Curiosities of the Old Lottery

"Old and new make the warp and woof of every moment. There is no thread that is not a twist of these two strands. By necessity, by proclivity, and by delight, we all quote."—Emerson

BOSTON
TICKNOR AND COMPANY
1886


Copyright, 1886,
By Ticknor and Company.

All rights reserved.

University Press:
John Wilson and Son, Cambridge.


INDEX OF NAMES.

Page
Arnold, Welcome[50]
Atkins, William[10]
Austin, Benjamin[14]
Austin, Benjamin, Jr.[53]
Barlow, Joel[56], [57]
Barton, William[35]
Beeman, D.[47]
Beers, Elias[33]
Beers, Nathan[33]
Bemis, Mr.[25]
Blake, William P.[22]
Blodgett, Benjamin[42]
Bonaparte[62], [63]
Bridge & Renouf[39], [54]
Bridge, Mr.[36]
Brooks, Peter C.[70]
Brown, John[50]
Bryant, William[61]
Burr, Aaron[62], [63]
Cabot, Andrew[59]
Cabot, George[59]
Carlton, W.[53]
Carter, Ephraim[16]
Clark, Mary Ann[62], [63]
Colman, George[44]
Connor, Benjamin[38]
Cooper, Samuel[53]
Cushing & Appleton[17], [42], [44], [46], [61], [63]
Cushing & Carlton[38]
Cushing, Caleb[10]
Cushing, Thomas[14]
Cushing, Thomas C.[8]
Dabney, John[8], [53]
Daggett, Henry[33]
Dana & Fenno[65]
Dutch, John[51]
Edes & Gill[15]
Ellsler, Fanny[8]
Esty, Edward[35]
Everett, Edward[70]
Farnham, Daniel[10]
Fisk, General[19]
Franklin, Benjamin[43]
Freeman, Jonathan[38]
Gerrish, Joseph[10]
Gilbert & Dean[30], [48]
Giles, William B.[62], [63]
Gould & Company[12]
Green & Russell[12], [15]
Hamilton, Alexander[62], [63]
Hancock, John[70]
Hardcastle, Samuel[61]
Hathorne, John[8], [53]
Heard, Edmund[16]
Hewes, Samuel[14]
Higginson, Henry[59]
Hilldrup, Thomas[33], [65]
Hillhouse, James[62], [63]
Huntington, Ralph[28]
Ives, John P.[50]
Jackson, William and James[12]
Jefferson, Thomas[62], [63]
Jenks, Daniel[8], [53]
Jenks, John[8], [38], [53]
Johnson, Oliver[35]
Jones, Timothy[33]
Kelley, Daniel[35]
Kent, William A.[41]
Kent, William J.[38]
Kidder & Co.[28]
Kidder, W. & T.[30]
King George III.[62], [63]
King James I.[72]
Kneeland, John[36], [53]
Larkin, E. & S.[47]
Larkin, Ebenezer[22]
Leach & Fosdick[25]
Lewis, Ezekiel[14]
Luther, Martin[35]
Lyon, William[33]
Macomber, Ebenezer[22]
Madison, James[62], [63]
Martin, Luther[42]
Mason, John[50]
McIntosh, William[33]
Minot, George R.[53]
Napoleon[63]
Nauche, Dr.[43]
Newell, Timothy[12]
Payson, E.H.[8], [65]
Pickering, Timothy[62], [63]
Phillips, Margaret[25]
Randal, Stephen[22]
Russell, Benjamin[53]
Russell, John[8], [16], [17], [22], [23]
Russell, William[50]
Sampson, Ezra[59]
Savage, Samuel Phillips[14]
Scollay, John[14]
Sewall, Samuel[14]
Sharplys, Thomas[72]
Sheldon, Pardon[64]
Sigourney, Andrew[41]
Simpson & Caldwell[39]
Smith, Robert[63]
Sprague, Joseph[19]
Stone, E.M.[59]
Storer & Son, Ebenezer[12]
Thorndike, Israel[59]
Thurber, Samuel, Jr.[22], [51]
Tracy, Patrick[10]
Turpin, Benjamin[22]
Warren, Henry[53]
Washington, George[31], [59], [62], [63]
Weld, Benjamin[41]
Whipple, Henry[8], [39], [45]
Whipple, John[51]
Williams, George[19]

LOTTERIES MENTIONED.

Page
Amoskeag[16], [17]
Amoskeag Canal[68]
Baltimore Hospital[42]
Bible Supply[61], [62]
Bunker Hill Monument[7]
Charlestown[68]
Cologne Cathedral[72]
Congregational Churches[7]
Connecticut Manufactory[32], [33]
Continental Congress[18]
Dartmouth College[36], [37], [68]
Eastern Stage Road[65]
English Colonies in Virginia[72]
Episcopal Churches[7]
Faneuil Hall[7], [13], [14], [15]
Gloucester Road[68]
Harvard College[7], [23], [38], [42], [44], [45], [46], [47], [51], [52], [53], [57], [64], [70]
Hatfield Bridge[17], [23], [68]
Kennebec[68]
Kennebec Bridge[28]
Land Bank[15], [68]
Leicester Academy, Lancaster[16]
Marblehead[42]
Massachusetts State[7], [20], [25], [29], [36], [41], [42], [58], [59], [64]
Matrimonial[66], [67], [68]
Milton Paper Mill[15]
Newport Congregational Church[19]
New York[41]
New York Literature[65]
North and South Rivers, Salem[19]
North Carolina[64]
Pavement on Boston Neck[68]
Philanthropic[68]
Plymouth Beach[44], [54], [55], [61], [68]
Providence Episcopal Church[47]
Providence Street[20], [21], [22]
Rhode Island[64]
Rhode Island College[7], [49], [50], [51]
Rhode Island Lottery for Advancement of Religion[34]
River Parker Bridge[7], [9], [10], [11]
South Hadley Canal[48], [68]
Stonington Point Meeting-House[65], [66]
Sudbury[61], [68]
Taunton Great River[12]
Union Canal[31], [40], [41]
Washington Monument[39]
Williamstown Free School[7], [20], [25], [42], [43]


INTRODUCTION.

While this work does not pretend to be a history, it will yet present many historical facts. Its object is to show from old newspapers, which are not accessible to all, such items and comments upon a variety of subjects as might be supposed to amuse or instruct both old and young.

