ung_ pour forth
their supplications for thy favours,
"_With falt'ring pace, and feeble knee,
See_ Age _advance, in shameless haste;
The palsied hand is stretch'd to thee,
For_ Wealth, _it wants the pow'r to taste._"
The delusion is general--and general must the mortification
be. But as attention must be paid to the infatuation--we have
endeavoured, by a regular publication of the fortunate
numbers, to alleviate its frenzy.
* * * * *
On March 29, 1814, Messrs. Bridge and Renouf, the well-known brokers, of
79 State Street, Boston, gave notice that a prize of $500--No.
3,394--"had" been "drawn in the Plymouth Beach Lottery." This number had
been "sold by them to several young Gentlemen who purchased 30 Tickets;"
and they also announced that the drawing was "suspended until the next
Tuesday, when the first drawn ticket will be the highest prize, _Twenty
thousand Dollars;_" and besides this, that "there are remaining to be
drawn four prizes of $1,000 each, and four prizes of $500 each."
It should be noticed that there was, even in its most flourishing days,
a difference of opinion among individuals in regard to the morality of
the lottery, as men must differ on all subjects; so that it is perhaps
only fair to cite a specimen or two of the communications which appeared
in the papers in reference thereto. A writer in the "Salem Gazette,"
June 29, 1790, says:--
_OF LOTTERIES._
Lotteries have of late been a very productive source of
revenue in this State.--The moral tendency of them has been
supposed by some to be injurious to society; and government
have been careful to grant them for such purposes only, as
that the probable benefit should outweigh the evil. By this
means we have seen the interests of literature supported--the
arts encouraged--the wastes of war repaired--inundations
prevented--the burthen of taxes lessened, &c. Manufactures
might also in this way be established. Those which will not
support themselves, it is true, will not benefit the
community; but there are very important ones, which in their
infancy require the nursing hand of government--to such the
produce of lotteries might be beneficially applied. There
exists a spirit of adventure in all societies, which will
lead a number to throw themselves into the hands of Chance in
one
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