A Dialoguebetwixt theNewLotteriesand theRoyal Oak.New Lott.To you, the mother of our schools,Where knaves by licence manage fools,Finding fit juncture and occasion,To pick the pockets of the nation;We come to know how we must treat ’em,And to their heart’s content may cheat ’em.Oak.It cheers my aged heart to seeSo numerous a progeny;I find by you, that ’tis heaven’s willThat knavery should flourish still.You have docility and wit,And fools were never wanting yet.Observe the crafty auctioneer,His art to sell waste paper dear;When he for salmon baits his hooks,That cormorant of offal books,Who bites, as sure as maggots breed,Or carrion crows on horse-flesh feed;Fair specious titles him deceive,To sweep whatSl——andT——nleave.If greedy gulls you wou’d ensnare,Make ’em proposals wondrous fair;Tell him strange golden show’rs shall fall,And promise mountains to ’em all.New Lott.That craft we’ve already taught,And by that trick have millions caught;Books, bawbles, toys, all sorts of stuff,Have gone off this way well enough.Nay, music, too, invades our art,And to some tune wou’d play her part.I’ll show you now what we are doing,For we have divers wheels agoing.We now have found out richer landsThan Asia’s hills, or Afric’s sands,And to vast treasures must give birth,Deep hid in bowels of the earth;In fertile Wales, and God knows where,Rich mines of gold and silver are,From whence we drain prodigious storeOf silver coin’d, tho’ none in ore,Which down our throats rich coxcombs pour,In hopes to make us vomit more.Oak.This project surely must be good,Because not eas’ly understood:Besides, it gives a mighty scopeTo the fool’s argument—vain hope.No eagle’s eye the cheat can see,Thro’ hope thus back’d by mystery.New Lott.We have, besides, a thousand more,For great and small, for rich and poor,From him that can his thousands spare,Down to the penny customer.Oak.The silly mob in crowds will run,To be at easy rates undone.A gimcrack-show draws in the rout,Thousands their all by pence lay out.New Lott.We, by experience, find it true,But we have methods wholly new,Strange late-invented ways to thrive,To make men pay for what they give,To get the rents into our handsOf their hereditary lands,And out of what does thence arise,To make ’em buy annuities.We’ve mathematic combination,To cheat folks by plain demonstration,Which shall be fairly manag’d too,The undertaker knows not how.Besides ——Oak.Pray, hold a little, here’s enough,To beggar Europe of this stuff.Go on, and prosper, and be great,I am to you a punycheat.[440]
A Dialoguebetwixt theNewLotteriesand theRoyal Oak.
New Lott.To you, the mother of our schools,Where knaves by licence manage fools,Finding fit juncture and occasion,To pick the pockets of the nation;We come to know how we must treat ’em,And to their heart’s content may cheat ’em.Oak.It cheers my aged heart to seeSo numerous a progeny;I find by you, that ’tis heaven’s willThat knavery should flourish still.You have docility and wit,And fools were never wanting yet.Observe the crafty auctioneer,His art to sell waste paper dear;When he for salmon baits his hooks,That cormorant of offal books,Who bites, as sure as maggots breed,Or carrion crows on horse-flesh feed;Fair specious titles him deceive,To sweep whatSl——andT——nleave.If greedy gulls you wou’d ensnare,Make ’em proposals wondrous fair;Tell him strange golden show’rs shall fall,And promise mountains to ’em all.New Lott.That craft we’ve already taught,And by that trick have millions caught;Books, bawbles, toys, all sorts of stuff,Have gone off this way well enough.Nay, music, too, invades our art,And to some tune wou’d play her part.I’ll show you now what we are doing,For we have divers wheels agoing.We now have found out richer landsThan Asia’s hills, or Afric’s sands,And to vast treasures must give birth,Deep hid in bowels of the earth;In fertile Wales, and God knows where,Rich mines of gold and silver are,From whence we drain prodigious storeOf silver coin’d, tho’ none in ore,Which down our throats rich coxcombs pour,In hopes to make us vomit more.Oak.This project surely must be good,Because not eas’ly understood:Besides, it gives a mighty scopeTo the fool’s argument—vain hope.No eagle’s eye the cheat can see,Thro’ hope thus back’d by mystery.New Lott.We have, besides, a thousand more,For great and small, for rich and poor,From him that can his thousands spare,Down to the penny customer.Oak.The silly mob in crowds will run,To be at easy rates undone.A gimcrack-show draws in the rout,Thousands their all by pence lay out.New Lott.We, by experience, find it true,But we have methods wholly new,Strange late-invented ways to thrive,To make men pay for what they give,To get the rents into our handsOf their hereditary lands,And out of what does thence arise,To make ’em buy annuities.We’ve mathematic combination,To cheat folks by plain demonstration,Which shall be fairly manag’d too,The undertaker knows not how.Besides ——Oak.Pray, hold a little, here’s enough,To beggar Europe of this stuff.Go on, and prosper, and be great,I am to you a punycheat.[440]
