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CHEAP   REPOSITORY.
&0$—i — j > —, & 1    ,        .
THE
Wonderful Advantages of Adventuring
IN    THE
LOTTERY!!!
Sold by J. MARSHALL,
(Printer to the Cheap Repository for Moral and Re*,
ligious  Tra&s) No.   17,  Queen-Street,   Cheapnde,  and
No. 4, Aldermary Church-Yard, and R. WHITE, Pic*
cadilly, London.
By S. HAZARD, at Bath; J.Elder, at Edinburgh, and
by  all   Bookfellerfi,   Newfmen, and Hawkers,   in Town
and Country.
Great Allowance will be made to Shopkeepers and Hawkert*
PRICE ONE PENNY.
Qt 4s. 6d. per ioo„—2s. 6d. for 50.—is. 6d. for t$-t
A cheaper Edition for Hawkers.
.  \Enteni at '■Stationers' Hatt.]
m
 ADV ANTA&ES,f &d
JOHN BROWN was-fervant in the family of a
refpeftable merchant in this city, fije hadllived
there for feveral years; and from his  reayillajr ho-
nefty, fobriety and diligence?--poffeffed ^e'confidence and affection oC^lii* mafter.    While, ia that
family, he married a fellow^fjervant, a yotftdg woman whofe name was-Mary Coates/i-knd theyjlived
for more than feven years very happily together.
They had one child living, a fine little bJ^|fabout
fix years old, whom they maintained at a fihool,
kept fome miles from town by Mary's fathJslJ This
was thought better than putting him to fchbol  in
London, as he was under an affectionate relation,
and lefs expofed to the company of wicked children.    John and his wife  got leave from time to
time to  vifit their child, and were always able to
take  him   one   little article  or other  of clothes,
as well as a  fmall prefent to the grandfather.
Thus comfortable were John and Mary, and had
John been religious like his wife, they would have
had a very fair profpect of continuing fo. He, like
many others, thought Religion rather an unnecef-
fary .thing for a man who made it a rule to be
fober, and honeft, and diligent, and kind.  Befides
A a the
1   *   )
.the other  very  important  confideratioris   agamft
■which he fhut his heart, he did not reflect that without religion his good conduct to his family and
his mafter flood on no folid foundation.
One unfortunate day as he was going on a mef*
fage, he received a hand-bill from a man Handing
at the door of a Lottery Office. This hand-bill fet
forth many wonders, and invited all who had a
mind to be rich in a hurry, to feiEe the lucky
hour of adventuring in the wheel of fortune ;.fhew-
ing them how many thoufand pounds they would
be fure to get for one guinea! Calling his eye
over the advertifement, the thought ftruck him that
he would try his fortune. ' Why may not I get a
prize as well as another?' faid he to himlelf/
* and if I get the twenty thoufand pound prize, of
tven one of the ten thoufands, I fhall be as great
a man as my mafter? It was a woeful moment for poor John, when this imagination faf-
tened on his mind. Full of the notion of getting
rich, John returned home, and appeared all
that day unufually thoughtful. At night, as he
was not ufed to conceal any thing from his wife*
he told her his intention. ' Molly, (faid he) we have
juft got our wages, and the drawing begins to-mor*
row; fuppofe we try our fortune in the Lottery.
Not with my confent, fhe replied ; I think we are
rich enough as we are, and ought to be thankful
to God that we want for nothing. John was o-
bliged to acknowledge this; but obferved that it
would do them no harm to have fomething more.
