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clerks； apprentices； passing and repassing； with looks full of
suspense and anxiety； and who are stealing at least from their
master's time； if they have not many of them also robbed him of
his property； in order to enable them to become adventurers。 In
the next place； at the end of the drawing； let our observer
direct his steps to the shops of the pawnbrokers； and view； as he
may； the stock； furniture； and clothes of many hundred poor
families； servants； and others； who have been ruined by the
lottery。 If he wish for further satisfaction； let him attend at
the next Old Bailey Sessions； and hear the death…warrant of many
a luckless gambler in lotteries； who has been guilty of
subsequent theft and forgery； or if he seek more proof； let him
attend to the numerous and horrid scenes of self…murder； which
are known to accompany the closing of the wheels of fortune each
year：＇149＇ and then let him determine on 〃the wisdom and
policy〃 of lotteries in a commercial city。'
＇149＇ A case is mentioned of two servants who； having lost their
all in lotteries； robbed their master； and in order to prevent
being seized and hanged in public； murdered themselves in
private。
The capital prizes were so large that they excited the eagerness
of hope； but the sum secured by the government was small when
compared with the infinite mischief it occasioned。 On opening
the budget of 1788； the minister observed in the House of
Commons； ‘that the bargain he had this year for the lottery was
so very good for the public； that it would produce a gain of
L270；000； from which he would deduct L12；000 for the
expenses of drawing； &c。； and then there would remain a net
produce of L258；000。' This result； therefore； was deemed
extraordinary； but what was that to the extraordinary mischief
done to the community by the authorization of excessive gambling！
Some curious facts are on record relating to the lotteries。
Until the year 1800 the drawing of the lottery （which usually
consisted of 60；000 tickets for England alone） occupied forty…two
days in succession； it was； therefore； about forty…two to one
against any particular number being drawn the first day； if it
remained in the wheel； it was forty…one to one against its being
drawn on the second； &；c。； the adventurer； therefore； who could
for eight…pence insure the return of a guinea； if a given number
came up the first day； would naturally be led； if he failed； to a
small increase of the deposit according to the decrease of the
chance against him； until his number was drawn； or the person who
took the insurance money would take it no longer。
In the inquiry respecting the mendicity of London； in 1815； Mr
Wakefield declared his opinion that the lottery was a cause of
mendicity； and related an instancethe case of an
industrious man who applied to the Committee of Spitalfields Soup
Society for relief； and when； on being asked his profession； said
he was a ‘_Translator_'which； when _TRANSLATED_； signifies； it
seems； the art of converting old boots and shoes into wearable
ones； ‘but the lottery is about to draw； and；' says he； ‘I have
no sale for boots or shoes during the time that the lottery
draws'the money of his customers being spent in the purchase of
tickets； or the payment of ‘insurances。' The ‘translator' may
have been mistaken as to the cause of his trade falling off； but
there can be no doubt that the system of the lottery…drawing was
a very infatuating mode of gambling； as the passion was kept
alive from day to day； and though； perhaps； it did not create
mendicity； yet it mainly contributed； with the gin…shops； night…
cellars； obscure gambling houses； and places of amusement； to
fill the _PAWNBROKERS_' shops； and diminish the profits of the
worthy ‘translator of old shoes。'＇150＇
＇150＇ This term is still in use。 I recently asked one of
the craft if he called himself a translator。 ‘Yes； sir； not of
languages； but old boots and shoes；' was the reply。
This reasoning； however； is very uncertain。
The sixteenth of a lottery ticket； which is the smallest
share that can be purchased； has not for many years been sold
under thirty shillings； a sum much too large for a person who
buys old shoes ‘translated；' and even for the ‘translator'
himself； to advance； we may therefore safely conclude that the
purchase of tickets is not the mode of gambling by which
Crispin's customers are brought to distress。
A great number of foreign lotteries still exist in vigorous
operation。 Some are supported by the state； and others are only
authorized； most of them are flourishing。 In Germany；
especially； lotteries are abundant； immense properties are
disposed of by this method。 The ‘bank' gains； of course；
enormously； and； also of course； a great deal of trickery and
swindling； or something like it； is perpetrated。
Foreign lottery tickets are now and then illegally offered in
England。 A few years ago there appeared an advertisement in the
papers； offering a considerable income for the payment of one or
two pounds。 Upon inquiry it was found to be the agency of a
foreign lottery！ These tempting offers of advertising
speculators are a cruel addition to the miseries of
misfortune。
The Hamburg lottery seems to afford the most favourable
representation of the systemas suchbecause in it all the
money raised by the sale of tickets is redistributed in the
drawing of the lots； with the exception of 10 per cent。 deducted
in expenses and otherwise； but nothing can compensate for the
pernicious effects of the spirit of gambling which is fostered by
lotteries； however fairly conducted。 They are an unmitigated
evil。
In the United States lotteries were established by Congress in
1776； but； save in the Southern States； heavy penalties are now
imposed on persons attempting to establish them。
I need scarcely say that lotteries； whether foreign or British；
are utterly forbidden by law； excepting those of Art Unions。 The
operations of these associations were indeed suspended in 1811；
but in the following year an act indemnified those who embarked
in them for losses which they had incurred by the arrest of their
proceedings； and since that time they have been _TOLERATED_
under the eye of the law without any express statute being framed
for their exemption。 It is thought； however； that they tend to
keep up the spirit of gambling； and therefore ought not to
be allowed even on the specious plea of favouring ‘art。'
_PRIVATE_ lotteries are now illegal at Common Law in Great
Britain and Ireland； and penalties are also incurred by the
advertisers of _FOREIGN_ lotteries。 Some years ago it became
common in Scotland to dispose of merchandise by means of
lotteries； but this is specially condemned in the statute 42 Geo。
III。 c。 119。 An evasion of the law has been attempted by
affixing a prize to every ticket； so as to make the transaction
resemble a le