It is not the easy thing that many imagine to examine, read, and select from a vast number of newspapers such matter as is believed to be worth reproducing. Possibly to some it would seem to be a stupid and an uninteresting work. The Compiler, however, has found it a source of pleasure to make and arrange these selections; and the value of his work will be greatly enhanced if these volumes should prove of interest to any considerable number of persons.

There appears to be from year to year a growing taste among the most cultivated people for quaint and curious reminiscences of the Olden Time; and as these volumes will be of a handy size for the pocket or carpetbag, it is hoped that they will be welcomed by many who would not undertake to read a more pretentious or cumbersome work on similar topics.

Salem, Mass.,
April, 1885.


CURIOSITIES OF THE OLD LOTTERY.

People of the present generation who look over files of old newspapers are filled with astonishment to see the great number of lotteries which are advertised, for many years, down to as late a period as the year 1826. The Faneuil Hall Lottery, the Harvard College Lottery, the Rhode Island College Lottery, the Massachusetts State Lottery, and lotteries for a bridge over the River Parker, for Marblehead, for the Williamstown Free-school, for Episcopal and Congregational Churches, were all advertised, with numerous other projects. A lottery was proposed for the purpose of finishing Bunker Hill Monument, although the scheme was not carried out. It is perhaps not generally remembered that this monument was at length completed by means furnished by a Ladies' Fair, in 1840, and handsome contributions by several individuals. Among other contributors was the celebrated danseuse Fanny Ellsler, who was at that time giving performances in Boston. Some of the best men in the community were interested in recommending the various schemes, and members of churches, men in high repute, bought and sold the tickets. In Salem, Mass., such well-known and esteemed citizens as John Jenks, Daniel Jenks, Thomas C. Cushing, of the "Gazette," John Dabney, the postmaster, Colonel John Russell, and the now venerable and respected Edward H. Payson—who, at the age of eighty, is still cashier of the First National (formerly the Commercial) Bank, to which office he was elected in 1826—sold tickets; so did Colonel John Hathorne. Colonel Henry Whipple, who is remembered as one of our best citizens, kept, in connection with his bookstore, a "Fortunate Lottery Office." Other names might be mentioned, but we think we have given enough to show the respectability of the calling. The better the man, the better the agent. Indeed, it was generally thought to be just as respectable to sell lottery-tickets as to sell Bibles; and we have seen them classed together in the same advertisement. Our observations have been confined chiefly to Boston and Salem prints, but we have no doubt that similar matter could be found in other papers. We propose now to give liberal extracts from some of the old advertisements of the different schemes, which will, we think, confirm what we have already said on the subject. Let us take first from the "Boston Gazette" of May 19, 1760, the lottery to raise $1,000 towards building a bridge over the River Parker, in Newbury. The managers were the first men in the place, and the tickets were sold by men of excellent standing in Boston.

NEWBURY, May 17, 1760.

SCHEME of a LOTTERY,

FOR raiſing a Sum of Money for the building and maintaining a Bridge over the River Parker, in the Town of Newbury, at the Place called Old Town Ferry (in purſuance of an Act of the General Court, paſſed in April 1760) Wherein Daniel Farnham, Caleb Cuſhing, Joſeph Gerriſh, William Atkins, Eſq., and Mr. Patrick Tracy, Merchant, (or any Three of them) are appointed Managers. The acting Managers are ſworn to the faithful Performance of their Truſt.

Newbury-Lottery Number Four, conſiſts of

5000 Tickets, at Two Dollars each; 1655 of which are Benefit Tickets of the following Value.

1of500Dollars,is500Dollars.
4of100are400
5of50are250
6of40are240
10of30are300
14of20are280
45of10are450
75of8are600
1495of4are5980
————
1655Prizes, amounting to9000Dollars.
3345Blanks.
——
5000Tickets, at Two Dollars each10 000
To be paid in Prizes,9000
——
1000Dollars.

Remains to be applied for the Purpoſe aforeſaid.

Two Blanks only to one PRIZE.

THE Bridge aforeſaid is already built, and upon a Settlement of the Accounts, and Demands relative thereto, the Managers of the former Lottery for that Purpoſe, were found to be greatly in Debt: The Charges of building the Bridge, and proſecuting the Lottery, amounting to much more than what was allowed to be raiſed by the former Act of the General Court—therefore the preſent Lottery is allowed.

AND ſince the ſaid Bridge ſo well anſwers the Expectation of the Public, and the Travelling that Way thereby is rendered much more eaſy and pleaſant; the Managers doubt not there will be a great Demand of the Tickets, from a Principle of encouraging and promoting a Work of ſuch general Utility, if there were no other Inducement. But when they conſider how much this Scheme is calculated in Favour of the Adventurers, there being many Prizes of great Value, and but two Blanks to a Prize; they doubt not of a very ſpeedy Sale of the Tickets.

Tickets purchas'd at Boſton, if fortunate, will be paid off there. Public Notice will be given of the Time and Place of Drawing; and as ſoon as finiſhed, the Prizes will be publiſhed in the Boſton Gazette and Country Journal. Gold as well as Silver will be received for Tickets; and the Prizes paid off accordingly. Prizes not demanded in Twelve Months after Drawing, will be conſidered as given to the common Stock for building and maintaining the ſaid Bridge, and will be ſo applied.

Tickets are to be Sold by the Managers in Newbury, by Ebenezer Storer, Eſq., and Son; Mr. Timothy Newell; William & James Jackſon, and the Printers hereof in Boſton.


The town of Taunton, Mass., was favored by a lottery grant in 1761 to aid in clearing the Great River.

Taunton, March 16. 1761.

PUBLICK NOTICE is hereby given to all Perſons who are ſo diſpoſed to encourage the Clearing of Taunton Great-River, (ſo beneficial to the Trade of this Province) by adventuring in the LOTTERY granted for that Purpoſe, That the Managers of ſaid Lottery have determined to begin to draw the Firſt Claſs on Tueſday the 27th Day of April next; the Town of Taunton having voted to take off all the Tickets that ſhall remain unſold at that Day;—And all Perſons who have taken Tickets to diſpoſe of, are deſired to return them, or the Money for them, by the Firſt Day of ſaid April.


☞ Tickets are yet to be had of Meſſir's Gould and Company, and of Green & Ruſſell, Printers in Queen Street, Boſton.—As alſo of the Managers at their reſpective Dwellings in Taunton.