New Lott.To you, the mother of our schools,Where knaves by licence manage fools,Finding fit juncture and occasion,To pick the pockets of the nation;We come to know how we must treat ’em,And to their heart’s content may cheat ’em.Oak.It cheers my aged heart to seeSo numerous a progeny;I find by you, that ’tis heaven’s willThat knavery should flourish still.You have docility and wit,And fools were never wanting yet.Observe the crafty auctioneer,His art to sell waste paper dear;When he for salmon baits his hooks,That cormorant of offal books,Who bites, as sure as maggots breed,Or carrion crows on horse-flesh feed;Fair specious titles him deceive,To sweep whatSl——andT——nleave.If greedy gulls you wou’d ensnare,Make ’em proposals wondrous fair;Tell him strange golden show’rs shall fall,And promise mountains to ’em all.New Lott.That craft we’ve already taught,And by that trick have millions caught;Books, bawbles, toys, all sorts of stuff,Have gone off this way well enough.Nay, music, too, invades our art,And to some tune wou’d play her part.I’ll show you now what we are doing,For we have divers wheels agoing.We now have found out richer landsThan Asia’s hills, or Afric’s sands,And to vast treasures must give birth,Deep hid in bowels of the earth;In fertile Wales, and God knows where,Rich mines of gold and silver are,From whence we drain prodigious storeOf silver coin’d, tho’ none in ore,Which down our throats rich coxcombs pour,In hopes to make us vomit more.Oak.This project surely must be good,Because not eas’ly understood:Besides, it gives a mighty scopeTo the fool’s argument—vain hope.No eagle’s eye the cheat can see,Thro’ hope thus back’d by mystery.New Lott.We have, besides, a thousand more,For great and small, for rich and poor,From him that can his thousands spare,Down to the penny customer.Oak.The silly mob in crowds will run,To be at easy rates undone.A gimcrack-show draws in the rout,Thousands their all by pence lay out.New Lott.We, by experience, find it true,But we have methods wholly new,Strange late-invented ways to thrive,To make men pay for what they give,To get the rents into our handsOf their hereditary lands,And out of what does thence arise,To make ’em buy annuities.We’ve mathematic combination,To cheat folks by plain demonstration,Which shall be fairly manag’d too,The undertaker knows not how.Besides ——Oak.Pray, hold a little, here’s enough,To beggar Europe of this stuff.Go on, and prosper, and be great,I am to you a punycheat.[440]
The “Royal-Oak Lottery,” as the rival if not the parent of the various other demoralizing schemes, obtained the largest share of public odium. The evils it had created are popularly set forth in a remarkable tract, entitled “The Arraignment, Trial, and Condemnation ofSquire Lottery, aliasRoyal-Oak Lottery, London, 1699,” 8vo. The charges against the offender are arrayed under the forms imported by the title-page. The following extracts are in some respects curious, as exemplifying the manners of thetimes:—
Die Lunæ vicesimo die Martii 1698/9. Anno Regni, &c.
At the Time and Place appointed, came on the Trial ofSquire Lottery, aliasRoyal-Oak Lottery, for abundance of intolerable Tricks, Cheats, and high Misdemeanours, upon an Indictment lately found against him, in order to a National Delivery.
About ten of the Clock, the day and year abovesaid, the Managers came into the Court, where, in the presence of a vast confluence of People of all Ranks, the Prisoner was ordered to the Bar.
Proclamation being made, and a Jury of good Cits which were to try the Prisoner being sworn, the Indictment againstSquire LotteryaliasRoyal-Oak Lottery, was read.
The Jurors’ Names.
Mr.Positive, a Draper inCovent Garden.Mr.Squander, an Oilman inFleet-street.Mr.Pert, a Tobacconist,ditto.Mr.Captious, a Milliner inPaternoster-Row.Mr.Feeble, a Coffeeman near theChange.Mr.Altrick, a Merchant inGracechurch-street.Mr.Haughty, a Vintner byGrays-Inn, Holborn.Mr.Jealous, a Cutler atCharing-Cross.Mr.Peevish, a Bookseller inSt. Paul’s Church-yard.Mr.Spilbook, nearFleet-bridge.Mr.Noysie, a Silkman uponLudgate-hill.Mr.Finical, a Barber in Cheapside.
