$8,000, and the drawing was to begin on Sept. 29, 1800. Tickets were
sold in Boston at E. & S. Larkin's, 47 Cornhill. Gilbert & Dean, 56
State Street, Boston, make the following exhibit of the Golden Shower in
1803.
_It is impossible to tell on whom the_ GOLDEN SHOWER _will
fall!_
[Illustration]
YE that have the least relish to obtain 8000 dollars for a
trifling sum, be "_up and doing!_" The third class of Hadley
Lottery, will commence drawing the 15th of June.
_Remark._--The object of this Lottery is of great public
utility--that of improving SOUTH HADLEY CANAL, in order to
make it permanent and beneficial to the public--and the
Proprietors, in this arduous undertaking, have to cut through
an entire mass of rocks for _three_ miles! Laudable and
praise-worthy perseverance!
Tickets for sale by GILBERT & DEAN, MAGAZINE and LOTTERY
OFFICE, No. 56, _State-Street,_ where a correct list of all
the prizes and blanks will be exhibited, during the drawing.
_May 25, 1803._
* * * * *
In the "Salem Gazette" will be found the advertisements of two of the
College Lotteries. Rhode Island College is now Brown University.
* * * * *
_R. Island College Lottery._
THE Corporation of the College, wishing to discharge in the
best manner the trusts reposed in them for the education of
youth, and finding their funds inadequate to this purpose,
have obtained of the General Assembly of the state of
_Rhode-Island_ and _Providence Plantations_ the grant of a
Lottery. As the sole object of this is the public good, it is
hoped that the exertions of the Corporation will meet the
wishes and secure the co-operation of all the friends of
science and virtue. The College was founded entirely by the
generosity of individuals. Though it has received no
patronage from the legislative body, yet through the
assiduous labours of its officers it has become considerably
distinguished, &, it is hoped, has merited the attention of
the public. It, however, is under great disadvantages for
want of larger pecuniary resources. Of the necessity of these
for the establishment of a complete system of liberal
education, every one must be sensible who entertains a just
conception of the vast extent of science.--Those who are
disposed to promote the Lottery now brought forward, may be
assured that the whole business will be transacted with the
utmost exactitude and fidelity. Of this they cannot doubt,
when they are informed that the management of it is wholly
under the direction of the following respectable Committee,
appointed by the Corporation, viz. JOHN BROWN, Esq. WELCOME
ARNOLD, Esq. Mr. JOHN MASON, Col. WILLIAM RUSSELL, and Mr.
JOHN P. IVES.
The Subscribers, being appointed by the Committee as Managers
of the Lottery, and having given bonds according to law, now
offer to the public the following
_SCHEME._
CLASS FIRST.
dols. dols.
1 Prize of 4000 is 4000
1 2000 2000
2 1000 are 2000
4 500 2000
20 100 2000
40 50 2000
60 30 1800
100 20 2000
1000 12 12000
3000 9 27000
----- -----
3328 Prizes, amounting to 46000
Drawback, 8000
-----
9000 Tickets, at 6 dollars each, are 54000
The drawing of this Lottery will commence on MONDAY, the 16th
day of APRIL next, and continue till it shall be completed. A
list of Prizes will be published in the Providence Gazette,
and the Prizes paid on demand. Those not called for within
six months after the drawing of the Lottery, will be
considered as generously given to the College.
JOHN WHIPPLE,
SAMUEL THURBER, jun.
_Providence, November 17, 1797._
--> _TICKETS in the above Lottery to be sold at this Office,
and at_ JOHN DUTCH'S AUCTION ROOM, _Essex-Street._
* * * * *
_Harvard College Lottery._
CLASS FIRST,
Not two Blanks to a Prize.
TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND TICKETS, at 5 Dollars each, are 125,000
Dollars, to be paid in the following Prizes, subject to a
Deduction, of _twelve and an half per Cent._ for the purposes
of the Lottery.