Next we will take from the "Boston Post Boy" of November, 1762, the scheme to raise money to rebuild Faneuil Hall, after the fire of 1761. It will be noticed how small an amount was reserved for the purpose for which the Lottery was granted,—only $1,200. It seems as if a very small sum subscribed by every freeholder would have produced more money. If the population of Boston at that time was, say, twenty thousand, or three thousand families, fifty cents for every head of a family would have raised a larger sum than could possibly have been raised by the expensive and questionable process resorted to. At first sight it may seem strange to us that this was not thought of at the time; but when we reflect that even in our enlightened times people are quite as thoughtless about the processes of raising money for charitable or public purposes,—witness the numerous fairs and raffles which are constantly taking place,—we are not so much amazed at these old financial operations, nor do we think we can boast much of our superior morality when we look around and see how some things are managed nowadays.

BOSTON, November 1, 1762.

SCHEME

Of a LOTTERY,

For Raiſing a Sum of Money for Re-building Faneuil Hall; agreeable to an Act of the General Court, wherein Meſſieurs Thomas Cuſhing, Samuel Hewes, John Scollay, Benjamin Auſtin, Samuel Sewall, Samuel Phillips Savage, and Ezekiel Lewis, or any Three of them, are appointed Managers, who are Sworn to the faithful Diſcharge of their Truſt.

Faneuil-Hall Lottery, No. One, Conſiſts of 6000 Tickets, at Two Dollars each, 1486 of which are Benefit Tickets of the following Value, viz.

Dollars.
1Prize of1000Dollars,is1000
1of500is500
2of200are400
12of100are1200
20of50are1000
20of20are400
30of10are300
200of6are1200
1200of4are4800
————
1486Prizes,10800Dollars.
4514Blanks.
——
6000Tickets at 2 Dollars each, is12,000Dollars.
To be paid in Prizes,10,800
——
Remains1200Dollars,

to be applied to the Purpoſe aforeſaid.

The Neceſſity of a large and convenient Hall in ſuch a Town as this, upon all Public Occaſions, can't be diſputed. The Rebuilding Faneuil-Hall has therefore been generally approved of; and the Encouragement it will meet with from the Public, will, we doubt not, be in ſome Meaſure proportionable to its Importance: We promiſe ourſelves therefore a ſpeedy Sale of the Tickets; and hope we ſhall ſoon be able to draw.

Public Notice will be given of the Time and Place of Drawing; and as ſoon as the Drawing is finiſhed, a Liſt of the Prizes will be publiſhed in Edes and Gill's Boſton Gazette, &c. and the Money paid to the Poſſeſſors of the Benefit Tickets, in Twenty Days. Gold as well as Silver will be received for the Tickets, and the Prizes paid off in like Manner.

Prizes not demanded within Twelve Months after Drawing, will be deem'd as generouſly given for the Purpoſe aforeſaid, and will be applied accordingly.

☞ Tickets may be had of the Managers, or of Green & Ruſſell, in Queen-ſtreet, who will receive Prize Tickets in Land-Bank LOTTERY.


In 1782 the State of Massachusetts granted a lottery for the benefit of the paper-mill at Milton.

The Clergy were often asked to use their influence to promote special schemes. For instance, the Leicester Academy at Lancaster, Mass., wishing to raise about $800, advertised on June 28, 1790, a lottery, the scheme comprising three thousand tickets at $2.00; and the managers, Edmund Heard and Ephraim Carter, say, "As the deſign of this Lottery is for promoting Piety, Virtue, and ſuch of the liberal Arts and Sciences as may qualify the Youth to become uſeful Members of Society, the Managers wiſh for and expect the aid of the Gentlemen Truſtees of the Academy, the Reverend Clergy, and all perſons who have a taſte for encouraging ſaid Seminary of Learning." Comment on this is unnecessary. As unscrupulous persons often sold drawn tickets,—for it seems there were irregularities even in those days,—the following advertisement warrants the tickets undrawn,—

Wheels very rich!

A FEW undrawn Tickets in Amoskeag Lottery for sale by John Russell.

☞ The highest prize being so fixed as to come out whenever Chance shall direct it, it stands purchasers in hand to be seasonable in their applications. July 24, 1807.

Lottery Price Current.—In Boston, Amoskeag Tickets, warranted undrawn, 6 dolls. In Salem, at Russell's 5.50—at Cushing and Appleton's, not warranted, 5.


Further Information.—The Amoskeag highest prize, of Eight Thousand Dollars, is still undrawn, and the wheels are extraordinarily rich, having gained, since the drawing began, upwards of Six Thousand Dollars. There is therefore every probability that the scrip will soon rise. Those who intend to purchase for the sake of a chance for the highest prize, are advised to do it before it is drawn out of the wheel, which may be to-morrow. Those who purchase for the sake of a cheap ticket, would do well to wait till afterwards. July 24, 1807.


*** If any body wants
TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS,
they are requested to call on

JOHN RUSSELL,

who will, for a trifling consideration, put them in a
way to realize that, or another sum of less
magnitude, in the course of September
next, when the rich Wheels of Hatfield
Bridge Lottery will begin
to move.

☞ Tickets will rise on the first of September to 5.50—Prize Tickets exchanged. (1807)

In 1776 the Continental Congress endeavored to raise a large sum by means of a lottery. On the first of November of that year the following Resolve was passed,—"That a sum of money be raised by way of lottery, to be drawn at Philadelphia." A committee was then empowered to manage this lottery, and agents were appointed in the several States to sell the tickets. From causes difficult now to explain, the drawing, which was to have taken place in 1777, was postponed from time to time, until finally, it is said, the whole scheme proved a failure. Many of the adventurers being large losers, much bad feeling was produced towards the Government. The design was to raise the money in the way of a loan. There were four classes of tickets, a hundred thousand in each,—$10, $20, $30, and $40; in all $10,000,000. In Lossing's "Field-Book of the Revolution," from which we derive this account, may be seen a copy of one of these lottery tickets. Probably the people were too poor at that time to furnish the requisite sum of money, and so the tickets did not sell readily; or the lottery may have been badly managed.

Congregational Churches used to raise money by lottery, as appears by the following advertisement in the "Columbian Centinel," May 5, 1792,—

NEWPORT LOTTERY TICKETS.

A few TICKETS, in the Newport Congregational Church Lottery, which commences drawing the 10th inſtant, may be had at No. 61 Long-Wharf if applied for immediately. May 5.


