Chapter XVI: Lotteries and Lottery Insurances (3)

October 18, 1826, saw the last of the State lotteries, but it was long before the smaller fry were eradicated. Conducted very quietly at first, but after a while their promoters growing bolder, lotteries for clothes, furniture, and, especially at Christmas-time, for food and drink, were openly advertised under the title of “sweeps” up to comparatively recent times. A few police prosecutions about a dozen years back improved these relics of a past day off the face of the earth. There were, however, still left what were called “specs,” which violated both the Betting-House Act and the Lottery Act, and the promoters of the chief of them in turn suffered under the majesty of the law about the period of the raid on the commission agents referred to in a previous chapter. Under the guises of picture and circular sales these turf lotteries are still continued, an advertisement in a sporting paper of June 1874 giving an address in Glasgow, informing all those whom it most concerns that the “East End Circular” has for disposal

30,000 circulars, at 1_s._ each; the profits, about £800, will be
distributed on

THE DERBY.

2000 PRIZES. FIRST, £300.

This circular needs no recommendation. It is a fortune to all who
invest in it. The winners of all the large races have been sent in it.
Every purchaser has a fair chance of securing the £200. For circulars,
1_s._ each, apply at once to E. Jones, 128, Renfield Street, Glasgow,
or in person to any of his well-known agents.

Then follows a list of names of people living in various parts of the kingdom who are empowered to sell the circulars. Within the past twelvemonth certain small papers which added to their circulation by the presentation of coupons entitling the holders to shares in lotteries for prizes of all descriptions, received solemn warning from the Home Office, and had to discontinue their projects. That this was wise, considering the innocence of the arrangement, we do not think; that it was not impartial, the notice from which we have just quoted proves. For the Lottery Act extends to Scotland, even if the Betting Act does not.[45]

[40] Stow.

[41] Stow’s Annals.

[42] Baker’s Chronicle.

[43] Whereas, some give out that they could never receive their Books
after they were drawn in the first Lottery, the Author declares, and
it will be attested, that of seven hundred Prizes that were drawn
there were not six remaining Prizes that suffered with his in the
Fire; for the Drawing being on the 10th of May, 1665, the Office did
then continue open for the Delivery of the same (though the Contagion
much raged) until the latter End of July following; and opened again,
to attend the Delivery, in April, 1666, whither Persons repaired daily
for their Prizes, and continued open until the Fire.

[44] _Examiner_, October 22, 1826.

[45] Since the above was written the Betting-House Extension Act of
1874 has become law, and, curiously enough, has caused the cessation
of a procedure which was rendered illegal by an Act passed nearly
fifty years before, a fact which our detectives with proverbial
dulness were unable to discover. This was perhaps because there was
nothing to be got by the discovery.