A History of English Lotteries | Project Gutenberg

CHAPTER XII.

“The Lottery Alphabet”—“The Philosopher’s Stone”—“Fortune’s Ladder”—Enigmatical handbill—Lottery drawn on St. Valentine’s Day— “Public Prizes”—and other poetical handbills.

Three of Bish’s handbills belong to this lottery.

“THE LOTTERY ALPHABET.

A stands for All who for Affluence wish,
B means Be sure Buy a Ticket of Bish.
C Cash in plenty by Bish you may gain;
D Don’t Delay soon a Chance to obtain;
E Shows that Every One, if he is wise,
F would Find out where to purchase a Prize;
G Gives the place; it is 4, in Cornhill;
H Has a prize, for Have it who will,
I Independence by Bish you may gain;
J Join with me, a grand Prize to obtain;
K Keep in view, in October’s the day
L Lott’ry draws; then no longer delay.
M Many prizes the Scheme has in view;
N No one knows but a winner are you.
O shows that Opulence there may be found;
P Proves that Prizes in Plenty abound.
Q Questions not but the Scheme will delight ye;
R most Respectfully begs to invite ye.
S Stands for Shares, if a Ticket don’t suit ye,
T Turns your Luck, and with Treasure recruits ye
U shows that all, with Unanimous wishes,
V Vow they’ll Venture and purchase at Bish’s.
W Would Wish in a Club to unite ye;
X Ten to One but good luck will requite ye.
Y hopes that You have, like others, a wish,
Z with Zeal to adventure and purchase of Bish.”

“THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE.

By an Alchymist.

Tune—'Golden Days of good Queen Bess.’

Ye Alchymists, attend my lay, and occult speculators,

I’ve made a grand discovery, according with your natures;

I ha’n’t found out the longitude, nor motion that’s perpetual,

But the Stone that’s called Philosopher’s, a Thousand Pounds I’ll

bet you all.

And merry be his memory, who such a thing invented,

Tho’ some folks, if they could make gold, would never be contented.

Perhaps you might have read about an ancient sage philosopher,

Whom Hudibras informs you had read Alexander Ross over;

Who Alick Ross was, I don’t know, and you are not much wiser;

But he first gave the hint of what I mean to advertise here.

And merry, etc.

It isn’t Loan—it isn’t Scrip—nor long, nor short Annuities,

But, if I don’t explain the thing, what matter what to you it is?

In short, then, ’tis the Lottery, from which this fact’s deducible,

It makes Gold ten times faster than the Alchymist’s fam’d Crucible.

And merry, etc.

The 5th of October they draw, and when the wheel goes round, sir,

If you’re lucky, you may gain a Twenty Thousand Pound, sir;

Ye souls of Venture, then, who hope to share the Lott’ry’s riches,

To Fortune straight your suit unfold, and She’ll befriend your wishes.

And merry, etc.

And should you wish to get a Prize, if ’tis but Twenty Thousand,

You’ll not be disappointed much; and would you know the house, and

The owner’s name, it Bish is, and he, with zeal quite

fervent,

Declares himself to be, kind sir, your very humble servant.

And merry, etc.

And, if you doubt of buying Prize, you are only to be told, sir,

That Three of Twenty Thousand Pounds, last Lottery he sold, sir,

And so disinterested be, if you your luck would try it,

He says he hates to sell a blank, as much as you to buy it.

And merry, etc.”

“FORTUNE’S LADDER.

(TO BE READ FROM THE BOTTOM.)

The drift of this Ladder, to well comprehend,

Take a Paddy’s advice and begin at the end.

(3)

She answer’d thus, “If you are wise,

You’ll try at Bish’s for a Prize.”

The thought inspir’d with hope the man,

Who off to Bish’s quickly ran.

(Go to No. 4.)

(2)

“My dearest wife, the times are bad,

And, as to Cash, it can’t be had,

In this sad plight, what what shall we do?

Or, pray, what plan can we pursue?”

(Go to No. 3.)