At a town meeting held in Salem, Mass., on Dec. 28, 1789, "George Williams, Esq., General Fisk, and Joseph Sprague, Esq., were chosen a Committee to estimate the expense of clearing out the Channels in the North and South rivers; and to prefer a petition to the General Court for the grant of a Lottery to aid the town in so beneficial an undertaking." We believe this project was never carried through; but we are of opinion that some residents of Salem would now welcome even a raffle, if in that way their North River could be purified, as at present no other method seems so likely to succeed, judging from the controversy which has been going on in that city for several years without effecting any result.

The "Massachusetts Centinel," May 22, 1790, notifies the "Friends of Science" that "a few ... Williamstown Free-school Lottery Tickets ... may be had of the Printer."

MARBLEHEAD, APRIL 3. The higheſt Prize in the State Lottery was drawn by a number of Females: About thirty were joint poſſeſſors of that fortunate number and five others: The higheſt ſhare in them did not exceed one dollar, and the loweſt was nine pence, expreſſive of the different abilities of the concerned; by which circumſtance, the property of the prize is moſt agreeably divided: It has excited a ſmile in the cheek of poverty, nor diminiſhed the pleaſure of thoſe in eaſy circumſtances.

Massachusetts Gazette, 1786.


Providence Street-Lottery.

CLASS 3d.

THE Managers preſent the public with the following SCHEME of a LOTTERY, granted by the Hon. General Aſſembly of this State, at their January Seſſion, A.D. 1795, for raiſing a Sum of Money to defray the Expences of Finiſhing, in a durable Manner, a Street at the North End of this Town.

This being the great Continental Thoroughfare and Poſt Road, and much frequented at all Seaſons by Perſons on Foot and Horſe-Back, and by Teams and Carriages, merits the greateſt Attention to its Improvement from Town and Country.

The old Road was crooked and inconvenient, the new Street is Streight, and ſecured in ſuch a Manner as to be paſſed in Carriages at all Times with Eaſe and Safety.

The Utility and Neceſſity of this work, ſo obvious to every one, and the great Chance to Adventurers, there being only about Two Blanks to a Prize, induce the Managers to rely on the Patronage of the Public, for a rapid Sale of the Tickets.

5340 Tickets, at TWO DOLLARS each, are 10,680 Dollars, to be paid in the following Prizes, ſubject to no Deduction.

Dolls.Dolls.
1Prize of1000is1000
1300300
1200200
4100are400
1050500
2030600
4020800
5010500
1006600
148234446
————
1709Prizes,9346
3631Blanks,1334
————
5340Tickets, at 2 Dolls. each, is10680

To commence drawing the 1ſt June next.

TICKETS may be had by applying to the ſubſcribers; and the Prizes paid on demand. Prizes not demanded within ſix months after the drawing, will be conſidered as generouſly given for the finiſhing the work.

EBENEZER MACOMBER,}Managers.
SAMUEL THURBER, jun.
STEPHEN RANDAL,
BENJ. TURPIN,

☞ TICKETS in the above Lottery, may be had of Eben. Larkin, of Wm. P. Blake, and at the Poſt-Office, Boſton, Feb. 21, 1795.


Those who remember the late Colonel John Russell, at one time president of the Bank of General Interest in Salem, and a kindly, benevolent "gentleman of the old school," will read with interest his advertisement of "A New Dispensary," from the "Salem Gazette," March 24, 1807.

A New Dispensary!

NUMEROUS are the inſtances that can be cited of a leſs, a much leſs, ſum than Twenty Thouſand Dollars having reſtored to their priſtine vigor precarious circumſtances, and of making the poor become rich! Let ſtubborn prejudices be laid aſide, and an immediate reſort made to that Grand Antipoverty Corrective, CASH, which is now proffered as a ſovereign remedy for all the complaints that poverty is heir to:—in aſſerting the ſuperior efficacy of this preventive of the evils attendant on a ſtate of poverty, it is not intended to treſpaſs on truth—let it be fairly tried, when the 'majeſty of its own worth' will be manifeſt. The door is now open for the reception of ſuch as would like to try the experiment:—There is Hatfield Bridge Lottery, which commences drawing the 15th of next month; this affords a potion of Eight Thousand Dollars; if, after a fair trial here, the deſired effect is not produced, then there is the Harvard College Lottery, which commences in May, which has the highly balſamic cordial of TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, which will produce the moſt wonderful effects, by giving a ſolid tone to the regions of the pocket, and by enriching and invigorating the whole ſyſtem, as can be ſatisfactorily teſted:—Twenty Thouſand Dollars would

"Cheer the heart, and make the spirits flow!"

Perſeverance is highly recommended, and if the wiſhes are not gratified by the attainment of the deſired object, the conſoling reflection will recur, that—"there are not quite two blanks to a prize"—which is more than can be ſaid of quackery in general. Tickets and Quarters for ſale by

John Russell.

☞ To-Morrow the price of Tickets rise—purchasers can be accommodated until 9 o'clock, this evening.

☞ A handsome Premium given for Essex County Money.


The Boston "Herald of Freedom," in December, 1789, advocates a lottery for that town for the benefit of the poor, among other things, and to supply the town with lamps to light occasionally for the "safety of the citizens," etc.

A citizen would wiſh to know why among the many lotteries now in being, there is not one for the benefit of this town? Can it be ſaid we have no need of any?—Sure there are many uſes the net proceeds of a lottery may be converted to, for this town's benefit: Though he means not to dictate, yet would ſuggeſt the following;—that a granary might thereby be opened, and the poor ſupplied with different kinds of grain, at a reduced price;—that ſeveral parts of the town might be paved; which would ſerve to employ many of the induſtrious poor among us;—and that the town might be ſupplied with Lamps, which by being occaſionally lighted would tend to the ſafety of the citizens. From theſe, among other beneficial effects, he hopes the town will have a meeting, and petition the General Aſſembly at their approaching ſeſſion for leave to eſtabliſh a lottery for the above, and other, uſeful purpoſes.


From the "Salem Gazette," May 10, 1791.

No. 17221, which drew 2000 dollars in the Semi-annual State lottery, was paid on Friday laſt, by Meſſrs. Leach and Foſdick, in Boſton. The proprietors were four Africans belonging to Newport.


From the "Columbian Centinel," June 5, 1790.

