Benjamin Franklin Papers

Scheme of the Second Philadelphia Lottery, 2 June 1748

Scheme of the Second Philadelphia Lottery

Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette, June 2, 1748.

The drawing of the First Philadelphia Lottery was followed immediately with a proposal to open a second, in which the tickets should be of four classes and prices instead of one, and prizes would be pieces of eight. To meet the demand for coin the Lottery Managers bought dollars in New York, Rhode Island, and Boston. Franklin printed 500 copies of the scheme,1 and published it in the Gazette on June 2 and several ensuing weeks. The first class was drawn on September 10, the fourth and last on March 27, 1749.2 With the proceeds the Association battery at Wicaco was further equipped and strengthened.

Scheme of the Philadelphia Lottery, to raise 9375 Pieces of Eight for the Publick Use of the City of Philadelphia, and Province of Pennsylvania.

This Lottery consists of 7500 Tickets, and is divided into four Classes, to be drawn at four different times. Each Ticket is divided into four Billets, one for each Class. The Price of each Billet is, for the first Class one Piece of Eight, for the second two Pieces of Eight, for the third three Pieces of Eight, and for the fourth four Pieces of Eight.

The First Class, at One Piece of Eight, each Billet.

Prizes. Value in Pieces
of Eight.
Sum in Do.
1 of 500 is 500
2 of 250 are 500
3 of 100 are 300
3 of 80 are 240
4 of 40 are 160
10 of 20 are 200
10 of 10 are 100
125 of 4 are 500
750 of 2 are 1500
2 The first and
last drawn
each
} 10 are 20
2 The Tickets
drawn next
before and
after the prize of 500,
each
} 10 are 20
912 Prizes 4040
Cash Dr. received on
7500 Tickets, 7500 Pieces,
Cr. paid in Prizes, 4040
Remains 3460
To be carried to the Fourth Class.

The Second Class, at 2 Pieces of Eight each Billet.

Prizes. Value in Pieces
of Eight.
Sum in Do.
1 of 750 is 750
1 of 500 is 500
2 of 250 are 500
3 of 150 are 450
4 of 100 are 400
6 of 80 are 480
10 of 50 are 500
12 of 40 are 480
26 of 20 are 520
10 of 15 are 150
45 of 10 are 450
50 of 6 are 300
250 of 4 are 1000
750 of 3 are 2250
2 The first and
last drawn
each
} 15 are 30
2 The Tickets
drawn next
before and
after the 750,
each
} 15 are 30
2 The Tickets
drawn next
before and
after the 500,
each
} 10 are 20
1176 Prizes 8810
  Cash Dr. received on
7500 Tickets 15000 Pieces
  Cr. paid in Prizes  8810
Remains  6190
To be carried to the Fourth Class.

The Third Class, at 3 Pieces of Eight each Billet.

Prizes. Value in Pieces
of Eight.
Sum in Do.
1 of 1000 is 1000
1 of 750 is 750
1 of 500 is 500
2 of 400 are 800
3 of 250 are 750
5 of 150 are 750
8 of 100 are 800
10 of 60 are 600
15 of 40 are 600
20 of 30 are 600
30 of 20 are 600
50 of 15 are 750
100 of 10 are 1000
250 of 6 are 1500
750 of 4 are 3000
2 The first and
last drawn
each
} 20 are 40
2 The Tickets
drawn next
before and
after the
1000, each
} 20 are 40
2 The Tickets
drawn next
before and
after the
750, each
} 15 are 30
2 The Tickets
drawn next
before and
after the
500, each
} 10 are 20
1254 Prizes 14130
  Cash Dr. received on
7500 Tickets 22500 Pieces
  Cr. paid in Prizes, 14130
Remains  8370
To be carried to the Fourth Class.

The Fourth and Last Class, at 4 Pieces of Eight each Billet.