(1)

A wight, by poverty oppress’d,

By duns and creditors distress’d,

Thus to his dame in dudgeon said,

While dreams of horror fill’d his head.

(Go to No. 2.)

(6)

Not long he waits, the lucky youth

Who drew the Prize, proclaims the truth,

And in his breast “fond hopes arise,

It is a Twenty Thousand Prize!”

(Go to No. 7.)

(5)

At home arriv’d, he tells his dear,

And anxiously expects to hear

The glorious, heart-inspiring sound,

“’Tis drawn, a Twenty Thousand Pound!”

(Go to No. 6.)

(4)

And, passing by, he saw the Scheme,

Of universal praise the theme;

Then went to Bish, a Ticket bought,

In hopes that Fortune he had caught.

(Go to No. 5.)

(9)

His friends, relations, uncles, cousins,

To wish him joy, flock in by dozens;

And those, who ’gainst him clos’d their door,

Obsequious bend unto the floor.

(Go to No. 10.)

(8)

And, now, behold how chang’d the scene,

To what it formerly had been;

No duns to vex—of gold a hoard,

While wealth and plenty crown his board.

(Go to No. 9.)

(7)

To Bish he goes with Prize in hand,

Who pays the Money on demand,

With many thanks for favours past,

And hoping that his luck may last.

(Go to No. 8.)

(10)

Possess’d of all that wealth can give,

In style he now begins to live;

His carriage keeps, but yet can spare

A Fortune to his son and heir.

Finis.

On June 10, 1809, sanction was given by Parliament to a lottery (49 Geo. III. c. 94), for the £600,000 recommended by the Committee, and the net profit derived therefrom was £327,006 0s. 10d.

In this year Bish produced an enigmatical handbill, such as were very popular about that time, and for ten years later.

The solution to the handbill on p. 169 is, “If you are a man struggling to get through the world, or surrounded by crosses; or if you wish to lay by a fortune for your children, go to Bish or his agents, who may make you independent, and above the frowns of the world.”

This other one (p. 170) is notable principally for the costumes.

The 15th June, 1810, brought its lottery (50 Geo. III. c. 94). Prizes £600,000, profit £186,886 8s. Judging by this small amount of profit, the public interest in the lottery was waning, and it would seem to be so, by the extra stimulus given to the handbills issued this year, which were more numerous than heretofore, especially for that drawn on 14th February.

An Engraver’s design for heading to a Lottery Handbill.

Engraver’s design for a Lottery Handbill.

A VALENTINE.

No fresh Damask Rose, when held to the Nose,

No Cowslip or Daffy-down-dilly,

No Hyacinth’s bloom, or Pink’s rich perfume,

Nor Jessamine sweet, nor the Lily;

These Emblems of Love, this Knot or this Dove;

This Pair, or this One with a Letter,

This Torch and these Darts, these two wounded Hearts,

Nor Cupid, nor Hymen’s round Fetter;

Not all these Devices can match the great Prizes,

Nor can Bacchus or Venus so brisk,

Afford such a boon

As next Valentine’s Noon,

When the Prizes are gained without risk.

The inevitable Bish comes to the fore with

“PUBLIC PRIZES.

By a Prize-Master.

Tune—'Ye Scamps, ye Pads, ye Divers.’

In London Town, are Prizes for ev’rything that’s made,

In every profession, manufactory, or trade;

Prize Cattle long have noise made, but don’t the price

decrease,

But I can tell of Prize Sheep, each with a Golden Fleece.

With a tol, etc.

How oft you’ll advertis’d see a Prize Boot or a Shoe,

Which Crispin’s sons to gain, must either strap or buckle to;

To 'buckle Fortune on your back,’ you’d scrape your shoe to do’t

I’ll tell you, and for a Prize, to make a leg to boot.

With a tol, etc.

Prize Flow’rs you hear of in plenty, of every kind and hue,

The best of them but fade at last, however fine to view;

Your Florist’s of Carnations, Pinks, and Tulips forth may hold,

The Prize Flower I present to you, is Fortune’s Marigold.

With a tol, etc.

