Chapter 80

This scheme was his last. One of the notes he had received at the bank, on a forged ticket, he had passed at Mr. Aldous’s, a pawn-broker in Berwick-street, where he was known by the name of Powel, and went two or three times a week to pledge things of value. An officer was placed at Mr. Aldous’s till his next call, which was the next day but one, when he was secured and carried to Bow-street. His behaviour there was exceedingly insolent. Mr. Bond, who, when Price kept a lottery-office in King-street, Covent-garden, was clerk at Bow-street, had visited him on account of some money due to Sir John Fielding’s maid servant, gained by insuring with Price, which he had refused to pay her; but when informed by Mr. Bond who her master was, he waited on Sir John, and satisfied her claim. He now taxed Mr. Bond, who had been made a magistrate, with prejudice against him on account of the insurance affair, and complained that he should not have justice done him. He also urged against Mr. Abraham Newland, esq., principal cashier of the bank, that he could expect nothing from him but every possible injury, on account of some former antipathy that gentleman had conceived towards him; and he imputed desire of revenge to every individual whose duty it was to render him amenable to justice.

When under examination, the chief magistrate, Sir Sampson Wright, suddenly called out “Sam;” the young man immediately answered, and at the samemoment appeared before his old master, who started as at a ghost; but, recollecting himself, made a polite bow to his former servant, with a view either to awaken his sympathy, or to hint at what he might expect if he disclaimed him. Samuel, however, could only swear to his voice, for he had not the least idea of his person or features. Price was committed to Tothillfields-bridewell, where he turned his thoughts to the destruction of the implements. Well knowing that nothing could be extracted from Mrs. Price, or any of his family, to affect him, he had declared, when under examination, that he lived with them at a cheesemonger’s in the neighbourhood of Tottenham-court-road; and he was equally secure that nothing could be found there to afford the least suspicion of his being the forger described under the character ofPatch. His next step was to obtain an interview with Mrs. Price and his eldest son, a youth about fifteen years of age. To his wife’s great surprise, he communicated to her the secret of his lodgings, and the circumstances respecting her aunt. He wrote a letter to Mrs. Pounteney, informing her of his situation, and desiring her instantly to destroy every atom of the apparatus, clothes, &c.; he tore up the inner sole of his son’s shoe, and putting the letter under, it passed safe.

When Mrs. Pounteney received the letter, she burnt every article of clothes in which Price had disguised himself, and sent for a carpenter, to whom he had never been visible, to take down the wood frame, presses, and other instruments with which Price had made his paper, and printed off his notes. While the maid was gone for the carpenter, her mistress put the copper-plates into the fire, and, rendering them pliable, reduced them to small pieces. These, with a large bundle of small wires, used in the manufacture of the paper and water-marks, she desired Price’s son to take to the adjacent fields, and there distribute them beneath the dust heaps; and the pieces lay there till, by a stratagem, they were discovered and brought to Bow-street. The carpenter took down the apparatus, and being paid and despatched, every thing was brought down and reduced to ashes.

Throughout Price’s examinations, his assurance was the most remarkable feature in his conduct; but the audacity by which he sought to baffle his accusers was so reckless, as to disclose a circumstance which largely added to the grounds for believing him to be the criminal who had so long eluded justice. From the extreme art he had adopted to effectually disguise his person, while committing his enormous frauds, there was no connected proof of his identity. Long before his apprehension, he had hazarded experiments to discover whether his disguises were effectual. He would go to the coffee-houses about the ’Change, where he was thoroughly well known as Mr. Price, and in his real character inquire for Mr. Norton, write a letter, and leave it at the bar. In ten minutes he would return as Mr. Norton, receive the letter, and drink his coffee. While in Tothillfields-bridewell, a boy who had more than once taken cash for him to the tellers at the bank, together with the boy’s mother, who had also seen him, were conveyed to the prison to view him. The boy could not at all identify him: the mother was more positive, but still the proof was deemed scarcely sufficient to convict him. He had pledged things of value several times, under the name of Powel, with Mr. Aldous. Mrs. Pounteney had done the same in the character of Mrs. Powel. They had talked of each other, and each of them had at different times pledged the same article; yet Price on his examination denied the least knowledge of her; impudently threatened to bring actions for false imprisonment; and ridiculing the officers for not finding a ten pound note in his fob, under his watch, when he was searched, he heedlessly produced it—this identical note was one of the notes delivered by the cashier upon a teller’s ticket which Price had forged!

Price had been brought up three times for the purpose of being viewed, and his sagacity perceived the impossibility of his escaping the hand of justice. He told the keeper he had been “betrayed,” but this was not the fact. Meditating to avoid a public execution, he informed his son that the people of the prison came into his room sooner than he wished; and that he had something secret to write, which they might get at by suddenly coming upon him, which he wished to prevent. On this pretence he gave his son money to purchase two gimblets and a sixpenny cord, pointing out to him how he would fasten the gimblets in the post, and tie the cord across the door, which opened inwards. The poor youth obtained the implements, and Price havingfastened the gimblets under two hat screws, was discovered hanging in his room, without coat or shoes, on the 25th of January, 1786.

