Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1911-12-05
STATE LOTTERIES.
Rise and Fall of a Tremendous
Gamble In England.
STARTED UNDER QUEEN BESS
Tho First One Was without Any
BIaneks, contayning Good Prices, a.
Wei of Redy Money rs Of Plato and
Csrtains Sorts of Marchaundixes."

0ianCHss SoutayH'"S NSee ssSSSs -
Wei of Redy Money rs Of Plato and
Csrtaine Sorts of Marehaundixes."
Though it is certain that the custom
Of holding lotteries was practiced in
European countries as far back as the
middle of the fifteenth century. 1t
seems that this particular idea was
unknown In England until more than
100 years later. The lottery. in fact.
appears to have been included among
those many other important things,
both good and bad. that were intro
duced to public notice during the reign
Of Queen Elizabeth. 1t being her maj
esty's express command that this
ready means for raising the wind"
on behalf of the state finances was
adopted.
The first Kuglish lottery must have
taken a good deal Of arranging. owing,
no doubt, to the fact that the people
of that day required certain amount
of education In this form Of gambling.
for although the idea was first brought
forward in the year 1856 lin Mary's
reign. the actual drawing did not
take place until three years later.
One of the original bills Of Queen
Elizabeth's lottery has fortunately
been preserved. printed In black letter
and measuring FIVE feet in length and
one and one-half feet wide. 1t begins
by announcing "a very rich Lotterie
General. without any blancks, con-
tayning q number OF good prices (sic),
as wei of redy money as Of plate and
certaine sorts of marchaundizes, hav-
ing ben valued and priced by the COM
maundement Of the Queene's most ex-
cellent majestic. by men expert and
skilful," and goes on to say that "the
same lotter.e is erected by her majes-
ties order to the intent that such COM
moditie as may chaunee to arise there
of. after the charges borne, may be
converted towardes the reparation of
the Ravens and strength of the Realme
and toward such other publique good
workes." There were something like
10000 prizes in this gigantic venture.
of which the first was of the value of
5000, while the entrance fee was
only "two shillings and six pens"
James l. lent his special favoure''
to lottery whose object was 1.-THE
present plantation of English colonies
In Virginia. the prizes consisting of
5000 In money, besides rewardes of
casualitie." the tickets being drawn
I'm new built house at the west end
of PauPs the 10Th of June. 1912.
This lottery does not. however. appear
to have been very popular. although
we are assured by the historian that
it was 'plainely carried and honestly
performed" for owing to the want of
filling uppe the number Of lots there
were taken out and throwne away
threescore thousand blanckes without
abating any one prize" certainly q
very generous proceeding on the part
of the promoters. The lucky man on
this occasion was Thomas Sharpliffe
"a Taylor of London" who won the
first prize of "foure thousand Crownes
in fayre plate. which was sent to his
house in very stately manner
Though to some extent poorly patron
lied. this lottery appears to have
evoked a good deal of interest among
the important personages of the day
| for we are told that during the whole
tyne of the drawing there were al
wales present diuers worshipful
| Knights and Esquires, accompanied
with sundry graue discreet Citizens"
| As time went on lotteries for every
conceivable purpose were held In Lon
don and other important towns. witt
the inevitable result that trouble con
stantly arose between the promoters
and those Of the ticket holders who
happened TO be rnlucky or thought
they had been unfairly treated. as Dc
doubt many OF them were. We find
therefore. that periodical orders wer'
| issued for the suppression OF this form
| of gambling. though the law does no
seem to have had any great effect
| At last. however. any one proposing
to hold lottery was obliged to Sent
in a petition to the king. and ii
| Charles It's reign we find mention o
/ several such applications. One o
these was for the ransom of Englisl
slaves In Tunis. AIgiers or the Turkisl
| galleys or for any other charitable
USE" the promoter making 1t bar
| gain that after he had paid In a thirt
of the profits he should reserve th,
rest for his own expenses and "the re
pair Of bis fortunes. ruined by loyal
/ ty."
/ Lottery offices for the sale of ticket
were established NIL over the countr.
| as time went on. but none was NOR
| famous than the agency of one Bish
who aourisIed at the beginning Of tn
nineteenth century This enterprisinl
individual. whose chief offices were ii
Cornhiil and at Ciiaring Cross, mus
have made considerable fortune GU
of the much safer business Of selling
tickets than taking them. But hi
4 prosperous career. as also that Of hi
fellows. came TO an abrupt end whel
the lottery act was passed in 1923. b.
which it was provided that after th
drawing of the state lottery for tina
| year there were TO be no more o
them.-London Globe.
1