Prize Themes they write at College, in ev’ry style and tongue,

Producing Wisdom, greatest Prize, enlightening the young;

My Theme is, too, a Prize Theme, a richer scarce is found,

I mean the Prize, for that may turn out Eighty Thousand Pound.

With a tol, etc.

The Theme I mean’s the Lottery, on Valentine they draw,

With Prizes full 5,000, a Scheme to gain éclat;

Two Hundred Thousand Pounds in all; among them too you have

Twelve £1000’s, Four £5000’s and Four £20,000’s—brave.

With a tol, etc.

And Bish is the Prize-Master, who sells most of them well,

At Charing Cross, No. 9, or Blue Coat Boys, Cornhill;

For Thousand Twenties, Five and Twenties, Thirties,

Forties too,

He more has sold than all the Trade, and he’ll sell one to you.

With a tol, etc.”

Hazard and Co. give us the three following:—

“The Prize Bird of Venus, commissioned by Love,

The bounties of Fortune this Month to display,

Announces to all who her favours would prove,

That the Lottery draws on St. Valentine’s Day.

Young Maidens for Lovers no more need despair,

Since Fortune and Love have together combin’d,

To bestow their best gifts on the youth and the Fair,

Who by Hymen’s soft fetters would wish to be join’d.”

“SWEETHEARTS AND GOLD;

OR,

The Matrimonial Recipe.

Sweethearts, blithesome, spruce and gay,

Haste ye, haste ye, haste away,

Soon is Fortune’s holiday!

Why so loiter thus your time?

’Tis, indeed, a monstrous crime,

Thus to waste your youth and prime!

Haste then, Sweethearts, haste away,

Soon is Fortune’s Holiday!

Prizes may be had by all,

Rich and Poor, and Great and Small.

If you have a mind to call

Where they always may be had;

And where, too, they’re always glad

To assist where Luck’s been bad!

Haste ye, Sweethearts, haste away,

Soon is Fortune’s Holiday!

If you would to church be led,

By the Man you’d wish to wed,

(Ne’er to part till one is dead,)

Here the way I’ll surely show,

How most likely to do so,

Get a Prize—he’ll ne’er say 'No!’

Haste then, Sweethearts, haste away

Soon is Fortune’s Holiday!

If your lovely Lass has charms,

To excite your Love’s alarms,

Lest she fly to others’ arms,

Buy a Share—a Prize go buy—

Then for you she’ll heave a sigh,

And with pleasure soon comply!

Haste then, Sweethearts, haste away,

Soon is Fortune’s Holiday!

Fifty Thousand Guineas rare,

May be had, and I know where,

They’ll the Prizes doubtless share!

Hazard’s House, with fame o’er grown,

Has for Prizes long been known,

As the House of greatest ton.

Haste then, Sweethearts, haste away,

Soon is Fortune’s Holiday!

Never hesitate, nor stand,

For the time is close at hand,

When this Holiday is plann’d;

Good St. Valentine, you see,

And Dame Fortune, both agree

In the closest harmony.

Haste then, Sweethearts, haste away,

Soon is Fortune’s Holiday!”

“THE DOUBT.

To buy, or not to buy, that’s the question,

Whether ’tis nobler in the purse to suffer

The mournful emptiness of Fortune’s daughter,

Or to buy Tickets at a Lott’ry Office,

And by a Prize to end them. A Prize! Hard Cash!

And by possession of that Cash to end

The heart-ache, and a thousand cruel shocks

That Poverty is heir to. ’Tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wish’d—Guineas—Bank-Notes—

A Prize—perchance a Blank⁠[24] —aye, there’s the rub,

That makes necessity of so long life;

For who would bear the scorn of empty pockets;

The insolence of riches, and the spurns

That ragged small-clothes from the well-drest take,

When he, himself, might a fine fortune make

With a mere Share?

Thus Prudence doth make cowards of us all,

And Lottery Prizes of great pith and moment,

By sad delay are flown from us for ever,

And lose the name of benefits!”

Gye and Balne, Printers, 38, Gracechurch-street.