Under his waistcoat were found three papers. One was a petition to the king, praying protection for his wife and eight children; all of whom, he said, had never offended; and stating, that he had written a pamphlet with a view to prevent a war between the crowns of England and Denmark, and to rescue the character of queen Matilda from the aspersions of the queen dowager’s party. The second was a letter of thanks to Mr. Fenwick, the keeper of the prison, for his indulgence and favours. The third was a letter to his wife, wherein he begged her forgiveness for the injuries he had done her, and intreated her attention to their offspring. In these papers, written with his dying hand, the guilty man solemnly denied every thing laid to his charge!

Immediately upon Price’s self-destruction, his unhappy wife, who had been innocent of his iniquities, was urged to discover the woman with whom he had been connected. She was assured, that though the verdict of a coroner’s inquest must be formally complied with, yet, if she rendered this act of justice to the country, his remains might afterwards receive christian burial. Her son was present and added his intreaties that she would tell, or suffer him to tell, who and where the woman was; the feelings of the widow and the mother prevailed, and she communicated the residence of her depraved aunt, who, on being taken into custody, disclosed several of the circumstances attending the destruction and concealment of the presses and implements. What remained of them were destroyed by the police, and she was delivered out of custody to the punishment of her own thoughts. It was afterwards ascertained, on a second search, that she had not discovered all the machinery. The frame with which Price had made his paper was produced to her, and she was asked what it was: “It is an instrument,” she said, “I use for mangling.” An answer which may be taken as evidence, that notwithstanding the example of Price might have taught her the folly of wickedness, and though she herself had escaped by the sufferance of extreme mercy, her mind was still disposed to evil.

Price was buried in the cross-roads, but, in about a week, his body was privately removed by night.

These particulars of Price are more numerous, and the account of him is more diffuse, than might be expected in connection with the lottery; but as he was too remarkable to have been omitted among its incidents, so his criminal career was too flagitious and notorious to be lightly passed over when he was mentioned at all.

Price’s lottery-office, in King-street, Covent-garden, was the house now (in 1826) occupied by Mr. Setchell, the bookseller. On part of the wall where Mr. Setchell’s shutters are placed, there are remains of Price’s lottery-bills still visible.

The “Gentleman’s Magazine” of 1787 inserts what is called “a copy of a paper left by the unhappy young gentleman who lately shot himself with two pistols in Queen-street, Westminster,” wherein he execrates “the head that planned, and the heart that executed, the baneful, destructive plan of aLottery.”

The same year, in a debate in the house of commons on a bill then passing to prevent insurance, Mr. Francis said his own family furnished a striking instance of the dreadful effects of a passion for this ruinous practice. He had given, at different times, to a female servant sums of money to the amount of two hundred pounds, to discharge tradesmen’s bills; and, to his great surprise, he found afterwards that, regardless of his character, or her own, she had risked the entire sum in insuring in the lottery, and had lost it. He would have been glad had the loss of money been the only one, for he would have taken it upon himself; but the poor woman lost her life within a week after this discovery had been made, dying broken-hearted and distracted.

In the Lottery of 1788 a guinea share of a ticket drawn a 20,000l.prize had been duly registered by Shergold and Co. who sold it, and acquainted the holder by letter that it entitled him to 1500l.This lucky man, who lived in the country, attended his club the same evening, and imparted the good news he had received. His joy, however, was considerably damped by a person present, who assured him that he never would be paid—thathis prize was not worth a groat, and that he himself knew one who at the beginning of the lottery had a half guinea share a prize of 20,000l.and was entitled to 700l., but was glad to compromise it for 50l.After reciting a variety of circumstances to the same effect, and cunningly working up alarm to the highest pitch, he at length told the owner of the prize, that he knew some of the proprietors in Shergold’s house, and he believed he might be able to get some money where another could get none; he would therefore venture to give 100l.for the prize. This proposal being rejected, he advanced to 200l. from thence to 300l.and at last to 600l., which was accepted. He accordingly paid the money to the unfortunatefortunateadventurer, got possession of the prize, and immediately set off for London, and received the 1500l.without difficulty. Several eminent lawyers, on considering the misrepresentations used in this transaction, were of opinion, that it was what is termed a catching bargain, and advised the owner, who was cozened out of 900l., to apply to equity forrelief.[480]He seems to have been afraid of the remedy; for, though he took counsel’s opinion, it does not appear that he followed it into chancery.

At the Haymarket theatre, in 1791, a comedy, called the “School for Arrogance,” was produced with a prologue spoken in the character of a news-hawker, with the Lottery as one of the topics of intelligence.

After sounding, and calling “Great News!” without; he enters with a postman’s horn, newspapers, cap and livery.

