottery +handbills, all of them relating to the drawing which took place on June +14. The following fourteen cuts are very quaint:-- + +[Illustration] + + Here’s glorious news for the 14th of JUNE, + I needn’t remind you the day will be soon; + In the rich horn of plenty are prizes in store, + For those who the favors of Fortune implore. + +[Illustration] + + Come buy my Cross-buns; but that is all stuff; + Perhaps you will say, you’ve had crosses enough; + If your crosses and troubles you wish at an end, + Buy a Lottery chance, and your fortune may mend. + +[Illustration] + + Come buy my young lambs for a trifle apiece, + And, believe me, they’re clad in a fine _golden fleece_; + Here are two, and to keep all your spirits in tune, + There are 3000 more on the 14th of June. + +[Illustration] + + Tho’ a _dab_, I’m not _scaly_--I like a good _plaice_, + And I hope that good luck will soon smile in my face; + On the 14th of June, when Prizes in _shoals_ + Will cheer up the _cockles_ of all sorts of _soles_. + +[Illustration] + + My _rabbits_, come buy--but a _rare bit_ I see, + Which the wealth of the Lottery Wheel may give me + If fortune I catch, and I finger the cole, + By the powers! I’ll then bid adieu to the pole. + +[Illustration] + + I hope, very soon, to get rid of my _yoke_, + For a prize in the Lottery Wheel I’ve bespoke; + And who knows how high in the world I may rise, + If Fortune should _butter_ my bread with a Prize? + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + For the gay fruits of nature what wish can you feel, + When compar’d with the fruits of the Lottery Wheel? + My basket of fruit I’d exchange with great glee, + If one _golden pippin_ they’d only give me. + + _In a country town, + Of no little renown, + Some good fellows met to debate, + As the times look’d so blue, + What course to pursue, + And how they should mend their estate._ + +[Illustration] + + I’m a Tailor, good Lord, + Just escap’d from the board, + With the times I am angry and wroth, + I’m _cross-grain’d_ to-day, + Things go the wrong way, + And I can’t _cut my coat to my cloth_. + +[Illustration] + + I’m a _Baker_, you see, + By the shape of my knee, + And I’m _crusty_, as well as yourself; + In riches some _roll_, + But for me, on my soul, + I could ne’er get a _crumb_ of the pelf. + +[Illustration] + + The _shoe_ pinches tight, + And affairs are not right, + Tho’ I _peg_ morn and night in my _stall_; + My _sole_, it quite melts, + For we’re off of the _welts_, + And I fear I shall soon lose my _awl_. + +[Illustration] + + I’m a _panes_-taking man, + But, do all that I can, + No _daylight_ will shine on my cares; + The _tables_, I fear, + Are turn’d, it is clear, + And adversity’s broken all _squares_. + +[Illustration] + + I’ve _felt_ like yourselves, + (For we’re unlucky elves,) + The times are _mis-shapen_ and queer; + But though, on my _block_, + I give many a knock, + No hopes for the better appear. + +[Illustration] + + I’m a sharp little _blade_, + And a _Cutler’s_ my trade, + But though, like a _razor_, I’m keen, + Fate’s _Scissors_, I dread, + Will sever my thread + Before better times will be seen. + +[Illustration] + + I’ve a _Motion_, d’ye see, + To which you’ll agree, + An _escapement_ from care I espy; + That you’ll hold up both _hands_, + To do Fortune’s commands, + And Lottery Chances to buy. + + _They agreed, to a man, + And for Chances they ran, + And you’ll do the same if you’re wise; + For the Lottery in June + Will soon be in tune, + And you may come in for a prize._ + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + + “A Dialogue”--“The Race of Fortune”--“The + Wish”--Enigmatical handbill. + +“A DIALOGUE + +_Pat._ The top of the morning to you, Judy. Where are you trotting to, +my darlin’? Faith! you skip over the bogs as nately as a butterfly on a +frosty morning. + +_Judy._ Och! none of your blarney, Mister Pat! Don’t I know you for a +deceiver? and would you be coming over me when I’m going to be made a +lady of? + +_Pat._ A lady, sure! And the raison, Judy? + +_Judy._ Because another lady, though she’s _blind_, poor soul! has +_looked_ kindly on me. + +_Pat._ Good luck to her _bright eyes_! And what’s that scrap o’ paper +you’re scrumpling about so in your hand? + +_Judy._ It’s a charm, Pat, that the lady _gave_ me, after I _paid_ for +it. + +_Pat._ A charm, sure! and what’s that? + +_Judy._ A small matter of a Lottery Ticket. + +_Pat._ And who gave you the money, Judy! + +_Judy._ A _rake_, Pat. + +_Pat._ A _rake_, Judy! Oh! fie upon you! + +_Judy._ A _hay-making rake_. Didn’t I save the money in the hay saison? +And, och! wont I look down now upon Mrs. Maloney, the cratur, who turns +her nose up at me, because she’s got a _silk_ petticoat that I belave +is nothing but _worsted_? And won’t this bit o’ paper bring me a good +Thousand Pounds to make these bog-trotters trimble? + +_Pat._ Don’t be plucking your parataes before they are sown! May be +you’ll _gain_ a _loss_, Judy. + +_Judy._ And how can that be, Paddy, seeing it’s drawn a Capital? + +_Pat._ You’ll be forgetting your poor Paddy, now you’re a lady. + +_Judy._ Mayhap I shall, and mayhap I shan’t; but I must be trotting off +for the money; and, d’ye hear, Pat? if you’d marry the _lady_, you must +be after making yourself a _jintleman_;--and here’s a bit o’ paper will +shew you the way. + +_Pat._ A Lottery Scheme! and all on the 14th of June! I’ll be off for +a Chance: for if Judy should get a husband, we’d be an awkward _pair_, +the _three_ of us; and I’d be after making it a couple, by telling him +a piece of my mind with a shellalagh.” + +[Illustration: THE RACE OF FORTUNE.] + + On the 14th of June Fortune’s race will begin, + _Independence_ the prize to reward those who win; + If of old Father Care you would get the _whip-hand_, + You must clap _spur_ to _boot_, and do Fortune’s command. + + So equal her justice, no favour she shews; + On the first at the goal the reward she bestows; + And, as _Somebody_ must win--_Nobody_ knows who, + And _Anyone_ may, it may chance to be _you_. + + For Lottery Chances then hasten away; + The 14th of June is the Fortunate Day, + At the Wealth of the Scheme, you have only to look, + To wish your name enter’d in Fortune’s _Prize-Book_. + + Then _mount_ and away, ere the _race_ has begun, + You are yet in good time to partake of the fun; + The sands of Time’s hour-glass fly very fast, + Don’t be such a flat as to come in _lag last_. + + + “THE WISH. + + A DIALOGUE + between + PETER PENURY and PAUL POSITIVE. + + _Peter._ 'I’ve often wish’d that I had clear + For life Three Hundred Pounds a year.’ + So sang a better bard than me, + Or all the modern progeny + Of sonnet-writing, rhyming elves, + Whose hot-press’d works should grace the shelves + Not of the learned and the wise, + But those who deal in puffs and pies. + + _Paul._ Stop! Stop!--You’re running on like mad; + Stick to your point, my honest lad, + And don’t abuse the modern school, + 'T has lin’d the purse of many a fool; + And _you_ would think _your_ poem fine, + If you could get a Crown a line. + These are the poets’ _golden_ days, + They write for _money_, not for _bays_. + But come; your text:--let’s know your mind, + If this good fortune you should find; + What would you do, if you had clear + For life, 'Three Hundred Pounds a year?’ + + _Peter._ What I would do’s another case; + Stop till this bright event takes place: + But _when_ and _how_,--I must confess, + I’m really at a loss to guess. + + _Paul._ Then I’m the wisest of the two, + For if you my advice pursue, + I’ll lay a plan before your eyes, + And you may gain the wish you prize. + '_The 14th of June_,’ you here may read____ + + _Peter._ I’m all attention, pray proceed. + + _Paul._ '_The Lott’ry draws_'--behold the Scheme, + Of universal praise the theme, + The Prizes great--the Chances cheap, + If you’d the golden harvest reap, + And thrice Three Hundred pounds per ann.... + + _Peter._ Enough; I see----Paul, I’m your man; + I’ll realize this vision bright, + That comes across my dazzled sight; + Let poets toil with pen and brains-- + I envy not their splendid gains. + Although they get a Crown a line, + A brighter prospect now is mine; + To make it sure, this very day + I’ll place myself in Fortune’s way.” + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: EXPLANATION.--_Time_ is on the _Wing_, and _Flies_ to +share in _Fortune’s Favours_, 14^{th} of June.--Behold her _Treasures +unlocked_.] + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +Tomkins’s picture lottery--The lottery abolished--Handbills. + +There was a private lottery drawn July 24, 1821. + + “TOMKINS’S + PICTURE LOTTERY + of the + BRITISH GALLERY OF PICTURES, + comprising + 16,550 Prizes, + VALUED AT £152,225! + +This Lottery consists of highly finished Paintings from the most +valuable pictures of the old Masters, in the Collections of Noblemen +and Gentlemen; a Set of Paintings faithfully representing the Marquis +of Stafford’s Splendid Gallery; Fifteen exquisite Oil Paintings by +Hamilton, illustrative of Thomson’s Seasons; Beautiful Water Colour +Paintings from the old Masters; several thousand Impressions of the +Selections from the old Masters, exquisitely coloured; the same in +black, Prints and Proofs; the Lease of the Premises, 54, New Bond +Street, where the above Pictures are now exhibiting _Gratis_, &c., &c. +The whole forming a complete _Chef d’Œuvre_ of the Arts. + + TICKETS, Price £3 3s. Each, + are now on Sale at + No. 54, NEW BOND STREET, + Where the Prizes are exhibiting _gratis_.--And also + at all + _Lottery Offices, Printsellers’, and Booksellers’_. + + A PERFECTLY NOVEL SCHEME. + +“One half of the Tickets are printed in Black, and the other half in +Red Ink; and the drawing is so arranged, that if the last drawn Ticket +in the State Lottery, (which is to decide this) be an _even_ number, +then the Red Tickets will be all Prizes; but if an _odd_ number, then +the Black Tickets will be all Prizes; so that one Colour must be all +Prizes, and the other Colour all Blanks, by which arrangement + + _The Purchaser of a Red Ticket and a Black + Ticket is_ SURE _to gain a Prize._ + + AMONG MANY OTHER + POINTS OF ATTRACTION + _Which this Lottery presents to the Public, are the + following_:-- + +“1. The Price of Tickets is considerably below their Estimated Value. + +“2. The _certainty_ (as above stated) of gaining a Prize, by purchasing +two Tickets of different Colours. + +“3. The great beauty and interest of all the Prizes, even the smallest, +to every individual possessing a taste for the fine Arts. + +“4. The original Pictures from which the above are taken, are +acknowledged to be the finest in the world, and are executed by the +following admired Masters:--_Raphael_, _Claude_, _Rubens_, _Correggio_, +_Titian_, _Poussin_, _Gerard Douw_, _Paul Potter_, _Cuyp_, _Rembrandt_, +&c., each picture valued at from £1000 to £10,000. + +“5. The exquisitely finished Copies of these masterly productions are +unique, and permission to copy them could only be obtained for the +above Grand National Work. + +“6. The Copper-Plates will be destroyed, by Act of Parliament, which +will, of course, add to the value and scarcity of the Pictures. + +“7. The encouragement afforded to the fine Arts. + +“8. Trustees are appointed by Act of Parliament, for the faithful +performance of the Conditions of the Act. + +“9. Testimonials in approbation of these beautiful imitations of +original Paintings have been received from the first and most +distinguished Artists in the world. + + SCHEDULE OF THE PRIZES. + + 1 FIRST GRAND PRIZE, consisting of 291 Pictures, + in elegant Frames, representing the Marquis of + Stafford’s magnificent Gallery of Pictures; also + the Lease of the Premises, where the same are + exhibited; also a set of coloured Impressions of + the Marquis of Stafford’s Gallery, making Four + Grand Folio Volumes, superbly bound in Russia; + likewise Proofs and Etchings of the above + Works in Black; also a large Painting in Oil + Colours by Hamilton, R.A., value £7,500 0 0 + 1 SECOND GRAND PRIZE, consisting + of Fifty Two highly finished Paintings, + in elegant Frames, of a Selection from + the most valuable Paintings of the Old + Masters, in the Collections of Noblemen, + Gentlemen, and eminent Collectors in the £ _s._ _d._ + United Kingdoms; together with a set of + highly finished Coloured Impressions, + bound in Russia: likewise a set of the + Marquis of Stafford’s Gallery, finely + coloured; likewise Proof Impressions + and Etchings of both Works in Black, + value 3,750 0 0 + 1 THIRD GRAND PRIZE, comprising + Ten Pictures, in elegant Frames, + exquisitely painted in Water Colours, + from the Old Masters; together with + a set of the Marquis of Stafford’s + Gallery, finely coloured; with Proofs + of both Works in Black, value 939 10 0 + + ☛ The other Prizes consist of _sets of + the Work_, in Colours, Proofs, or + Prints, value as under: + 40 Capital Prizes, each comprising a + set of Prints of the Marquis of + Stafford’s Gallery, finely coloured; + value of each Prize £171 14 0 6,868 0 0 + 150 Ditto, Proof Impressions + of ditto, each + value £71 8 0 10,710 10 0 + 1000 Ditto, Print Impressions + of ditto, each + value £35 14 0 35,700 0 0 + 40 Ditto, each comprising + a Set of the Selections + from the Old Masters, + exquisitely coloured, + each value 151 4 0 6,048 0 0 + 100 Ditto, Proof Impression + of ditto, each + value 25 4 0 2,520 0 0 + 399 Ditto, Print Impressions + of ditto, each + value 12 12 0 5,027 8 0 + 350 Ditto, each being a set + of 21 Engravings, + illustrative of Thomson’s + Seasons. Print + Impressions, value 8 8 0 2,940 0 0 + 1000 Prizes, being miscellaneous + subjects from the above + Works, exquisitely + coloured, value 6 6 0 6,300 0 0 + 4000 Ditto, finely coloured, + each value 5 5 0 21,000 0 0 + 9466 Ditto, Proof and Print + Impressions, each + value 4 4 0 39,757 4 0 + 1 Grand Capital Prize, being Four + highly finished Paintings in + elegant Frames, with sets of both + Works in Black, value 165 0 0 + 1 LAST GRAND CAPITAL PRIZE, being + 15 Pictures handsomely framed, + finely painted in Oil, by the late + W. Hamilton, R.A., purposely to + embellish Thomson’s Seasons; together + with a copy of Thomson’s + Seasons, Imperial Folio, elegantly + bound in Russia, embellished with + 21 Engravings by F. Bartolozzi, + R.A., and P. W. Tomkins, value 3,000 0 0 + ------ -------------- + 16,550 Prizes Grand Total £152,225 12 0 + ====== ============== + +Letters commendatory of the Pictures and Scheme were received from +Benjamin West, P.R.A., Sir Thos. Lawrence, R.A., Sir Wm. Beechy, R.A., +J. Ward, R.A., M. A. Shee, R.A., R. Smirke, R.A., T. Stothard, R.A., J. +Flaxman, R.A., J. Nollekens, R.A., and others. + +The Lottery Act for 1822 (3 Geo. IV. c. 101) was passed on July 21. It +distributed £593,411 17_s._ 6_d._ in prizes, and made a profit to the +Government of £183,056 9_s._ 3_d._ + +The end of the Lottery had now virtually come, for, in the Lottery Act +of 1823 (4 Geo. IV. c. 60), passed July 9, provision was made for its +discontinuance after the drawing of the lottery sanctioned by that Act, +the Treasury being empowered to retain the services of the Lottery +Commissioners and their officers for three years longer, to enable them +to wind up all outstanding business. This lottery was for a much larger +sum than heretofore, prizes being given to the amount of £1,453,875; +but the net profit thereon was less than that of the previous year, +which was for a far smaller amount--in fact, less than half. + +[Illustration] + + “Run, Neighbours, run, the LOTTERY’S expiring, + When Fortune’s merry wheel it will never turn more; + She now supplies all NUMBERS you’re desiring, + ALL PRIZES, NO BLANKS, and TWENTY THOUSANDS FOUR. + + Haste, Neighbours, haste, the Chance will never come again, + When, without pain, for little _Cash_, you’ll all be rich; + Prizes a plenty of, and such a certain source of gain, + That young and old, and all the world, it must bewitch.” + +[Illustration] + + “Though the Lotteries soon will be over, I’m told + That now is the time to get pailsful of Gold; + And if there is any real truth in a dream, + I, myself, shall come in for a Share of the Cream. + We hail, ere the Sun, the first breath of the morn, + And ’tis said, 'Early birds get the best of the Corn,’ + Of the _Four Twenty Thousands_, perhaps Fortune may + Have in store One for me, as they’re drawn in _One Day_.” + +Here are four of Bish’s handbills, the woodcuts of which are better +executed than usual. + + +RAPTURE. + +_A Member rehearsing his Speech_] + +[Illustration] + + SIR WILLIAM COURTEOUS. + + _Hear him! hear him! Order! Order!