Indeed, but it might, (faid Molly) for you know>
John, God is the bell judge of what is good for us,
and it is his Providence that has placed us in our pre-
A & fent
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fent fituation. If he faw that tnore riches would
do us good, I believe he would fend them to us in.
an honeft way:-but I am fureyou and I know fome:
people, that are not at all the better for their riches,
no nor the happier either.' 'But what harm (faid he)-
can there be in trying our fortune?' I I know there
is harm, (replied his wife, who was Well, read in the
Bible,) I know there is harm in covetoufnefs ; for
the word of God fays, Be content withfuch things
ss you have i and he that maketh hajie to be richjhall
toot be innocent; and the love of money is the root of
sll evil. For my part I am very,, well fatisfied as I
Am, and when I think of the poverty and diftrefs
our bleffed Saviour fubmitted to, I find great reafon
to praife him for the abundance we enjoy. Befides
trying our fortune, as you call it, is no better than
tempting God, who is the real giver of what men.
xfay fortune gives them. Our bleffed Saviour re-
fufed, you know, when he failed in the wildernefs
to act in an extraordinary manner, in order that
God might give him riches and others things, for
ihe faid that would be tempting God: and what would
going into the Lottery be but tempting God, for would
it not be taking an extraordinary courfe in order to
try whether God would make us rich ? But, my
dear, what has put this matter into your head ?'
John pulled the hand-bill out of his pocket, ancj
explained to her, as well as he could, all the wonderful advantages which it promifed. This did not
fatisfy his wife: and fhe wifely obferved, that if
there were fo much to be got by thefe fame tickets,
it was ftrange that the people who fold them would
not rather keep them for themfelves. £ But do you
not fee there before your eyes (faid Jdhp) the num.
bes
ij.
n
£ m  i     ( 5 1
ber of prizes that were fbjd laft year at the Lions
Office?' .« Well (replied his wife) I wifh they had
publifhed the number of blanks that were, fold too
s But ah! John, there are a great many lies in
print r and to tell you the truth, I fancy it is all
a gambling trick, and that, the people who fell thefe
tickets are little better than knaves., and the folks
who buy them no better than fools. And you know*
my dear, our little boy wants clothes, and this it
the time that you generally take fomething to his
old grand-father. Sure (faid fhe, while a tear Hole
down her cheek) you will not forget our deaf
Johnny/ JJut all her arguments were in vain; and
he concluded the converfation rather peevifhly,
•with declaring. ' It is a folly to talk ; I am refolved
to try.' His wife wiped her eyes, and only faid
with a figh, «I am forry for it.' He had never grieved
her-kfo much before.'
That night John flept little; he was anxioufly
debating which of the various modes of adventuring was to be preferred, and laying a thoufand plans
as to what he would do upon getting his expected
riches. Early next day he got from his wife fome?
money which he had given her to keep; and making a falfe excufe of bufinefs for leaving home, he
hurried to the Lottery Office. There, looking at
various tickets, and fhares, and policies that werd
Ihewn, out of feveral numbers that he was informed
were peculiarly lucky, he felected one ticket. Butv
as he was returning with it home, beginning to thihlc
that it was foolifh to fpend all bis luck (as he called
it) upon one number, he went^^ack, and changed
the ticket for fix policies, which he got at a guinea
a piece.    | Well (faid  b/e) as he put them in his
A, 3 pockets.
 fSflBP"
pocket, they can never be all drawn blanks.' Upon
hearing that the ticket he had taken firft was drawn
the next day a prize often pounds, he thanked his
ftars that he had parted with it, as he fhould by
ho meaj?s:be fatisfied with gaining fo little as two
pr three pounds, by his venture.
