Note 150 — Chapter IX · GAMBLING AND SPECULATION.

The financial atmosphere was getting unwholesome, Government had to step in, and an Act was passed which duly appeared in the London Gazette, June 28/July 1, 1712, which enacted 'That every Person who, after the 24 June 1712, shall erect, set up, or keep any Office or Place for making Insurance on Marriages, Births, Christnings, or Service, or any other Office or Place, under the Denomination of Sales of Gloves, of Fans, of Cards, of Numbers, of the Queen's Picture, for the improving of small sums of Mony,[150] or the like Offices or Places under pretence of improving small sums of Money, shall Forfeit for every such Offence the sum of 500l., to be recovered with full Costs of Suit, and to be divided as aforesaid.' This had the desired effect, and both in the British Mercury, June 27/30, 1712, and the Post Boy, Aug. 21/23, 1712, we hear of prosecutions of illicit lotteries—and they soon ceased.