_ + All the Court is in disorder! + I echo, Sir, the _Public voice_-- + What I hold here’s the _People’s choice_ + A num’rous host stood forth of late + And BISH was chosen candidate + The loans of Fortune to supply + From the rich New Year’s Lottery, + In Sterling Money--(_Hear him, hear him!_) + The _Ayes_ have got it. (_Chair him, chair him!_) + +Lottery begins 21ₛₜ This Month (Jan.)--2 of 20,000 Guineas, and 40 +other Capitals--all Sterling Money (no Stock Prizes.)] + + +CURIOSITY. + +_Jerry Sneak peeping at his Wife and the Major in the Summer House._ + +[Illustration] + + JERRY SNEAK + + Vile Curiosity goes creeping, + Into his neighbours secrets peeping: + So JERRY, peeping, all on thorns, + Thought on the Devil, and descried _his horns_ + Go peep at BISH’S, and I’ll wager + Of Prizes he will share _the major_. + +Lottery begins 21ₛₜ This Month (Jan.)--2 of 20,000 Guineas & 40 other +Capitals--all Sterling Money (no Stock Prizes) + + +MEANNESS. + +_Endeavouring to read the Contents of a Letter_ + +[Illustration] + + MRS. PRY + + “What the eye never sees, we can never repent-- + ”What the heart never feels, we can never resent.” + Change the scene, paltry wretch--you would think it unkind + Were _your secrets_ expos’d, for concealment design’d + If you’d peep to advantage, to BISH’S then hie, + For a Prize in the rich New Year’s Lottery, Pry + +Lottery begins 21ₛₜ This Month (Jan.)--2 of 20,000 Guineas, & 40 other +Capitals--all Sterling Money (no Stock Prizes.) + + +INDIFFERENCE. + +_A Husband indifferent to his Wife’s Importunities._ + +[Illustration] + + SIR SIMON SLENDERWIT + + O turn, my love, I pray now do! + I never turn my back on you + I’ll fan the flame--O let it burn! + “How sweet’s the love that meets return.” + But if insensate to my wishes + I’ll get whate’er I want at BISH’S + +Lottery begins 21ₛₜ This Month (Jan)--2 of 20,000 Guineas & 40 other +Capitals--all Sterling Money (no Stock Prizes)] + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + + The last lottery--Attempts to get up excitement--The + procession--Alteration of date--Advertising car-- + “A Ballad, 1826”--Drawing of the last lottery. + +But the lamp was to flicker once more before it finally died out, and a +“last lottery” was decreed to be drawn in 1826. In the spring, and for +three weeks after midsummer of that year, the lottery-office keepers +incessantly plied every man, woman, and child, in the United Kingdom +and its dependencies, with petitions to make a fortune in “the last +lottery that can be drawn.” Men paraded the streets with large printed +placards on poles, or pasted on their backs, announcing “All Lotteries +End for Ever! 18th of July.” The walls were plastered all over with +posters, and handbills thrust into the hands of street-passengers, +besides being left at every house, containing the same heart-rending +announcement, and with the solemn assurance that the demand for +tickets and shares was immense! The prices had so risen, were so +rising, and would be so far beyond all calculation, that, to get +shares, or tickets at all, they must be instantly purchased! As the +time approached, a show was got up to proclaim that the deplorable +“Death of the Lottery” would certainly take place on the appointed +day; but, on some account or other, the pathetic appeal of the +benevolent contractors was disregarded. At length, finding that it +could not be floated by the 18th of July, the stony-hearted public were +“respectfully” informed that “the Lords of the Treasury had issued +a _reprieve_,” and that the “drawing” and “quartering,” etc., was +postponed till some day in October, “when lotteries will finish for +ever.” Here is a handbill relating to the 18th of July:-- + +[Illustration] + + “What’s the odds?--while I am floundering here the gold + fish will be gone; and as I always was a dab at hooking + the right Numbers, I must cast for a Share of the + SIX £30,000 on the 18th JULY, for it is but 'giving + a Sprat to catch a Herring,’ as a body may say, and it + is the last chance we shall have in England.” + +We can scarcely do better than follow Hone’s contemporary account of +this “last lottery;” it is so fresh, being written at the time. + +“Incredible efforts were made in the summer of 1826 to keep the 'last +lottery’ on its legs. The price of tickets was arbitrarily raised, to +induce a belief that they were in great demand, at the very moment +when their sale was notoriously at a stand; and the lagging attention +of the public of the Metropolis was endeavoured to be quickened by all +sorts of stratagems, to the 18th of July, as the very last chance that +would occur in England of gaining 'Six £30,000 besides other Capitals,’ +which it was positively affirmed were 'all to be drawn’ on that fatal +day. Besides the dispersal of innumerable bills, and the aspersions on +Government relative to the approaching extinction of the Lottery, the +parties interested in its preservation caused London and its environs +to be paraded by the following + + _Procession._ + + “1. Three men in liveries, scarlet and gold. + + “2. Six men bearing boards at their backs and on + their breasts, with inscriptions in blue and gold, + 'All Lotteries end on Tuesday next,’ six £30,000. + + “3. Band of trumpets, clarionets, horns, etc. + + “4. A large purple silk banner carried by six + men, inscribed in large gold letters, 'All Lotteries + end for ever on Tuesday next,’ six £30,000. + + “5. A painted carriage, representing the Lottery + Wheel, drawn by two dappled grey horses, tandem + fashion; the fore horse rode by a postillion in + scarlet and gold, with a black velvet cap, and a + boy seated in a dickey behind the machine, turning + the handle, and setting the wheel in motion. + + “6. Six men with other Lottery Labels. + + “7. A square Lottery Carriage, surmounted by + a gilt Imperial Crown; the carriage covered by + labels, with 'All Lotteries end on Tuesday next;’ + drawn by two horses, tandem, and a postillion. + + “8. Six men with labels. + + “9. Twelve men in blue and gold, with boards on + poles, with 'Lotteries end for ever on Tuesday next.’ + + “10. A large purple silk flag, with 'All Lotteries + end on Tuesday next.’ + +“This procession, with its music, drew the heads of the servant-maids +to the windows in every suburb of the metropolis, and was followed by +troops of boys, till they tired of its frequency. It sometimes stopped, +and a man with a bell cried 'O yes!’ and 'God save the King!’ and, +between the two, proclaimed, in set words, the 'Death of the Lottery on +Tuesday next!’ The event was likewise announced as certain in all the +Newspapers, and by cart-loads of bills showered down areas, and thrust +under knockers; when, behold, 'the Lords of the Treasury were pleased +to order’ the final drawing to be postponed to Thursday, the 18th of +October; but all the good people so informed, were wisely uninformed +that this 'order’ was obtained by the lottery folks, to give them a +long day to get rid of their unsold tickets. + +[Illustration] + +“After this, the streets were cavalcaded by men, whose bodies were +concealed between long boards on each side of their horses to announce +the _next_ 'last of the Lottery on the 18th of October’ aforesaid; and +men on foot walked with labels on their breasts and backs, with the +same never-dying intelligence, according to the further figure in the +engraving of the lottery wheel, which represents one of the Government +Wheels, and the sledge it was drawn upon from Somerset House to +Cooper’s Hall, at the commencement of the drawing of every lottery; on +which occasion there were four horses to each wheel, and about a dozen +Horseguards to protect the instruments of _Miss_ Fortune. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + +“But the most pageant-like machine was an octagon framework, covered +by printed lottery placards, with a single horse, and a driver, and a +guard-like seat at the back. When drawn along the streets, which was +at a most funereal pace, it overtopped the sills of the first-floor +windows. Its slow motion, and the route it chiefly took, evidenced the +_low_ hopes of the proprietors. St. Giles’s and the purlieus of that +neighbourhood seem to have been selected as the favoured spots, whence +favours were mostly to be expected. An opportunity offered to sketch +it, while it was pelted with mud and stones, and torn and disfigured by +the unappreciating offspring of the sons of fortune whose regards it +courted. + +“The Artist’s letter describes the scene: 'As I was walking up +Holborn, on Monday, the 9th instant, I saw a strange vehicle moving +slowly on; and, when I came up to it, found a machine, perhaps from +twenty to thirty feet high, of an octagon shape, covered all over with +lottery papers of various colours. It had a broad brass band round +the bottom, and moved on a pivot; it had a very _imposing_ effect. +The driver and the horse seemed as dull as though they were attending +a solemn funeral, whilst the different shopkeepers came to the doors +and laughed; some of the people passing and repassing, read the bills +that were pasted on it, as if they had never read one before; others +stationed themselves to look at it as long as it was in sight. It +entered Monmouth Street, that den of filth and rags, where so great +a number of young urchins gathered together in a few minutes as to +be astonishing. There being an empty chair behind, one of them seated +himself in it, and rode backwards; another said 'Let’s have a stone +through it,’ and a third cried, 'Let’s sludge it.’ This was no sooner +proposed than they threw stones, oyster shells and dirt, and burst +several of the sheets; this attack brought the driver from his seat, +and he was obliged to walk by the side of his machine up this foul +street, which his show canvassed, halting now and then to threaten +the boys, who still followed and threw. I made a sketch, and left the +scene. It was not an every-day occurrence, and I accompany it with +these remarks.’ + +“This was the fag-end of the last struggle of the speculators on public +credulity for popularity to their last dying lottery.” + + “A BALLAD, 1826. + + A lazy sot grew sober + By looking at his troubles, + For he found out how + He work’d his woe, + By playing with Lott’ry bubbles. + + And just before October, + The _grand_ contractors, zealous, + To _share_ their _last_ ills, + With puffs and bills, + Drove all the quack-doctors jealous. + + Their _bill_ and _cue_ carts slowly + Paced Holborn and Long Acre, + Like a funeral + Not mourn’d at all, + The burying an Undertaker. + + Clerks smiled, and whisper’d lowly; + 'This is the time, or never, + There must be a rise-- + Buy and be wise, + Or your chance is gone for ever.’ + + Yet, of the shares and tickets, + Spite of all arts to sell ’em, + There were more unsold + Than dare be told; + Although, if I knew, I’d tell ’em. + + And so, worn out with rickets, + The _last_ 'Last Lott’ry’ expired; + And then there were cries-- + 'We’ve gained a _prize_ + By the _loss_ we’ve so long desired.’ + + The lott’ry drew the humble + Often aside from his labour, + To build in the air, + And, dwelling there, + He beggar’d himself and neighbour. + + If the scheme-makers tumble + Down to their proper station, + They must starve, or work, + Turn thief, or Turk, + Or hang, for the good of the nation.” + +“At last, on Wednesday, the 18th of October, 1826, the State Lottery +expired, and its decease was announced in the newspapers of the next +day, by the following article:-- + +STATE LOTTERY. + +“Yesterday afternoon, at about half-past six o’clock, that old servant +of the State, the Lottery, breathed its last, having for a long period +of years, ever since the days of Queen Anne, contributed largely +towards the public revenue of the country. This event took place at +Cooper’s Hall, Basinghall Street; and, such was the anxiety on the +part of the public to witness the last drawing of the lottery, that +great numbers of persons were attracted to the spot, independently of +those who had an interest in the proceedings. The gallery of Cooper’s +Hall was crowded to excess long before the period fixed for the +drawing (five o’clock), and the utmost anxiety was felt by those who +had shares in the Lottery, for the arrival of the appointed hour. +The annihilation of Lotteries, it will be recollected, was determined +upon in the Session of Parliament before last; and thus, a source of +revenue, bringing into the treasury the sums of £250,000 and £300,000 +per annum, will be dried up. + +“This determination on the part of the legislature is hailed, by far +the greatest portion of the public, with joy, as it will put an end to +a system which many believe to have fostered and encouraged the late +speculations, the effects of which have been and are still severely +felt. A deficiency in the public revenue, to the extent of £250,000 +annually, will, however, be the consequence of the annihilation of +Lotteries, and it must remain for those who have strenuously supported +the putting a stop to Lotteries, to provide for the deficiency. + +“Although that which ended yesterday was the last, if we are informed +correctly, the lottery-office keepers have been left with a great +number of tickets remaining on their hands--a pretty strong proof that +the public, in general, have now no relish for these schemes. + +“The concourse of persons in Basinghall Street was very great; indeed, +the street was almost impassable, and everybody seemed desirous +of ascertaining the fortunate numbers. In the gallery the greatest +interest was excited, as the various prizes were drawn from the wheel; +and, as soon as a number ticket was drawn from the number wheel, every +one looked with anxiety to his share, in order to ascertain if Fortune +smiled on him. Only one instance occurred where a prize was drawn, and +a number held by any individual present. The fortunate person was a +little man, who, no sooner had he learned that his number was a grand +prize, than he buttoned up his coat, and coolly walked off, without +uttering a word. As the drawing proceeded, disappointment began to +succeed the hopes indulged by those who were present. On their entrance +to the hall, every face wore a cheerful appearance; but, on the +termination of the drawing, a strong contrast was exhibited, and the +features of each were strongly marked with dissatisfaction. + +“The drawing commenced shortly after five o’clock, and ended at twenty +minutes past six. + +“The doors of the various Lottery Offices were surrounded by persons +awaiting the issue of the drawing.