Two apprentices belonging to Mr. Bemis, Paper-Maker, in Watertown drew the 1000 dollar prize in Williamſtown Lottery.


Columbian Centinel, April 28, 1790.

Lines on the prizes drawn by the poor widows of Marblehead. From the "Columbian Centinel," April 24, 1790.

CASTALIAN FOUNT.

FOR THE CENTINEL.

LINES,

On the Prize of FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS being drawn by the poor Widows of Marblehead, written there.

WHENCE this increaſe of wealth? What bounteous hand
Grants more than ſanguine Hope could e'en demand?
Nor Chance nor Fortune ſhall the merit claim,
Thoſe fancied forms to Folly owe their name:
Such airy phantoms ill deſerve our lays;
A nobler object calls forth all our praiſe.
That Pow'r Supreme, who knows no great or ſmall,
But looks unchang'd with equal eye on all—
Who lifts the poor from their unnoted ſtate,
And humbles at his will th' aſpiring great—
Whoſe hand divine hath held us in its ſpan,
And fed, and cloth'd us ſince our lives began—
Hath, ſure, this last rich gift in kindneſs ſent,
To be improv'd, and not in riot ſpent;
A further proof of Heav'n's indulgent care,
In which our poorer neighbours ought to ſhare.
Accept, Great God, what thankful hearts can give,
For life and health, and all the means to live!
Much thou haſt added to our former ſtore;
O keep us ſtill as humble as before!
What thou haſt lent, direct us how to uſe,
And teach us when to give, and when refuſe.
To others freely let our bounty flow,
But not beyond Diſcretion's limits go.
Then let us live as uſeful as we can—
Grateful to God—beneficent to man—
Poſſeſs obſcure the bliſs of doing good,
Never ſo well explain'd as underſtood.


20,000!! 5,000!! 1000!!! Dollars.

WHO is there that would not give 6 dols. 50 for one of the above sums, or 1 dollar 75 cts. for a quarter of one of them. Chances to gain one are now selling at the above prices, at KIDDER & CO's, Lottery, Insurance on Tickets, and Intelligence Office, No. 9, Market-square.

Tickets and Quarters will be insured during the drawing of the Lottery, which presents an excellent chance for saving the cost of Tickets!! Adventurers will do well to call!!!

Boston Palladium, June 9, 1807.


LUCK INDEED!!

YESTERDAY No. 2159 in the Kennebec Bridge Lottery, came up the valuable Prize of

ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS!!

and as usual was sold, at the most fortunate and truly lucky Office of

RALPH HUNTINGTON,

No. 14, Exchange-street, 3 doors from State-street. This is the 5th Capital Prize in the Kennebec Lottery, sold by RALPH HUNTINGTON.

The highest Prize of $25,000 will be drawn this afternoon, at 3 o'clock. R.H. has for sale, a few shares in a Company of 100 Tickets, and a few Quarters. Jan. 19.

Boston Palladium, 1819.

No. 4072, the moſt fortunate number, in the State Lottery, ſold at the Printing-Office, in Salem, we hear is the property of upwards of a dozen poor widows belonging to Marblehead.

Columbian Centinel, April 10, 1790.


FORTUNE'S ANGLERS:

A NEW LOTTERY SONG.

TUNE—"There are sweepers in high life as well as in low."

In the fish pond of fortune men angle always,
Some angle for titles, some angle for praise,
Some angle for favor, some angle for wives,
And some angle for nought all the days of their lives:
Ye who'd angle for Wealth, and would Fortunes obtain,
Get your hooks baited by Kidder, Gilbert & Dean.
Some angle for pleasure, some angle for pain,
Some angle for trifles, some angle for gain,
Some angle for glory, some angle for strife,
Some angle to make themselves happy for life:
Ye who'd angle, &c.
Some angle for wit, and some angle for fame,
Some angle for nonsense, and some e'en for shame,
Some angle for horses, some angle for hounds,
For angling's infinite, it never new bounds:
Ye who'd angle, &c.

G. & D. and W. & T.K. for the accommodation of those who purchase Tickets of them, keep Daily Lists of Prizes and Blanks, and a complete statement of the wheels, which can be examined at the close of each day's drawing, free of expense. And for the convenience of their country-customers publish in every paper, while any lottery is drawing, the numbers of all prizes over seven dollars, state of the lottery, &c. &c.

☞ Persons at a distance may be assured, that the most punctual and strict attention will be given their orders for tickets, (post paid) enclosing cash or prize tickets, addressed to Gilbert & Dean, 79, State street, or W. & T. Kidder, 9, Market-square, and the earliest information sent them respecting the fate of their numbers.

*** Prize Tickets in all the Lotteries taken in pay for other tickets. March 24

Boston Repertory, March 24, 1809.


☞ Washington's Birth Day.

IT is a little remarkable, that the great

UNION CANAL LOTTERY,

commences drawing on the 22d inst. being the birthday of Washington—and the first drawn blank will be entitled to

FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS!

Boston Palladium, 1819.


PATRIOTISM OF THE LADIES.

The Ladies of Maſſachuſetts have ever been distinguiſhed for their patriotiſm; and although their peculiar province is to ſoften the cares, and ſoothe the ſorrows of life, yet they have never neglected any proper and decent opportunity of advancing the publick good:—When the Ladies found that Government had eſtabliſhed a Lottery to eaſe the taxes of the people, they generally became adventurers, and it is pleaſing to find that this their Patriotiſm has been in ſome meaſure rewarded, by their ſex ſharing the FIRST CAPITAL PRIZE.

Columbian Centinel, April 28, 1790.


CONNECTICUT MANUFACTORY

LOTTERY,

For raiſing the Sum of three Thouſand two Hundred Pounds.

The Managers being under oath, and having given bond for the faithful diſcharge of their truſt, preſent the Public with the following

SCHEME.

1Prize of5,000Dollars,is5,000
1-2,500--2,500
1-1,500--1,500
5-1,000--5,000
10-500--5,000
15-200--3,000
50-100--5,000
100-50--5,000
300-25--7,500
325-15--4,875
500-10--5,000
4,400-8--35,200
1laſt drawn Blank,--760
——————
5,709Prizes,85,335
11,358Blanks.
——————
17,067Tickets at 5 Dollars each, is85,335
Not two Blanks to a Prize.

Subject to a Deduction of 12 and an half per Cent.