Cl. of Ma. Squire Lottery, aliasRoyal-Oak Lottery, you stand Indicted by the Name ofSquire Lottery, aliasRoyal-Oak Lottery, for that you the saidSquire Lottery, not having the Fear of God in your Heart; nor weighing the Regard and Duty you owe, and of right ought to pay to the Interest, Safety, and Satisfaction of your Fellow-Subjects; have from time to time, and at several times, and in several places, contrary to the known Laws of this Kingdom, under the shadow and coverture of a Royal Oak, propagated, continued, and carried on a most unequal, intricate, and insinuating Game, to the utter ruin and destruction of many thousand Families: And that you the saidSquire Lottery, aliasRoyal-Oak Lottery, as a common Enemy to all young People, and an inveterate Hater of all good Conversation and Diversion, have, for many years last past, and do still continue, by certain cunning Tricks and Stratagems, insidiously, falsely, and impiously, to trepan, deceive, cheat, decoy, and entice divers Ladies, Gentlemen, Citizens, Apprentices, and others, to play away their Money at manifest Odds and Disadvantage. And that you the saidSquire Lottery, aliasRoyal-Oak Lottery, the more secretly and effectually to carry on and propagate your base, malicious, and covetous Designs and Practices, did, and do still encourage several lewd and disorderly Persons, to meet, propose, treat, consult, consent, and agree upon several unjust and illegal Methods, how to ensnare and entangle People into your delusive Game; by which means you have, for many years last past, utterly, intirely, and irrecoverably, contrary to all manner of Justice, Humanity, or good Nature,despoiled, depraved, and defrauded, an incredible number of Persons of every Rank, Age, Sex, and Condition, of all their Lands, Goods, and Effects; and from the Ruins of multitudes built fine Houses, and purchased large Estates, to the great scandal and reflection on the Wisdom of the Nation, for suffering such an intolerable Impostor to pass so long unpunished. What say’st thou,Squire Lottery, art thou guilty of the aforesaid Crimes, Cheats, Tricks, and Misdemeanours thou standest Indicted of, or not Guilty?
Lottery.Not Guilty. But, before I proceed to make my Defence, I beg I may be permitted the assistance of three or four learned Sharpers to plead for me, in case any Matter of Law arise.
This being assented to, the Managers of the Prosecution made their speeches in support of the Charge, and called CaptainPasthope.
1st Man.Sir, Do you know SquireLottery, the Prisoner at the Bar?
Pasthope.Yes, I have known him intimately for near forty years; ever since the Restoration of KingCharles.
1st Man.Pray will you give the Bench and Jury an Account what you know of him; how he came intoEngland, and how he has behaved himself ever since.
Pasthope.In order to make my Evidence more plain, I hope it will not be judg’d much out of form, to premise two or three things.
1st Man. Mr.Pasthope, Take your own method to explain yourself; we must not abridge or direct you in any respect.
Pasthope.In the years 60 and 61, among a great many poor Cavaliers, ’twas my hard fate to be driven to Court for a Subsistence, where I continued in a neglected state, painfully waiting the moving of the Waters for several months; when at last a Rumour was spread, that a certain Stranger was landed inEngland, that in all probability, if we could get him the Sanction of a Patent, would be a good Friend to us all.
Man.You seem to intimate as if he was a Stranger; pray, do you know what Countryman he was?
Pasthope.The report of his Country was very different; some would have him aWalloon, some aDutchman, some aVenetian, and others aFrenchman; indeed by his Policy, cunning Design, Forethought, &c. I am very well satisfied he could be noEnglishman.
Man.What kind of Credentials did he bring with him to recommend him with so much advantage?
Pasthope.Why, he cunningly took upon him the Character of aRoyal-Oak Lottery, and pretended a mighty Friendship to antiquated Loyalists: but for all that, there were those at Court that knew he had been banish’d out of several Countries for disorderly Practices, till at last he pitch’d upon poor easy credulousEnglandfor his Refuge.
Man.You say then, he was a Foreigner, that he came in with the Restoration, usurp’d the Title of aRoyal Oak, was establish’d in Friendship to the Cavaliers, and that for disorderly Practices he had been banish’d out of several Countries; till at last he was forc’d to fix uponEnglandas the fittestAsylum. But pray, Sir, how came you so intimately acquainted with him at first?
Pasthope.I was about to tell you. In order to manage his Affairs, it was thought requisite he should be provided with several Coadjutors, which were to be dignify’d with the Character ofPatentees; amongst which number, by the help of a friendly Courtier, I was admitted for one.
Man.Oh! then I find you was a Patentee. Pray, how long did you continue in your Patentee’s Post? and what were the Reasons that urg’d you to quit it at last?
Pasthope.I kept my Patentee’s Station nine years, in which time I had clear’d 4000l., and then, upon some Uneasiness and Dislike, I sold it for 700l.
Man.Pray, Captain, tell the Court more fully what was the Reason that prevail’d with you to relinquish such a profitable place.