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + + Handbills--Metrical list of lottery-office keepers--Bish’s + manifesto--“Epitaph in Memory of the State Lottery” + --“Little Goes”--_The Times_ thereon--Their effect + on the public. + +Here are some of the handbills of 1826:-- + +[Illustration] + + KITCHEN-MAID. + + Mistress Molly, the Cook, + At the Scheme only look, + In wealth we may both of us roll; + If we _brush_ for a prize, + In the world we may rise, + And our _skuttles_ have plenty of _Cole_. + +[Illustration] + + COOK-MAID. + + If what you say’s true, + I’m all in a _stew_, + Lest we miss what we so much desire; + Should we lose this good plan, + For a _sop in the pan_, + All the _fat_ will be soon in the fire. + +[Illustration] + + GARDENER. + + I have been _digging_ for good luck all + my life; but I’ve found it waste _thyme_: + yet I am in hopes that a Lottery Ticket + will _transplant_ me to a better _soil_; that + a _sprig_ of good fortune will make me + as rich as the _Mint_, and all my _spades_ + turn up trumps. + +[Illustration] + + GREEN-GROCER. + + I am in the _basket_; but as I am a + _medlar_ in the Lottery, a Prise may + give bad luck _turnips_. I hope to + _cabbage_ a Capital; and in time to be + worth a _plum_.] + +The following gives us a list of the principal lottery-office keepers:-- + + “THE LAST OF THE LOTTERIES. + + The Chancellor has pass’d the stern decree, + The daily press rings out the doleful knell, + Warning each old adventurer, that he + Must now of Lotteries take a last farewell. + + Dismay and wonder now pervade Cornhill-- + The printers, too, are in a dismal rout, + Swearing they ne’er shall print another bill, + When those for whom they puffed, are now puffed out. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + O, Fredrick Robinson, thou man of death! + Our scanty pittance, why should you begrudge it? + Why--oh! why thus in dudgeon stop our breath, + And shut us cruelly from out thy budget? + + What was it seem’d offensive in thine eyes, + And gave thine act a plausible pretence? + Say--didst thou think the selling a _large prize_ + Was, in itself, a _Capital_ offence? + + Whatever be the cause, the effect is sad, + Since soon must close his well-known lucky wicket, + _Bish_, our Leviathan, is gone half mad, + And looks as dismal as a blank drawn ticket. + + _Carrol_--alas! his carols, turn’d to sighs, + Seem to his cheerful name to give the lie; + _Hazard_, with fear of _death_ before his eyes, + Declares he’ll stand the '_hazard of the die_.’ + + _Swift_ of the Poultry, too, is ill at ease, + His grief breaks forth in this pathetic swell-- + 'I go to pine on wretched bread and cheese, + For, ah! to _poultry_ must I bid farewell!’ + + _Martin_ complains his rapid flight is check’d, + And doth the ruin of his house deplore, + Wond’ring that _martins’_ nests don’t claim respect, + As they were wont to do in time of yore. + + _Richardson_ says the world will team with crimes, + And woe and misery pervade the state, + For what can prosper in these hapless times, + When Goodluck is proscribed, and out of date? + + The _web_ of death encircles _J. D. Webb_-- + The common ruin on him, too, hath landed; + Him, too, must reach this melancholy ebb, + And all the fortunes of the _Strand_ be _stranded_. + + _Pidding_, who did his corner much enjoy, + Says, while he contemplates the prospect dim, + 'How oft have I _hung_ out my gay blue-coat boy-- + Now I must _hang_ myself instead of him.’ + + Haply, next year, some friend shall say, and weep, + As up _Cornhill_, he takes his lonely way-- + 'Where are the _harvests_ that I us’d to _reap_ + Beneath the sickle of each drawing day?’ + + Ah! where is _Sivewright_? where is _Eyton_ now? + Where are the placards which so lately told + The clustering Congregation when and how + The thirty thousands were all shar’d and sold? + + Where dwelt activity, there reigneth gloom; + My well-known friends have lost their public rank; + The _Lottery_ has pass’d into the tomb, + And left the world a universal _blank_.” + +Bish, anent the “Last Lottery of all,” wrote the following manifesto:-- + +“TO THE PUBLIC. + +“At the present moment, when so many articles, necessary to the +comforts of the poorer classes, are more or less liable to taxation, it +may, surely, be a question whether the abolition of Lotteries, by which +the State was a gainer of nearly half a million per annum, be, or be +not, a wise measure! + +“’Tis true that, as they were formerly conducted, the system was +fraught with some evil. Insurances were allowed upon the fate of +numbers through protracted drawings; and, as the insurances could +be effected for very small sums, those who could ill afford loss, +imbibed a spirit of gambling, which the legislature, very wisely, most +effectually prevented, by adopting, in the year 1809, the present +improved mode of _deciding the whole Lottery in one day_. + +“As it is at present conducted, the Lottery is voluntary Tax, +contributed to only by those who can afford it, and collected without +trouble or expense; one by which many branches of the revenue are +considerably aided, and by means of which hundreds of persons find +employment. The wisdom of those who, at this time, resign the income +produced by it, and add to the number of the unemployed, may, as I +have observed in a former address, surely be questioned. + +“Mr. Pitt, whose ability in matters of financial arrangements few will +question, and whose morality was proverbial, would not, I am bold to +say, have yielded to an outcry against a tax, the continuing of which +would have enabled him to let the labourer drink his humble beverage at +a reduced price, or the industrious artisan to pursue his occupation by +a cheaper light. But we live in other times--in the age of improvement! +To stake patrimonial estates at hazard or _écarté_, in the purlieus +of St. James’s, is _merely amusement_, but to purchase a ticket in +the Lottery, by which a man may gain an estate at a trifling risk, +is--immoral! Nay, within a few hours of the time I write, were not many +of our nobility and senators, some of whom, I dare say, voted against +Lotteries, assembled betting thousands upon a _horse race_? + +“In saying so much, it may be thought that I am somewhat presumptuous, +or, that I take a partial view of the case. It is, however, my honest +opinion, abstracted from personal considerations, that the measure +of abolishing Lotteries is an unwise one, and, as such, I give it to +that public, of whom I have been, for many years, the highly favoured +servant, and for whose patronage, though Lotteries cease, my gratitude +will ever continue. + +“As one of the last contractors, I have assisted in arranging a Scheme, +&c.! &c.!! &c.!!!” + +It was no good moaning over the dead lottery; it was dead--there was +an end of it; and there was nothing more but to bury it decently, and +write its epitaph--which was duly done. + + EPITAPH + + In Memory of + THE STATE LOTTERY, + the last of a long line + whose origin in England commenced + in the year 1569, + which, after a series of tedious complaints, + _Expired_ + on the + 18th day of October, 1826. + During a period of 257 years, the family + flourished under the powerful protection + of the + British Parliament; + the Minister of the day continuing to + give them his support for the improvement + of the revenue. + As they increased, it was found that their + continuance corrupted the morals, + and encouraged a spirit + of Speculation and Gambling among the lower + classes of the people; + thousands of whom fell victims to their + insinuating and tempting allurements. + Many philanthropic individuals + in the Senate, + at various times, for a series of years, + pointed out their baneful influence, + without effect, + His Majesty’s Ministers + still affording them their countenance + and protection. + The British Parliament + being, at length, convinced of their + mischievous tendency + His Majesty GEORGE IV. + on the 9th July, 1823, + pronounced sentence of condemnation + on the whole race; + from which time they were almost + NEGLECTED BY THE BRITISH PUBLIC. + Very great efforts were made by the + Partisans and friends of the family to + excite + the public feeling in favour of the last + of the race, in vain: + It continued to linger out the few + remaining + moments of its existence without attention + or sympathy, and finally terminated + its career unregretted by any + virtuous mind. + +We have thus traced the State lotteries to their end. But there +are many things connected with the lottery outside of them which +have yet to be mentioned--for instance, the illegitimate lotteries +called “Little Goes,” which for a time flourished in the last and the +commencement of this present century. Here is one of them. On October +14, 1770, a case was determined at the general quarter session of the +peace for the county of Wilts, held at Marlborough. A quack doctor +had been convicted before Thomas Johnson, Esq., of Bradford, in the +penalty of £200 for disposing of plate, etc., by means of a device or +lottery; and, by a second information, convicted of the same offence +before Joseph Mortimer, Esq., of Trowbridge. To both these convictions +he appealed to the justices at the general quarter session of the +peace, when, after a trial of near ten hours, the bench unanimously +confirmed the conviction on both informations, by which the appellant +was subjected to the penalties of £200 on each, and costs. + +The _Times_ newspaper was especially indignant at these “Little Goes,” +and I make two or three excerpts therefrom on this subject. + +_Times_, July 22, 1795.--“PRIVATE LOTTERIES. Amongst the various +species of gaming that have ever been practised, we think none exceeds +the mischiefs and calamities that arise from the practice of private +lotteries, which at present are carrying on, in various parts of the +town, to very alarming extents, much to the discredit of those whose +province it is to suppress such nefarious practices, as they cannot be +ignorant of such transactions. 'The little go,’ which is the technical +term for a private lottery, is calculated only for the meridian of +those understandings who are unused to calculate and discriminate +between right and wrong, and roguery and fair dealing; and, in this +particular case, it is those who compose the lower order of society +whom it so seriously affects, and on whom it is chiefly designed to +operate. No man of common sense can suppose that the lottery wheels are +fair and honest, or that the proprietors act upon principles anything +like honour or honesty; for, by the art and contrivance of the wheels, +they are so constructed with secret springs, and the application of +gum, glue, etc., in the internal part of them, that they can draw +the numbers out or keep them in at pleasure, just as it suits their +purposes; so that the insurer, robbed and cajoled by such unfair +means, has not the most distant chance of ever winning; the whole being +a gross fraud, and imposition, in the extreme. We understand that +the most notorious of these standards of imposition are situated in +Carnaby Market, Oxford Road, in the Borough, Islington, Clerkenwell, +and various other places, most of which are under the very nose of +magistracy, in seeming security, bidding defiance to law, and preying +upon the vitals of the poor and ignorant. + +“We hope the magistrates of each jurisdiction, and those who possess +the same power, will perform their duty on behalf of the poor, over +whom they preside, and put a stop to such a growing and alarming +evil, of such pernicious and dangerous tendency: particularly, as the +proprietors are well-known bad characters, consisting of needy beggars, +desperate swindlers, gamblers, sharpers, notorious thieves, and common +convicted felons, most of whose names stand recorded in the Newgate +Calendar for various offences of different descriptions.” + +_Times_, August 11, 1795.--“On Friday night last, in consequence of +searching warrants from the parochial magistrates of St. James’s, +Westminster, upwards of thirty persons were apprehended at the +house of one M’Call, No. 2, Francis Street, near Golden Square, and +in the house of J. Knight, King Street, where the most destructive +practices _to the poor_ were carrying on, that of _Private Lotteries_ +(called Little Goes). Two wheels, with the tickets, were seized on the +premises. Upon examination of those persons, who proved to be the poor +deluded objects that had been there plundered, they were reprimanded +and discharged. + +“The wives of many industrious mechanics, by attending these nefarious +houses, have not only been duped out of their earnings (which ought to +have been applied to the providing bread for their families), but have +even pawned their beds, wedding-rings, and almost every article they +were possessed of for that purpose.” + +_Times_, August 13, 1795.--“The term of _little goes_ for the private +lotteries is apt enough, for the poor devils who risk their property +there have but little, and that little goes to nought. + +“If the wheels of fortune, and the cash, seized at the private +lotteries, became the property of the police runners, the old adage +will be strongly verified, 'What is got over the devil’s back, will be +spent under his belly.’” + +Gambling was then a national madness. Not content with the State +lotteries, which then took forty-two days to draw, with its concomitant +excitement of insurance, these Little Goes were introduced between the +drawings of the State lottery. They were known to be illegal, and we +have seen in what terms a leading newspaper speaks of them, but still +they existed. True, an attempt was made to put them down in 1802, +by the Act 42 Geo. III. c. 119, by which they were declared public +nuisances, and any person keeping an office or place for carrying on +the business of such lotteries was liable to forfeit £500, and be +deemed a rogue and a vagabond, within the meaning of the Vagrant Act +(17 Geo. II. c. 5). + +But to show how futile was this Act, the Report of the Committee of the +House of Commons on Lotteries, 1808, says there were _little_ lotteries +on the same plan as the great State lotteries, and drawn in the same +manner. There were, generally, five or six “little goes” in the year, +and they were actually set up and conducted by two or three of the +licensed lottery-office keepers. The State lottery was the parent of +these little ones, and they were never heard of during the drawing of +the former, but the gambling fever had such a hold on the people that +they could not wait for the next State lottery. