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.