Great news! here’s money lent on bond, rare news!By honest, tender-hearted, christian jews!Here are promotions, dividends, rewards,A list of bankrupts, and of new made lords.Here the debates at length are, for the week;And here the deaf and dumb are taught to speak.Here Hazard, Goodluck, Shergold, and a bandOf gen’rous gentlemen, whose hearts expandWith honour, rectitude, and public spirit,Equal in high desert, with equal merit,Divide their tickets into shares and quarters;And here’s a servant-maid found hanging in her garters!Here! here’s the fifty thousand, sold at ev’ry shop!And here’s the “Newgate Calendar”—and drop.Rare news! strange news! extraordinary news!Who would not give three halfpence to peruse?

Shergolds seem to have persisted in a course of attempts to evade the law, by a peculiar mode of dividing and insuring tickets; but in Michaelmas term, 1791, the question was argued in the court of King’s-bench on a special verdict, whether the sellers of their receipts were liable to be apprehended and committed as vagrants under the Lottery act, and the court determined, that they were vagrants within the true intent of the act.

In February, 1793, the commissioners of the Lottery, in order to abate insuring, determined that no persons should be suffered to take down numbers, except the clerks of licensed offices known to the commissioners: no slips were to be sent out; but the numbers were to be taken down by one clerk in one book; Steel’s list of lottery numbers was to be abolished, and a recompence made for it; and the magistrates resolved to apprehend all suspicious persons who should be seen taking earlynumbers.[481]

Yet, in 1796, we find “a class of sharpers, who take Lottery Insurances,” and that this gambling, among the higher and middling ranks, was carried on to an extent exceeding all credibility, producing consequences to many private families, of great worth and respectability, of the most distressing nature.—Mr. Colquhoun represents them as “a class, in general, of very depraved or distressed characters, who keep unlicensed insurance offices, during the drawing of the English and Irish Lotteries;” many of whom, during the intervals of such lotteries, had recently invented and set up private lotteries, or wheels, calledlittle goes, containing blanks and prizes, which were drawn for the purpose of establishing a ground for insurance, and producing incalculable mischiefs, inasmuch as the rage andmania were so rooted, from habit and a spirit of gaming, that no domestic pressure, and no consideration, connected either with the frauds that were practised, or the number of chances against them, would operate as a check upon the minds of the infatuated. The criminal agents felt no want of customers. The houses and offices were not only extremely numerous all over the metropolis, but in general high rented, exhibiting the appearance of considerable expense, and barricadoed in such a manner with iron doors and other contrivances as, in many instances, to defy the arm of the law. A considerable portion of their emoluments was traced to have been derived from menial servants in general; but particularly the male and female domestics in the houses of men of fashion and fortune, who were said, almost without a single exception, to be in the constant habit of insuring in the English and Irish Lotteries.

Such persons, with a spirit of gambling rendered more ardent than prevails in common life, from the example of their superiors, and from their idle and dissipated habits, entered keenly into the Lottery business; and when ill luck attended them were often led, step by step, to that point where they lost sight of moral principle, and were impelled, by desire of regaining what they had lost, to sell or pawn the property of their masters, whenever it could be pilfered so as to elude detection; and this species of peculation sometimes terminated in more atrocious crimes.

The insurance offices in the metropolis exceeded four hundred in number. To many of them persons were attached, calledMorocco Men, who went from house to house among their customers, or attended in the back parlours of public-houses, where they were met by them to make insurances.

It was calculated, that at these offices (exclusive of what was done at the licensed offices) insurances were made to the extent of eight hundred thousand pounds, in premiums during the Irish Lottery, and above one million during the English; upon which it was calculated that they made from fifteen to twenty-five per cent. profit. This confederacy, during the English Lottery of the year 1796, supported about 2000 agents and clerks, and nearly 7500 Morocco men, including a considerable number ofruffians and bludgeon men, paid by a general association of the principal proprietors of the establishments, who regularly met in committee, in a well-known public-house in Oxford-market, twice or thrice a week, during the drawing of the lottery, for the purpose of concerting measures to defeat the exertions of the magistrates, by forcibly resisting or bribing the officers of justice.

The Lottery was declared to be inseparable from illegal insurances, by the parliamentary reports of 1807; and they further state, that “the Lottery is so radically vicious, that under no system of regulations which can be devised will it be possible for parliament to adopt it as an efficient source of revenue, and at the same time divest it of all the evils and calamities of which it has hitherto been so baneful a source.” Among these evils and calamities, the committees of parliament enumerate that “idleness, dissipation, and poverty, were increased,—the most sacred and confidential trusts were betrayed—domestic comfort was destroyed—madness was often created—suicide itself was produced—and crimes subjecting the perpetrators of them to death were committed.”