Pasthope.I had two very strong Reasons for quitting my Post;viz.Remorse of Conscience, and Apprehension of consequent Danger. To tell you the truth, I saw so many bad Practices encourag’d and supported, and so many persons of both Sexes ruin’d; I saw so much Villany perfected and projected, and so many other intolerable Mischiefs within the compass of every day’s Proceeding, that partly through the stings of my Mind and the apprehensions I was under of the Mob, with a great deal of Reluctancy I quitted my Post.
Man.Captain, I find you’re nicely qualify’d for an Evidence, pray, therefore, give the Court an Account what Methods the Prisoner us’d to take to advance his business.
Pasthope.The way in my time, and I suppose ’tis the same still, was to send out Sharpers and Setters into all parts of the Town, and to give ’em direction to magnify the Advantage, Equality, and Justice of his Game, in order to decoy Women and Fools to come and play away their Money.
Man.Well, but sure he had no Women or Fools of Quality, Rank, or Reputation, that came to him? According to the common Report that passes upon him, there’s none but the very Scoundrels and Rabble, the very Dregs and Refuse of Fools, will think him worth their Conversation.
Pasthope.Truly, he had ’em of all sorts, as well Lord-fools and Lady-fools, Knight-fools and Esquire-fools, or any other sort of Fools: and, indeed, he made no difference between ’em neither; a Cobler-fool had as much respect as a Lord-fool, in proportion to the money he had in his Pocket; andpro hac vicehad as extensive a Qualification to command, domineer, and hector, as the best Fool of ’em all.
Man.Did you never observe any of these Fools to get any money of him? I can’t imagine what it could be that could influence ’em to embark with him, if there was nothing to be got.
Pasthope.There was never any body that ever got any thing of him in the main: now and then one by chance might carry off a small matter; and so ’twas necessary they should, for otherwise his Constitution must dissolve in course.
Man.’Tis a great mystery to me, that so many People should pursue a Game where every body’s a Loser at last; but pray, Captain, then, what are the odds the Prisoner is reputed to have against those that play with him?
Pasthope.No body can tell you their Advantage; ’tis a cunning intricateContexture, and truly I very much question whether the original Projector himself had a perfect Idea of the Odds: at a full Table and deep Play, I have seen him clear 600l.in less than an hour.
Man.What are the Odds he owns himself?
Pasthope.Only 32 Figures against 27, which indeed is Odds enough to insure all the money at length. But this, it seems, was an Advantage that was allow’d him, that he might be able to keep a good House, relieve the Poor, and pay an annual Pension to the Crown or the Courtiers.
Man.You say, by his original Agreement he’s to keep a good House: pray after all, what sort of House is it he does keep?
Past.Why, he dines at the Tavern, where any body that has 40 or 50l.to play away with him the Afternoon, may be admitted into his Company.
Man.What, does he entertain none but those that have 40 or 50l.to lose?
Past.He never converses with any Person that has no money: if they have no money, their Company’s burdensom and ungrateful, and the Waiters have Directions to keep ’em out.
Man.Does he do this to the very Persons he has ruin’d, and won all they have? That, methinks, is a pitch of Barbarity beyond the common degree: I hardly ever read or heard of any thing so exaltedly cruel and brutish, in all the Accounts of my Life.
Past.I have seen abundance of Examples of this nature, one, in particular, which I shall never forget; a poor Lady, that had lost 350l.per annumto him, beside two or three thousand pounds in ready money, basely and inhumanly hal’d out of doors, but for asking for a glass of Sack.
Man.You were mentioning his Charity to the Poor too; is there any thing of reality in that?
Past.For my part, I never heard of one good Act he has done in the whole course of his Life: secret Charity is the most meritorious, ’tis true; and perhaps it may be that way he may communicate his, for indeed I never heard of any he did in publick.
Man.You were mentioning too an annual Pension to the Crown; what is it he pays to the Crown?
Past.Indeed I cannot be positive in that: to the best of my remembrance ’tis four thousand poundsper annum: in compensation for which, beside the general liberty he has to cheat and abuse the World, he has the sole Privilege of Licensing all other Cheats and Impostors, commonly known by the Name of Lotteries.
2d Man.You were speaking something, CaptainPasthope, just now, as if the Prisoner was intrusted with these Advantages for the benefit of some poor Cavaliers, which were to be the Patentees, as you call ’em. Pray tell the Jury what kind of Cavaliers these Patentees were.
Past.That was all but a Blind, a pure Trick to deceive the World: the Patentees, in the main, were either Sharpers or broken Tradesman, or some such sort orVermin, that had cunningly twisted themselves into the business under the shadow of Cavaliers.
Man.Pray, what Opinion had the World of the Prisoner when he first came to be known inEngland?
Pasthope.The same that it has of him now: all wise men look’d upon him as a Cheat, and a dangerous Spark to be let loose in publick among our English Youth: and indeed I have heard a great many sober men pass very sharp Censures upon the Wisdom of the Court for intrusting him with a Royal Authority.
Man.What kind of Censures were they that they past? do you remember any of them particularly?
