The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-08-12

frOmOtee, uegraueS,
And makes lottery Of life.
II is a notable fact, that the first lottery known
10 English history was drawn about the year 1869,
at the western door of St. Paul's Cathedral and its
profits were devoted to the repairing of the fortif
cations of the English coast The prizes consisted
of plate. The first lottery in which the prizes con-
sisted of money took place in 1880, but it was not
until 1893 that they were firmly established. They
were conducted under the supervision of the
government, and yielded for one hundred and
thirty years a large revenue to the crown.
The Irish State lotteries were drawn in Dublin,
in 1850. They were abolished in France, according
30 one authority, in 1913; but we learn so late as
1857 of lottery being drawn for the purchase of
Ahe Holy Hill of Fourviere and for the building of
. sanctuary thereon" They were abolished in Eng
land in 1926, and in Bavaria in ls47.
LOTTERIES AND AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.
Lotteries have always existed in this country
rom the time Of our colonial dependence. Many
of our readers will doubt be astounded to learn
that our very existence nation depends in some
measure upon lotteries and that of the earliest
acts of the founders of this republic, after the De-
claraton of American independence, was to charter
q lottery to enable tho Revolutionary Congress to
supply the sinews of war; For the purpose of en-
Tightening the public mind on the subject, we copy
sundry extracts from the Journals of the Cont
mental Congress, containing the proceedings from
January ,l776, to January l, 1777'':-
Resolved, That OF money be raised by way o. lot
,ery for derayng the expenses Of the next
Ordered, That the Committee who brough! in the
port prepare the plan Of lottery fix the number of
gers and the security By them TO be given, &c. and
port TO Congress.
Resolved, That the further consideration Of the report
be postponed till to morrow.
z t1a fol 1ouyin
eeedings were had on the subject of a lottery
Congress look into consideration the report Of the Com
mittee op the Lottery, whereupon
Resolved That the scheme OF the lottery be follows,
That consist of 100000 tickets each ticket to be di
vded into four bie.s, and TO drawn in four
Here follows the entire scheme of the lottery in
figures; but they. occupy too much space to be
Transcribed, is their transcription necessary.
Appended to the scheme, however, is the follow
ing
Oan bearing annual Interest OF four per cent which
with the sums arising from the deductions is TO be ap
Piled for carry the present most and
war in defence OF the lives liberties and property OF the
Inhabitants of these United States:
Resolved, That the fortunate adventurous in the fret
class who draw than twenty dollars, and
second and third casses, who draw more than thirty
forty dolars sha at their option, receive Treasury
bank note for the prize or prizes drawn payable at the
end Of five years and an annual interest the at
the rate Of four per cent the pre- empon OF such bill
lets in the next succeeding class shall
within the time hereinafter limited Every adventurer
In the first class shs have right to through the sub
sequeni classes, but shal be obliged to do IT, ras
drawers OF twenty thirty and forty dollars, rst
second and third classes, who apply for their
money within Blk weeks after drawing ends shall be
deemed adventures the next gu,,eeding Casa AMI
have their bes renewed without any further trouble II
any others shall neglect decline taxing ont and having
The price of their be.s for subsequent class wtas
Blk weeks after the drawing ends their will be sold
20 the adventurers in the preceding class or to such az
shall apply for the same The fortunate s1venturers in
the last class, who draw Atty doars SHALL upon spp.
cation to the Commissioners Of the Loan on es in
States drawers air
money without any deduction for the drawn-bauk
treasury notes payable at the end of five years after
drawing, at the Loan Office OF the State in which the
drawers reside The interest commence fro the last
day OF drawing aud TO be paid annually said re.
Bpective loan Offices
That for carrying into execution the said lottery there
sba be seven managers, who shall give bond and be on
oath for the faithful discharge of their duty.
That the money, as fast received by the mauazers
for blles, be lodged in the Continental trcasury
That the drawing of the fret class begin at Phladel
phia the let of March, l777, sooaer if sooner full
On Tuesday, November 49, l776, Congress again
took up the matter, and had the annexed proceed.
Ings:-
Congress resumed the consideration Of the report on the
lottery whereupon
Resolved, That each Of the managers shall receive for
his trouble one tenth per centum on all the money ne
shall receive on the sale OF the tickets,
That the tickets or billets be sold for ready money
That each o. the msnsgsrs give bonds 70 che President
for the faithful discharge Of their trust.
On Wednesday, November 20, 1776, Congress
again resumed the consideration of lotteries, and
performed the following deed:-
Congress proceeded TO the election OF managers Of the
men were chosen, viz-sharp Delaney John Puryauce
q s,ih @ francs Lewis, Jr., Jacob Barge, Jonathan
on filasy, November 49, l776, Congress renewed
me suplect Oh LOTTERIES and arrived al the following
conclusion "s 'n' ioii'"'us
me committee appointed to confer with the man.y.,. NJ
ne o.tery pIougnt 10 report which was ssn nto CON
Resolved, That the prizes only be drawn
That the managers be authorize1 TO enulev rs r.r
clerks 10 assst in numbering the tickets az MAJ
Hary for expeditipg the business. Ivy 'e heces'
ThGs two presses be employed for printing the ,ckc,,
On Saturday November 30, l77G, the lottery
business WA completed, with the following order
of procedure:--
Resolved That the ratuity to the managers Of the lot
lery Tor Their trouble .he conduct Of tina. business
1eisio the future judgment u Congete.