John now became hourly anxious to know whether his numbers were drawn or not, and often
neglected his bufinefs to enquire after them. He
appeared thoughtful and gloomy in the houfe; and
fometimes gave his mafter a very fhort anfwer, if he
found fault with him. All in the family wondered
Sat'the entire change in his conduct:—his poor wife
alone gueffed at the caufe. To her he now obferv-
ed an entire filence upon the fubject, as he had
found her fo decided againft his venturing in the
Lottery. But one day, when he had come home
after hearing that two of his numbers were drawn
blanks, and a third drawn a 10I. prize, (from which
he of tourfe got nothing,) fhe affectionately feized
his hand, and with a flood of tears afked him why
he had been for fome days fo peevifh to her. ' My
deareft hufband, (faid fhe) it was never fo with you,
before fince our-marriage. If I have done any
thing lately to offend you, I am ready to go. on ra,y
lpees to afk your pardon. Only do not- break my
fieart by behaving as if you did not love me.'-r-
| Pughl Woman! (replied he fullenly)—don't make
a fool of yourfelf.'- | Alas.l (faid fhe) is it folly
to- be grieved at feeing you unhappy, or at the fear
of haying difpleafed you?; But, ah I I fear the Lottery is the cawfe. I thought no good would come
of it.' rM-611.y perceived that his mind was in a
State of vexation; and therefore did not prefs the.-
-
(. I)
fu&jf|£ then. ;J3ut.in the evening fhe took an op-
poruinity.^of tqnderly entreating him to reft fatisfied
under any lofs he had already fuffered, without
venturing: farther; obferving that he might thus,
learn a leffon which might be ufeful to him all his
life; but that in the courfe in which he was he
could not; expect the bleffing of God.—'And furely
(added fhe) ,we fhall be richer with that bleffing
and a few worldly comforts, than if we had all the
yrprld without it. Ah! John! there is indeed, as
our.cjayiour fays, but one thing needful. What matter whether we be rich or poor in this life, if we
get to.heaven at.laft? And truly God is fo gracious
a.mafter, that his fervice brings peace and comfort
with it even here: while on the contrary, thofe who
jgfe their hearts upon the world, do not even find
.i^JLt^jiow the enjoyment which they feek; not to
fay, that if they gained the whole world, and lofl their
g^n fouls, they would make a fool's bargain.'
Though John feldom read his Bible; yet he knew
enough..o*.jit, to be fatisfied, that what fhe faid was
all very true; and fhe fpoke with fo much gentle-
nefs andj affection, that he could not take it amifs.
He then promifed her, that he would not throw
away any more money in the Lottery. She thanked
God for her hufband's refolution, and prayed that
ij^might, have'grace to keep it. But wifhing to
withdraw him from the fcene of temptation, fhe proposed that he fhould afk, leave of his mafter to vifit
their little child in the country. To this John con-
fented, and eafily obtained permiffion. It was with
joy that:'Molly faw him fet off next morning; but
jffij little thought how foon her joy was to be fuc-
ceeded by the biuereft'.forrow.  Her hufband's heart
A ^ was;
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 "M"'){ll"
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was flill hankering, after his three, numbers that re*
mained in the wheel; and as the drawing was pretty
far advanced, he became every day more anxious!
and impatient. He therefore refolyed, inftead off
leaving town that- day, to fpend it in the place where
the drawing was going on. s Who knows (faid he
to himfelf) but I may return to my wife, this even-.,
ing, with news that will make her own, that I did
right in trying my fortune?' As';he was. on his way, he
came to a famous office for infuring numbers. John,
had often heard of infuring, but did not well, know
what it meant. Haying however become a gambv
ler, he had an itch after trying h.is fortune in this,
way alfo. He. therefore ftepped into, the office.
' I want (faid he) to. injure ;f1 xmt I. don't know how
to do itj nor indeed what it is.,; ^Sir, (replied a
well-dreft man behind the counter) yoifetre perfecV
}y right. Infuring, Sir, is. the only way to mafiS
inoney; and I will explain, it all to you in a. mo^
ment with the greateft pleafure.' John thanked
his honour. «. Only give me (continueti't^e other),
the trifling premium of 6s. iod. on ariy number
you choofe, and if it, be drawn either. blarliP^
prize tn;:the' courfe of the day, you, may call on,
me for Five Guineas, and they will be paid you,
down upon the nail: hard guineas, Sir, hard aifdi
Iheavy. There is no office in the city that, pays
Hits with fo much honour as this. I htnl demands
on me yefterday to the tune of 300I. and^/adl were
ahfweredas fodiras called for.' ' Well, (faid John,
vho had hot the wit to afk himfelf hoivthe gentleman
came to be fp finely dreft while he was lofing fo
rnuch nioney,) * Well, and. if the number be rieft;
<irawn torday ai.allj will you give me any thing?'