Prizes. Value in Pieces of Eight. Sum in Do.
1 of 1500 is 1500
2 of 1000 are 2000
3 of 750 are 2250
4 of 500 are 2000
6 of 400 are 2400
10 of 250 are 2500
10 of 150 are 1500
15 of 100 are 1500
20 of 80 are 1600
30 of 60 are 1800
24 of 50 are 1200
60 of 40 are 2400
1248 of 20 are 24960
2 The first and
last drawn
each
} 50 are 100
2 The Tickets
drawn next
before and
after the
1500, each
} 30 are 60
4 The Tickets
drawn next
before and
after the two
of 1000, each
} 20 are 80
6 The Tickets
drawn next
before and
after the
three of 750,
each
} 15 are 90
8 The Tickets
next drawn
before and
after the four
of 500, each
} 10 are 80
1455 Prizes. 48020
  Cash Dr. received on 7500 Tickets 30000
  Paid more than received in this Class 18020

Being what was brought forward from the preceding Classes.

State of the Account of the Four Classes, viz.

Received. Pieces of Eight. Pieces.
For 7500 Billets in first Class, at 1 each, 7500
For Ditto, in second Class, at 2 each, 15000
For Ditto, in third Class, at 3 each, 22500
For Ditto, in fourth Class, at 4 each, 30000
75000
Prizes paid. Amounting to
In first Class, 912 4040
In second Class, 1176 8810
In third Class, 1254 14130
In fourth Class 1455 48020
75000

Twelve and a Half per Cent. deducted from 75000 Pieces of Eight, is 9375 Pieces, to be applied to the Publick Use.

Explanation.

A Lottery, in the common Form, is subject to these Inconveniencies. If the Price of each Ticket be high, many who would have been Purchasers are discouraged and excluded. If low, the Number of Tickets must be great, and that occasions the Drawing to take up more Time, which increases the Expence, and is an Injury to many, who neglect other Business to attend it. If the Capital of the Lottery is large, ’tis an Inconveniency that so much Money as is necessary to fill it, should be damm’d up, and restrained from being current in Trade, till the whole is compleated, and all the Lottery drawn.

The present Scheme is calculated to remedy these Inconveniencies. It divides the Lottery into four distinct Classes, to be drawn at four different Times, and is so contrived, as that all the four Drawings will take but little more Time than one Drawing would do in the common Way. The Price of a Ticket is also divided into four gradual Payments, to be made, if the Buyer pleases, at four different and distant Times. The first Entry is low and easy, and if the Adventurer is successful in the first Class, he is enabled as well as encouraged to go on. And a very great Part of the Money is to return several times into the Hands of the People before the Conclusion.

The four Billets into which each Ticket is divided, are all of the same Number, but of different Prices, according to the several Classes to which they belong.

Every Adventurer in the first Class receives a Billet for each Piece of Eight he pays, entitling the Bearer to such Prize in that Class as may be drawn against its Number, subject to no Deduction, unless the Prize be Twenty Pieces of Eight, or upwards. For a like Billet in the second Class he pays two Pieces of Eight. For a Billet in the third Class three Pieces of Eight; and four for a Billet in the fourth Class: So that the Price of a whole Ticket to go through the Lottery is Ten Pieces of Eight.

Adventurers in the first Class have a Right to go thro’ the subsequent Classes, but are not obliged to do it. If any neglect or decline taking out, or paying the Price of their Billets for a subsequent Class, till within three Days of the Drawing of such Class, the common Stock is to have the Benefit of it to the End; unless such Adventurers have left equivalent Prizes for that Purpose in the Hands of the Managers, which is the same Thing as paying: And the greatest Number of Prizes in the first, second, and third Classes, are made just the Price of a Billet in the Class next succeeding, that such Prizes may defray the Charge of new Billets, without the Trouble of paying Money.

