In Memory of THE STATE OF LOTTERY, the last of a long line whose origin in England commenced in the year 1569, which, after a series of tedious complaints, _Expired_ on the 18th day of October 1826. During a period of 257 years, the family flourished under the powerful protection of the British Parliament; the Minister of the day continuing to give them his support for the improvement of the revenue. As they increased, it was found that their continuance corrupted the morals, and encouraged a spirit of Speculation and Gambling among the lower classes of the people; thousands of whom fell victims to their insinuating and tempting allurements. Many philanthropic individuals in the Senate, at various times, for a series of years, pointed out their baneful influence, without effect; His Majesty’s Ministers still affording them their countenance and protection. The British Parliament being, at length, convinced of their mischievous tendency, His Majesty GEORGE IV. on the 9th of July 1823, pronounced sentence of condemnation on the whole race; from which time they were almost NEGLECTED BY THE BRITISH PUBLIC. Very great efforts were made by the Partisans and friends of the family to excite the public feeling in favour of the last of the race, in vain: It continued to linger out the few remaining moments of its existence without attention, or sympathy, and finally terminated its career unregretted by any virtuous mind. In 1836 an Act was passed “to prevent the advertising of Foreign and illegal lotteries,” but circulars still come from Hamburg and other places. In 1844 an Act was passed “to indemnify persons connected with Art Unions, and others, against certain penalties.” Still there were minor lotteries and raffles, and the law was seldom set in force against them, any more than it is now when applied to charitable purposes; yet in 1860 one Louis Dethier, was haled up at Bow Street for holding a lottery for £10,000 worth of Twelfth Cakes, and was only let off on consenting to stop it at once, and nowadays the lottery is practically dead, except when some petty rogue is taken up for deluding children with prize sweets. CHAPTER XIX Promoters and Projectors—Government loans—Commencement of Bank of England—Character of a Stock Jobber—Jonathan’s—Hoax _temp._ Anne—South Sea Bubble—Poems thereon.