Past.Yes, I remember several things that I am almost ashamed to mention. I have heard ’em often reflecting what an intolerable Shame and Scandal it was, that a whole Kingdom should be sacrificed to the Interest of two or three Courtiers, and three or four scurvy mercenary Patentees; that so many thousand Families should be ruin’d, and no notice taken of it; that so many Wives should be seduc’d to rob and betray their Husbands, so many Children and Servants their Parents and Masters, and so many horrid Mischiefs transacted daily under the shadow of this pretendedRoyal-Oak Lottery, and no manner of means used to suppress it.
2d Man.But, Captain, did you never hear of any Person that got money of the Prisoner in the main?
Past.Not one. I defy him to produce one single person that’s a Gainer, against a hundred thousand he has ruin’d. I’m confident I have a Catalogue by me of several thousands that have been utterly undone by him, within the compass of my own Experience.
Man.What does the Town in general say of him?
Past.The town, here-a-late, is grown so inveterate and incens’d against him, that I am very well assur’d that if he had not been call’d to account in the very nick, the Mob would have speedily taken him into their correction.
Man.Well, Sir, you hear what the Witness has said against you; will you ask him any Questions?
Lottery.Only one; and leave the rest till I come to make my general Defence. Sir, I desire to know whether you was not one that was turn’d out upon the last Renewal of the Patent?
Past.No, Sir, I was not. You might have remember’d that I told you I saw so much of your Falshood and Tricks, and so many innocent People daily sacrific’d, to support a Society of lewd, debauch’d, impertinent, and withal imperious Cannibals, that I thought it my best way to quit your Fraternity, and pack off with that little I had got, and leave you to manage your mathematical Balls, &c. by your self.
Man.I suppose, Sir, you will ask him no more Questions, and so we’ll call another Witness.
Lottery.No, Sir, I have done with him.
Man.Call SquireFrivolous, the Counsellor: Sir, do you knowSquire Lottery, the Prisoner?
Frivolous.I have been acquainted with him several years, to my great Cost and Damage. The first time I had the misfortune to know him, was at an Act atOxfordabout twenty years ago; where among abundance of other young Fools that he entic’d to sell their Books for Money to play with him, &c. I was one.
Man.What, I hope, he was not so barbarous as to decoy the poor young Gentlemen out of their Books?
Frivolous.Yes, out of every thing they had, and out of the College to boot: For my own part I have reason to curse him, I’m sure; He flatter’d me up with so many Shams and false Pretences, and deluded me with so many chimerical Notions and cunning Assurances, and urg’d me so long from one deceitful Project to another, till at last he had trickt me out of all I had in the world, and then turn’d me over to the scorn and laughter of my Friends and Acquaintance.
Man.Can you give the Bench any particular Names of Persons he has ruin’d?
Frivolous.I have a Collection of Names in my Pocket, which I’m sure he can’t object against, that have lost fourteen or fifteen thousand Poundper Annum, within my own Knowledg and Acquaintance.
Man.That’s a round Sum: But, pray, Mr.Frivolous, for the satisfaction of the Jury, mention a few of their Names.
Frivolous.I suppose,Squire Lottery, you must remember the Kentish Squire in the Blue Coat, that you won the six hundred Poundper Annumof, in less than five months. You remember the Lord’ Steward that lost an Estate of his own of three hundred Poundper Annum, and runfour thousand Pound in Arrears to his Lord beside. You remember, I suppose, the West-India Widow, that lost the Cargo of two Ships, valued at fifteen hundred Pound, in less than a month. I know you can’t forget the honest Lady atSt. James’s, that sold all her Goods, Plate, and China, for about seven hundred Pound, and paid it all away to you, as near as I remember, in three mornings. I know you can’t forget the three Merchants’ Daughters that play’d away their whole Fortunes,viz.fifteen hundred Pounds apiece in less than two months. You remember the Silkman fromLudgate-hill; the young Draper inCornhil; the Country Parson; the Doctor of Physick’s Daughter; the Lady’s Woman; the Merchant’s Apprentice; the Marine Captain; the Ensign of the Guards; the Coffeeman’s Neece; the old Justice’s Nephew; and abundance of others, which I have in my Catalogue, that you have cheated out of large Sums, and utterly ruin’d.
Lottery.I desire that he may be ask’d, what it was that influenc’d him at first to make such a Catalogue?
Man.He desires to know upon what account it was that you made this Collection of Names?
Frivolous.I had once a design to have him call’d to an Account, and forc’d to a Restitution; in which case I thought the Names of these Persons might be of some use to me.
Man.What Method did you propose to your self to bring him to a Restitution?
Frivolous.I had a Notion, that if I drew up the Case, and got it recommended to the Honourable House of Commons, they would have thought the Prisoner worth their correction: But this he got intelligence of, and employ’d one of his Agents to make up the matter with me.