(9)
c Of Sir (replied office-keeper) as to that, it is-
very unlikely. And really^ it is hot any intereft
I have in this, that makes me carry on the bu-
finefs; but a pleafure I have in offering betted
terms to my cuftomers than any other office in
London qan boaft of. And I would recommend
it to you, as a friend, to infure at leaft ten or
twelve numbers; that you may be certain of
winning. Take my word for it that is playing a.
fure game. Five Guineas, Sir, for 6s. iod. I think
©f that.' The cunning office-keeper was fo friendly
and fo obliging,' that he eafily prevailed on John
to infure his three remaining numbers, befides fes
veral • others, for'that day. The poor man now
thought it was hardly poffible but that he muft put.
fomething in his pocket. ' Whether, the-nufiabers.
(thought he) -be drawn blanks or prizes J get
money: and if any of my three remaining policies,
turn up the io,oool. prize, my fortune is made.
It is yet in the wheel; and why may not I get it as
Well as another?' Full of this thought he haftened
to watch the drawing; while the office-keeper, as
he went out, put the money in his pocket and his-
1 tongue in his cheek, fneering at John's fimplicity.
John found at the place of drawing a number of1
drunken, ragged, blafpheming wretches. Their appearance and language at firft fhocked him; efpe-
cially when he heard one and another curfing
themfelves for their folly in trying their fortune.'
But he now became all attention to the numbers
that were declared as foon as drawn> and his heart
beat, whenever any one near his own was mentioned. In a little time, wearied with expectation,
lie began to-imitate the example of others around-
liitattiH
juuMi
 *y
WB
him in laying wagers,. whether^ the nwrpbef nfi-Kt*
drawn would be a blank or fnri/le: and a decent
looking man, who fat near, foon engaged with him
in the bufinefs. The ftranger, who. knew better
than John how to reckon chances, let him win a
fewfhillings at firft; but foon ftript him of every
ferthing in his pocket. He was afhamed to con-
iefs that'he had no .more money, and the fpirit of
Gaming having now completely feized him, he hurried back to his mailer's houfe; and when his wife
with furprize afked the caufe of his fudden appearance, he pretended that he recollected on his way
to thei«ttkitle- boy fome article which he had fo,r^
gotten to take with him, and returned for it. He
had not been.ufed to lyiSJjgs, but having now com-.
menced'Gamefter, he was going^pn ftep by:ftep ixi
wickednefs. His poor wife perceived confufion
and diftrefs in his countenance; but believing what
he faid, fhe made no farther enquiries, and only
•urged hjrn" to haiten his departure. She knew not
that he took away with him a .filver^gjoblet and fome
fpoons,i^hich belonged to; his; ^rnaftera j and were
under his?:care, r {Thefe he immediately pawned^
expecting that he fhould,be able, to releafe them
before they would be miffed. But fooher or later
the devil always--leaves his fervants, in the lurch:
and fo he now ferved John.-
With the money thus wickedly obtained he returned to the place of drawing, and arrived jdjjjfe
time enough to lofe it all, except a few {hillings,
before that day's drawing ended. Stung with
vexation he came o,ut into the ftreet, curfing him-
felf, and curfing others; and hurriejd along with
fome of hi,s nev companions ^o a public houfe.
hW- Public
f    ti    )
Public houfes in his better days he had not been
accuftomed te^.frequent.     The  liquor which he
drank to drown care foon inflamed him to madnefs,
and prepared him for every thing that was bad.
Atone" moment he   thought   of putting an  end
\q his own  life, which had  now  become  a  burden.    Alas! had he followed the advice of his wife,
or taken the word ofcGoD for his direction, how
different would his fituation have been!   He knew
not now what to do.   Return home he durft not;
for he dreaded the thought of its being difcovered
that he had embezzled his matter's property.    And
to continue adventuring in the Lottery he had riot
the means.    His mind was torn by various paffions;
it was a kind of Hell.    BuChe was not truly penitent for his offence; and did not pray to God for
His gracious affiftance: he therefore went on front'
bad to worfe*.   His companions,   more  hardened
jfaj wickednefs, laughed at his diftrefs.    He heard
them with furprife boaft of the various cheats by
which they fupported themfelves in their villainy.