This Lottery was granted by the honorable General Aſſembly for the encouragement of a Manufactory of Woolen, Worſted, and Cotton, in this State, under the ſuperintendance of William M'Intoſh, (late of London) a Gentleman of Information and Experience in the conſtruction and uſe of the new invented Machines for that Purpoſe, a Number of which being completed he hath now in uſe.

The Managers flatter themſelves that all Perſons will become Adventurers in this Lottery, who conſider the importance of the Object for which it was granted, as they will thereby aid one of the moſt valuable Manufactories attempted in this State, ſince the era of Independence.

They contemplate a ſpeedy ſale of the Tickets, and engage a punctual payment of the Prizes, if demanded in ſix Months after drawing, which is to commence on the 21ſt day of October next, and when finiſhed, the fortunate numbers will be publiſhed in the Connecticut Journal.

TIMOTHY JONES,}Managers.
HENRY DAGGETT,
ELIAS BEERS,
WILLIAM LYON,
NATHAN BEERS,

New-Haven, May 16, 1794.

Tickets to be had of the Managers, and of Thomas Hilldrup, at the Poſt Office Hartford.

Connecticut Courant, Hartford.

The General Assembly of Rhode Island grant a lottery for the "advancement of religion" in 1794. Advertised in Boston.

SCHEME of a
LOTTERY

Granted by the Honourable General Aſſembly of the State of Rhode-Iſland, &c. at their Seſſion held in October, 1794, for the purpoſe of finiſhing a House for Public Worship—Conſiſting of 3000 Tickets, at 3 dollars each, to be paid in the following Prizes, ſubject to a Deduction of Twelve and an Half per Cent.

1Prize of1000Dollars, is1000
1500500
2Prizes of250500
5100500
1050500
2025500
5010500
100055000
————
1089Prizes.9000
1911Blanks.
——
3000Tickets.

As this Lottery was granted for promoting Public Worſhip, and the advancement of Religion, we flatter ourſelves that every well-wiſher to Society and good Order will become cheerful adventurers. For thoſe who adventure from Motives of Gain, the Scheme is advantageouſly calculated, there being leſs than two Blanks to one Prize—and Bonds given for the faithful performance of the truſt repoſed in us.

As a conſiderable number of the Tickets are already engaged, we expect to draw ſaid Lottery by the firſt of May next. Prizes not demanded within ſix months after drawing will be deemed as generouſly given towards finiſhing ſaid Houſe. The time and place of drawing will be notified—a Liſt of the Prizes will be immediately publiſhed in the Herald of the United States—and paid on demand.

MARTIN LUTHER,}Managers.
WILLIAM BARTON,
DANIEL KELLEY;

Warren, Nov. 28, 1794.

☞ Tickets and Quarters of Tickets in the above Lottery, may be had at the Poſt-Office, Boſton.

Jan. 31, 1795.


GOOD FORTUNE IN THE LOTTERY
REALIZED.

Boston, May 12, 1791.

ON Monday laſt, Meſſrs. Edward Eſty and Oliver Johnſon, of Weſtmoreland in the State of New-hampſhire, produced the ticket No. 6052, which drew the higheſt prize (TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS) in the Semi-annual Lottery, to Mr. JOHN KNEELAND, (the Manager who ſigned that number, and whoſe tickets have been remarkable for drawing the higheſt prizes) who gave them a check on the Bank for their money, which they received the next day.

A circumſtance relating to the purchaſe of this ticket may be worth relating. The owners of it were at Charleſtown, late on the Saturday evening preceding the drawing of the lottery, and had mounted their horſes to go on their way home, before they recollected wanting a ticket. Mr. Bridge (who ſold tickets in Charleſtown) happened to be then up, at his houſe—and went to his ſtore, in the dark, and from his deſk took the fortunate number, and sold it to the above fortunate perſons.

Salem Gazette, May 17, 1791.


Dartmouth College scheme, as advertised in the "Salem Gazette" in 1796.

Dartmouth College Lottery.

CLASS SECOND.

THE Managers of Dartmouth College Lottery preſent to the Public the following Scheme of the Second Claſs, in which they have aimed to meet their wiſhes by making a larger proportion of valuable prizes than uſual; they flatter themſelves that the ſame Public Spirit will be displayed, by encouraging the ſale of Tickets in this, that was ſo fully manifeſted in the former Claſs.

SCHEME.

PrizesDolls.Dolls.
1of3000is3000
110001000
4500are2000
102002000
201002000
30501500
80201600
100101000
165069900
————
1896Prizes.24,000
4140Blanks.
——
6000Tickets, at 4 Dollars each, are 24,000.

Subject to a deduction of twelve and an half per cent.

Of the above prizes of 500 Dollars, one of them will be placed to the firſt drawn blank, and the other three to the three laſt drawn blanks.

This Claſs will poſitively commence drawing at Concord, on the 1ſt day of December next; and when completed, a liſt of Prizes will be immediately publiſhed, and the prizes paid on demand.

JONATHAN FREEMAN,}Managers.
BENJAMIN CONNOR,
WILLIAM J. KENT,

Concord, Aug. 17, 1796.

TICKETS ſold by JOHN JENKS and CUSHING & CARLTON.


Harvard College appears to have seen the "misery of adventurers drawing blanks which were worth nothing," and remedied the matter in 1811, according to the following advertisement from the "Salem Gazette."

Look on this!

THE serious evil which has fallen upon a great many adventurers, by purchasing Tickets in former lotteries, and drawing blanks which were worth nothing; appears now to be remedied.—The managers of the Fifth Class of Harvard College Lottery, have in their wisdom taken the misery of this evil into consideration and have given us a scheme preferable to any former one; by which it seems that from 20,000 to 50,000 dollars will be distributed among persons whose tickets are drawn blanks in this lottery, which commences drawing in a few days; and the greater part of the Tickets are now sold. Whole and Quarter Tickets for sale at the Bookstore and Lottery Office of

HENRY WHIPPLE,
June 7, 1811. No. 6, Wakefield Place.


A Boston paper of 1811 has the following:

Washington Monument Lottery

WILL commence drawing in Baltimore the 4th day of September next.

The Capital Prizes are
1 of 50,000dollars,
1 of 30,000,
1 of 20,000,
2 of 10,000,
3 of 5,000,
20 of 100 Tickets,
And many of 2000, 1000, 500, &c. &c.