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + + Description of lottery-office keepers--Insuring numbers in + the lottery--Servants bitten by the mania--_Morocco + men_--Many prosecutions--Cost to the country--Several + law cases--Story of Mr. Bartholomew. + +What class of men these lottery-office keepers were, we learn in a +little book[29] believed to have been published about 1770. + +[29] “The Frauds of London,” by Richard King. London, 1770? 12mo. + +“For several years past these lottery-office keepers have had an ample +share in imposing on the town, and cheating the country; by vending of +books, handkerchiefs, and other things of little value, with shares of +tickets, said to be impending, or then drawing, in the State lottery, +with a note of hand, importing that if No. 45 should come a prize of +£20,000, the bearer of that ticket would be entitled to £50, and so for +other prizes in proportion; by this means thousands were taken in with +their eyes open (such an itch has the world for gambling), and paid +thrice the value for the commodity they purchased (allured by the hopes +of a prize in the lottery) than its real worth. + +“On the drawing of the lottery, the lower part of the creation, who +were concerned in the above schemes for enriching themselves, would +quit their labour and industry, and repair to the Guildhall, to be +present at the drawing, in expectation of every next number called +being theirs, when twenty thousand to one of their getting a prize of +£10. Some few have been so lucky as to get the £20,000 and £10,000, but +I never knew that they received the sum stipulated, in the promissory +note given for that purpose. On the contrary, I have seen the +office-keeper’s windows and shops demolished by a deluded and justly +enraged mob, who have been ruined by the purchase of tickets, shares, +chances, and insurances thereon. + +“The keepers had a custom, a day or two before the finishing the +drawing, to shut up their shops and decamp, for fear of their being +brought to account for their cheats and roguery, practised on the +ignorant and unthinking. The countryman, hearing that he had a prize in +the lottery, hastened up to town, at no small expense, to receive the +money due thereon; when, to his great sorrow, there was no keeper to be +found; but, as an alleviation of his grief, he saw hundreds deceived as +well as himself. + +“To such an height were these lottery offices carried (as they called +themselves) that you might purchase shares and chances at sixpence +apiece, one of which is worth observing. An advertisement in the +_Morning Chronicle_, intimating that shares and chances were to be +disposed of at Fuller’s Eating House, in Wych Street, and tickets +insured; that whoever bought six pennyworth of beef, would be presented +with a ticket, and a note of hand to receive the sums inserted therein, +if the number of the ticket was drawn a prize of £20,000, etc.; and +told you that this was the most rational of all schemes hitherto +projected, as the purchaser, at least, would have, for his sixpence, +three pennyworth of meat, besides a chance in the lottery. + +“Notwithstanding the law has taken every precaution to guard against +the itinerant cheat, who practises as lottery-office keeper, yet ways +are, and always will be, found to evade it. Therefore let me dissuade +the countryman, and others, from adventuring at this losing game, as +it is at best, there being better than two to one against you in the +State lottery, and more than fifty to one of your getting anything from +such as I have already described.” + +The custom of insuring numbers in the lottery has already been noticed, +but only _en passant_. It was, in reality, pure betting. In return +for, say, a shilling, a pound would be promised if a certain specified +number turned up. Of course, these insurances were illegal, but they +were so profitable to the office-keepers, that no penalties could +keep them down. Many attempts had been made by magistrates and police +officers to enter houses and places kept for the purpose of carrying +on illegal insurances, and apprehending the offenders; but the parties +concerned opposed their attempts in every possible way, and employed +a desperate set of ruffians to defend them, who, with every kind of +offensive weapon, bade defiance to the execution of the warrants issued +for their apprehension. They also secured the rooms within the house +where this illicit business was transacted, with strong oak doors and +iron bars and bolts, so that the police officers could only obtain +admission by using force. + +Such a state of things, of course, could not be tolerated in any +civilized community, and an Act was passed (33 Geo. III. c. 62), in +1793, empowering magistrates to allow any person authorized by the +Commissioners of Stamps, by day or night (but, if by night, then in +the presence of a constable), to break open the doors and apprehend +the offenders; and all persons who should obstruct the officers in the +execution of their duty, were liable to be seized and prosecuted, and +subject, on conviction, to be fined, imprisoned, and publicly whipped. +By a subsequent Act, this power was extended to any person or persons +authorized by a magistrate without restriction; and these provisions +were also introduced into the Act of 1802 (42 Geo. III. c. 119). + +We have seen how, by the Act of 1793, no person, except the clerks of +licensed lottery-office keepers, were allowed to be in the Guildhall +during the drawing of the lottery; but, though this undoubtedly checked +this gambling, it was far from putting a stop to it. Mr. Colquhoun, a +well-known magistrate, declared that the keepers of these unlicensed +insurance offices were “as a class, in general, of very depraved +or distressed characters,” and the class they preyed upon were +principally male and female domestic servants; indeed, it was computed, +in 1800, that, on an average, each servant in the metropolis spent, +annually, as much as twenty-five shillings in this vile practice of +lottery insurance; the sum total so expended in a year, by the wage +earning-classes, being estimated at half a million sterling. They were, +especially the footmen, undoubtedly led away by the example of their +superiors in rank, and, from their idle and dissipated habits, they +entered keenly into the lottery. So long as they won, all went well; +but the chances were so great against them that this never happened for +long, and then, impelled by that fearful gambling fever, which we now +see in those who bet on horse-racing, money must be got, by any means, +fair or foul, and pilfering and peculation were the necessary results. + +The insurance offices in the metropolis are said to have exceeded four +hundred in number. These had jackals, touts who provided prey for +them, in the shape of _Morocco men_, so called from the red Morocco +pocket-books they used to carry with them, and in which their notes +were made. These men haunted the public-houses and coffee-shops; nay, +they pushed themselves into every village, and into every house in +the village, to collect premiums from all sorts and conditions of men. +These people would take their books to their employers by night, and +receive the money from them to pay those who were fortunate enough to +obtain prizes. + +Mr. Francis,[30] writing of these Morocco men, says, “They began life +as pigeons; they closed it as rooks. They had lost their own fortunes +in their youth; they ruined those of others in their age. Generally +educated, and of bland manners, a mixture of the gentleman and the +debauchee, they easily penetrated into the society they sought to +destroy. They were seen in the deepest alleys of St. Giles’s, and were +met in the fairest scenes of England. In the old hall of the country +gentleman, in the mansion of the city merchant, in the butlery of the +rural squire, in the homestead of the farmer, among the reapers as they +worked on the hillside, with the peasant as he rested from his daily +toil, addressing all with specious promises, and telling lies like +truth, was the Morocco man found, treading alike the finest and the +foulest scenes of society. They whispered temptation to the innocent; +they hinted at fraud to the novice. They lured the youthful; they +excited the aged; and no place was so pure and no spot so degraded, +but, for love of 7½ per cent., did the Morocco man mark it with his +pestilential presence. No valley was so lonely but what it found some +victim, no hill so remote but what it offered some chance; and so +enticing were their manners, that their presence was sought, and their +appearance welcomed, with all the eagerness of avarice. + +[30] “Chronicles and Characters of the Stock Exchange,” by John +Francis. London, 1855. + +“And little were they who dealt with these persons aware of the +characters with whom they trafficked. Of bland behaviour, but gross +habits, the nature of their influence on the unpolluted minds with +which they had to deal, may be judged from the fact that some of the +Morocco men ended their days at Tyburn; that transportation was the +doom of others, and the pillory the frequent punishment of many. To +such men as these were the morals of the people exposed through the +lottery.” + +The Act was occasionally put in force, and once, in particular, a Mr. +Wood (according to the Report of the Commissioners in 1808) “was +seized with a sudden fit of severity, and, in the course of one term, +he caused to be arrested (for the crime of insuring lottery tickets), +by writs of _capias_, perhaps from 300 to 400 persons; who, with the +exception of a very few, perhaps about twelve, were persons of the +very lowest class of life, many of them married women, washerwomen, +charwomen, and persons of that description; so that Government +necessarily had to pay to the Solicitor of Stamps heavy costs for +having instituted so great a number of unproductive suits, and the +Treasury was greatly displeased. The poor were put into prison, and, +after remaining there, some a month, some two months, and some three +months, and so on.... When the Commissioners (of Stamps) came to know +what sort of wretched beings they had in prison, their humanity urged +them to set them at liberty by degrees.” + +Mr. Baker, a magistrate, gave evidence before the Commission, and +stated that the annual loss to the public, by the lottery, was +£1,275,000, which loss was made up by the cost of tickets, the cost +of illegal insurances, and the profits of the agents, contractors, +office-keepers, etc. He also said that “no revenue has been obtained +to the State at half the expense, in point of pecuniary sacrifice to +the public, independent of the excessive injury to the morals of the +people, as lotteries, in the manner they are now constituted. They +have been a productive harvest to the most idle, the most profligate, +and the most abandoned and depraved members of the community, many of +whom have through this medium acquired princely fortunes within the +last thirty years. These successes have stimulated others to follow the +evil example; great capitals have been employed in the trade of illegal +insurances, and long practice has enabled these mischievous agents to +systematize their designs in so perfect a manner as to elude detection. +Their profits on the money received during each lottery are estimated +at 33⅓ per cent., clear of all expenses. From 7½ to 10 per cent. is +generally allowed to Morocco men, who go about soliciting persons to +insure. A very considerable portion of women who could write, and who +know a little of figures, are employed in this nefarious trade; and, +whenever any of them are convicted and imprisoned, there is generally +a stipulation with their principal that they shall be allowed two +guineas per week during the term of their imprisonment.” + +[Illustration] + +At all events, if their profits were great, they seem, according +to this illustration (date, October 5, 1780), to behave somewhat +generously to their clients, by paying quickly, and giving free +refreshment. + +They were occasionally caught, but not always punished, as shown by the +following case. On March 1, 1773, a case came on to be tried before +Lord Mansfield, at the Guildhall, wherein the Lord Mayor was plaintiff, +and Messrs. Barnes and Golightly were defendants, in order to determine +the legality of insuring lottery tickets; but, on account of an error +in the declaration, the plaintiff was nonsuited. + +On June 26, 1775, a case was tried in the Court of Common Pleas, +Guildhall, between a gentleman, plaintiff, and a lottery-office keeper, +who was the defendant. The cause of the action was as follows: The +gentleman, passing by the lottery office, observed a woman and boy +crying, on which he asked the reason of their tears; they informed him +that they had insured a number in the lottery on the over-night, and, +upon inquiry at another office, found it to have been drawn five days +before, and, therefore, wanted their money returned. The gentleman, +taking their part, was assaulted and beaten by the office-keeper, for +which the jury gave a verdict for the gentleman, with five pounds +damages. + +In July, 1778, Lord Mansfield, at the Guildhall, tried a case in which +a merchant was plaintiff, and a lottery-office keeper defendant. +The action was brought for suffering a young man, the plaintiff’s +apprentice, to insure with the defendant during the drawing of the +last lottery, contrary to the statute, whereby the youth lost a +considerable sum, the property of the merchant. The jury, without going +out of court, gave a verdict for the plaintiff, thereby subjecting the +defendant to pay £500 penalty, and to three months’ imprisonment. + +About the beginning of January, 1785, several lottery-office keepers +were convicted, before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, in penalties of £50 +each, for insuring numbers, contrary to law; and, in Trinity Term, the +following cause was tried at Westminster, before Lord Loughborough. + +A lottery-office keeper near Charing Cross was plaintiff, and the +Sheriff of Middlesex defendant. The action was to recover one thousand +five hundred and sixty-six pounds, levied by the Sheriff, about a year +past, on the plaintiff’s goods, by virtue of three writs of _fieri +facias_, issued from the Court of King’s Bench. It seems that the +above plaintiff was convicted in three penalties of five hundred pounds +each, for insuring lottery tickets; but, previous to the trials coming +on, for some indulgence, he had, by himself or agents, consented not +to bring any writ of error, and an order of _nisi prius_ was drawn up, +and served upon his attorney; notwithstanding which, three writs of +error were sued out. The Court of Queen’s Bench being then moved, made +an order that the executions should be levied according to the original +rule of Court; the Sheriff made the levy, and, the money being paid +and impounded in his hands, the above action was brought to get the +same returned. The novelty of the action caused much laughter among the +counsel; and, after a few