_Prizes_ _Dols._ _Dols._
1 of 10,000 is 10,000
2 5,000 10,000
3 2,000 6,000
6 1,000 6,000
10 500 5,000
20 200 4,000
60 100 6,000
90 50 4,500
100 40 4,000
120 30 3,600
161 20 3,220
200 10 2,000
7,585 8 60,680
------ ------
8,358 _Prizes,_ 125,000
16,642 _Blanks._
------
25,000
--> THE above Class will _positively_ commence drawing in the
REPRESENTATIVES' CHAMBER, in BOSTON, on THURSDAY, 13th
November next, and will continue from day to day, and be
_completed_ with all _possible dispatch._ A list of Prizes
will be _immediately_ published, and the Prizes paid _on
demand._
The Managers believe it enough, to induce the Public to
become Adventurers, to inform them, that the object of this
_Lottery_ is to erect a new Building, at the UNIVERSITY in
Cambridge, for the further accommodation of the Students. The
Friends of literature are to be found every where, and when
its cause can be served, and a _good chance_ for personal
emolument at the same time presents itself; this double
inducement, it is conceived, _must_ operate in favor of the
Lottery.
The Managers of this Lottery, had the conducting of the late
State Lottery--the Public will do them the justice to say,
that the _strictest punctuality_ as to the time fixed for
Drawing, and in the payment of Prizes, was observed by them
in that Lottery--they pledge themselves for the same
punctuality in this.
BENJAMIN AUSTIN, jun. }
GEORGE R. MINOT, }
SAMUEL COOPER, } Managers.
HENRY WARREN, }
JOHN KNEELAND, }
_Boston, July 14, 1794._
* * * * *
--> TICKETS are sold by J. JENKS, D. JENKS, J. HATHORNE, J.
DABNEY, and W. CARLTON, Salem.
* * * * *
Major Benjamin Russell, in the "Boston Columbian Centinel," March 26,
1791, says:
The _National_ and _State Legislatures_ being in recess,
there is a "plentiful scarcity" of domestick occurrences, at
this time.--This is locally remedied by the Lottery, which
seems to arrest the attention of all ranks of citizens.--To
describe the symptoms of the _disease_ is impossible--all are
fascinated--all expect to be the favoured children of
Fortune.--The rich court her smiles, as eagerly as the
poor--and whilst, O! fickle Goddess, the _Young_ pour forth
their supplications for thy favours,
"_With falt'ring pace, and feeble knee,
See_ Age _advance, in shameless haste;
The palsied hand is stretch'd to thee,
For_ Wealth, _it wants the pow'r to taste._"
The delusion is general--and general must the mortification
be. But as attention must be paid to the infatuation--we have
endeavoured, by a regular publication of the fortunate
numbers, to alleviate its frenzy.
* * * * *
On March 29, 1814, Messrs. Bridge and Renouf, the well-known brokers, of
79 State Street, Boston, gave notice that a prize of $500--No.
3,394--"had" been "drawn in the Plymouth Beach Lottery." This number had
been "sold by them to several young Gentlemen who purchased 30 Tickets;"
and they also announced that the drawing was "suspended until the next
Tuesday, when the first drawn ticket will be the highest prize, _Twenty
thousand Dollars;_" and besides this, that "there are remaining to be
drawn four prizes of $1,000 each, and four prizes of $500 each."
It should be noticed that there was, even in its most flourishing days,
a difference of opinion among individuals in regard to the morality of
the lottery, as men must differ on all subjects; so that it is perhaps
only fair to cite a specimen or two of the communications which appeared
in the papers in reference thereto. A writer in the "Salem Gazette,"
June 29, 1790, says:--
_OF LOTTERIES._
Lotteries have of late been a very productive source of
revenue in this State.--The moral tendency of them has been
supposed by some to be injurious to society; and government
have been careful to grant them for such purposes only, as
that the probable benefit should outweigh the evil. By this
means we have seen the interests of literature supported--the
arts encouraged--the wastes of war repaired--inundations
prevented--the burthen of taxes lessened, &c. Manufactures
might also in this way be established. Those which will not
support themselves, it is true, will not benefit the
community; but there are very important ones, which in their
infancy require the nursing hand of government--to such the
produce of lotteries might be beneficially applied. There
exists a spirit of adventure in all societies, which will
lead a number to throw themselves into the hands of Chance in
one way or another, & which, under the direction of a wise
Legislature, may be made to subserve their best interests.
The monies raised by lotteries cannot impoverish the
community--as they are not sent abroad, but only taken out of
one pocket and put into another.
* * * * *
There is also in the same paper, of Feb. 25, 1794, another communication,
in which the writer apparently takes an entirely opposite view, and
quotes a letter of Joel Barlow to the National Convention of France, in
which will be found some rather strong language. When one considers the
place where these views appear to have been adopted, and recollects the
horrible scenes of the French Revolution, which were even then being
enacted, one wonders whether the French authorities valued human life as
much as they did property.
