a kind of public game at hazard, frequent in Britain, France, and Holland, in order to raise money for the service of the state; being appointed with us by the authority of parliament, and managed by commissioners appointed by the lords of the treasury for that purpose. It consists of several numbers of blanks and prizes, which are drawn out of wheels, one of which contains the numbers, and the other the corresponding blanks or prizes.

The Romans invented lotteries to enliven their Saturnalia. This festival began by the distribution of tickets which gained some prize. Augustus made lotteries which consisted of things of little value; but Nero established some for the people, in which 1000 tickets were distributed daily, and several of those who were favoured by Fortune got rich by them. Heliogabalus invented some very singular: the prizes were either of great value or of none at all; one gained a prize of fix flaves, and another of fix flies; some got valuable vases, and others vases of common earth. A lottery of this kind exhibited an excellent picture of the inequality with which Fortune distributes her favours.

The first English lottery we find mentioned in history was drawn A. D. 1569. It consisted of 40,000 lots, at 10s. each lot: the prizes were plate; and the profits were to go towards repairing the havens of this kingdom. It was drawn at the west door of St Paul's cathedral. The drawing began on the 11th of January 1569, and continued incessantly, day and night, till the 6th of May following; as Maitland, from Stowe, informs us in his history, vol. i. p. 257. There were then only three lottery offices in London. The proposals for this lottery were published in the years 1567 and 1568. It was at first intended to have been drawn at the house of Mr Dericke, her majesty's servant, i.e. her jeweller, but was afterwards drawn as above mentioned.

Dr Rawlinson showed the Antiquarian Society, 1748, "A proposal for a very rich lottery, general without any blankes, containing a great number of good prizes, as well of ready money as of plate and certain lots of merchandizes, having been valued and prised by the commandment of the queene's most excellent majestie's order, to the intent that such commodities as may chance to arise thereof after the charges borne may be converted towards the reparations of the havens and strength of the realme, and towards such other public good workes. The number of lotts shall be foure hundred thousand, and no more; and every lott shall be the sum of tenne thillings sterling, and no more. To be filled by the feast of St Bartholomew. The shew of prizes are to be seen in Cheapside, at the sign of the Queene's Armes, the house of Mr Dericke, goldsmith, servant to the queene. Some other orders about it in 1567-8. Printed by Hen. Bynneyman."

"In the year 1612, King James, in special favour for the present plantation of English colonies in Virginia, granted a lottery, to be held at the west end of St Paul's; whereof one Thomas Sharplys, a taylor of London, had the chief prize, which was 4000 crowns in fair plate." Baker's Chronicle.

In the reign of Queen Anne, it was thought necessary to suppress lotteries, as nuisances to the public. Since that time, however, they have been licensed by an act of parliament, under various regulations. The act passed in 1778 restrains any person from keeping an office for the sale of tickets, shares, or chances, or for buying, felling, enlisting, or registering, without a licence; for which licence each office-keeper must pay 50l. to continue in force for one year, and the produce to be applied towards defraying the expenses of the lottery. And no person is allowed to fell any share or chance less than a fifteenth, on the penalty of 50l. All tickets divided into shares or chances are to be deposited in an office, to be established in London by the commissioners of the treasury, who are to appoint a person to conduct the business thereof; and all shares are to be stamped by the said officer, who is to give a receipt for every ticket deposited with him. The numbers of all tickets so deposited are to be entered in a book, with the names of the owners, and the number of shares into which they are divided; and twopence for each share is to be paid to the officer on depositing such tickets, who is therewith to pay all expences incident to the office. All tickets deposited in the office are to remain there three days after the drawing. And any person keeping an office, or selling shares, or who shall publish any scheme for receiving moneys in consideration of any interest to be granted in any ticket in the said lottery, &c. without being in possession of such ticket, shall forfeit 500l. and suffer three months imprisonment. And no business is to be transacted at any of the offices after eight in the evening, except on the evening of the Saturday preceding the drawing. No person is to keep any office for the sale of tickets, &c. in Oxford or Cambridge, on penalty of 20l. Before this regulating statute took place, there were upwards of 400 lottery offices in and about London only; but the whole number afterwards, for all Britain, as appeared by the list published by authority, amounted to no more than 51.