But one of them took him afide into an inner room,,
an,d after they had called for more drink, told him
plainly that he was a blockhead for being fo much
call down by his lpffesj and that if he had only fpirit
?nough,he might foon have as full a purfe as ever.
Firft fwearing John to "fecrecy, he propofed that
they fhould join together in a fcheme which he had
formed of committing a highway robbery that night.
He mentioned a gentleman who was to return to
town with a fum. of money late in the evening by
^he JEdgeware road,; and affured John of getting a
rich and eafy booty.    | I lived in this gentleman's
ifemily (faid he); till a year ago; and a good fervice
i
 1
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ft was, fork! had high wages anji little work. But
truly becaufe I got drunk now and then, he parted
with me, and would not give me a character for fo-
brie^y, and I have been out of place ever finee.
But I am now my own mafter; get money, in an
eafier way, and. drink as much as I pleafe. A fhort
, tte and a merry one, fay I.' John was at firft ftartled
fey the propofal; but after a moment's paufe, ob-
ferved with an oath, that he was in for it, and would
not flinch. He was foon furnffhed with piftols by
his companion, whofe name was Smith; but when
John took them, he expreffed a hope that there
jrtight be no blood fhed.
They fallied forth together, and lay concealed m
a field near the road, A few days before John
would have ftarted with horror at the thought of
being engaged in fuch a bufinefs: but when a man
once gives way to what is evil, it is impoffible to
lay where he will flop. The expected gentleman
foon arrived; when rufhing cut, one of them feiz-
ed the reins of his horfe, while the other held a
piftol to his breaft, and with horrid oaths demanded
his money. The gentleman, a Mr.- Stewart, immediately fnapped a piftol, which miffed fire; and
both the robbers discharging theirs, fhot him dead
on the fpot„ They had hardly time to rifle his
pockets,, when the neighbourhood was alarmed by
the report of the. piftols, and they were obliged
to fly with all fpeed: hut being favoured by the
darknefsoffthe night, they got clear off from their,
purfuersv After haftily fharing the fpoils, and again
fwearing. each other to fecrecy, (as if oaths could
bind villains,) they feparated for greater fafety, and
foent the remainder of the night at different houfes
H     c 131
of ill-fame. But John's mind, wasjiow racked with
remorfe, and guilt was vifible in *his countenance.
When day-light came, he endeavoured to compote
himfelf to fleep; but in vain: the image of the
perfon whom he had murdered haunted his imagination ; and ^he torment of his* eonfcience was al-
moft more grievous than the punifhment of the la%
which he dreaded. He had intended to employ his
ill-gotten gain in trying his fortune farther in the
Lottery, that curfed Lottery which had brought on
all his mifery; and had he done fo, it is moftprd-
bable that he would have been ftripped as he was
the day before. But all courage now failed him;
and being afraid to appear in public, he flunk to
his mailer's houfe at an early hour, and indulged
the hope that as there was no witneffs of the horrid
deed but himfelf and his companion, it would re-
mainliiindifeovered for ever. He little remembered
that God's eye faw it; and that his Providence fel-
dom (if ever) fuffers fuch wickednefs to pafs u|t«
punifhed, even in this world.
His wife, though furprifed at her hufband'*
fpeedy arrival, welcomed him with affection; arid
tenderly enquired after the welfare of their little
boy. % Afk no queftions, Woman!' was his only
reply. She was ftruck dumb with aftonifhment:
but when fhe perceived a piftol under his coat,
fhe clafped her hands in an agony of horror; and
not daring to afk a queftion, fhe funk on the chair,
and trembled like afpen leaf.
The robbery and murder now became the talk
of the town; and John's mafter afked him whether
.he had heard any thing of the circumftances. He,
ihad ouly power .to anfwer, * No^-$ir,? with a faul-
tering
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 3 4
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tering voice; ftBut^ how did his heart fink within
him, when he heard foon after that his companioh
(who had been a notorious offender) was taken up
on fufpicion of having committed the fact! yet he
ftill thought there was no evidence that could prove
the charge. Every rap at the door ftartled him.
j&rery perfon that looked at him feemed to know
his guilt. He fometimes thought of flying; but
again determined to ftand his ground, left his ab-
dfepnding fhould occafion an immediate purfuit.
