There is also in the same paper, of Feb. 25, 1794, another communication, in which the writer apparently takes an entirely opposite view, and quotes a letter of Joel Barlow to the National Convention of France, in which will be found some rather strong language.  When one considers the place where these views appear to have been adopted, and recollects the horrible scenes of the French Revolution, which were even then being enacted, one wonders whether the French authorities valued human life as much as they did property.

ON PUBLIC LOTTERIES.

MR. CUSHING,

AS our Legislature have lately had under consideration a bill, for granting a Lottery to Harvard College, I beg you will publish what our countryman, Mr. BARLOW, said on the subject of Public Lotteries, in his Letter to the National Convention of France.  It is as follows: 

“SINCE I am treating of morals, the great object of all political instructions, I cannot avoid bestowing some remarks on the subject of PUBLIC LOTTERIES.  It is a shocking disgrace of modern governments, that they are driven to this pitiful piece of knavery, to draw money from the people.  But no circumstance of this kind is so extraordinary as that this policy should be continued in France, since the revolution; and that a state lottery should still be reckoned among the permanent sources of revenue.  It has its origin in deception; and depends for its support, on raising and disappointing the hopes of individuals—­on perpetually agitating the mind with unreasonable desires of gain—­on clouding the understanding with superstitious ideas of chance, destiny and fate—­on diverting the attention from regular industry, and promoting a universal spirit of gambling, which carries all sorts of vices into all classes of people.  Whatever way we look into human affairs, we shall ever find that the bad organization of society is the cause of more disorders than could possibly arise from the natural temper of the heart.  And what shall we say of a government that avowedly steps forward, with the insolence of an open enemy, and creates a new vice, for the sake of loading it with a tax?  What right has such a government to punish our follies?  And who can look without disgust on the impious figure it makes, in holding the scourge in one hand, and the temptation in the other?  You cannot hesitate to declare, in your constitution, THAT ALL LOTTERIES SHALL BE FOREVER ABOLISHED.”

    In November last, the Convention, in conformity with the
    foregoing sentiments, passed the following decree: 

    “Lotteries, of whatever nature they may be, or under whatever
    denomination they may exist, are suppressed.”

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