These werelittleLotteries on the same plan as the great State Lotteries, and drawn in the same manner. There were generally five or six “little goes” in the year, and they were actually set up and conducted by two or three of the licensed lottery-office keepers. The State Lottery was the parent of these “little goes.” Persons who had not patience to wait till another State Lottery gambled during the vacations in a “little go.” A “little go” was never heard of during the StateLotteries.[482]

Sir Nathaniel Conant, who in 1816 was chief magistrate of the police establishment at Bow-street, stated in that year to a committee of the house of commons, that the Lottery was one of the predisposing causes by which the people of the metropolis were vitiated; that itled to theft, to supply losses and disappointments, occasioned by speculating on its chances; and that illegal insurances continued to be effected:—“there are,” he says, “people in the back ground who having got 40, or 50,000l.by that, employ people of the lowest order, and give them a commission for what they bring; there isa wheel within a wheel.” Another magistrate, giving evidence before the same committee, said, “it is a scandal to the government thus to excite people to practice the vice of gaming, for the purpose of drawing a revenue from their ruin: it is an anomalous proceeding by law to declare gambling infamous, to hunt out petty gamblers in their recesses, and cast them into prison, and by law also to set up the giant gambling of the State Lottery, and encourage persons to resort to it by the most captivating devices which ingenuity, uncontrolled by moral rectitude, caninvent.”[483]

Incredible efforts were made in the summer of 1826 to keep the “last lottery” on its legs. The price of tickets was arbitrarily raised, to induce a belief that they were in great demand at the very moment when their sale was notoriously at a stand; and the lagging attention of the public of the metropolis was endeavoured to be quickened, by all sorts of stratagems, to the 18th of July, as the very last chance that would occur in England of gaining “Six30,000l.besides other Capitals,” which it was positively affirmed were “all to be drawn” on that fatal day. Besides the dispersion of innumerable bills, and the aspersions on government relative to the approaching extinction of the Lottery, the parties interested in its preservation caused London and its environs to be paraded by the following

Procession.

1. Three men in liveries, scarlet and gold.

2. Six men bearing boards at their backs and on their breasts, with inscriptions in blue and gold, “All Lotteries end Tuesday next, six 30,000l.”

3. Band of trumpets, clarionets, horns, &c.

4. A large purple silk banner carried by six men, inscribed in large gold letters “All Lotteries end for ever on Tuesday next, six 30,000l.”

5. A painted carriage, representing the Lottery wheel, drawn by two dappled grey horses, tandem fashion; the fore horse rode by a postillion in scarlet and gold, with a black velvet cap, and a boy seated in a dickey behind the machine, turning the handle and setting the wheel in motion.

6. Six men with other Lottery labels.

7. A square Lottery carriage, surmounted by a gilt imperial crown; the carriage covered by labels, with “All Lotteries end on Tuesday next;” drawn by two horses, tandem, and a postillion.

8. Six men with labels.

9. Twelve men in blue and gold, with boards or poles with “Lotteries end for ever on Tuesday next.”

10. A large purple silk flag, with “all Lotteries end on Tuesday next.”

This procession with its music drew the heads of the servant maids from the windows in every suburb of the metropolis, and was followed by troops of boys, till they tired on its frequency. It sometimes stopped, and a man with a bell cried “O yes!” and “God save the king!” and, between the two, proclaimed, in set words, the “death of the Lottery on Tuesday next!” The event was likewise announced as certain in all the newspapers, and by cart-loads of bills showered down areas, and thrust under knockers; when, behold, “the Lords of the Treasury were pleased to order” the final drawing to be postponed to Thursday the 18th of October; but all the good people so informed were wisely uninformed, that this “order” was obtained by the lottery-office folks, to give them a long day to get rid of their unsold tickets.

After this, the streets were cavalcaded by men, whose bodies were concealed between long boards on each side of their horses (as represented in theengravingonpage 1407) to announce thenext“last of the Lottery on the 18th of October” aforesaid; and men on foot walked with labels on their breasts and backs, with the same never-dying intelligence, according to the further figure in theengravingof the lottery wheel (onpage 1439,) which cut, it may be here observed, represents one of the government wheels, and the sledge it was drawn upon from Somerset-house to Coopers’-hall, atthe commencement of the drawing of every Lottery; on which occasion there were four horses to each wheel, and about a dozen horse-guards to protect the instruments ofMiss-Fortune.

But the most pageant-like machine was an octagon frame work, covered by printed Lottery placards (as exhibited in theengravingonpage 1405) with a single horse, and a driver, and a guard-like seat at the back. When drawn along the streets, as it was at a most funereal pace, it overtopped the sills of the first-floor windows. Its slow motion, and the route it chiefly took, evidenced thelowhopes of the proprietors. St. Giles’s and the purlieus of that neighbourhood seem to have been selected as the favoured spots from whence favours were mostly to be expected. An opportunity offered to sketch it, while it was pelted with mud and stones, and torn and disfigured by the unappreciating offspring of the sons of fortune whose regards it courted. The artist’s letter describes the scene: “As I was walking up Holborn on Monday the 9th instant, I saw a strange vehicle moving slowly on, and when I came up to it, found a machine, perhaps from twenty to thirty feet high, of an octagon shape, covered all over with Lottery papers of various colours. It had a broad brass band round the bottom, and moved on a pivot; it had a veryimposingeffect. The driver and the horse seemed as dull as though they were attending a solemn funeral, whilst the different shopkeepers came to the doors and laughed; some of the people passing and repassing read the bills that were pasted on it, as if they had never read one before, others stationed themselves to look at it as long as it was in sight. It entered Monmouth-street, that den of filth and rags, where so great a number of young urchins gathered together in a few minutes as to be astonishing. There being an empty chair behind, one of them seated himself in it, and rode backwards; another said, “let’s have a stone through it,” and a third cried “let’s sludge it.” This was no sooner proposed than they threw stones, oyster shells, and dirt, and burst several of the sheets; this attack brought the driver from his seat, and he was obliged to walk by the side of his machine up this foul street, which his show canvassed, halting now and then to threaten the boys, who still followed and threw. I made a sketch, and left the scene. It was not an every-day occurrence, and I accompany it with these remarks.”

