The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-30 00:00:00

• TO THE PUBLIC.
AT the present moment, when so many artieles, fleece•
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 It gainer of nearly half a
million per annum, be or he hot, a wise measure ?
'Tut 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 for very small sums those who could ill ante, loss Im-
bibed a spitit for gambling, which the Legislatttre very wisely must
effectual!, prevented, by' !adopting, in the year HMV, the Proem
improved mode of deciding the whole Lottery in One Day.
As it is at present conducted, the Lottery is a voluntary tar. con-
tributed to only by those who can afford it, and collected without
trouble or expense ; one by which many branches of the Revenue
are considerably aided. and by means of which hundreds of persons
find employment. The wisdom of those-who at this time resign
the income produced by it, and add to the number of the unem-
ployed, may, as I 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 not, I am
bold to say, have yielded to an outcry against a tax, the continuing
of which would haveenabled him to let the labourer drinkhit humble
beverage at a reduced price, or the industrious artisan to pursue his
occupation by a cheaper light. But we live is other times--in the
age of improvement ! To stake patrimonial estates at Hazard or
Ecarte in the purlieus of Si.James's is merely amusement, bat to,
purchase a Ticket in the Lottery, by means of which a tnanmay gain
an estate at a trifiink risk. is—minimal ! Nay, within a few flows 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 ease. It is, how-
ever, my honest opinion, abstracted from personal conziderations,
that the measure of abolishing Lotteries is an unwise one, and as
such I give it to that Public, of whom I have been for many years
the highlysfaloured servant, and for whose patronage, though
Lovelies cease, my gratitude will ever continue.
As one of the Last Contractors, I Mote 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 Prizes of
THIRTY THOUSAND POUNIt?., all Sterling Mcney. Fur,
the sale of Capitals of that amount my Offices have long been
famed; for there were sold the first, the last, and more than lislf
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 for many years.
This Lottery being. as Parliameat has resolved,
THE LAST THAT EVER WILL BE DRAWr,
. .

Is to be decided An in One Day, I ttelt July.
In a former Address, I apprised O: Public that the price of
Tickets and Shares would rise after the 27th instant it has ritene
is risit.g, and will continue to rise tee the arming approhri,es.
I have the honour to be, your devoted Servant.
BISII, Stock. Broker.
22th May, 1826. 4, Coroltill, and ti, Cliaring.crosit.