The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in moving the order of the clay for the third reading of the Lottery bill, said, that in consequence of the communications which had taken place between an hon. friend of his and the hon. member for Aberdeen, he had consented to withdraw what were considered the objectionable clauses in the bill.
§ Mr. Humeexpressed his satisfaction at the decision of the right hon. gentleman and pointed out some passages in the 33d and 38th clauses of the bill, which also required amendment. He also protested against the use of black letter in bills, which sometimes rendered it extremely difficult to ascertain their precise contents. In consequence of its having been alleged that the secretary of the lottery had some share in the contract, and might therefore favour one lottery office keeper or another, he wished to bring up two clauses, prohibiting the secretary, or any of the commissioners, from having any interest, direct or indirect, with the contract for the lottery.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerobserved, that such an enactment would be wholly unnecessary. The secretary was 291 an annual appointment, under the control of the treasury, and if any misconduct were proved against him, it was their duty to remove him. He considered such control more effective than any legislative interference.
§ Sir M. W. Ridleydeclared it to be his opinion, that a greater fraud had never been practised on the public, than that which had taken place in the last lottery. The amount of the prizes was stated to be 130,000l., when, in fact, it was only 130,000l. stock. The whole system of lotteries consisted of fraud and trick; and the right hon. gentleman would deserve well of the country by taking the earliest possible opportunity to put an end to it.
§ The bill was then read a third lime.