This was the fag-end of the last struggle of the speculators on public credulity for popularity to their “last, dying Lottery.”

At last, on Wednesday the 18th of October, 1826, the State Lottery expired, and its decease was announced in the newspapers of the next day by the followingarticle:—

State Lottery.

Yesterday afternoon, at about half past six o’clock, that old servant of the state, the Lottery, breathed its last, having for a long period of years, ever since the days of queen Anne, contributed largely towards the public revenue of the country. This event took place at Coopers’-hall, Basinghall-street; and such was the anxiety on the part of the public to witness the last drawing of the Lottery, that great numbers of persons were attracted to the spot, independently of those who had an interest in the proceedings. The gallery of Coopers’-hall was crowded to excess long before the period fixed for the drawing, (five o’clock,) and the utmost anxiety was felt by those who had shares in the Lottery for the arrival of the appointed hour. The annihilation of Lotteries, it will be recollected, was determined on in the session of parliament before last; and thus a source of revenue bringing into the treasury the sums of 250,000l.and 300,000l.per annum will be dried up. This determination on the part of the legislature is hailed by far the greatest portion of the public with joy, as it will put an end to a system which many believe to have fostered and encouraged the late speculations, the effects of which have been and are still severely felt. A deficiency in the public revenue to the extent of 250,000l.annually, will, however, be the consequence of the annihilation of Lotteries, and it must remain for those who have strenuously supported the putting a stop to Lotteries to provide for the deficiency.

Although that which ended yesterday was the last, if we are informed correctly, the lottery-office keepers have been left with a great number of tickets remaining on their hands—a pretty strong proof that the public in general have now no relish for these schemes.

The concourse of persons in Basinghall-street was very great; indeed the street was almost impassable, and everybody seemed desirous of ascertaining the fortunate numbers. In the gallery the greatest interest was excited, as the various prizes were drawn from the wheel; and as soon as a number-ticket was drawn from the number-wheel every one looked with anxiety to his share, in order to ascertain if Fortune smiled on him. Only one instance occurred where a prize was drawn and a number held by any individual present. The fortunate person was a little man, who, no sooner had learned that his number was a grand prize, then he buttoned up his coat and coolly walked off without uttering a word. As the drawing proceeded, disappointment began to succeed the hopes indulged by those who were present. On their entrance to the hall every face wore a cheerful appearance; but on the termination of the drawing a strong contrast was exhibited, and the features of each were strongly marked with dissatisfaction.

The drawing commenced shortly after five o’clock, and ended at twenty minutes past six.

The doors of the various Lottery-offices were also surrounded by persons awaiting the issue of the drawing.

It is not possible to go into theLiterature of the Lotterywithout occupying more room than can be spared, but young readers and posterity may be amused and surprised by some figures, from among many hundreds of wood-cuts on the bills of schemes, and invitations to buy.

“T. BISH, 4 Cornhill, and 9 Charing-cross, London, and by all his agents in the country,” put forth the following.

figures made out of utensils

Kitchen Maid.Mistress Molly, the Cook,At the Scheme only look,In wealth we may both of us roll,If webrushfor a PrizeIn the world we may rise,And ourskuttleshave plenty ofcole.Cook Maid.If what you say is true,I am all in astew,Lest we miss what we so much desire;Should we lose this good plan,Fora sup in the pan,All thefatwill be soonin the fire!

Kitchen Maid.Mistress Molly, the Cook,At the Scheme only look,In wealth we may both of us roll,If webrushfor a PrizeIn the world we may rise,And ourskuttleshave plenty ofcole.

Kitchen Maid.

Mistress Molly, the Cook,At the Scheme only look,In wealth we may both of us roll,If webrushfor a PrizeIn the world we may rise,And ourskuttleshave plenty ofcole.

Cook Maid.If what you say is true,I am all in astew,Lest we miss what we so much desire;Should we lose this good plan,Fora sup in the pan,All thefatwill be soonin the fire!

Cook Maid.

If what you say is true,I am all in astew,Lest we miss what we so much desire;Should we lose this good plan,Fora sup in the pan,All thefatwill be soonin the fire!

Except the verses which were placed in the bill beneath the precedingcut, it contained nothing but an announcement of the day when the Lottery was to draw, and the number of capital prizes, subjoined by this information, “Tickets and shares are selling byT. Bish;” who seems to have imagined he could propitiate the “kitchen maid” and “cook maid” in his behalf, as a lottery-office keeper, by exhibiting a tea-kettle and fire implements to personify the one, and certain culinary utensils to personify the other.