Tickets and Quarters for Sale by Simpson and Caldwell, of Baltimore, who request all persons who wish to purchase Tickets and Quarters in the above Lottery, to forward their orders, post paid, enclosing cash, to Messrs. BRIDGE & RENOUF, No. 79, state street, Boston; and they may depend on their orders being promptly executed.

Price of Tickets 11 dollars—Quarters 2 87.

Aug. 13, 1811.


The "Union Canal Lottery" was got up in 1814 to benefit Boston and "make it advance like New York." Here is a notice of the scheme from a Salem paper,—

Union Canal Lottery.

Firſt Claſs.—Twenty-Five Thouſand Dollars.

It rarely happens that the object of a Lottery is interesting to the whole community. To save the Metropolis of New-England from declining in its commerce and consequence on the return of a general peace—to open its internal resources, to unite New-Hampshire & Vermont to Massachusetts, by bonds of mutual benefit, as permanent as the rivers and canals, by which their intercourse will be carried on—to make Boston advance like New York, supported by a populous, extensive and productive back country, are considerations into which every reflecting man, every merchant, and every owner of real estate, must enter and must feel. It is therefore, confidently expected, that a Lottery, granted to complete the great undertaking of opening Inland Navigation, will receive peculiar support; and that many who have not been in the habit of adventuring in Lotteries, will be willing and desirous of contributing to the success of this for the sake of its object.

The Highest Prize will be paid in ninety days after the drawing shall be completed; and all other Prizes in sixty days, and payment will be made in bills generally current in Boston. Prizes must be demanded in one year from the end of the drawing of the Class.

This Class will commence drawing in Boston, on the 12th December next.

Tickets to be returned on or before the 2d December.

BENJAMIN WELD,
WILLIAM A. KENT,
ANDREW SIGOURNEY,
Boston, Nov. 8, 1814. Managers.


After lotteries had been drawn, notices frequently appeared in the papers announcing the names of the lucky prize-winners. For instance, a Boston paper of 1790 says: "The highest Prize (£3,000) in the New York Lottery was drawn by 2 deserving Servant girls of New York;" and in Sept. 21, 1793: "The highest prize in the 4th Class of the State Lottery ($1,000) was drawn by Mr. Benjamin Blodgett, of this town;" and the "Salem Gazette" of 1815 says: "Luther Martin, Esq., has drawn $15,000, the Highest prize in the Baltimore Hospital Lottery;" and it adds: "Those who envy the good Fortune of Mr. Martin will call on Cushing & Appleton for Tickets in the Harvard College Lottery." In November, 1790, the "Salem Gazette" says that the call for tickets in the Massachusetts Semi-annual Lottery "has been so great in the other States that the Managers expect to draw much sooner than the time which was at first mentioned;" also that the tickets in the Marblehead Lottery are meeting with a rapid sale; and concludes that "this does not indicate a scarcity of Cash."

Here are some curious advertisements:—

From the "Columbian Centinel," Boston, May 22, 1790.

Williamstown FREE SCHOOL Lottery.

We are authorised to aſſure the Publick, and we do aſſure them—that the 7th Claſs of this Lottery will not only commence drawing on Monday next, but will poſitively be completed on Tueſday morning—and a liſt of Prizes will be published in the Centinel the ſame week.

The metropolis of Maſſachuſetts hath ever been celebrated for the attention it hath paid to the education of its youth. In the elder world, a Franklin hath been a living teſtimony of it, as well as in the younger. But not confined to the youth of the town is this benevolent diſpoſition—it extends to the remoteſt parts of the Commonwealth; and hath been abundantly manifeſted in the liberal encouragement given to the Williamſtown Free-School Lottery. The Claſs to be drawn on Monday next, will perhaps, be the laſt opportunity our citizens may have to gratify their humane wiſhes—which they will not let paſs unimproved, eſpecially as great pecuniary profit may attend the gratification.


"Salem Gazette," Nov. 24, 1812.

GALVANISM.

It has been found by Dr. Nauche, at Paris, that a person perfectly blind may be made to see very lively and numerous flashes of light, by bringing one extremity of the voltaic pile into communication with the hand or foot, and the other with the face, skin of the head, or even the neck. In like manner, a person in the gloom of poverty may be made to perceive very lively and numerous flashes (say 20,000) of good fortune by bringing one extremity of a ragged bank bill into communication with the Book-Store and the other with the Lottery-Office, one door west of Central Building.

N.B.—Two grand piles are now offered to the public—Harvard College, where the process is now in active operation, and Plymouth Beach which is in a state of preparation.


"Salem Gazette."

Writing

Taught in One Leſſon!!

PERSONS of any age, sex, or capacity, let their Chirography be never so bad, may by one exercise make a very good hand of it. The means are found in the Scheme of Harvard College Lottery, which contains a most superb assortment of capital prizes. Persons desirous of securing the advantage of this dispatchful tuition will apply (wholes $5, quarters 1.38) to Cushing & Appleton, at their Lottery Office and Bookstore, one door west of Central Building.

1811.


From "Salem Gazette."

"WHO WANTS A GUINEA?"

THIS Comedy by Coleman, has for some years past, been often read and justly admired; the name now appears to have lost its novelty.

Something of greater magnitude is wished for; something which will furnish the possessor with more than a competency; which will assist the industrious and enterprizing man, in accomplishing his laudable wishes.

This surely must be the true Philosopher's Stone, which wise men of all ages have sought for in vain.—This inestimable Gem, with some of the virtues usually ascribed to it—will, after the Fifth Class of Harvard College Lottery has completed drawing, belong to some person or persons who will now generously lend a hand to patronise this excellent institution.

Those who are disposed from motives of interest or actuated by a wish to promote and encourage literature; will please call for Whole or Quarter Tickets, at the Book-Store and Lottery Office of

HENRY WHIPPLE,
May 17, 1711. No. 6, Wakefield Place.


"Salem Gazette."

Surprising Gain!

IT is true as strange, and strange as true, that the wheels of Harvard College Lottery have actually gained, in the few revolutions they have made, no less than

☞ 5157 Dollars! ☜

Now is the tide, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune, as the immortal Shakespeare would say. The undrawn tickets have all the advantage of this gain, in addition to the common chance at the outset. A few for sale (wholes 6 dolls. quarters 1.63) at Cushing and Appleton's superlatively lucky Lottery & Exchange office, and federal book shop, one door west of Central Building, Essex street.