ON PUBLIC LOTTERIES.
MR. CUSHING,
AS our Legislature have lately had under consideration a
bill, for granting a Lottery to Harvard College, I beg you
will publish what our countryman, Mr. BARLOW, said on the
subject of Public Lotteries, in his Letter to the National
Convention of France. It is as follows:
"SINCE I am treating of morals, the great object of all
political instructions, I cannot avoid bestowing some remarks
on the subject of PUBLIC LOTTERIES. It is a shocking disgrace
of modern governments, that they are driven to this pitiful
piece of knavery, to draw money from the people. But no
circumstance of this kind is so extraordinary as that this
policy should be continued in France, since the revolution;
and that a state lottery should still be reckoned among the
permanent sources of revenue. It has its origin in deception;
and depends for its support, on _raising and disappointing
the hopes of individuals_--on perpetually agitating the mind
with _unreasonable desires of gain_--on clouding the
understanding with superstitious ideas of _chance,_ _destiny_
and _fate_--on diverting the attention from regular industry,
and promoting a _universal spirit of gambling,_ which carries
all sorts of vices into all classes of people. Whatever way
we look into human affairs, we shall ever find that the bad
organization of society is the cause of more disorders than
could possibly arise from the natural temper of the heart.
And what shall we say of a government that avowedly steps
forward, with the insolence of an open enemy, and creates a
new vice, for the sake of loading it with a tax? What right
has such a government to punish our follies? And who can look
without disgust on the impious figure it makes, in holding
the scourge in one hand, and the temptation in the other? You
cannot hesitate to declare, in your constitution, THAT ALL
LOTTERIES SHALL BE FOREVER ABOLISHED."
In November last, the Convention, in conformity with the
foregoing sentiments, passed the following decree:
"Lotteries, of whatever nature they may be, or under whatever
denomination they may exist, are suppressed."
* * * * *
In 1791 the Massachusetts Legislature granted to the proprietors of the
Cotton Manufactory in Beverly four hundred tickets in the lottery about
to be drawn, and three hundred in the next Semi-annual State Lottery.
"Some people, out-doors," says the "Salem Gazette," March 8, 1791,
"murmur at this as an ill-judged act of liberality; but perhaps they are
not acquainted with the arguments which induced the grant. The
disposition of Government to foster our infant manufactures is
certainly laudable." This is unquestionably good reasoning; for, granted
the premises that lotteries are ever beneficial, then there was no
reason why aid should not in this way be extended to business
enterprises which were to give employment to the people, as well as to
schools and colleges. Employment must be provided as well as education.
The Beverly Cotton Manufactory, Stone, in his History of Beverly, claims
to be the first manufactory of its kind established in America, that at
Pawtucket having been the second; and he also states that it was visited
by General Washington on his tour through the country in 1789. The
leading proprietors in this enterprise were George and Andrew Cabot,
Israel Thorndike and Henry Higginson, men of the highest reputation in
New England for integrity and honor.
From the "Salem Gazette," Dec. 25, 1812:
_The Historical Dictionary,_
By EZRA SAMPSON, author of the Beauties of the Bible, is one
of the most useful little works of this nature which we have
seen. It contains _much in a small compass._ Its subjects are
Natural and Civil History, Geography, Zoology, Botany and
Mineralogy, arranged in alphabetical order, and explained in
such a neat and intelligible manner, as to render it worthy
of being (according to its design) a _Companion for Youth._
We select the following article as a specimen of the work.
LOTTERY,
A kind of public game at hazard, in order to raise money for
the service of the state. A lottery consists of several
numbers of blanks and prizes, which are drawn out of wheels,
one of which contains the numbers of the tickets, and the
other the corresponding blanks and prizes. Besides the
consideration that this, as well as all other kinds of
gambling for money, tends to corrupt the public morals, it is
also to be considered that the purchasers of the tickets are
never permitted to play the game on fair and equal ground.
The world neither ever saw, nor ever will see, a perfectly
fair lottery; or one in which the whole gain compensated the
whole loss; because the undertaker could make nothing by it.
In lotteries the tickets are really not worth the price which
is paid by the original purchasers, and yet they often sell
in the market at a considerable advance: the vain hope of
gaining some of the great prizes is the cause of this demand.