Man.What, I suppose you mean he brib’d you with a Sum of Money to decline the Prosecution?
Frivolous.Truly you have hit of the very thing; he knew that I was poor, and he was guilty, and so compounded with me for a few Guineas to let the thing fall: And indeed, if I am not misinform’d, his Art of Bribing, &c. has guarded him so long from the Punishments which the Laws of the Land, and common Justice, have provided for such notorious Offenders.
Other witnesses having been called, the arraigned defended himself asfollows:—
Lottery.Sir, I intend to spend as little of your time as I can: I perceive, that, let me say what I will, you are prepar’d to over-rule it, and so I’ll only say a few words, and call three or four Witnesses to prove my reputation, and then leave the good Men and true of the Jury, upon whose Verdict I must stand or fall, to use me as they shall best judg the nature of my Case deserves.
I know, Gentlemen, the tide of Prejudice runs very fierce against me; so that let me say what I will, I’m satisfy’d it will be all to very little purpose; an ill Name to a Person in my condition is certain Death, which indeed makes me a little more indifferent in making my defence.
But, Gentlemen, look upon me, I am the very Image of some of you, a married Protestant; upon which account I’m confident I may rely upon a little of your Justice, if not your Favour.
The Crimes I am charged with are indeed very great, and, what’s worse, there’s some of ’em I can never expect to evince. But then, Gentlemen, I hope you’l consider, that whatever I did, was purely in the prosecution of my occupation; and you know withal what Authority I had for it; so that if by chance, in this long tract of time, every thing should not be so nicely conformable as you expect, I hope you’l take care to lay the Saddle upon the right Horse.
You all know that Covetousness and Cheating are the inseparable Companions of a Gamester; divide him from them, and he’s the most insignificant Creature in Nature. And, Gentlemen, I appeal to your selves, if a little useful lying and falshood be not (in some cases) not only tolerable, but commendable. I dare say you will agree with me in this, that if all the Knaves and Cheats of the Nation were call’d to the Bar and executed, there would only be a few Fools left to defend the Commonwealth.
But, Gentlemen, as I told you before, I won’t spend your time, and therefore I’ll call my Witnesses. Call CaptainQuondam.
Cryer.Call Capt.Quondam.
Lottery.Sir, I desire you would give the Court an account what you know of me, as to Life and Conversation.
Quondam.I have known the Prisoner for several years, and have been often in his company upon particular occasionsand never saw any thing that was rude or unhandsome by him.
Man.Pray, noble Captain, what Countryman are you?
Quondam.Sir, I am a West-Countryman.
Man.An English West-Country, or aWest-IndiaMan? or what?
Quondam.I am a West-Countryman of his Majesty’s own Dominions, of the Kingdom ofIreland, in the County ofCork, and Parish ofDurrusin the Barony ofWest-Carbury, near the great Bogg ofLonguar, Gent.
Man.You’re a West-Countryman with a Witness. And, pray, how long have you been inEngland?
Quondam.Ever since the last year of my Soveraign Lord KingJames.
Man.And, pray, how long have you been a Captain?
Quondam.I was born so; my Father, my Grandfather, great Grandfather, and most of my Kin, were all Captains before me.
Man.You say you have been often in the Prisoner’s Company; pray where have you been in his Company, and upon what account?
Quondam.I have been in his Company atEpsom,Tunbridge,Lambeth,Islington, and at several other places both in Town and Country.
Man.Well, but you ha’n’t told what was the occasion that brought you so oft into his Company.
Quondam.He desired me to go along with him to help him to divert and entertain his Guests, especially the Ladies that us’d to visit him.
Man.I suppose you’re one of his Dependents: had you never no salary from him?
Quondam.I have had several Favours from him, and I must own I love him very well; and, by my Shoul, I believe he’s a very honest Man, and a good Christian.
Man.Who’s your next evidence?
Lottery.I desire Mr.Scampermay be call’d.
Cry.Call Mr.Scamper.
Lottery.Pray, Mr.Scamper, give the Court an Account what you know of me, as to my manner of living and behaviour in the World.
Scamper.You know,Squire Lottery, your Acquaintance and mine is but of a late Date; I never saw you till lastMayatLambeth Wells, and then ’twas but by accident too.
After other witnesses called in his behalf, whose testimony, however, tended to inculpate Squire “Royal Oak,” the evidence was summed up.
“Then the jury withdrew to consider of their verdict, and afterwards they returned into the court, and the prisoner was brought again to the bar and found guilty, according to the indictment, and afterwards received sentence, together with Mr.Auctionand Dr.Land-Bank, who were both tryed, convicted, and condemned; and their trials will be published with all possible speed.Finis.”