In 1808 there was a "Real and truly Fortunate Lottery Office" at No. 1 Summer Street, Boston, and Detroit Bank bills were taken in payment for tickets.

Real and truly Fortunate

LOTTERY OFFICE, No. 1 Summer street, opposite the North west corner of the New State House

D. BEMAN'S list of Capital Prizes, sold by him at his Real and truly Fortunate Lottery Office—as follows,

No. 9031,a Prize of8000Dolls.
14459a Prize of1000do.
8638a Prize of500do.
8950a Prize of500do.
39a Prize of500do.
3988a Prize of500do.
12722a Prize of200do.

Besides a great number of 100—50—20, and 7 Dollar Prizes—amounting to a handsome Fortune—over the whole cost of all the Tickets ever sold at his office.... This is to be considered the Real and Truly Fortunate Lottery Office.

☞ Tickets, Quarters & Eighths in the 4th Class of Harvard College, which is now drawing—10,000 Dollars highest prize. A complete list of all the Drawing may be seen days and evenings, gratis.

Prize Tickets and Detroit Bank Bills taken in payment; such as are guaranteed are taken at par. and those of another kind at a discount.

June 3. (5w)


The highest prize in the Providence Episcopal Church Lottery was $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!

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.
1Prize of4000is4000
120002000
21000are2000
45002000
201002000
40502000
60301800
100202000
10001212000
3000927000
————
3328Prizes, amounting to46000
Drawback,8000
——
9000Tickets, at 6 dollars each, are54000

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.

PrizesDols.Dols.
1of10,000is10,000
25,00010,000
32,0006,000
61,0006,000
105005,000
202004,000
601006,000
90504,500
100404,000
120303,600
161203,220
200102,000
7,585860,680
——————
8,358Prizes,125,000
16,642Blanks.
———
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.}Managers.
GEORGE R. MINOT,
SAMUEL COOPER,
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.


We have not undertaken to give an account of all the lotteries of which we have seen advertisements, as our limits would not admit of it, even if it could be made interesting to those who like to read about such matters; New England alone would fill a large volume. We will name only a few of the more prominent lotteries,—the Land Bank, in 1759; the Pavement on Boston Neck, the same year. Then there was the Charlestown lottery, the Hatfield Bridge, Sudbury, the Amoskeag Canal, the South Hadley Canal, the Philanthropic, the Kennebec, the Dartmouth College, the Gloucester Road, the Plymouth Beach, etc. All these, of course, were public lotteries, and were managed by the first men in the community. In relation to private lotteries it would now be difficult to ascertain the facts. There must have been a great number of these; probably they were not always honestly conducted. We have heard that there were shops where the inexperienced were supplied with bogus tickets,—blanks of some drawn lottery. Bad men, unfortunately, are to be found in all kinds of business; but we know that in Salem all the men whose names we have mentioned were among the very best in the community.

Although laws are now in force in Massachusetts and some other States against lotteries, there appears to be no essential difference, as far as the morality of the thing is concerned, between the old lottery and the modern raffle,—and indeed a certain species of stock gambling, it seems to us, is worse than either in its moral effects. After the year 1826, or thereabout, lotteries appear to have become unpopular, and laws were passed prohibiting them. Their unprofitableness, moreover, seems then to have been more clearly seen. As we have already said, there had always been some who saw the evils which must result from such schemes. Notably among prominent men who in Massachusetts used their influence against them were John Hancock,[1] of Revolutionary fame, and afterwards governor of the Commonwealth, and Peter C. Brooks, a distinguished merchant of Boston, father-in-law of Edward Everett. The "Salem Gazette" of Sept. 16, 1794, says: "Considering the acknowledged immoral tendency of Lotteries, it is astonishing how much is said in the Boston papers in favor of that which our Legislature has lately instituted for Harvard College. Our late worthy Governor Hancock, in a public address to the General Court, gave his testimony against this species of gambling, so calculated to ensnare and injure those classes of worthy citizens who are guiltless of that vice in its common form."

[1] Although we have seen lottery tickets signed by Hancock earlier in life.

In some foreign countries and in a few of the States of our Union lotteries are still lawful; yet we believe there is a growing feeling against them. But if stock gambling is destined to take the place of the lottery, we do not think much will be gained by the change. The losses by lotteries were generally in small sums, and could be better borne by the adventurers than the entire loss of property, health, and reputation which is now too apt to follow a large proportion of the speculative stock operations. In the lottery, too, the risks were generally so small that the ticket-buyer alone suffered; whereas now, whole families are often involved in financial ruin, if not in disgrace, by the operations of a father, brother, or near relative. But we will say no more on this point, as it is a consideration foreign to the object of this book.

Thus far we have written mainly of American lotteries; as it is not our intention to take an exhaustive view of the subject, we will merely say, in reference to foreign countries, that lotteries were instituted in England in 1567, and abolished by Act of Parliament in 1823, although allowed until 1826, when the last drawing of a legal lottery took place. During this period they were patronized by all classes,—royalty, the nobility, gentry, and commoners. The first lottery was for the repairs of harbors and fortifications. The drawing took place at the "west door of St. Paul's Church." In 1612 King James I. granted a lottery for the "English Colonies in Virginia, ... to be held at the west end of St. Paul's," and "one Thomas Sharplys, a tailor, drew the chief Prize, which was 4000 crowns in fair plate."

To this day the lottery flourishes in most of the chief cities in Europe, and lottery tickets are vended in many shops as well as in regular offices. The Cologne Cathedral, as is well known, was only recently finished by the aid of a lottery. Lotteries are upheld, we believe, by the Roman Catholic Church in Europe, and many of the priests aid in disposing of the tickets,—at least so we have been told.

The sum of the whole matter as regards this country is that a good work was undoubtedly accomplished through the agency of the lottery in the early days of our national history. By its aid schools, colleges, and charities were founded, bridges, roads, and canals were constructed. In our time public opinion is, of course, as it ought to be, against gambling in any form; but although our ways are almost always thought to be more honest, it is a question, after all, whether we are really more upright than our fathers, who sometimes engaged in transactions that are condemned by modern society, but who, on the other hand, knew nothing of "defaulted" railroad bonds, of "wild cat" oil companies, or of "watered" mining stocks. It is easy enough to

"Compound for sins [we] are inclined to,
By damning those [we] have no mind to."


University Press: John Wilson & Son, Cambridge.


Benjamin H. Ticknor. Thomas B. Ticknor. George F. Godfrey.

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