eck the spirit of speculation which pervades so many
classes in this country may possibly be successful, but as a mere
question of morality there can be no doubt that Derby lotteries, and, in
fact, all speculations on the turf or Stock Exchange, are open to quite
as much animadversion as the Christmas lotteries for a little pig or an
aged goose, which it appears are to be suppressed in future. Is it not
also questionable policy to enforce every law merely because it is a
law, unless its breach is productive of serious evil to the community?
If every old Act of Parliament is rummaged out and brought to bear upon
us, we fear we shall find ourselves in rather an uncomfortable position.

We cannot say whether or not the harm produced by these humble
lotteries is sufficient to render their forcible suppression a matter of
necessity. They certainly do produce an amount of indigestion which of
itself must be no small penalty to pay for those whose misfortune it is
to win the luxuries raffled for, but we never yet heard of any one being
ruined by raffling for a pig or goose; and if our Government is going
to be paternal and look after our pocket-money, we hope it will also be
maternal and take some little interest in our health. The sanitary
laws require putting into operation quite as much as the laws against
public-house lotteries and skittles.'

No 'extenuating circumstances,' however, can be admitted respecting the
notorious racing lotteries, in spite of the small figure of the tickets;
nay this rather aggravates the danger, being a temptation to the
thoughtless multitude. One of these lotteries, called the Deptford
Spec., was not long ago suppressed by the strong arm of the law; but
others still exist under different names. In one of these the law is
thought to be evaded by the sale of a number of photographs; in another,
a chance of winning on a horse is secured by the purchase of certain
numbers of a newspaper struggling into existence; but the following is,
perhaps, the drollest phase of the evasion as yet attempted:

'Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding _count the number of
the beast_.'--Rev., chap. xiii.

'NICKOLAS REX.--"LUCKY" BANQUETS.

'HIS SATANIC MAJESTY purposes holding a series of Banquets, Levees, and
DRAWING ROOMS at Pandemonium during the ensuing autumn, to each of which
about 10,000 of his faithful disciples will be invited. H. S. M. will,
at those drawing-rooms and receptions, _NUMBER_ a l