In order to have a better chance for some of the large
prizes, some people purchase several tickets, and others
small shares in a still greater number. There is not,
however, a more certain proposition in mathematics, than that
the more tickets you adventure upon, the more likely you are
to be a loser. Adventure upon all the tickets in the lottery
and you lose for certain; and the greater the number of your
tickets, the nearer you approach to this certainty.
The above is surely a just account of the nature and
principles of a Lottery; yet it does not destroy the fact,
that, distributed as the tickets always are among thousands,
there must be some gainers, and that, in spite of
mathematics, there is a lucky number, which must draw the
capital prize in the Plymouth Beach Lottery (without any
deduction) of 12000 dollars. Both the _Historical Dictionary_
and Lottery _Tickets_ may be had at Cushing & Appleton's old
stand, one door west of Central Building;--where BANK BILLS
are exchanged.
* * * * *
Lottery at the celebrated "Wayside Inn" at Sudbury in 1760.
THE Managers of _Sudbury_ Lottery, No. Two, hereby notify the
Public, That they shall commence Drawing said Lottery, on
Friday the Thirtieth Day of May Instant, at the House of Mr.
_William Bryant_ Inholder in said _Sudbury._ --> A few Tickets
are yet to be had of the Managers, and _Samuel Hardcastle_ and
the Printers hereof.
_Boston Gazette,_ May, 1760.
* * * * *
Some remarks in reference to supplying Bibles in the eastern part of
Massachusetts by means of a lottery.
MR. RUSSELL,
A FRIEND to religion, and one who wishes the memorial of a
certain respectable society may have a happy effect, but a
zealous enemy to lotteries, asked a member of an important
body, the other day, whether he thought the General Court
would grant a Lottery for the purpose of supplying every
person in the eastern part of the Commonwealth with a bible,
who is unable to purchase one, and for the pay of a
missionary.--Let not the serious reader frown, as that member
did; for if there is nothing contained in that sacred book
which can be thought opposed to this method of gambling,
neither the one nor the other can give a substantial reason
why, in the present rage for lotteries, the people should not
be indulged in raising money in the way most agreeable to
their humour.
PERSOLUS.
_Columbian Centinel,_ Feb. 26, 1791.
* * * * *
_MRS. CLARK AFLOAT._
In the Ship Ann Maria arrived at New-Haven the following wax
passengers, viz. King George III, _Bonaparte,_ Washington,
_Jefferson,_ Hamilton, _Burr,_ Hillhouse, _Madison,_
Pickering, _Giles_ and _Mrs. Mary Ann Clark._ The
Custom-House officers made prisoners of all these passengers
for violating the Non-Importation Act, but being proved that
they were of East-Haven manufacture and unconscious of crime,
we are happy to hear they have been all liberated. King
George III. was taken in such bad company as is a sufficient
proof that he is _crazy._ Napoleon undoubtedly rejoiced when
he beheld the faithful execution in our waters, of his
continental system. Washington and Hamilton were glad that
they were in their graves, before their country had been
plunged so deeply in disgrace. Had not Pickering and
Hillhouse been indeed made of _wax,_ they would have thrown
Bonaparte and Jefferson overboard and given them the freedom
of the Seas. If the custom-house officers had kept possession
of Poor Madison, they could never have obtained much money
for him, as he now is a sorry _figure,_ since he has been
scalped and tomahawked by Smith. Burr, the democratic
vice-president and traitor, who has now gone home to France,
ought to be exhibited for the instruction of the People, in
every village. Giles must have been liable to have been
York-_sheared_ by Mrs. Clark, who, on a July day, when the
weather was at blood heat, must have been in a _melting_ mood
and susceptible of impressions. But he is an advocate of
Non-Intercourse. The officers of the Revenue, notwithstanding
they were in such a _taking_ fit, and had conceived such vain
& high blown hope of the immense wealth they should receive
as the ransom of their Captives, have not half so good a
chance of a _prize_ as those adventurers who will call at
Cushing and Appleton's, one door west of central Building,
and purchase a Ticket or quarter in Harvard College Lottery
now drawing.
_Salem Gazette,_ July 12, 1811.
* * * * *
Mr. Pardon Sheldon, a respectable citizen of Providence, was
the fortunate holder of the $20,000 prize in the North
Carolina Lottery which was drawn some days since.