“Delightfulcutto rear the tender mind”

from thebasementto thecapitalstory.

running footman

Run, Neighbours, run, theLottery’sexpiring,WhenFortune’smerry wheel, it will never turn more;She now supplies allNumbers, you’re desiring,All Prizes,No Blanks, andTwenty Thousands Four.Haste, Neighbours, haste, the Chance will never come again,When, without pain, for littleCash—you’ll all be rich;Prizes a plenty of—and such a certain source of gain,That young and old, and all the world, it must bewitch.Then run, neighbours, run, &c.

Run, Neighbours, run, theLottery’sexpiring,WhenFortune’smerry wheel, it will never turn more;She now supplies allNumbers, you’re desiring,All Prizes,No Blanks, andTwenty Thousands Four.

Haste, Neighbours, haste, the Chance will never come again,When, without pain, for littleCash—you’ll all be rich;Prizes a plenty of—and such a certain source of gain,That young and old, and all the world, it must bewitch.Then run, neighbours, run, &c.

This versified address and theengravingare from another bill. The verses may be presumed as sung by the footman, to excite his fellows of the party-coloured cloth to speculate in the never-enough-to-be-sufficiently-magnified-number of chances in favour of their gaining “Four of £20,000, and—Thirty other Capitals! No Blanks!—All in One Day!” Yet if the words, adapted from a popular duet, were regarded as an easy vehicle to effect that benevolent purpose, they could only be so to those who, with the contractors, forgot, or perhaps, with them, did not know, that the original tells of

“a day of jubileecajolery.”

Surely this must have been a “word of fear” to all except the contractors themselves, who alone would be the gainers by what the body of adventurers hazarded in the “grand scheme” of “cajolery.”

One of the bills of a former Lottery begins asfollows:—

BISHThe Last Man.

In reminding his best friends, the public, that the State Lottery will be drawn this day, 3d May, Bish acquaints them that it is thevery last but onethat will ever take place in this kingdom, and he is THE LAST CONTRACTOR whose name will appearsinglybefore the public, as the very last will be a coalition of all the usual contractors. Bish, being “the last man” who appearssingly, has been particularly anxious to make an excellent scheme, and flatters himself the one he has the honour to submit must meet universal approbation.

At the back of this bill are the following verses, derived from the “cajolery”duet:—

TO-DAY! OR NOT AT ALLRun, Neighbours, Run!Run, neighbours, run! To-day it is the Lott’ry draws,You still may be in time if your purse be low;Rhino we all know will stop, of poverty, the flaws,Possess’d of that you’ll find no one to serve you slow:The ministers in parliament of Lotteries have toll’d the knell,And have declar’d from Coopers’-hall dame Fortune soon they will expel.The blue-coat boys no more will shout that they have drawn a capital!Nor run, as tho’ their necks they’d break, toLucky Bishthe news to tell.Run, neighbours, run! &c.Run, neighbours, run! this is you know the third of May,’Tis the day dame Fortune doth her levee hold;In the scheme, as you may see, are rang’d along in proud array,Of one and twenty thousands six, in notes or gold!Asov’reigncure e’en one of these would be for a consumption, sir,If such disease your pocket has, so if you’ve any gumption, sir,You’ll lose no time, but haste away, and buy a share or ticket, sir,For who can tell but this may be the very hour to nick it, sir?Run, neighbours, run! &c.Run, neighbours, run! the times they say are not the best,And cash ’tis own’d is falling short with high and low;Bankers retire now, while Notaries have little rest,And what may happen next no one pretends to know.Dame Fortune (on whom thousands drew) is going now to shut up shop,So if you’d cash a draft on her, make haste for soon her bank will stop;This very day her wheel goes round, when thousands with her gifts she’ll cheer,For those who can her smiles obtain may gaily laugh throughout the year.Run, neighbours, run! &c.

TO-DAY! OR NOT AT ALLRun, Neighbours, Run!

Run, neighbours, run! To-day it is the Lott’ry draws,You still may be in time if your purse be low;Rhino we all know will stop, of poverty, the flaws,Possess’d of that you’ll find no one to serve you slow:The ministers in parliament of Lotteries have toll’d the knell,And have declar’d from Coopers’-hall dame Fortune soon they will expel.The blue-coat boys no more will shout that they have drawn a capital!Nor run, as tho’ their necks they’d break, toLucky Bishthe news to tell.Run, neighbours, run! &c.Run, neighbours, run! this is you know the third of May,’Tis the day dame Fortune doth her levee hold;In the scheme, as you may see, are rang’d along in proud array,Of one and twenty thousands six, in notes or gold!Asov’reigncure e’en one of these would be for a consumption, sir,If such disease your pocket has, so if you’ve any gumption, sir,You’ll lose no time, but haste away, and buy a share or ticket, sir,For who can tell but this may be the very hour to nick it, sir?Run, neighbours, run! &c.Run, neighbours, run! the times they say are not the best,And cash ’tis own’d is falling short with high and low;Bankers retire now, while Notaries have little rest,And what may happen next no one pretends to know.Dame Fortune (on whom thousands drew) is going now to shut up shop,So if you’d cash a draft on her, make haste for soon her bank will stop;This very day her wheel goes round, when thousands with her gifts she’ll cheer,For those who can her smiles obtain may gaily laugh throughout the year.Run, neighbours, run! &c.

