Massachusetts 1744/45 Lottery
A Letter of May 1745 to Stop the Massachusetts Lottery
The Committee appointed to draw up Instructions for the Representatives relative to the Lottery, report the following Draft Viz.
Gentlemen
This Town confiding in your Loyalty to Our Sovereign, & firm Attachment to the Liberties & Privileges of this People, have made Choice of you, to represent them in the next General Assembly & expect of you, that you do your Utmost, and that very early to prevent the Mischief, which may Arise to the Province, by proceeding upon the Lottery, according to a Resolve or Order of Court on ye 5th of April Ultimo [last]. It being questioned by Some, whether such an Order is sufficient to overset and repeal, or any ways to Alter a Law made with greatest Solemnity? And then, whether it be consistent with Justice? For the Province to take such a large share of the Tickets, as seems likely to fall to their Lott, without paying one Farthing for them; The Foundation, on which the Lottery seems to be built, being this; That every Ticket, that is purchased, should pay six Pounds [that is £6 in Old Tenor notes which equalled 30s in Second New Tenor notes] into Bank; and if the Province [Tickets] pay nothing, and the principal Benefit Tickets should fall to the Share of private Persons, how can They be paid? Since all the public Money is Appropriated to other Uses. To this Some may say, a Tax must be laid on the People, but it is [cross out] disputable, Whether the Charter can warrant such a Tax, it not being for the necessary Defence & Support of the Government; and, Although it may be said the Province have an equal [chance] of being great Gainers, yet `tis to be feared it may do Us more harm than good;
For Since, We may hope, Our Charge in the Expedition will be repaid us by the Crown, it will doubtless be Objected at Home, We have gained so much by this -- Lottery, which was projected to lessen Our Charge, that it will be needless to grant such Sum, as otherwise, they may be inclined to Allow us, and so in the End may be a detriment rather than any Advantage to Us. Nay it is more that probable, they will Object, that as We are got into the Method of Lotterys, in order to ease our Burthens [! for Burdens], We may proceed in that way, and so save them, [cross out] the Expence [! Expense] of defraying the Charge of the Expedition.
Upon there and such like considerations We desire and hope, this Projection may never be further proceeded on, but a final Stop may be put to it by the next General Assembly, and therefore Direct you to Use your Interests, and Endeavours accordingly.
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The foregoing Draft of Instructions is Submitted
Boston May 1745 by
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Notes:
1. Within the text of the letter added explanatory information has been set off with brackets [ ]. Bracketed words in italic represent insertions made by the individual who wrote the letter.
2. The Expedition mentioned in the letter was a combined British and colonial military force sent against the French stronghold of Fort Lewisburg on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. This was part of British military operations during the French and Indiana War.
Click here to view the front of the May 1745 letter.
Click here to view the back of the May 1745 letter.
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