"After the Prizes are drawn each day, let the prose portion of the Blanks, namely 4666, be drawn also Let there be a suspension likewise of five or seven days between each drawing for the sale of Ticketss id Shares, and to give time for insurance. It may be objected, that the time being this prolonged thei inconvenience will remain the same; to avoid which, i the blank numbers so drawn, must be done secretly? and staled up by the: Commissioners; or, they may be drawn: openly, but not unfolded or declared, and if necessary, miades publice after the drawing; by which means the insurance against Blanks or Blanki and Prize will be equally abolished.",

PLAN III.

The Evils of a Lottery are many-The Advan tages might, if well regulated, be as numerous. According to the Schemes that have hitherto prevailed the principle has been wrong. Since the bait held out has been the obtaining of an immense fortune, and the risk has been proportionably great-Insurance has reigned unchecked by all penalties and punishments that could be devised to the ruin and misery of thousands. The price of tickets has been fluctuating, and fortunes have been won and lost on the chance of the great Prizes keeping in the Wheel: the 204 prizes have always proved dissatisfactory, as though there are only 2 prizes on an average to a blank, yet such is the uncertainty, that many have

scores of tickets without obtaining the proportionate advantage even from these low prizes. It is thought, therefore, that a scheme which should offer considerably more chances for prizes of and above 501. and which should ensure a return on all blanks, would be acceptable. If also it could be made to prevent insuring of tickets and capitals, it seems to be the grand desideratum in this branch of financiering.

"The principle on which these benefits may be obtained is this. There should be a considerable number of moderate prizes, such as might be fortunes, if obtained by the inferior ranks, and of consequence sufficient to answer the risk of the rich. The tickets to be drawn each day should be previously specified, which may be done by appropriating a certain share of the prizes to a certain number of tickets. All the tickets 'not drawn prizes of 501. or upwards, shall be entitled to a certain return, which would be superior to a chance for a 204. prize.

"SCHEME OF DRAWING.

"Let 2000 Tickets from No. 1, to 1999 inclusive (with Number 50) be put into a Wheel the first day, and proceed in the same manner numerically for 25 days. In the other Wheel, each day let there be put the following propor tion of Prizes, viz.

In Lotteries where the lowest prizes have been of 20%. the blanks have been in the proportion of 21 to a prize. If therefore a person had seven tickets they were entitled to expect only two 201. prizes or 407! In this, however, they were frequently disappointed, and their chance for a prize of 50l. or upwards has been as about 200 to 50,000. By the above Scheme, if a person has seven tickets they are sure of a return of 35% and have a chance of 40 to 2000, or 1000 to 50,000 for a superior prize. The certainty of the numbers and the prizes to be drawn each day would prevent insurance on those events, and every ticket

1701

ON GAMING AND THE LOTTERY.

being a prize, there could be no insurance against blanks.

"In fact, the Lottery might be drawn in one day, thus: Let there be twenty-five bags containing each 2000 numbers, either promiscuously chosen or of stated thousands. Let there be also 25 bags, each containing the 40 prizes above appropriated to. each day's drawing. Let the Commissioners empty one bag of numbers and one of prizes into two wheels. Let them draw 40 numbers out of the Number Wheel, and the 40 prizes out of the other. The remaining 1960 numbers to be entitled to 51. each.Then let them proceed with other 2000 numbers in the same way.”

At all events, whether these Plans for reforming this enormous evil, are or are not superior to others which have been devised, it is clear to demonstration that the present System is founded on a principle not less erroneous than mischievous; and, therefore, it cannot too soon be abandoned; especially since it would appear that the Revenue it produces might be preserved, with the incalculable advantage to the nation of preserving, at the same time, the morals of the people, and turning into a course of industry and usefulness the labour of many thousand individuals, who, instead of being, as at present, pests in Society, might be rendered useful members of the State.

CHAP.

CHAP. VII.

The Frauds arising from the manufacture and circulation of base Money :-The Causes of its enormous increase of late years. The different kinds of false, Coin detailed:-The Process in fabricating each species explained :-The immense Profits arising therefrom The extensive Trade in sending base Coin to the Country. Its universal Circulation in the Metropolis.The great Grievance arising from it to Brewers, Distillers, Grocers, and Retail · Dealers, in particular, as well as the Labouring Poor in general-The principal Channels through which it is uttered in the Country and in the Metropolis. Counterfeit foreign Money extremely productive to the dealers, A summary View of the Causes of the mischief. The Defects in the present Law's explained:And a Detail of the Remedies proposed to be provided by the Legislature.":

T

THE frauds committed by the fabrication of base Money, and by the nefarious practices, in the introduction of almost every species of Counterfeit Coin into the circulation of the Country, are next to be discussed.

The great outlines of this enormous evil having been stated in the first Chapter, it now remains to

elucidate