“Bish,” as thecontractoris pleased to call himself, who, after he was “the last man,” dilated into a member of parliament, employed the greatest number of Lottery-laureates of any office keeper of his time; and he and the schemes wherein he engaged were lauded, in prose as well as verse, by his “ready writers.” One of their productionssays:—

JOHN BULL’sWonder

At monsieur Nong-tong-paw’s ubiquity could not be greater than the astonishment of a French gentleman, who popped into BISH’s office the other day to inquire after the capitals.—“You vill be so good to tell me de nombre of de capital you tiré—you draw yesterday?”—“Why, sir, there were....”—“Restez un peu, stay a littel moment.—You will tell me de capital more big dan two hundred pounds.”—“Why, sir, there were four drawn above 200l.: there was No. 7849 30,000l.”—“Ah! ma foi! dat is good dat is de grande chose. Vel, and by whom was it sel?”—“Bish sold it, sir.” “Bish, ha, ha! von lucky dog! vel, allons!”—“There was No. 602, 1000l., sir.”—“Ah, indeed! vel, who was seldat?”—“Bish, sir.”—“Eh, ma foi! Bish encore? Vel.”—“There was No. 2032, 300l.”—“And who was sel?”—“Bish, sir.”—“Eh, mon dieu! ’tis very grand fortune. Now den de last, and who vas sel dat?”—“Why, sir, the last was No. 6275, 300l., also sold by Bish.”—“Eh, de diable! ’tis von chose impossible, Bish sell all de four?”—“Yes, sir, and in a former lottery he sold all the three thirty thousands.”—“Den he is von golden philosopher. I vill buy, I vill—let me see. Yes, I vill buy your shop.”—His ambition was at last, however, contented with three tickets; so that he has three chances of gaining the two thirty thousands yet in the wheel; and we have no doubt Bish will have the good luck of selling them.

“Bish” is the subject of versified praise, in another bill.

How to be Happy.Let misers hug their worship’d hoards,And lock their chests with care;Whilst we enjoy what life affords,With spirits light as air.For our days shall haily gaily be,Prizes in store before us,We’ll spend our ev’nings merrily.And BISH we’ll toast in chorus.Let lovers droop for sparkling eyes,And heave the tender sigh:Whilst we embrace the glittering prize,And meagre care defy.For our days shall haily gaily be,Plenty in store before us;Our cash we’ll jingle merrily,And BISH we’ll toast in chorus.Let glory call the sons of warTo dare the crimson’d field;Sweet Fortune’s charms are brighter far,Her golden arms we’ll wield.Then our days will haily gaily be,Riches in store before us;We’ll dance through life most merrily,And BISH we’ll toast in chorus.

How to be Happy.

Let misers hug their worship’d hoards,And lock their chests with care;Whilst we enjoy what life affords,With spirits light as air.For our days shall haily gaily be,Prizes in store before us,We’ll spend our ev’nings merrily.And BISH we’ll toast in chorus.Let lovers droop for sparkling eyes,And heave the tender sigh:Whilst we embrace the glittering prize,And meagre care defy.For our days shall haily gaily be,Plenty in store before us;Our cash we’ll jingle merrily,And BISH we’ll toast in chorus.Let glory call the sons of warTo dare the crimson’d field;Sweet Fortune’s charms are brighter far,Her golden arms we’ll wield.Then our days will haily gaily be,Riches in store before us;We’ll dance through life most merrily,And BISH we’ll toast in chorus.

Let lovers droop for sparkling eyes,And heave the tender sigh:Whilst we embrace the glittering prize,And meagre care defy.For our days shall haily gaily be,Plenty in store before us;Our cash we’ll jingle merrily,And BISH we’ll toast in chorus.

Let glory call the sons of warTo dare the crimson’d field;Sweet Fortune’s charms are brighter far,Her golden arms we’ll wield.Then our days will haily gaily be,Riches in store before us;We’ll dance through life most merrily,And BISH we’ll toast in chorus.

“Bish” on another occasion steps inwith:—

PERMIT ME TO ASK

Have you seen the scheme of the present Lottery?

Do you know that it containsMore PrizesthanBlanks?

Have you heard how verycheapthe tickets are?

Are you aware, that Lotteries are about to be discontinued, the chancellor of the exchequer having said that the Lottery bill, introduced last session of parliament, should bethe last?

I need not direct you toBish’s, as being the luckiest offices in the kingdom, &c.