minutes’ hearing, his lordship ordered the +plaintiff to be nonsuited. + +I cannot leave the subject of insurance without mentioning an instance +of infatuation, recorded by Nelson in his “History of Islington.” + +“Some years ago, this house and premises (_White Conduit House_) were +kept by Mr. Christopher Bartholomew, a person who inherited a good +fortune from his parents, and who brought much trade to the place, by +the taste he displayed in laying out the gardens and walks, and the +excellent manner in which he conducted the business of the house. + +“This person, with every prospect of success and eminence in life, fell +a victim to an unconquerable itch for gambling in the lottery. At one +time the tea-gardens and premises, as also the Angel Inn at Islington, +were his freeholds; he rented land to the amount of £2000 a year in the +neighbourhood of Islington and Holloway; and was remarkable for having +the greatest quantity of haystacks of any grower in the neighbourhood +of London. At that time he is believed to have been worth £50,000, kept +his carriage and servants in livery; and, upon one occasion, having +been unusually successful at insuring in the lottery, gave a public +breakfast at his tea-gardens, '_to commemorate the Smiles of Fortune_,’ +as it was expressed upon the tickets of admission to this _fête +champêtre_. + +“He, at times, had some very fortunate hits in the lottery, and which, +perhaps, tended to increase the mania which hurried him to his ruin. He +has been known to spend upwards of 2000 guineas in a day for insurance, +to raise which, stack after stack of his immense crops of hay have been +cut down and hurried to market, as the readiest way to obtain the +supplies necessary for these extraordinary outgoings. Having at last +been obliged to part with his house from accumulated difficulties and +embarrassments, he passed the last thirteen years of his life in great +poverty, subsisting by the charity of those who knew his better days, +and the emolument he received as a juryman of the Sheriff’s Court for +the County. + +“Still, his propensity to be engaged in this ruinous pursuit never +forsook him, and meeting, one day in the year 1807, with an old +acquaintance, he related to him a strong presentiment he entertained, +that, if he could purchase a particular number in the ensuing lottery +(which he was not then in a position to accomplish), it would prove +successful. His friend, after remonstrating with him on the impropriety +of persevering in a practice that had already been attended with such +evil consequences, was at last persuaded to go halves with him in a +sixteenth part of the favourite number, which, being procured, was most +fortunately drawn a prize of £20,000. With the money arising from this +extraordinary turn of fortune, he was prevailed upon by his friends to +purchase an annuity of £60 _per annum_; yet, fatally addicted to the +pernicious habit of insurance, he disposed of it, and lost it all. He +has been known frequently to apply to those persons who had been served +by him in his prosperity, for an old coat, or some other article of +cast-off apparel; and, not many days before he died, he solicited a few +shillings to buy him necessaries. + +“A gentleman in his manners, with a mind rather superior to the +generality of men, he, at one time, possessed the esteem of all who +knew him; but was reduced from a state of affluence and respectability +to wretchedness and want, by following that baneful practice, which, +in spite of all laws made to the contrary, will ever exist whilst the +Government continues to resort to the unwise expedient of inducing the +individual to pay £20 for the liberty of gambling for £10. Let his fate +be a warning to all ranks, particularly to those engaged in trade, not +to engage in a pursuit which will, ultimately, be their ruin; and, +when tempted to insure, let them remember the fate of Bartholomew. He +died in a two-pair-of-stairs room, in Angel Court, Windmill Street, +Haymarket, in March, 1809, aged 68.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + + Suicides caused by the lottery--Story of a footman--Anecdote + told by Theodore Hook--Description of a lottery from its + commencement to its end. + +Another sad phase connected with the lottery was the number of suicides +which were the outcome of it. We need scarcely contemplate the serious +side of this melancholy question, if we can find the slightest +amusement therein; and to my mind there is some in the following +anecdote. + +Early in the reign of George II. the footman of a lady of quality, +under the absurd infatuation of a dream, disposed of the savings of the +last twenty years of his life in purchasing two lottery tickets, which, +proving blanks, so preyed upon his mind that, after a few days, he put +an end to his existence. In his box was found the following plan of the +manner in which he would spend the £5000 prize he surely expected to +win. + +“As soon as I have received the money, I will marry Grace Towers; but, +as she has been cross and coy, I will use her as a servant. Every +morning she shall get me a mug of strong beer, with a toast, nutmeg, +and sugar in it; then I will sleep till ten, after which I will have +a large sack posset. My dinner shall be on table by one, and never +without a good pudding. I will have a stock of wine and brandy laid in. +About five in the afternoon I will have tarts and jellies, and a gallon +bowl of punch; at ten, a hot supper of two dishes. If I am in a good +humour, and Grace _behaves herself_, she shall sit down with me. To bed +about twelve.” + +Julian Young, in his journal, narrates the following, which was told, +in his presence, by Theodore Hook, at a dinner-party in 1831: “Not +long since, he went by stage-coach to Sudbourne, to stay with Lord +Hertford. Inside the coach he had but one companion, a brown-faced, +melancholy-looking man, with an expression of great querulousness, +quite in character with the tone of his conversation, which was +one of ceaseless complaining. 'Sir,’ said he, 'you may have known +unfortunate men, possibly, in your day; you may, for aught I know, +be an unfortunate man yourself; but I do not believe there is such +another unfortunate man as I am in the whole world. No man ever had +more brilliant prospects than I have had in my time, and every one of +them, on the very eve of fulfilment, has been blighted. ’Twas but the +other day that I thought I would buy a ticket in the lottery. I did +so, stupid ass that I was, and took a sixteenth. Sir, I had no sooner +bought it, than I repented of my folly; and, feeling convinced that +it would be a blank, I got rid of it to a friend, who, I knew, would +thank me for the favour, and, at the same time, save me from another +disappointment. By Jove! sir, would you believe it? I know you won’t; +but it is true,--it turned up £30,000.’ 'Heaven and earth!’ said Hook, +'it is incredible. If it had happened to me, I should certainly have +cut my throat.’ 'Well,’ said he, 'of course you would, and so did I;’ +and, baring his neck, he exposed to Hook’s horror-stricken gaze, a +freshly-healed cicatrix from ear to ear.” + +A description of the lottery wheels, and the drawing of the lottery as +practised in 1770, may be acceptable to the reader, especially as it is +very full in detail,[31] which ever after varied very slightly, if at +all. + +[31] “The Lottery Display’d, &c.,” Lond., 1771. + +“The first Step towards preparing the Tickets and Drawing is the +Appointment of Managers. These are appointed by the Commissioners of +the Treasury, and, after being sworn to execute faithfully their Trust, +meet occasionally at some public Office or Place, and cause Books to +be prepared, containing a sufficient Number of Leaves (in the present +Lottery 10,000), in which every Leaf is divided into three Columns, +which are all numbered 1, 2, 3, &c., to the last, or highest Ticket. +The Third Column, which is wider than the other two, has also the Form +of the Ticket of its respective Lottery printed on it, and, indeed, is +the real Ticket given out to the Subscribers, and negotiated among the +Public, which, for the present Lottery, is as follows-- + + LOTTERY + No. 39m894. for the year + M.DCC.LXXI. + + _The Bearer_ of this Ticket will, in Pursuance + of an _Act_ made in the _Eleventh_ + Year of _His present Majesty’s Reign_, be + intitled to such _beneficial Chance_ as shall + belong thereto, in the _Lottery_ to be drawn + by Virtue and under the Directions of + the said _Act_. + +“This Form being signed by one of the Cashiers of the Bank, and cut out +of the Book, is what is properly called a Lottery Ticket. After these +Books are made, and properly number’d, the Managers carefully examine +them, and send them to the Cashiers of the Bank, taking Receipts for +the same, and these, as before observed, sign and cut out the Tickets, +and deliver them to the Subscribers, or Purchasers of the Receipts, on +their paying the remaining Payments due on them, and giving them up. + +“The said Cashiers are likewise to permit any Subscriber or Purchaser, +who chuses it, to sign his Name on the Ticket of the middle Column, +these being the Tickets which go into the Wheel, which, in the Words of +the Act, I shall, for the future, call Box. + +“About the Middle of _October_, the Cashiers return the Books to the +Managers, with what Tickets remain in them, which are sold, or disposed +of, by the Treasury. + +“The Managers, on receiving the Books, cause the Tickets or Numbers of +the middle Column to be cut out, and fastened with Thread or Silk, and +put into a Box prepared for the Purpose, and which they are to cause +to be mark’d with the Letter A, (having first given public Notice in +the News-Papers, of the Time and Place of putting them in, that any +of the Purchasers may, if they chuse it, be there, to see that the +Counter-Part of their Tickets is certainly put into the said Box,) +which Box is immediately to be put into another strong Box, and to be +locked up with seven different Locks and Keys, sealed with seven of the +Managers’ seals, and by them taken care of during the Time of putting +in the Tickets, and till the Drawing; the Tickets of the innermost +Column remaining in the Books for discovering any Mistake or Fraud in +the Drawing or afterwards. + +“The Numbers of the Lottery being thus made out and secured, the +Managers proceed to prepare other Books to contain also the whole +Number of the Tickets of the Lottery for the Prizes and Blanks. + +“These Books are divided into two Columns, only one to be put into the +Wheel or Box, the other to remain in the Books for detecting mistakes, +&c. + +“On as many of these Tickets as there are Prizes in the Lottery, +both on the inner and the outer Columns, are written the said Prizes +respectively according to the Scheme of the Lottery, which, for the +present Year, is as follows:-- + + +THE SCHEME. + + No. of Prizes. Value of each. Total Value. + 2 of £20,000 is £40,000 + 3 ” 10,000 ” 30,000 + 5 ” 5,000 ” 25,000 + 10 ” 2,000 ” 20,000 + 15 ” 1,000 ” 15,000 + 30 ” 500 ” 15,000 + 100 ” 100 ” 10,000 + 250 ” 50 ” 12,500 + 16,275 ” 20 ” 325,500 + ------ ------- + 16,690 Prizes 493,000 + + First drawn for first } + Six Days £1000 } 6,000 + each } + + Last drawn 1,000 + + For use of Government } + and Expense } 150,000 + of Drawing } + + 33,310 Blanks + ------ ------- + 50,000 Tickets at £13 £650,000 + +“To this Scheme may be added, that 10 _per cent._ will be deducted from +the Prizes, so that for-- + + a £20,000 Government will pay only £18,000 + 10,000 ” ” 9,000 + 5,000 ” ” 4,500 + 2,000 ” ” 1,800 + 1,000 ” ” 900 + 500 ” ” 450 + 100 ” ” 90 + 50 ” ” 45 + 20 ” ” 18 + +“I have thus reduced the Prizes to their proper Value, as some +Adventurers may expect to receive them as they were paid in the last +Lottery, and cavil with the Officers about it. + + * * * * * + +“But to return to the Books which contain the Prizes and Blanks of the +Lottery, on which we are to observe that the Tickets of the outside +Column of these Books are cut out, and put into a Box marked B, and +that inclosed in another strong Box, in the same manner as the Box +A before mentioned, which contained the Numbers. This Part of the +Business is generally done at _Whitehall_, in _Westminster_, but a +Day or two before the Drawing. These Boxes, as they are called, are +carried from thence to _Guildhall_ in the City, where, on the Day +appointed in the Act, the Drawing begins, which is performed nearly in +the following Manner. + +“But, in order to convey to the distant Reader, a clear Idea of the +Performance, it will be necessary to give a Description of the Lottery +Wheels, which, in Conformity to the Words of the Act, I have, hitherto, +been obliged to call Boxes. These are two Wheels, about Six Feet in +Diameter, and twelve or eighteen Inches thick, so that the Sides, being +thin, reserve a sufficient Cavity for containing the Tickets; they have +also convenient Openings in the Sides for putting in the Hand to draw +them, and are suspended on their Centers in a Manner very Convenient +for shaking, or mixing them. These, at the end of every Day’s Drawing, +are inclosed by two large Cases, which open in the Middle, each Part +sliding back towards the Circumference of the Wheel: These are what are +called in the Act, strong Boxes, though no more like a Box than a Ship. +But it is probable that, in the first Lotteries, Boxes were used, that +these Wheels and Cases are an Improvement on them, and that the present +Dissimilarity between the Theory and Practice of Lottery Drawing arises +from copying antiquated Acts of Parliament, as the old Schemes have +been lately transcribed in the Offices. + +“Having given a Description of the Wheels, in which the Tickets are +deposited, we now proceed to the Manner of the Drawing. + +“The Wheels, being placed at a convenient distance from one another, on +the Hustings, and seats prepared between them, previous to the Drawing, +for the Managers and Clerks, they are seated in their respective +Places. A Boy (generally taken from _Christ_ Church Hospital in +_London_) is stationed at each Wheel to draw the Tickets, and a Clerk +stands between each of them and the Managers, to receive and proclaim +the Numbers drawn; one Boy drawing a Ticket from the Wheel containing +the Numbers, and the other, the same Instant, one from that of the +Prizes and Blanks, and whatever Ticket of the latter, whether a Prize +or a Blank, comes up against the Ticket which contains the Number, +is filed with it, (but on two separate Files, the Blanks on one, and +the Prizes on another,) and recorded by the other Clerks, as the Fate +of that Number, in Books prepared for that Purpose, the Managers, in +the mean Time, receiving the Tickets from the Proclaimers, to see if +they had been rightly proclaimed, and to file them. Thus the Drawing +is continued, from Nine in the Morning till Two in the Afternoon, +(_Sunday_, _Christmas_, Fast and Thanksgiving Days excepted,) till +all the Prizes are drawn, and one of the Blanks, which Blank is to be +considered as last drawn Ticket, and entitled as such to the Prize in +the Scheme. + +“As soon as the Drawing is finished, the Managers are, according to +the Act, to Cause all the