_Salem Observer,_ Dec. 17, 1825.
* * * * *
A Speedy Cure for a Broken Fortune.
TO all those who bitterly complain of the great dearth of
"the root of all evil," and a want of confidence in these
speculating times, and who, tremblingly anticipate a long and
doubtful conflict, in money operations the coming season, the
following beautiful and brilliant schemes offer the means of
a sure and an immediate relief.
The Grand State Lottery, Fourth Class Extra, with a capital
prize of $10,000, a prize of 500, and 5 prizes of 1000, will
draw THIS DAY. Tickets $3 & parts in proportion.
The Rhode-Island Lottery, First Class, New Series, highest
prize 10,000, five prizes of 1,000, and a variety of smaller
prizes, will draw on the 24th inst. Tickets $3 and parts in
proportion. And last, though not least,
The New-York Literature Lottery, Class No. 3, for 1825, with
the truly splendid prizes of 100,000, 50,000, and 10,500 and
smaller prizes to the amount of more than half a MILLION of
DOLLARS, will draw on the 4th of January next. Tickets $50,
and parts in proportion.
For PRIZES in the above Lotteries apply to
E.H. PAYSON,
At Dana & Fenno's Office, Central street.
Official Lists of the two first Lotteries will be received by
E.H.P. on the evenings of the days of the drawings.
tf Dec 10.
_Salem Observer,_ 1825.
* * * * *
Fortune's Favourite Sons,
ARE informed that _Stonington Point Meeting-House Lottery_
will positively commence drawing the 19th of May--viz. this
day four weeks. In this Lottery of only 6000 Tickets, are one
of 3000 dollars--one of 1000--five of 500--two of 400--three
of 300--ten of 200--twenty of 100, &c. Tickets for 3 Dollars,
for sale, and prizes in the _Eastern Stage Road Lottery,_
taken in pay.--Also Cash paid for those sold by THOMAS
HILDRUP.
N.B. Adventurers may know their fate from his List of Prizes.
Hartford, April 21, 1794.
_Connecticut Courant._
* * * * *
To show how largely men's minds--and perhaps women's too--were filled
with the lottery mania, if we may so call it, in the days of which we
are writing, we will introduce a Southern scheme from the "Petersburg
Intelligencer" of 1816, copied in the "Salem Register," September 11 of
that year. Some of our readers may think that it is not a bad idea.
_From the Petersburg Intelligencer._
MATRIMONIAL LOTTERY.
On the 21st day of December last, I was passing through the
state of South Carolina, and in the evening arrived in the
suburbs of the town of ----, where I had an acquaintance, on
whom I called. I was quickly informed that the family was
invited to a wedding at a neighboring house, and on being
requested, I changed my clothes and went with them. As soon
as the young couple were married, the company was seated, and
a profound silence ensued--(the man of the house was
religious.) A young Lawyer then arose, and addressed the
company very handsomely, and in finishing his discourse
begged leave to offer a new scheme of matrimony, which he
believed and hoped would be beneficial. And obtaining leave
he proposed:
That one man in the company should be selected as president;
that this president should be duly sworn to keep entirely
secret all the communications that should be forwarded to him
in his official department that night: and each unmarried
gentleman and lady should write his or her name on a piece of
paper, and under it place the person's name whom they wished
to marry; then hand it to the president for inspection, and
if any gentleman and lady had reciprocally chosen each other,
the president was to inform each of the result; and those who
had not been reciprocal in their choices, should have their
choice kept entirely secret.
After the appointment of the president, the communications
were accordingly handed up to the chair, and it was found
that twelve young gentlemen and ladies had made reciprocal
choices; but whom they had chosen remained a secret to all
but themselves and the president.--The conversation changed
and the company respectively retired.
Now hear the conclusion. I was passing through the same place
on the 14th of March following, and was informed that eleven
of the twelve matches had been solemnized, and that the young
gentlemen of eight couples of the eleven had declared that
their diffidence was so great that they certainly should not
have addressed their respective wives, if the above scheme
had not been introduced.----> Gentlemen under 20 and ladies
under 15 were excluded as unmarriageable.
You will be pleased to let the public hear of this scheme,
and I hope it will be productive of much good, by being
practised in Virginia.
_A Married Man without Children._
The weak spot in this plan, we imagine, would be the difficulty in
keeping the _blanks_ entirely secret.
* * * * *