“Bish” adventured in the “City Lottery,” a scheme devised for getting rid of the houses in Picket-street, Temple-bar, and Skinner-street, Snow-hill; and on that occasion he favoured the world with thefollowing:—

Freeholds and Fortunes.By Peter Pun.Tune.—“Drops of Brandy.”Dame Fortune is full of her tricks,And blind, as her portraits reveal, sir;Then the best way the goddess to fix,Is by putting a spoke in her wheel, sir:Her favours the Lott’ry unfolds,Then the summons to BISH don’t scorn sir;For, ashercornucopiaheholds,He’s the lad for exalting your horn, sir.Rum ti iddity, &c.With poverty who would be known,And live upon orts in a garret, sir,Who could get a goodhouseof his own,And fatten on roast beef and claret, sir!In thecityscheme this you’ll obtain,AtBish’s, where all folkspell-mellcome,By a ticket afree-hold you’ll gain,And it cannot be morefreethanwelcome.Rum ti iddity, &c.This house, when you once realize it,Upholders will look sharp as lynxes,For an order toEgyptianizeit,With catacomb fal lals and sphynxes;Chairs and tables, amummy-like crew,With crocodile grooms of the stole, sir,Sarcophaguscoal-skuttles too,And atBish’syou’ll fill them withcole, sir.Rum ti iddity, &c.For when you’re thus furnish’d in state,And a pretty establishment got, sir,Ten to one but it pops in your pate,You’ll want sticks to be boiling the pot, sir;Then toBish’saway for supplies,Formopussesthey are so plenty,You may choose a ten thousand pound prize,And if you don’t like it a twenty.Rum ti iddity, &c.ThenBishfor my money, I say,The like of him never was known, sir;As Brulgruddery says in the play,“That man’s the philosopher’s stone, sir.”Then what shall we do for this man,Who makes all your fortunes so handy?Buy his tickets as fast as you can,And drink him indrops of brandy.Rum ti iddity, &c.

Freeholds and Fortunes.By Peter Pun.

Tune.—“Drops of Brandy.”

Dame Fortune is full of her tricks,And blind, as her portraits reveal, sir;Then the best way the goddess to fix,Is by putting a spoke in her wheel, sir:Her favours the Lott’ry unfolds,Then the summons to BISH don’t scorn sir;For, ashercornucopiaheholds,He’s the lad for exalting your horn, sir.Rum ti iddity, &c.With poverty who would be known,And live upon orts in a garret, sir,Who could get a goodhouseof his own,And fatten on roast beef and claret, sir!In thecityscheme this you’ll obtain,AtBish’s, where all folkspell-mellcome,By a ticket afree-hold you’ll gain,And it cannot be morefreethanwelcome.Rum ti iddity, &c.This house, when you once realize it,Upholders will look sharp as lynxes,For an order toEgyptianizeit,With catacomb fal lals and sphynxes;Chairs and tables, amummy-like crew,With crocodile grooms of the stole, sir,Sarcophaguscoal-skuttles too,And atBish’syou’ll fill them withcole, sir.Rum ti iddity, &c.For when you’re thus furnish’d in state,And a pretty establishment got, sir,Ten to one but it pops in your pate,You’ll want sticks to be boiling the pot, sir;Then toBish’saway for supplies,Formopussesthey are so plenty,You may choose a ten thousand pound prize,And if you don’t like it a twenty.Rum ti iddity, &c.ThenBishfor my money, I say,The like of him never was known, sir;As Brulgruddery says in the play,“That man’s the philosopher’s stone, sir.”Then what shall we do for this man,Who makes all your fortunes so handy?Buy his tickets as fast as you can,And drink him indrops of brandy.Rum ti iddity, &c.

With poverty who would be known,And live upon orts in a garret, sir,Who could get a goodhouseof his own,And fatten on roast beef and claret, sir!In thecityscheme this you’ll obtain,AtBish’s, where all folkspell-mellcome,By a ticket afree-hold you’ll gain,And it cannot be morefreethanwelcome.Rum ti iddity, &c.

This house, when you once realize it,Upholders will look sharp as lynxes,For an order toEgyptianizeit,With catacomb fal lals and sphynxes;Chairs and tables, amummy-like crew,With crocodile grooms of the stole, sir,Sarcophaguscoal-skuttles too,And atBish’syou’ll fill them withcole, sir.Rum ti iddity, &c.

For when you’re thus furnish’d in state,And a pretty establishment got, sir,Ten to one but it pops in your pate,You’ll want sticks to be boiling the pot, sir;Then toBish’saway for supplies,Formopussesthey are so plenty,You may choose a ten thousand pound prize,And if you don’t like it a twenty.Rum ti iddity, &c.

ThenBishfor my money, I say,The like of him never was known, sir;As Brulgruddery says in the play,“That man’s the philosopher’s stone, sir.”Then what shall we do for this man,Who makes all your fortunes so handy?Buy his tickets as fast as you can,And drink him indrops of brandy.Rum ti iddity, &c.

“Bish” seems to have deemed “the Philosopher’s stone,” which never existed but in silly imaginations, to be a proper device for drawing customers. It is repeated in

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