fortunate Numbers, with their Prizes, to be +locked up in a Strong Box, and kept in their Custody till they shall +take them out, and settle and adjust the Property of them. The Managers +are also enjoin’d by the Act to print, as soon as possible, after the +Drawing is over, a List of all the Numbers of the fortunate Tickets, +with the Prizes drawn against them; and, if any Dispute arises about +the Property of a Prize, to determine to whom it is to belong: This +List is contained in a Book which is published a few weeks after the +Drawing is ended, by Mr. _Lee_, under the _Royal Exchange_, and is sold +for 5_s._ But, besides this, there is a half Sheet published every +Evening, during the Drawing, under the Authority of the Managers, +though not required by the Act, containing a List of the Prizes, which +is of great Service to the Brokers and Lottery Offices, and the Public +in general, and would be more so, did not an Error sometimes, though +but seldom, creep into it. + +“Having related the Manner of the Drawing, we are next to take a View +of the Business of the Offices in consequence thereof, to see with what +Degree of Precision that Business is conducted, and in what Manner its +mis-management may affect the Adventurer. + +“And first, whilst the Managers and their Assistants are performing +the Drawing, as before described, the Offices have Clerks to attend +it, who, having Seats prepared for them, as near as possible to the +Hustings, or Place of Drawing, sit and write down the Numbers as they +are proclaimed on the Hustings, with the Prizes of those that are +fortunate, on Sheets of Paper adapted to that Purpose by Columns or +Squares; these Sheets, called at the Offices 'Slips,’ are sent from the +Drawing to the Office, every Hour, by some Officer, (by others, who are +nearer, every half Hour,) in Order that the Clerks at these Offices, +who receive the Sheets, and post them into a Book ruled and numbered +on Purpose, may keep pace as near as possible, with the Drawing, and +that the Book may be ready to examine the Adventurer’s Numbers, as soon +after the Drawing, as possible, which is done _gratis_ if bought at +that Office, and for 1_d._ each if bought at any other. + +“In this Book, which is called the Numerical Book, are also noted all +the Numbers which have been registered at that Office. Registering, as +it is generally performed, being nothing more than entering the Numbers +and Address of an Adventurer, in order to send him Intelligence as soon +as his Number is drawn, whether Prize or Blank. Now, as the Clerk at +the Office is posting the Slips, or Numbers received from the Drawing, +into the Numerical Book, when he comes to post a Number thus noted, he +makes, or ought to make, a Memorandum of it on a Paper, or Book, which +he must have by him while posting; the latter is best, as it will be +found exceedingly useful to keep these Memorandums during the whole +Drawing, thereby to correct Mistakes, and from these Memorandums he +fills up his Letters of Intelligence, and sends them to the Adventurers. + +“His next Business with the Numerical Book, is to compare and check the +Prizes drawn that Day on his Book, with the printed half Sheet before +mentioned, commonly called the Commissioners’, or Prize List; whilst +this Business is in Hand, the Clerks are frequently interrupted by +Adventurers in Examining their Numbers. + + * * * * * + +“It may not, however, be improper to observe, that whatever Information +the Adventurer may have had of his Numbers before, it will be necessary +for him to make his final Enquiry at one of the Offices, about a +Month after the Drawing is ended, about which Time the Commissioners’ +Numerical List of Prizes is published, and to see that his Number be +examined by that, as well as the Office Book; for, by using both Books, +if the eye of the Examiner should fall on the wrong number in one Book, +which is sometimes the Case, the Error may be corrected by the other. +If the Adventurer resides in _London_, he will probably see in the +Papers an Advertisement from _Whitehall_, where Numbers are examined +at 6_d._ each; but, by the above Method he may have equal Certainty +at an Office for 1_d._, the above mention’d Numerical List being an +exact Copy of the _Whitehall_ Manuscript, and the Office, where the +Number was not bought, can have no Interest in deceiving, but he may +also examine at two Offices for 2_d._, and then the certainty will be +greater, as _Whitehall_ is not possessed of Infallibility. + + * * * * * + +“For Shares, the Offices have hitherto paid the full Money, since +it has been so paid by the Government, to those who would wait till +_March_, or _April_, the Time of Payment at the Bank; but from those +Shares they paid before that Time, they deducted 5 _per Cent._ In this +Lottery, 10 _per Cent._ will be deducted by Government, consequently +the same Sum must be deducted by the Offices, and, if paid as soon as +Drawn, 5 _per Cent._ more; whence a £20 Prize in the present Lottery, +will be paid in the following Manner:-- + + To those who receive their Money To those who wait + before paid by the Government. till Government + pays. + + £ _s._ _d._ £ _s._ _d._ + A Half 8 11 0 9 0 0 + A Quarter 4 5 6 4 10 0 + An Eighth 2 2 9 2 5 0 + A Sixteenth 1 1 4½ 1 2 6 + A Thirty Second 0 10 8¼ 0 11 3 + A Sixty Fourth 0 5 4 0 5 7½ + +“At least, this is what they come to.” + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + + The lottery wheels--Anecdotes connected with the + lottery--The Glasgow lotteries--Advertising + foreign lotteries--“Art Union” Act--Dethier’s + “Twelfth Cake Lottery”--Tontines--Raffling--Pious + lotteries--Sweet-stuff lotteries for children-- + Hamburg lotteries + +The place where the tickets were manipulated by the managers was +afterwards changed from Whitehall to Somerset House, and the +accompanying illustration shows the manner of conveying the lottery +wheels from Somerset House (or Place, as it was then called) to +Cooper’s Hall, in 1808. There were four sledges employed, two carrying +the wheels containing the tickets, and the other two the cases for the +wheels. They were escorted by a detachment of Life Guards, dismounted, +who had to do police duty, there being no police, as we know them, in +those days. + +Here, too, may be found room for two or three anecdotes _re_ the +lottery, which have no appointed place. + +[Illustration] + +“Dr. B____, a physician at _Lime_ (Dorset), a few days since, being +under pecuniary embarrassment, and his house surrounded by bailiffs, +made his escape by a window into a neighbour’s house, from whence +he fled to London. The furniture was seized, and the sale actually +commenced, when it was stopped by a letter, stating that the doctor, +on his arrival in London, found himself the proprietor of the £20,000 +prize. We guarantee the truth of this fact” (_Times_, December 27, +1797). + +“The £20,000 prize, drawn on Friday, is divided amongst a number +of poor persons: a female servant in Brook Street, Holborn, had a +sixteenth; a woman who keeps a fruit-stall in Gray’s Inn Lane, another; +a third is possessed by a servant of the Duke of Roxburghe’s; a fourth +by a Chelsea carrier of vegetables to Covent Garden; one-eighth belongs +to a poor family in Rutlandshire; and the remainder is similarly +divided” (_Times_, March 19, 1798). + +“MANSION HOUSE. A lady named _Free_, who had come up from the country +to try her fortune in the lottery, came to complain to the Lord Mayor +that she had been deprived of her property, the sixteenth share of a +£30,000 prize, by the misconduct of those engaged in conducting the +drawing. She stated that she chose the ticket No. 17,092. + +“THE LORD MAYOR.--You had some particular reason, then, for selecting +that number? + +“The complainant replied it was true, she had: she wished to have a +ticket with the number of the year in which she was born; and, finding +she could not get that precise number, she took one of 17,000, instead +of 1700, as the most fortunate approach. So, indeed, it turned out to +be, for she was sitting in the hall when the lottery was drawn, and +heard her number distinctly cried out as one of the £30,000 prizes; +and, with her own eyes, she distinctly saw the officer stamp it. +Nevertheless, another ticket had been returned as the prize. + +“The LORD MAYOR doubted, from the manner in which the tickets were well +known to be drawn, whether the complainant’s anxiety had not made her +mistake a similar number for her own. + +“The complainant.--Oh no! my lord, it is impossible I can be mistaken, +though other people say that I am. I shall not give up my claim on the +word of lottery-office clerks. If there’s any mistake, it is on their +part; I trust to my own senses. + +“The LORD MAYOR observed that there was scarcely any trusting even to +the senses on such occasions, and asked her whether she did not almost +feel the money in her pockets at the same time she fancied she heard +her number announced. + +“The complainant assured his lordship that she heard the announcement +as calmly as could be expected, and that she by no means fainted away. +She certainly made sure of having the property; she sat in the hall, +and went out when the other expectants came away. + +“Mr. Cope, the marshal, who stated that he was in attendance officially +at the drawing, to keep the peace, declared that he heard all the +fortunate numbers announced, and he was sorry to be compelled to state +his conviction that this, belonging to the lady, was not one of them. + +“The LORD MAYOR said he was afraid the complainant had deceived +herself. He dismissed the application, recommending her to go to the +Stamp Office, and apply to the Commissioners, who would do anything, +except pay the money, to satisfy her” (_Times_, November 3, 1826). + +Although lotteries were declared illegal after that of 1826, the good +people of Glasgow did not think that it applied to them when municipal +improvements were in question, and went into them gaily, until stopped +by an Act in 1834 (4 and 5 Geo. IV. c. 37), passed July 25, 1834, the +preamble of which states the case thus: “WHEREAS an Act passed in the +First and Second Years of the Reign of His Present Majesty, intituled +_An Act to amend certain Acts passed in the Reign of his late Majesty, +King George the Fourth, for opening a Street from the Cross of_ +Glasgow _to_ Monteith Row: And, whereas Lotteries have been drawn, and +advertised to be drawn, under colour of the said Act, called _Glasgow_ +Lotteries; And, whereas it is expedient to prohibit the drawing of any +further, or other Lottery, after the Lottery announced and advertised +to be drawn as a Third and final _Glasgow_ Lottery in _July_ in this +year,” etc.--it was enacted that any further addition to the lottery +advertised to be drawn in July in that year, or any further continuance +of such lotteries, was illegal. + +On August 13, 1836, was passed an Act (6 and 7 Geo. IV. c. 67) which +had been found necessary, “to prevent the advertising of Foreign and +other illegal lotteries,” and the penalty for advertising them was full +costs of suit and a fine of £50, one-half of which was to go to the +informer. + +The laws respecting lotteries then slumbered until September 5, 1844, +when was passed an Act (7 and 8 Vict. c. 109) “to indemnify Persons +connected with Art Unions, and others, against certain Penalties.” +Certainly, the _Art Union of London_ and similar institutions were +clearly lotteries, but as they were for a good purpose, and not +for money-making, this short Act was passed whereby art unions and +the members thereof, and other persons, were discharged from all +suits, etc., to which they might be liable, touching the purchase +or distribution of works of art by chance, previous to the periods +mentioned in the Act. + +The guardians of the law did not go to sleep, as we see by the +following lottery for Twelfth Cakes, when, on December 26, 1860, Louis +Dethier, a Frenchman, appeared before Mr. Henry, at Bow Street, to +answer a summons under the Act (42 Geo. III. c. 119) for keeping an +office at the Hanover Square Rooms for the purpose of carrying on a +lottery, “under the name, device, and pretence of a distribution of +Twelfth Cakes.” + +A police inspector deposed that he went to the Hanover Square Rooms +on November 6, and saw the defendant there, with another person and +four clerks, who were engaged in selling tickets for the proposed +distribution of Twelfth Cakes. On the walls were bills and placards +similar to one produced, which was as follows:-- + +“Dethier’s Second Extraordinary Distribution of Twelfth Cakes.--£10,000 +worth of Twelfth Cakes will be drawn for on 10 successive days, £1000 +each day, commencing Wednesday, December 26, 1860 (Sunday excepted). +20,000 tickets now on sale for each day’s draw, at 1_s._ each, can be +obtained at the chief office, Hanover Square Rooms, open from 9 a.m. +to 7 p.m. The following is a list of prizes for each day’s draw:--1 +at £25; 50 at £5; 100 at £2; 250 at £l; 300 at 10_s._; 500 at 5_s._; +total, 1201 prizes, amounting to £1000 for each day. All prizes to be +delivered on the following morning after each day’s draw, from 9 to +12 a.m. The successful numbers will be advertised each day in the +morning papers. L. Dethier, son of the late proprietor of the Great +Northern Hotel, King’s Cross, and late Cook to the Emperor of Russia, +begs to return thanks for the kind patronage he received at the last +distribution, during the Exhibition of 1851, which gave such general +satisfaction (see the public press of that period), and trusts the +nobility and gentry will render him the same patronage as upon that +occasion. L. D. having just arrived from the Continent, where he has +purchased a large quantity of goods, of the best quality, and the +most _recherché_ description, for beautifying this splendid and most +magnificent display of Twelfth Cakes, feels assured that this will meet +with general approbation. The Hanover Square Rooms will be open (free) +for inspection from Wednesday, December 19, 1860, to January 6, 1861. +Tickets sent to any part of the United Kingdom on receipt of 13 postage +stamps. Post Office Orders made payable to L. Dethier, Old Cavendish +Street, W.” + +The case against Dethier was clearly proved; but it was ultimately +agreed that the lottery should be stopped at once, and that, in the +event of this condition being fulfilled, the prosecution should be +allowed to drop. + +But the lottery, as already described, was not its only form--take the +“Tontine,” for instance. This was a scheme by which an annuity, after +a certain rate of interest, is granted to a number of people, divided +into classes, according to their respective ages; so that the whole +annual fund of each class is regularly divided among the survivors of +that class, until at last it falls to one, and, upon the extinction +of that life, reverts to the power by which the Tontine was erected. +It has a singular name, which is derived from its projector, Lorenzo +Tonti, a Neapolitan, who first proposed his scheme in 1653, but did not +then succeed in launching it. + +This form of lottery is now, I believe, illegal in England, as is also +“raffling,” which is dependent on the casting of three dice. It is very +old, as Chaucer uses the word “rafles,” and as a gambling transaction. +Dryden thus speaks of it (_The Mock Astrologer_, act iii.)