The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-06-02 00:00:00

TO THE PUBLIC.

AT the present moment, when so many articles, neces-
sary to the comforts of the poorer classes, are more or less
liable to taxation, it may surely be a question, whether the aboli-
tion of Lotteries, by which the State was a gainer of nearly half a
million per annum, be or be not, a wise measure ?
'Tia true, that, as they were formerly conducted, the system was
fraught with some evil. Insurances were allowed upon the fate of
numbers, through protracted drawings, and as the insurances could
be effected fur very small sums, those who could ill afford loss Im-
bibed a spirit for gambling, which the Legislature very wisely most
effectually prevented, by adopting, in the year 13011, the present
improved mode of deciding the whole Lottery in One Day.
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As it is at present conducted, the Lottery is a voluntary tax. con-
tributed to only by those who can afford It, and collected without
trouble or expense; one by which many branches of the Revenue
arc considerably aided. and by means of which hundreds of persons
find employment. The wisdom of those who at this trine resign
the income produced by it, and add to the number of the unem-
ployed, may, as 1 have observed in my former address, surely be
questioned.

Mr. Pitt, whose ability in matters of financial arrangement few
will question, and whose morality was proverbial, would nut, I am
bold to say, have yielded to an outcry against a tax, the continuing
of which would haveenabled him to let the labourer drink his humble
beverage at a reduced price, or the industrious artisan to pursue his
occupation by a cheaper light. But we lire in other times—in the
age of improvement ! To stake patrimonial estates at Hazard or
licarte in the purlieus of St. James's is merely amusement, but to
purchase a Ticket in the Lottery, by means of which a man may gain
an estate at a triflinf. risk, is—immoral ! Nay, within a few hours of
the time I write, were not many of our Nobility and senators, some
of whom I dare say voted against Lotteries, assembled, betting
thousands upon a horse race?

In saying so much, it may be thought that I am somewhat pre-
sumptuous. or that I take a partial view of the case. It is, how-
ever, my honest opinion, abstracted from personal considerations,
that the measure or abolishing Lotteries is an unwise one, and as
such I give it to that Public, of whom I have been for many years
the highly-favoured servant, and for whose patronage, though
Lotteries cease, my gratitude will ever continue.
As one of the Last Contractors, I Iliac assisted in arranging a
Scheme, the approval of which by the Public is hourly testified by
the increasing demand for Tickets and Shares. It contains, and
for the first time that a Scheme ever did, SIX Grand Prises of
THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS, all Sterling Money. For
the sale of Capitals of that amount my Offices have, long been
famed ; for there were sold the first, the last, and more than half
of all, that have ever been drawn. For the sale of other Capitals
my Offices are too well known to make it requisite for me to
enumerate, or make any remark, beyond a general one, that they
are invariably successful ; and of that the Public are fully aware,
by the continued preference I have received fur many years.
This Lottery being, as l'arlisment has resolved,

THE LAST TIIAT EVER WILL BE DRAWN,
Is to be decided All in One Day, 18th July.

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In a former Address, I apprised the Public that the price of
Tickets and Shares would use after the 27th instant: it has risen,
is rising, and will continue to rise as the Drawing approaches.
I have the honour to be, vour devoted Servant.
1. BISH, Stock Broker,
280 Way, Up). 4, Cot:Mill, and 3, Charing.croel.