There is no reason to doubt, that the representations in the preceding satire are substantially correct. Private and fallacious lotteries were at this time become so general, not only in London, but in most other great cities and towns of England, whereby the lower people and the servants and children of good families were defrauded, that an act of parliament was therefore passed 10 and 11 William III. c. 17, for suppressing such lotteries; “even although they might be set up under colour of patents or grants under the great seal. Which said grants or patents,” says the preamble “are against the common good, welfare, and peace of the kingdom, and are void and against law.” A penalty therefore of five hundred pounds was laid on the proprietors of any such lotteries, and of twenty pounds on every adventurer in them. Notwithstanding this, the like disposition to fraud and gaining prevailed again, till fresh laws were enacted for theirsuppression.[441]
It is observed, that if the lottery office keepers of the present century could be credited, their adventurers enjoyed greater gaming privileges than the world ever produced; and yet it is an indubitable fact, that in the early state lotteries the advantages offered were eminently superior to those of recent times.
The Post Boy of December 27 says, “We are informed that the parliamentary lottery will be fixed in this manner:—150,000 tickets will be delivered out at 10l.each ticket, making in all the sum of 1,500,000l.sterling; the principal whereof is to be sunk, the parliament allowing nine per cent. interest for the whole during the term of thirty-two years, which interestis to be divided as follows: 3750 tickets will be prizes from 1000l.to 5l.per annum during the said thirty-two years; all the other tickets will be blanks, so that there will be thirty-nine of these to one prize, but then each blank ticket will be entitled to fourteen shillings a year for the term of thirty-two years, which is better than an annuity for life at ten per cent. over and above the chance of getting a prize.” Such was the eagerness of the public in subscribing to the above profitable scheme, that Mercers-hall was literally crowded, and the clerks were found incompetent to receive the influx of names. 600,000l.was subscribed January 21; and on the 28th of February the sum of 1,500,000l.was completed.
The rage for lotteries reigned uncontrolled; and the newspapers of the day teemed with proposals issued by every ravenous adventurer who could collect a few valuable articles; and from those, shopkeepers took the hint, and goods of every description were converted into prizes, even neckcloths, snuff-boxes, toothpick-cases, linen, muslin, and plate. The prices of tickets were generally sixpence, a shilling, half a crown, &c. At the latter end of the year just mentioned, the magistrates, being alarmed, declared their intention of putting the act of William and Mary in force, which levied a penalty of 500l.on the proprietor, and 20l.on each purchaser.
Matthew West, a goldsmith, of Clare-street, Clare-market, appears to have been the man who first divided lottery tickets into shares. He advertised, in 1712, that he had sold 100 tickets in the million and an half lottery in twentieths, and purposed pursuing his plan, which was well received.
The lottery for 1714 contained 50,000 tickets at 10l.each, with 6982 prizes and 43,018 blanks; two of the former were 10,000l., with one of 5, another of 4000l., a third of 3000l., and a fourth of 2000l., five of 1000l., ten of 500l., twenty of 200l., fifty of 100l., four hundred of 50l., and six thousand, four hundred, and ninety-one of 20l.
Besides the drawing for prizes and blanks, there was another for the course of payment, and each 1000 tickets was called a course. The payments to the receivers were on the 10th of November and 10th of December, 1713. When the tickets were drawn, they were exchanged for standing orders, and thus rendered assignable by endorsement; all the blanks were repaid the 10l.per ticket at one payment, in the order their course of payment happened to fall, and they bore an interest of four per cent. from Michaelmas 1713. The prizes were payable in the same manner: the first drawn ticket had 500l.; the last 1000l.besides the general chance; 35,000l.per annum was payable weekly from the Exchequer to the paymaster for the discharge of the principal and interest, and the whole funds of the civil list were chargeable for thirty-two years for 35,000l.perannum.[442]
One of the schemes which preceded the bubbles of 1720 was an insurance-office for lottery tickets, opened at Mercers-hall; and 120,000l.was actually subscribed on the following terms: for every ninety-six tickets insured, the proprietors agreed to allow to the company (after the tickets were drawn) 16s.per ticket, and five per cent. on such prizes as occurred to the ninety-six tickets, the company returning the tickets, and in case the prizes did not amount to 288l.valuing the prizes at par; the company to make up the money 3l.for every ticket. For every forty-eight tickets the proprietors agreed to allow 19s.per ticket, and five per cent. on the prizes as above; the company making up the tickets 144l.or 3l.per ticket, and so on down to twelve tickets. The proprietors of the tickets to advance no money for this security; but, when drawn, to allow as above; the tickets to be deposited with the company, and placed by them under seal in the bank of England; if not called for in ninety days after the drawing, to beforfeited.[443]
In 1712, gambling prevailed in smaller private and unlawful lotteries, under the denomination of sales of gloves, fans, cards, plate, &c.; also offices were opened for insurances on marriages, births, christenings, services, &c. and daily advertisements thereof were published in the newspapers. By an act of the tenth of queen Anne, keepers of these lotteriesand offices were subjected to a penalty of 500l.In 1716, the spirit of adventure was excited by the sale of chances and parts of chances of tickets, which occasioned parliament again to interfere: all such practices, and all undertakings resembling lotteries, or founded on the state lottery, were declared illegal, and prohibited under a penalty of 100l.beyond the penalties previously enacted against privatelotteries.[444]