-- + +“_Wild._ What is the ladies’ game, Sir? + +“_Lop._ Most commonly they use rafle. That is, to throw in with three +dice, till duplets and a chance be thrown; and the highest duplet wins, +except you throw in and in, which is called _raffle_; and that wins +all.” + +There is no manner of doubt as to the illegality of raffling, yet it is +most prevalent; and at the seaside the evening used not to be complete +without a raffle at the Assembly Rooms, or Library, where also you +could, for a consideration, have a dip in the “Wheel of Fortune,” which +was a lottery pure and simple, as is also every sweepstake, a form of +gambling which is most unblushingly and openly indulged in, and which +sometimes, as in the case of the Bycullah Sweep, assumes enormous +proportions. Nay, piety itself does not disdain the lottery when funds +are needed for any purpose. No one sees any harm in a sawdust tub at a +bazaar, who would shudder at taking a lottery ticket; and I have heard +of such a thing as a pious raffle, on the strict quiet, of the unsold +things from a bazaar, or fancy fair, got up for the benefit of some +religious purpose. + +In Ireland they go still further, and I suppose there are few of us +who have not been pestered to take tickets in the religious lotteries +which are freely drawn in the “distressful counthry.” There is a +great sameness in all the Irish schemes, and it is useful to note the +lowness of the price of the ticket, which brings it within the reach +of all, and the bait held out to persons to tout for and sell them. “A +complimentary Ticket is presented with each book of Twenty Tickets; +and, IN ADDITION, each person purchasing, or selling Two Books (Forty +Tickets), will be presented with a Free Ticket for the Special 'ALL +PRIZE’ DRAWING.”--“Every Holder of an 'All Prize’ Ticket is certain to +win a Prize.” + +In my estimation, these pious lotteries are on a par with, even if +they are not worse than, the prize-packets of sweets, a lottery which +deludes the very babes; and, though always unfair, gives them a zest +for gambling which they might not otherwise obtain. Of these swindles, +perhaps the following is the last “up to date”:-- + +“NORTH LONDON POLICE COURT.--Egidio Fabrizi, an Italian confectioner +of Balls Pond-road, Islington, was summoned for keeping premises for +the purposes of a lottery not authorized by Act of Parliament. The +evidence of the police was that the Defendant sold certain sweet-stuff +'turnovers,’ some of which contained money; and, at the time of the +visit of Police-sergeant 35 J, there were fourteen or fifteen lads in +the shops, buying the sweets, in the hope--as admitted--that they +might get a prize. The 'turnovers’ were a halfpenny each, and one +lad, who purchased two, got a penny in one, and nothing in the other. +A boy named James Dewis, who made the purchase, said he and others +frequently bought the sweets, in the hope of getting prizes.--By Mr. +Lushington (Magistrate): There was not a halfpenny-worth of sweet-stuff +in the turnovers--the real value was about four for a halfpenny; but +the value was made up when they got pence.--The Defendant (to whom +the evidence was interpreted) said he was not aware he was acting +illegally. He bought the turnovers from Barrett’s, and they told him +how to sell them. Other shopkeepers in the same neighbourhood sold the +same sort of sweets.--Mr. Lushington convicted the Defendant as a rogue +and a vagabond, and ordered him to pay a fine of twenty shillings, or +fourteen days in default” (_Standard_, April 24, 1893). + +But, as if we had not enough of our own sins to answer for, the +foreigner must needs try to dip his hand in the rich “Englander’s” +pocket, and see if some of John Bull’s fabled wealth cannot be made +subservient to him. All sorts of baits have been tried to allure him; +sometimes it would be an ancient castle, or schloss, that was dangled +before his eyes; sometimes it would be like a swindle I have before me, +referring to German Municipal loans. + +First of all comes, by post, the scheme of the lottery. + +Some silly mortal swallows the bait, send 18_s._, and receives in +return a letter of regret, and a ticket for a lottery in which the man +was never asked to join--leaving a balance in hand of 10_s._, which, +one might safely swear, would never be forthcoming if applied for. + +To such proportions did this swindle grow, that the Post Office +authorities had to step in and protect those silly sheep, who were +offering their fleeces to the shearer, by refusing to cash the money +orders; and it must have been effective, as I have not heard of any +foreign lotteries lately. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +The “Missing Word Competition”: its rise and fall. + +Lotteries being universally known to be illegal in England and +Scotland, no attempt has been made to revive them in their old form, +since their illegality has been definitely pronounced; but very many +ways of evasion of the law have been practised, sometimes with much +temporary success. Sometimes they developed into downright swindles, +and then they cured themselves; and this has been the fate of most of +the so-called “competitions.” But the greatest of these modern-times +lotteries, and one which permeated the land throughout its length and +breadth, was the “Missing Word Competition” which was so rife in 1892. + +It was eagerly taken up by several weekly periodicals, but, +undoubtedly, the favourite competition was in _Pearson’s Weekly_. For +some time the public did not “catch on” to the scheme, and for the +first nine months their interest in it was comparatively languid, +the sum subscribed by the one shilling entrance fees only averaging +about £500 weekly; but, during the next three months (fifty-three +competitions being issued in all), the competition waxed fierce, and +when it was stopped, the proprietor of the magazine was in receipt, +for the competition in the number for December 10, 1892, of nearly +£24,000, which represented nearly half a million entries. No one doubts +but that these amounts were fairly divided amongst the winners, the +proprietor of the paper recouping himself by the enormously increased +circulation of his periodical. In the case of _Pearson’s Weekly_, its +normal circulation was about 350,000 a week; at the end of 1892 it +stood at 1,050,000 copies. Nor was this all. The correct solution of +the puzzle was not at once inserted in _Pearson’s Weekly_. Oh dear, no! +if you were impatient to know your fate, you had to buy next Thursday’s +_Society News_, which thus got a fictitious circulation, to the great +benefit of the conjoint proprietor’s pocket. And it became of such +importance, that as much as £350 a week was paid in salaries to persons +employed in dealing in various ways with the selections sent in. + +It was, for a time, a veritable _furore_, which seized in its grip all +sorts and conditions of folk, the old as well as the young, and formed +such a topic of conversation as to be absolutely sickening. The _modus +operandi_ is best described by the paper itself. Let us take an extract +from _Pearson’s Weekly_ of December 10, 1892, the competition therein +contained being the one over which there was much litigation. + +“The correct word in this competition will be found in the number of +_Society News_, which is on sale at all newsagents first thing on the +morning of Thursday, December 15. Full particulars will appear, as +usual, in _Pearson’s Weekly_ of the following Saturday. + +“MISSING WORD COMPETITION. NO. 53. + +“On the third column of page 331 is a paragraph about an experiment +with camphor. The last word is omitted. Readers who wish to enter this +competition must cut out the coupon below, fill in this word, together +with their names and addresses, and send it with a postal order for one +shilling, to reach us, at latest, by first post on Monday, December 12, +the envelope marked 'Word.’ + +“The correct word is in the hands of Mr. H. S. Linley, chartered +accountant, 124, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., enclosed in an envelope, +sealed with our seal. His statement with regard to it will appear with +the result of the competition in the issue for the week after next. The +whole of the money received in entrance fees will be divided amongst +those competitors who fill in the word correctly. It is hoped that +competitions will be posted to Temple Chambers, London, E.C., as early +in the week as possible. Members of the same family may compete, if +they like, and any one may send as many attempts as he or she chooses, +provided that each is accompanied by a separate coupon and a sufficient +remittance. All postal orders must be made payable to _Pearson’s +Weekly_. Coupons also appear in _Society News_ and the _Companion_, +which entitle purchasers to enter for _Pearson’s Weekly_ Missing Word +Competition, on payment of the usual shilling.” + +In the place indicated (third column of p. 301) we find the +following paragraph, at the end of which the “missing word” has to +be interpolated: “Here is a little experiment which is well worth +showing to your friends. Procure a bit of ordinary camphor, and from +it break off tiny pieces. Drop these upon the surface of some pure +water, contained in any kind of vessel, and they will immediately +begin to rotate and move about, sometimes continuing to do this for +several hours. The water must be quite clean; for if a drop of oil, +or any grease, is in it, the experiment will not work. But, provided +that nothing of this sort gets in, the little pieces of camphor will +twirl about in a manner that is extremely ----.” No fewer than 472,574 +coupons were sent in for this competition, accompanied by remittances +to the value of £23,628 14_s._ + +No very large sums were made at these competitions (except on one +occasion). Sometimes the successful competitor did not realize much +more than a sovereign; at other times, judging from the experience +of one gentleman, they might get £8 9_s._ 3_d._, as in the “awkward” +competition, or £13 4_s._ 6_d._, as in the following, when the missing +word was “evolved”:-- + +“Most of our readers will have noticed the fortune-telling automatic +machine in the railway stations and at street corners, and will +remember that the face of it is covered with various coloured +triangles. It is, in short, a handy roulette table, and certain people +have taken to dropping a penny in the slot, and betting upon what +coloured triangle the finger of the gipsy girl will rest. It would seem +as though a new form of gambling had been ----.” + +Although the sums won were not large, in comparison with the lotteries +of old, yet the price of the ticket--one shilling only--was not +ruinous, and, as there were no limits to the number of coupons, any one +might send as many as he or she pleased, and if you plunged a bit, and +were lucky, the prize represented a sum well worth having. This was the +plan adopted by one person (Mr. Andrew Tuer), who won the largest sum +on record; but it must be confessed that, previous to this stroke of +luck, he was from £150 to £200 “to the bad.” + +The competition was in _Pearson’s Weekly_ for December 3, 1892, and +finished up with a paragraph which dealt with the capacity of a +brick for absorbing water, and engendering consequences which, if +undetected, might be ----. The correct missing word was “awkward,” on +which the record-breaker had plunged seventy-five times, and as each +correct answer was entitled to a prize of £8 9_s._ 3_d._, he netted +a total of £634 13_s._ 9_d._--not altogether an unmixed blessing, as +he states in a letter to the _Star_ of December 21, 1892. “As soon as +my success became known, letters poured in from everywhere--letters +of abuse, letters from persons wanting to beg and borrow, and foolish +letters--all from women these--asking me for the 'tip’ for next week.” + +While these competitions were in their infancy, no one heeded them +much; but when they spread as a great social cancer--when every one +was getting tainted with the fever of speculation, and the principal +streets of London were literally strewn with _Pearson’s Weekly_, not +bought to read, but to tear out the coupon page and then throw the +rest away--it was felt necessary that something should be done in the +matter. At first there was a little difficulty, arising not only in the +glorious uncertainty of the law on the matter, but from the fact that +most of the periodicals publishing these competitions were printed and +published within the precincts of the city of London, and the _patres +conscripti_ hesitated to commence litigation of which no man could +foresee the issue. + +At last one was found outside the sacred pale, and its prosecution was +understood to be a test case; and on December 13, 1892, at Bow Street +Police Court, before Sir John Bridge, the chief magistrate, Mr. Henry +Reichardt, the proprietor, publisher, and editor of _Pick-Me-Up_, +and Messrs. Wertheimer and Lea, the printers, appeared to answer six +summonses for alleged infringements of the Lottery Acts. The summonses +were: (_a_) for publishing in a certain paper called _Pick-Me-Up_ a +scheme for the sale of chances and shares in a lottery known as “The +Missing Word Competition,” contrary to the statute 4 Geo. IV. c. 60, +sec. 41; (_b_) for selling certain chances in a lottery known as the +“_Pick-Me-Up_ Missing Word Competition,” contrary to the same Act; +(_c_) for publishing in the said paper a scheme for certain chances +in a lottery known as “The Weekly Art Competition,” contrary to the +same Act; (_d_) for the sale of certain chances in such lottery; (_e_) +for keeping open at No. 11, Southampton Buildings, a lottery, namely, +drawing by certain lots and coupons in a lottery known as “The Missing +Word Competition” of the same paper, contrary to 42 Geo. III. c. 119, +sec. 2; and (_f_) for suffering to be played and drawn, by means +of coupons, a lottery called “The Weekly Art Competition,” contrary +to the same statute. In this latter competition it was requisite to +send in lists of what the competitors thought were the best pictures +in a particular issue of the paper in question, with, of course, the +inevitable shilling. + +The proceedings were taken at the instance of the public prosecutor. +The offence was proved, and the defence was that these competitions +were no lotteries. The magistrate, however, thought differently, and, +in giving his decision, said that if the scheme was one of risking +money, or gaining it by chance, then, undoubtedly, it was a lottery. On +the other hand, if it was carried out by skill and judgment, it would +not be one. The question whether it was chance or judgment must depend +upon a proper construction of the facts of the case. With reference +to the missing word competition, a good deal was to be said for the +contention as to the question of chance or judgment depending on the +selection of a particular word, or only of a proper word, which latter +would require skill. The defendants did not pretend to say that they +called for the selection of the