the commencement of the drawing of every Lottery; on which occasion there were four horses to each wheel, and about a dozen horse-guards to protect the instruments of Miss-Fortune. But the most pageant-like machine was an octagon frame work, covered by printed Lottery placards (as exhibited in the engraving on page 1405) with a single horse, and a driver, and a guard-like seat at the back. When drawn along the streets, as it was at a most funereal pace, it overtopped the sills of the first-floor windows. Its slow motion, and the route it chiefly took, evidenced the low hopes of the proprietors. St. Giles's and the purlieus of that neighbourhood seem to have been selected as the favoured spots from whence favours were mostly to be expected. An opportunity offered to sketch it, while it was pelted with mud and stones, and torn and disfigured by the unappreciating offspring of the sons of fortune whose regards it courted. The artist's letter describes the scene: "As I was walking up Holborn on Monday the 9th instant, I saw a strange vehicle moving slowly on, and when I came up to it, found a machine, perhaps from twenty to thirty feet high, of an octagon shape, covered all over with Lottery papers of various colours. It had a broad brass band round the bottom, and moved on a pivot; it had a very imposing effect. The driver and the horse seemed as dull as though they were attending a solemn funeral, whilst the different shopkeepers came to the doors and laughed; some of the people passing and repassing read the bills that were pasted on it, as if they had never read one before, others stationed themselves to look at it as long as it was in sight. It entered Monmouth-street, that den of filth and rags, where so great a number of young urchins gathered together in a few minutes as to be astonishing. There being an empty chair behind, one of them seated himself in it, and rode backwards; another said, "let's have a stone through it," and a third cried "let's sludge it." This was no sooner proposed than they threw stones, oyster shells, and dirt, and burst several of the sheets; this attack brought the driver from his seat, and he was obliged to walk by the side of his machine up this foul street, which his show canvassed, halting now and then to threaten the boys, who still followed and threw. I made a sketch, and left the scene. It was not an every-day occurrence, and I accompany it with these remarks." This was the fag-end of the last struggle of the speculators on public credulity for popularity to their " last," dying Lottery." At last, on Wednesday the 18th of October, 1826, the State Lottery expired, and its decease was announced in the newspapers of the next day by the following article: STATE LOTTERY. Yesterday afternoon, at about half past six o'clock, that old servant of the state, the Lottery, breathed its last, having for a long period of years, ever since the days of queen Anne, contributed largely towards the public revenue of the country. This event took place at Coopers'-hall, Basinghall-street; and such was the anxiety on the part of the public to witness the last drawing of the Lottery, that great numbers of persons were attracted to the spot, independently of those who had an interest in the proceedings. The gallery of Coopers'-hall was crowded to excess long before the period fixed for the drawing, (five o'clock,) and the utmost anxiety was felt by those who had shares in the Lottery for the arrival of the appointed hour. The annihilation of Lotteries, it will be recollected, was determined on in the session of parliament before last; and thus a source of revenue bringing into the treasury the sums of 250,000l. and 300,000l. per annum will be dried up. This determination on the part of the legislature is hailed by far the greatest portion of the public with joy, as it will put an end to a system which many believe to have fostered and encouraged the late speculations, the effects of which have been and are still severely felt. A deficiency in the public revenue to the extent of 250,000l. annually, will, however, be the consequence of the annihilation of Lotteries, and it must remain for those who have strenuously supported the putting a stop to Lotteries to provide for the deficiency. Although that which ended yesterday was the last, if we are informed correctly, the lottery-office keepers have been left with a great number of tickets remaining on their hands-a pretty strong proof that the public in general have now no relish for these schemes. The concourse of persons in Basinghall-street was very great; indeed the street was almost impassable, and every. body seemed desirous of ascertaining the fortunate numbers. In the gallery the greatest interest was excited, as the various prizes were drawn from the wheel; and as soon as a number-ticket was drawn from the number-wheel every one looked with anxiety to his share, in order to ascertain if Fortune smiled on him. Only one instance occurred where a prize was drawn and a number held by any individual present. The fortunate person was a little man, who, no sooner had learned that his number was a grand prize, then he buttoned up his coat and coolly walked off without uttering a word. As the drawing proceeded, disappointment began to succeed the hopes indulged by those who were present. On their entrance to the hall every face wore mination of the drawing a strong contrast was exhibited, and the features of each were strongly marked with dissatisfaction. The drawing commenced shortly after five o'clock, and ended at twenty minutes