A Sum equal to Twelve and a Half per Cent. on the whole, is to be deducted from the fortunate Tickets for the publick Use: But as it would occasion Trouble in making Change, and be otherwise inconvenient, if such Deduction were to be made from the smaller Prizes (which indeed cannot so well afford it) therefore nothing is deducted from any Prize that is under Twenty Pieces of Eight. And the Prizes are so calculated and order’d, that 15 per Cent. which is to be deducted from such as are Twenty Pieces of Eight and upwards, is equal to Twelve and a Half per Cent. on the Whole, and no more. Thus this Lottery is Two and a Half per Cent. more advantageous to Adventurers, than any that have hitherto been made on this Continent. And there are yet several other Advantages, for, in the first Place, the Adventurer’s whole Ticket cannot be struck dead at a Blow, as in common Lotteries. If he has a Blank in the first Class, ’tis a Blank only of One Tenth of his Ticket, and he has still three good Chances left for the remaining nine Tenths, every Chance better than the preceding One, and the last best of all. Then he is under no Necessity of paying the whole Ten Pieces of Eight for each Ticket at once; and, if fortunate in the first Class, may have Occasion to advance no more than the first. In our former Lottery, the Price of a Ticket was Forty Shillings, the whole to be paid at once, and yet its best Chance was to be doubled but 250 times: In this Lottery one Piece of Eight may possibly gain several Thousands. And lastly, the Number of Prizes is more than Half the Number of Tickets.

Publick Notice is to be given before each Drawing, of the Time and Place when and where the Numbers and Prizes are to be put into the Wheels, that such Adventurers as think fit may be present if they please.

The Manner of Drawing is this: All the 7500 Numbers are to be put into one Wheel, and well mixed, the Wheel to be frequently turn’d during the Drawing. In the other Wheel are put the Prizes of the first Class, without any Blanks among them. Then a Number is drawn out of one Wheel, and a Prize against it out of the other, till the Prizes are all drawn; so ends the Drawing of the first Class, which may be finished in one Day.

The rest of the Numbers remain in their Wheel, seal’d up, till the Drawing of the second Class.

The Prizes drawn in each Class may be demanded within three Days after the Drawing of that Class is finished.

Six Weeks Time to be allowed between the Drawings, to take out Billets for the succeeding Class, prepare for drawing it, &c.

Before drawing the second Class, all the Numbers drawn out in the first Class are again to be roll’d up and tied, put into the Wheel to the rest, and well mixed among them.

Then the Prizes of the second Class being put into the other Wheel, without Blanks, the drawing proceeds as in the first Class.

In the same Manner is the third Class managed.

In drawing the fourth and last Class, Blanks are to be mixed with the Prizes, so many as to draw out all the Numbers in the Number Wheel, and complete the whole.

The drawing of the first Class is to begin on the first Monday in September next, without postponing or Delay, or sooner if sooner full; if any Tickets should then remain unsold, they are to be drawn on Account of the Stock.

The following Persons are appointed Managers of this Lottery, viz. Joseph Turner, Abraham Taylor, Tench Francis, John Inglis, Samuel Hazard, John Sober, William Plumsted, Patrick Baird, Philip Syng, Evan Morgan, jun., Jacob Duche, Austin Hicks, Samuel M’Call, jun., Joseph Sims, and Richard Nixon; who are to give Bond, and be on Oath for the faithful Performance of their Trust, and to lay out the Money arising, for such Uses, as to them, in Conjunction with William Allen, Joshua Maddox, William Masters, Samuel M’Call, senior, Edward Shippen, Thomas Leech, Charles Willing, John Kearsley, William Clymer, senior, Thomas Lawrence, junior, William Coleman, Thomas Hopkinson, William Wallace, John Stamper, John Mifflin, James Coultas, William Branson, Rees Meredith, Thomas Lloyd, and Benjamin Franklin, Managers and Assistants of the former Lottery, or to the Majority of the whole, shall seem most for the publick Benefit.

Prizes not demanded within six Months after the last Drawing, to be deem’d as generously given to the common Stock, for the same Use as the Twelve and a Half per Ct. and not to be demanded afterwards, but applied accordingly.

The Managers are to adjust their Accounts, and publish them within twelve Months after the Drawing is finished.

The Tickets will begin to be sold by the Managers at their respective Houses, on Thursday, the 16th Instant.

1Eddy, LedgerD,” pp. 80–1.

2Pa. Gaz., Sept. 15, 1748; April 5, 1749.

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