The attention of “the Spectator” was directed to the lottery mania prevailing at this period. One of its writers observing, on the predilection for particular numbers, ranks it among the pastimes and extravagancies of human reason, which is of so busy a nature, that it will exert itself on the meanest trifles, and work even when it wants materials. He instances, that when a man has a mind to adventure his money in a lottery, every figure of it appears equally alluring, and as likely to succeed as any of its fellows. They all of them have the same pretensions to goodluck, stand upon the same foot of competition; and no manner of reason can be given, why a man should prefer one to the other, before the lottery is drawn. In this case therefore, caprice very often acts in the place of reason, and forms to itself some groundless imaginary motive, where real and substantial ones are wanting. I know a well-meaning man that is very well pleased to risk his good fortune upon the number 1711, because it is the year of our Lord. I am acquainted with a tacker that would give a good deal for the number 134. On the contrary, I have been told of a certain zealous dissenter, who being a great enemy to popery, and believing that bad men are the most fortunate in this world, will lay two to one on the number 666 against any other number; because, says he, it is the number of the beast. Several would prefer the number 12000 before any other, as it is the number of the pounds in the great prize. In short, some are pleased to find their own age in their number; some that they have got a number which makes a pretty appearance in the cyphers; and others, because it is the same number that succeeded in the last lottery. Each of these, upon no other grounds, thinks he stands fairest for the great lot, and that he is possessed of what may not be improperly called thegolden number.
I remember among the advertisements in the “Post Boy” of September the 27th, I was surprised to see the following one:
This is to give notice, that ten shillings over and above the market-price will be given for the ticket in the 1500000l. Lottery, No132,by Nath. Cliff, at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside.
This advertisement has given great matter of speculation to coffee-house theorists. Mr. Cliff’s principles and conversation have been canvassed upon this occasion, and various conjectures made, why he should thus set his heart upon No132. I have examined all the powers in those numbers, broken them into fractions, extracted the square and cube root, divided and multiplied them all ways, but could not arrive at the secret till about three days’ ago, when I received the following letter from an unknown hand, by which I find that Mr. Nathaniel Cliff is only the agent, and not the principal, in this advertisement.
“Mr. Spectator,
“I am the person that lately advertised I would give ten shillings more than the current price for the ticket No132 in the lottery now drawing; which is a secret I have communicated to some friends, who rally me incessantly upon that account. You must know I have but one ticket, for which reason, and a certain dream I have lately had more than once, I was resolved it should be the number I most approved. I am so positive I have pitched upon the great lot, that I could almost lay all I am worth of it. My visions are so frequent and strong upon this occasion, that I have not only possessed the lot, but disposed of the money which in all probability it will sell for. This morning, in particular, I set up an equipage which I look upon to be the gayest in the town; the liveries are very rich, but not gaudy. I should be very glad to see a speculation or two upon lottery subjects, in which you would oblige all people concerned, and in particular
“Your most humble servant,“George Gosling.”
“P.S. Dear Spec, if I get the 12000l.I’ll make thee a handsome present.”
After having wished my correspondent good luck, and thanked him for his intended kindness, I shall for this time dismiss the subject of the lottery, and only observe, that the greatest part of mankind are in some degree guilty of my friend Gosling’s extravagance. We are apt to rely upon future prospects, and become really expensive while we are only rich in possibility. We live up to our expectations, not to our possessions, and make a figure proportionable to what we may be, not what we are. We outrun our present income, as not doubting to disburse ourselves out of the profits of some future place, project, or reversion that we have in view. It is through this temper of mind, which is so common among us, that we see tradesmen break, who have met with no misfortunes in their business; and men of estates reduced to poverty, who have never suffered from losses or repairs, tenants, taxes, or law-suits. In short, it is this foolish sanguine temper, this depending upon contingent futurities, that occasions romantic generosity, chimerical grandeur, senseless ostentation, and generally ends in beggary and ruin. The man who will live above his present circumstances is in great danger of living in a little time much beneath them, or, as theItalianproverb runs, the man who lives by hope will die by hunger.
It should be an indispensable rule in life, to contract our desires to our present condition, and whatever may be our expectations, to live within the compass of what we actually possess. It will be time enough to enjoy an estate when it comes into our hands; but if we anticipate our good fortune, we shall lose the pleasure of it when it arrives, and may possibly never possess what we have so foolishly countedupon.[445]