proper word, or the word which would +be suitable to complete the sentence. Therefore, on that ground, he +thought that this case, as regarded the missing word competition, came +within the scope of the Act. With regard to the “Art Competition” the +case appeared to be slightly different, as it might be said that the +competitors might have to exercise judgment in deciding whether they +were artistic or not; but, looking at the whole case, it seemed to him +that persons were induced to stake their money upon chance, and he +must therefore convict, but should only impose the nominal penalty of +a shilling fine upon each summons. An appeal against this decision was +talked of, but never acted on. + +Now, then, dismay fell upon the other culprits. Mr. Pearson +discontinued his competitions, and the money he had in hand was +impounded, and paid into the Bank of England for safe custody. Then +arose a curious state of things. Of course Mr. Pearson could not claim +the money--he had no right to it--nor could it be paid to the winners, +because it had been decided to be illegal. No one could keep it, +because it was not theirs, nor could it be confiscated, or given, as +some suggested, to hospitals and charities. The only remedy seemed to +be for some of the prize-winners to enter suits in Chancery against +Mr. Pearson for the payment of what they considered their due; and this +was done in two instances, which were tried on February 8, 1893, in the +High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, before Mr. Justice Stirling, +who, at the end of a long and elaborate summing up, thus delivered +himself:-- + +“As regards the defendant Pearson, no imputation is, or can be, made +on his good faith and honesty. He appears to have carried through a +large number of competitions without any interference, and the abrupt +termination of the competition in question was brought about by the +criminal proceedings against another person, to which I have already +referred. He is in some difficulty, through having destroyed the +coupons of the unsuccessful competitors, but no claim is now made to +the fund by any person except those represented by the plaintiff, and +the defendant Hearn. Under these circumstances, it would seem the best +and simpler course that the fund should be returned to the defendant +Pearson, who will then be able to defend himself, by means of it, +against any legal claims, and to dispose of the surplus in such way +as he may deem himself, in honour, bound to apply it. If, however, +this course should not commend itself to him, I am willing, in this +particular case, and without establishing a precedent, that the fund +should remain in Court, whereby there will accrue a benefit, in the +first place, to the legal profession, and, ultimately, I hope, to the +public, in whose favour it may be fairly expected that there will +result, at some date more or less remote, an extinguishment of some +portion of the National Debt.” + +The finale to this lottery took place on March 27, 1893, when the +case of “Matthews _v._ Pearson” came before Mr. Justice Stirling in +Chambers. It was ordered, by consent, that the sum of £3566 4_s._, +paid into Court in this action, being the amount contributed to the +missing word competition, No. 7, in _Pearson’s Society News_, should be +paid out to the defendant Pearson, on his undertaking to pay the costs +of all parties to the action, as between solicitor and client. It is +understood that Mr. Pearson will pursue the same course with reference +to this fund as in the previous cases, viz. will pay the prize-winners +the amount due to them, less a deduction for costs. + +It is said that Mr. Pearson has honourably fulfilled his pledge to the +public. + +And now to wind up with an anecdote. + +It was where two roads bisected, and a matter-of-fact policeman was on +the kerb, keeping watch on the four ways. + +Then there appeared upon the scene a “Salvation Army Man,” who, after +a little time, gathered an audience of two or three girls and boys. +To them he addressed the message of salvation, inviting the juveniles +to “come and be washed,” etc.; and, at the end of this exordium, he +blossomed forth emphatically, emphasizing each paragraph with one fist +in the other palm. “HE spake the WORD, and Peter spoke it” (_pause_). +“And Paul spoke it” (_pause_), “Have you read the WORD?” (_pause_). “Do +you know the WORD?” (_long pause_). + +And then came the inevitable policeman who, ungently pushing the +preacher on the shoulder, said gruffly, “You get away, young man; you +know it ain’t right. We can’t have no 'Missin’ Word Competitions’ 'ere. +You know they’re illegal, so just stow it.” + +[Illustration: NO LUCK!] + + “Throw Physic to the Dogs” for me. + The best composing draught’s a Fee; + For sinking Chest, low pulse, or Cold, + There’s no Specific equals Gold. + + + + +INDEX. + + + A + + Aarones, Joseph, 86 + Abolition of Irish lotteries, 130 + Adam’s Adelphi Lottery, 80 + Adelphi Lottery, 80 + Alterations in drawing tickets, 130 + “Altogether!” 191 + Anecdote by Theodore Hook, 311 + Anecdotes of luck, 204, 205, 213, 214 + Anecdotes of the lottery, 327 + _Annual Register_, 87 + Apophoreta gifts, 3 + Armour lottery, 24 + Armouth and the lottery of 1568, 23 + Art Union Act, 331 + Attempts to put down lotteries, 217, 221 + + B + + Baddeley, Richard, 34, 42 + Baker, Robert, and lottery gambling, 159 + Baker’s evidence before the Commission, 301 + Ballad of 1826, 274 + Banks, Miss Sophia, 85 + Bank of England, fraud on the, 97 + Bartholomew, Christopher, and insurance, 306 + Bennet, Secretary, 35 + Bennett, Captain Edward, 34 + Bish, T., 127, 145 + ---- on the last lottery, 283 + Bish’s enigmatical handbill, 169 + ---- lottery alphabet, 162 + ---- poetic effusions, 152, 180, 182, 191, 214, 218, 222, 261 + ---- “Public Prizes,” 174 + Blue-coat boys and the lottery, 79, 82 + Book lottery, 44 + Bowyer’s lottery, 139 + Boydell lottery, 133 + ---- Shakespeare winner, 138 + Branscomb, James, 127 + Branscomb’s agencies, 129 + Brighthemston and the lottery of 1568, 23 + British Museum, formation of, 69 + Business of the offices of the lottery, 321 + + C + + Cale, Nathaniel, 35 + “Caleb Quotem,” 236 + “Captain Bobadil,” 237 + Chances of winning, 67 + Child, Francis, 45 + City Lottery, 149 + Clarke, John, 108 + Corbett, Francis, 32, 33, 39 + Counterfeiting lottery tickets, 86, 87 + “Cowslip,” 231 + Cox’s Museum lottery, 75 + Crosland, Sir John, 34 + Curious handbills, 218, 219 + ---- lotteries, 88 + + D + + D’Aguilar, Baron, 131 + _Daily News_, extract from, on lottery superstition, 213 + De Duras, Marquis, 42 + Death of the State lottery, 276 + “Dennis Brulgruddery,” 198 + Denny, Daniel, 87 + Des Marces, Sir Anthony, 33, 34, 42 + Dethier’s “Twelfth Cake Lottery,” 331 + “Dialogue,” a, 245 + Disposal of “Missing Word Competition” money, 350 + Drawing of the lottery, description of, 312, 319 + Drebbel, Cornelius, 29 + Dupuy, Lawrence, 33, 34, 42 + + E + + Earliest lottery ticket, 85 + East Greenwiche and the lottery of 1568, 23 + End of the lottery, 258 + England, first lottery in, 5 + ----, number of lotteries in, 42 + English slave-ransom lottery, 32 + “Enigma,” an, 187 + Epitaph suggested for Vansittart, 221 + ---- on the last lottery, 285 + Evil of lotteries, 40 + Extravagant prices for tickets, 74 + Eyck’s lottery, 4 + + F + + “Farmer Acres,” 226 + Fielding’s song of the lottery, 1 + Finochelli, Francisco, 33 + First lottery in England, 5 + Fishing vessels lottery, 31 + Footman’s plan to spend expected prize, 311 + Foreign lotteries, 331 + “Fortune’s Ladder,” 165 + “Fortune’s Train,” 218 + + G + + Gage, George, 30 + Gambling lottery, 33 + _Gentleman’s Magazine_, 61, 66, 72, 103, 109 + “Gently over the Stones,” 188 + Glasgow lotteries, 330 + “Gretna Green,” 214 + Guinea lottery, 71 + Gurney, Rev. W., and lottery gambling, 157 + + H + + Hale, Pagen, 73 + Hambleton, Colonel, 30 + Handbills, 162, 180, 189 + Harefield lottery, 25 + Hastings and the lottery of 1568, 24 + Hazard’s poetical handbills, 175 + Historic lottery, 139 + Holland’s wager, 67 + Holophusikon, 104 + Hone’s account of the last lottery, 267 + Hook, Theodore, 311 + Hornsby and Co., 119 + + I + + Illegal insurance checked, 125, 130, 131 + Insurance of lottery numbers, 296, 306 + Insuring lottery tickets, 120 + Irish Land Lottery, 31 + ---- lotteries abolished, 130 + ---- religious lotteries, 335 + Islington miser, the, 131 + + J + + “Jerry Sneak,” 262 + “Jolly Dick,” 234 + + K + + Killigrew, Thomas, 41 + Knight, Sir John, 35, 36 + + L + + “Lady Betty Modish,” 230 + “Lady Mary Mousetrap,” 235 + Last lottery, 265 + ---- ----, epitaph on, 285 + “Last of the lotteries,” 280 + Launston and the lottery of 1568, 23 + Leheup’s fraud, 70 + Lever, Sir Ashton, 103 + Lever’s lottery, 106 + “Little Goes,” 287 + L’Ocha di Catalonia, 33 + _London Magazine_, 66 + London water supply lotteries, 29, 30 + “London and the Lottery,” 182 + Loseley House, lottery record in, 5 + Loss to the public by lotteries, 301 + Lots, early history of, 2 + Lottery alphabet, 162 + ---- anecdotes, 327 + ---- drawing, description of, 319, + ---- frauds, 79, 81 + ---- gambling, Parliamentary inquiry, 156 + Lottery handbills-- + A Prize for Poor Jack, by Jack Junk, 214 + A Valentine, 173 + Altogether, 191 + An Enigma, 187 + Bill of lottery in Queen Elizabeth’s reign, 5 + Caleb Quotem, 236 + Captain Bobadil, 237 + Cook-maid, 279 + Cowslip, 231 + Cox’s Lottery, 77 + Dennis Brulgruddery, 198 + Farmer Acres, 226 + Freeholds and Fortunes, 152 + Fortune’s Ladder, 165 + Fortune’s Train, 218 + Gardener, 280 + Gently over the Stones, 188 + Green-grocer, 280 + Gretna Green, 215 + Jerry Sneak, 262 + Jolly Dick, 234 + Kitchen-maid, 279 + Lady Betty Modish, 230 + Lady Mary Mousetrap, 235 + London and the Lottery, 182 + Master and Man, 189 + Miss Vixen Vinegar, 233 + Mrs. Pry, 263 + Mother Goose, 228 + Queen Dollalolla, 232 + Public prizes, 174 + Sam Swig, 229 + Shakespeare’s “Seven Ages,” 200 + Sir Gaby Guttle, 227 + Sir Simon Slenderwit, 264 + Sir William Courteous, 261 + Sweethearts and Gold, 176 + The Doubt, 177 + The Lottery Alphabet, 162 + The Persian Ambassador, 184 + The Philosopher’s Stone, 163 + The Race of Fortune, 247 + The Tradesman, 154 + The Wish, 248 + Three Royal Weddings, 222 + Twenty Thousand, 180 + Ways and Means, 219 + Lottery numbers, insurance of, 296 + ---- office agencies, 129 + ---- ---- keepers, 293 + ---- ---- ---- licensed, 90 + ---- ---- ----, prosecution of, 114 + ---- record in Loseley House, 5 + ---- superstition, 213 + ---- ticket, the earliest, 85 + ---- ---- advertisement in _Post-Boy_, 210 + ---- tickets, 238 + ---- ----, counterfeiting, 86, 87 + ---- ----, insurance of, 120 + ----, the last, 265 + ---- wheels, description of, 312, 318 + Lotteries, attempts to put down, 217, 221 + Lotteries, curious, 88 + ----, derivation of, 3, 4 + ---- disconnected from loans, 91 + ----, discontinuance of, 258 + ----, earliest records of, 4 + ---- introduced into England, 5 + ----, loss by, 301 + ----, method of starting, 147 + ----, Parliamentary inquiry into, 156 + ----, suppression of, 50, 107 + ----, suspension of, 29 + ----, unauthorized, 108 + Louth and the lottery of 1568, 23 + Lucky lottery tickets, 205 + Lyttleton’s resolutions in the House of Commons, 224 + + M + + Maimed soldiers’ lottery, 32 + Mainwaring, Everard, 29 + Marcelli, Simon, 33 + Margray, Mr., 112 + Marriage portions by lottery, 56 + “Master and Man,” 189 + Military officers’ lottery, 45 + “Miss Vixen Vinegar,” 233 + Missing Word Competition, 339 + Mitford’s (Miss) lottery ticket, 205 + Morocco men, 298, 302 + “Mother Goose,” 228 + “Mrs. Pry,” 263 + + N + + Noah, Samuel, 86 + Norwich and lotteries, 40 + + O + + Ogilby’s book lottery, 44 + + P + + Parker, Michael, 29 + Parkinson, James, 107 + Parliamentary inquiry into lotteries, 156 + _Pearson’s Weekly_ competitions, 339 + Penalties on private lotteries, 59 + Penny lottery, 48 + “Percy Anecdotes,” 212 + “Persian Ambassador,” 184 + Peyto, Sir Edward, 30 + “Philosopher’s Stone,” 163 + Physician’s Fortune, 327 + _Pick-Me-Up_ and Missing Word Competition, 346 + Pickett, Alderman, 154 + Pigot Diamond Lottery, 128 + Pleydell, Captain William, 32 + Pointz, Sir Robert, 30 + Posies, 17, 19 + Posie by Alice Crewe, London, 18 + ---- Dorothie Hawes, Cheapside, 19 + ---- Nicholas Martin, Exon, 18 + ---- Sibbel Cleyon, 19 + ---- Sir George Speake, Whitlackington, 19 + ---- Sir Thom. Woodhouse, Warham, 19 + ---- Thomas Chamberlayne, Horsted Teynes, 19 + ---- William Dorghtie de Westholme, 19 + _Post-Boy_, advertisement in, for lottery ticket, 210 + Pounteney, Mrs., 93, 101, 102 + Praying for success in lotteries, 74 + Price (or “Patch”), Charles, 91 + Pricking Book Lottery, 41 + Prince Rupert’s jewels lottery, 45 + Prisoner’s complaint, 114 + Prize, sharp practice over, 110 + Prize-winners, 118 + Prosecution of lottery-office keepers, 114 + ---- for insuring lottery tickets, 304, 305 + “Public Prizes,” 174 + + Q + + “Queen Dollalolla,” 232 + + R + + Radcliffe and the Lottery of 1568, 23 + Raffling, 334 + Raine’s Charity, 55 + Regulations for lottery drawing, 83 + Religious lotteries, 335 + Richardson, Goodluck, and Co., 118 + Roche, Captain James, 33, 34 + Roman lottery, 3 + Royal Fishing Company, 41 + ---- Oak Lottery, 33 + Rudge, Edward, 30 + + S + + Sale of ticket twice over, 73 + Salvation Army man and “Word Competition,” 351 + “Sam Swig,” 229 + Saunder, Henry, 29 + ----, Sir Nicholas, 29 + Servants and the lottery, 298 + Shakespeare lottery, 135 + Shakespeare’s “Seven Ages,” 200 + Sharpliffe and the Virginian lottery, 29 + Shergold and Co., 110, 112 + “Sir Gaby Guttle,” 227 + “Sir Simon Slenderwit,” 264 + “Sir William Courteous,” 261 + Southfleete and the Lottery of 1568, 23 + Spaniard’s luck, 204 + _Spectator_ on lucky numbers, 208 + State lotteries, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 59, 60, 66, 71, 72, + 75, 89, 107, 110, 118, 120, 126, 145, + 189, 197, 204, 238 + ----, method of, 89 + Story of a footman, 310 + Suicides caused by the lottery, 89, 109, 310 + Suppression of lotteries, 50, 54, 60, 107 + Suspension of lotteries, 29 + “Sweethearts and Gold,” 176 + Sweet-stuff lotteries, 336 + Sydenham lottery, 52 + + T + + Tassie, the winner of the Boydell Shakespeare, 138 + Ticket sold twice over, 73 + _Times_ on “Little Goes,” 287 + “The Doubt,” 177 + “The Race of Fortune,” 247 + “The Wish,” 248 + Theft of tickets, 75 + Thornton’s Royal Botanical Lottery, 193 + “Three Royal Weddings,” 222 + Tomkins’s picture lottery, 252 + Tontine lottery, 334 + Topsham and the lottery of 1568, 23 + Twelfth Cake Lottery, 331 + “Twelfth Night Characters” handbills, 225 + “Twenty Thousand,” 180 + “Two Gold Finches,” 197 + Tuer (Andrew) and the Missing Word Competition, 344 + + U + + Unauthorized lotteries, 108 + + V + + Valentine, a, 173 + Vansittart’s suggested epitaph, 221 + Virginia lottery, 28 + + W + + “Ways and Means,” 219 + Wells and the lottery of 1568, 22 + “Wheel of Fortune,” 335 + ---- handbill, 48 + Westminster Bridge lottery, 65 + Williamson, Joseph, 35, 42 + Winchester and the lottery of 1568, 22 + Winners of prizes, 118 + + Y + + Yermouth and the lottery of 1568, 22 + + +[Illustration: £10,000 PRIZE! + +“My dancing days are over!”] + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77478 *** |