Some days paffed thus, and he began to flatter himfelf that all was fafe. But as he lay one night
fleeplefs and toffing, his afflicted wife weeping by
his fide and afraid to enquire into the caufe of his
fituation, a noife was heard at the door; and on its
opening, the officers of a juftice entered to apprehend him. Smith had turned king's evidence to fe-
cure his own life; fo little confidence can villains
place in each other. John was now dragged pale
and trembling to Newgate, while poor Molly clung
to him fhrieking, and faintod away as foon as they
entered the prifqn. When fhe came to herfelf, fhe
felt that her heart was broken. She never raifed
her head, again. Yet fhe attended him clofely for
a while; but pined, and foon funk beneath the
weight of her affliction. With her dying breath
fhe prayed, that her hufband might be brought to
repentance, and might yet obtain mercy at the hands
of God. When»brought to the bar, he caft a look of
indignation and reproach at his accomplice, who
now appeared as evidence againft him; which the
other returned with a malicious fneer. His guilt
was clearly proved all : circumftances confirmed it.
When the Judge was going to pafs fentence; he
WW cried
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cried out for a long day.   Oh iff ata" l'Ong'-%my*!*fieve,
granted to every man  fentenfced to  fuffeiH death;
€ven%)%L.murderer!  But in the cafe of murderers
the law determines otherwife, and it was not the
bufinefs of the Judge to give his opinion of the
law, but to pafs its fentence.    He addreffed John
as follows: j'^TJnhappy man! you feem to have fcft"- .
gotten that in the murder of Mr.  Stewart you allowed him no  time.    In a moment, and without
provocation,, you fent a worthy perfon  who had
never   harmed you   into Eternity.     The   laws of
God   and man  demand your forfeited life.     You
-muft prepare for alrrioft immediate execution. Your
fate  will, I truft, be an awful warning  to many.
You might have lived long,   ufeful, and refpected,
had you been content with what you  acquired by
honeft induftry;   had not the defire of hafty and
unrighteous gain  taken poffeffion   of your heart.
I   mourn over -the exiftence of fuch a public nui-
fance as  appears to have  been   the  firft occafion
'"•of your fall: and! cannot help declaring, that I
have   never fat upon this  bench after  the  drawing  of the   Lottery,   but It had  reafon  to  think
it had proved  the  ruin of many of the unhappy
culprits   who appeared before me.    I would ear-
rieftly exhort the crowds that hear me to abhor the
thoughts of adventuring in it, and to  fly from it
- as from a plague, which will deftroy domeftic hap-
pinefs and   inward   peace,   and bring upon them,
every kind of diftrefs.    Prifoner!   I   mourn that
others fhould  be involved in your calamity, who
have not   been partners in your  guilt;, that   an
amiable  and  virtuous woman (as I am informed)
fhould have died broken-hearted on your account;
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There the prifoner groaned]—and that your infant
child muft be left an orphan in the world, that will
be too forward to reproach him witb(his father's
crime. But your doom in this world is fealed.
Your flate in the next now callsjjloudly for all
your attention, and I moft earne^ly exhort you
.to call upon Him for repentance and pardon, who
came into the world to fave even the chief of fin-
ner,s. May you have grace therefore to employ
the little time remaining for you in this world, in
imploring His mercy ! As to the wretch before
me, who has been an accomplice with you in your
crime, and upon whofe evidence you have been
convicted, he will not efcape juftice. I muft remand him back to Newgate, that he. may ftand his
trial upon the charge of two other robberies. It
is a painful but neeeffary part of my office to
which I pow proceed. It is with a bleeding heart
I pronounce your fentence, which is, that you be
hange_d, drawn, and quartered on Saturday next the
15th inftant, and may the Lord have mercy on
your foul I" £$$ $$$&$
He was executed according tcj his fentence;
iind would to God that this hiftory? might prove a
warning to all, againft trying their fortune in the
r>Mr,
iSf.
T HE   B N B*
->.'_•—
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