f tickets in the state lottery, all
those precautions had been eluded in a scandalous manner by certain
individuals, intrusted with the charge of delivering the tickets to
the contributors, according to the intent of the act, which expressly
declared that not more than twenty should be sold to any one person.
Instead of conforming to these directions of the legislature, they and
their friends engrossed great numbers, sheltering themselves under a
false list of feigned names for the purpose; by which means they not
only defeated the equitable intention of the commons, but in some
measure injured the public credit; inasmuch as their avarice had
prompted them to subscribe for a greater number than they had cash to
purchase, so that there was a deficiency in the first payment, which
might have had a bad effect on the public affairs. These practices were
so flagrant and notorious as to attract the notice of the lower house,
where an inquiry was begun, and prosecuted with a spirit of real
patriotism, in opposition to a scandalous cabal, who endeavoured with
equal eagerness and perseverance to screen the delinquents. All their
efforts however proved abortive; and a committee, appointed to examine
particulars, agreed to several severe resolutions against one Le ----,
who had amassed a large fortune by this and other kinds of peculation.
They voted him guilty of a breach of trust, and a direct violation of
the lottery act; and an address was presented to his majesty, desiring
he might be prosecuted by the attorney-general for these offences. He
was accordingly sued in the court of king's bench, and paid a fine of
one thousand pounds, for having committed frauds by which he had
gained forty times that sum; but he was treated with such gentleness as
remarkably denoted the clemency of that tribunal.

SESSION CLOSED.

The session ended in the beginning of April, when the king gave the
parliament to understand, that he should say nothing at present on
foreign affairs; but assured them of his fixed resolution to exert his
whole power in maintaining the general tranquillity, and adhering to
such measures for that purpose as he had hitherto pursued in conjunction
with his allies. He, in very affectionate terms, thanked both houses
for the repeated proofs they had given of their zealous attachment
and loyalty to his person and government. He enumerated the salutary
measures they had taken for lessening the national debt, and augme