past six. The doors of the various Lottery-offices were also surrounded by persons awaiting the issue of the drawing. LOTTERY PUFFS. It is not possible to go into the Literature of the Lottery without occupying more room than can be spared, but young readers and posterity may be amused and suprised by some figures, from among many hundreds of wood-cuts on the bills of schemes, and invitations to buy. "T. BISH, 4 Cornhill, and 9 Charingcross, London, and by all his agents in a cheerful appearance; but on the ter- the country," put forth the following. RUN, Neighbours, run, the LOTTERY's expiring, Haste, Neighbours, haste, the Chance will never come again, When, without pain, for little Cash-you'll all be rich; Prizes a plenty of and such a certain source of gain, That young and old, and all the world, it must bewitch. This versified address and the engraving are from another bill. The verses may be presumed as sung by the footman, to excite his fellows of the party-coloured cloth to speculate in the never-enoughto-be-sufficiently -magnified - number of chances in favour of their gaining "Four of £20,000, and-Thirty other Capitals! No Blanks!-ALL IN ONE DAY!" Yet if the words, adapted from a popular duet, were regarded as an easy vehicle to effect VOL. II.-100. Then run, neighbours, run, &c. One of the bills of a former Lottery name will appear singly before the public, begins as follows:: BISH The Last Man. In reminding his best friends, the public, that the State Lottery will be drawn this day, 3d May, Bish acquaints them that it is the very last but one that will ever take place in this kingdom, and he is THE LAST CONTRACTOR whose as the very last will be a coalition of all the usual contractors. Bish, being "the last man" who appears singly, has been particularly anxious to make an excellent scheme, and flatters himself the one he has the honour to submit must meet universal approbation. At the back of this bill are the following verses, derived from the "cajolery” duet:— TO-DAY! OR NOT AT ALL. RUN, NEIGHBOURS, RUN! Run, neighbours, run! To-day it is the Lott'ry draws, Possess'd of that you'll find no one to serve you slow: The ministers in parliament of Lotteries have toll'd the knell, And have declar'd from Coopers'-hall dame Fortune soon they will expel. Run, neighbours, run! this is you know the third of May, In the scheme, as you may see, are rang'd along in proud array, A sovereign cure e'en one of these would be for a consumption, sir, And what may happen next no one pretends to know. Dame Fortune (on whom thousands drew) is going now to shut up shop, Run, neighbours, run! &c. into BISH's office the other day to inquire after the capitals." You vill be so good to tell me de nombre of de capital you tire-you draw yesterday?"—« Why, sir, there were.. "Restez un peu, stay a littel moment.-You will tell me de capital more big dan two hundred pounds."-" Why, sir, there were four drawn above 2001.: there was No. 7849, 30,000l."-" Ah! ma foi! dat is good; dat is de grande chose. Vel, and by whom was it sel?"-" Bish sold it, sir." -“ Bish, ha, ha! von lucky dog! vel, allons !"-" There was No. 602, 1000, sir."-"Ah, indeed! vel, who was sel dat?"-"Bish, sir.”—“Eh, ma foi! Bish encore? Vel."-" There was No. 2032, 3001."-" And who was sel?""Bish, sir."—" Eh, mon dieu! 'tis very grand fortune. Now den de last, and who vas sel dat?"-"Why, sir, the last was No. 6275, 300l., also sold by Bish." "Eh, de diable! 'tis von chose impossible, Bish sell all de four?"-" Yes, sir, and in a former lottery he sold all the three thirty thousands." -"Den he is von golden philosopher. I vill buy, I villlet me see. Yes, I vill buy your shop."His ambition was at last, however, contented with three tickets; so that he has three chances of gaining the two thirty thousands yet in the wheel; and we have no doubt Bish will have the good luck of selling them. "BISH" is the subject of versified praise, in another bill. HOW TO BE HAPPY. Let misers hug their worship d hoards, Let lovers droop for sparkling eyes, And BISH we'll toast in chorus. Let glory call the sons of war To dare the crimson'd field; Riches in store before us; "BISH" on another occasion steps in with : PERMIT ME TO ASK Have you seen the scheme of the present Lottery? Do you know that it contains MORE PRIZES than BLANKS? Have you heard how very cheap the tickets are? Are you aware, that Lotteries are about to be discontinued, the chancellor of the exchequer having said that the Lottery. bill, introduced last session of parliament, should be the last? I need not direct you to BISH's, as being the luckiest offices in the kingdom, &c. "BISH" adventured in the " City Lottery," a scheme devised for getting rid of the houses in Picket-street, Temple-bar, and Skinner-street, Snow-hill; and on that occasion he favoured the world with the following: FREEHOLDS AND FORTUNES. BY PETER PUN. And blind, as her portraits reveal, sir ; Is by putting a spoke in her wheel, sir : Then the summons to BISH don't scorn For, as her cornucopia he holds, He's the lad for exalting your horn, sir. With poverty who would be known, And live upon orts in a garret, sir, At Bish's, where all folks pell-mell come, This house, when you once realize it, With catacomb fal lals and sphynxes; And at BISH's you'll fill them with cole, sir. For when you're thus furnish'd in state, Then to BISH's away for supplies, For mopusses they are so plenty, Then BISH for my money, I say, The like of him never was known, sir; As Brulgruddery says in the play, "That man's the philosopher's stone, sir." |