This view of a very prominent and alarming evil, known to exist from a variety of facts well established and evinced, among others, by the pawnbrokers' shops overflowing with the goods of the labouring poor, during the drawing of the three Lotteries, ought to create a strong desire on the part of all masters of families, to exert their utmost endeavours to check this destructive propensity; and to prevent, as far as possible, those distresses and mischiefs which every person of humanity must deplore. The misery and loss of property which springs from this delusive source of iniquity, is certainly very far beyond any idea that can be formed of it by the common observer.[41] [Footnote 41: In consequence of a very accurate inquiry which has been made, and of information derived from different sources, it appears that fraudulent Lottery Insurances have not diminished. The Offices are numerous all over the Metropolis, and are supposed to exceed four hundred of all descriptions; to many of which there are persons attached, called _Morocco Men_, who go about from house to house among their former customers, and attend in the back parlours of Public Houses, where they are met by customers who make insurances. It is calculated that at these offices (exclusive of what is done at the _licensed_ offices) premiums for insurance are received to the amount of _eight hundred thousand pounds_, during the Irish Lottery, and above _one million_ during the English; upon which it is calculated that they make from 15 to 25 per cent. profit.--This infamous confederacy was estimated, during the English Lottery of the year 1796, to support about 2000 agents and clerks, and nearly 7500 Morocco Men, including a considerable number of hired _armed Ruffians_ and _Bludgeon Men_: these were paid by a general association of the Principal Proprietors of these fraudulent Establishments; who regularly met in Committee, in a well-known public house in Oxford Market, twice or thrice a week, during the drawing of the Lottery; for the purpose of concerting measures to defeat the exertions of the Magistrates, by alarming and terrifying, and even forcibly resisting, the Officers of Justice in all instances where they could not be bribed by pecuniary gratuities;--to effect which last purpose, neither money nor pains were spared; and the wretched agents of these unprincipled miscreants were, in many cases, prepared to commit murder, had attempts been made to execute the Warrants of Magistrates; as can be proved by incontestable evidence. It is greatly to be feared that too much success attended these corrupt and fraudulent proceedings, in violation and defiance of the Laws of the Kingdom.] A general Association, or perhaps an act of Parliament, establishing proper regulations, applicable to this and other objects, with regard to menial servants, would be of great utility.