164 | To The Board Of Trade

    Triplicate630

    Boston October 21: 1762

    My Lords

    At the last Session of the general Assembly A Bill was prepared to be brought into the House to raise by Lottery a sum of money in addition to the sum of £4250631 before granted by the general Assembly to erect a new building for the use of the College at Cambridge in this Province.632 The Case was this. By the increase of the Students of the College there have been of late near 80 more than can be lodged &c in the College: in consequence of which some disorders have arisen which have been irremediable, whilst a considerable part of the collegians have been for the greatest part of their time not subject to the inspection of their Governors. The obvious remedy for this was the bringing them all within the Walls of the College: for which purpose upon an application from the College, the Assembly granted the sum of £4250. being the precise estimate of a building to contain lodgings for 64 Students.

    Upon a further consideration of this Scheme, it was found that something more than mere lodgings were wanting; particularly an addition to the Dining Hall, which was not capable of receiving an additional number. It has therefore been thought expedient to add the library (which at present adjoins) to the Hall and build a new library in the New building. It was impossible to ask the Assembly (after the former ample beneficence) to contribute a further sum for this new Expence; and therefore the Expedient of a lottery was the only one that could be resorted to.

    This being the Case, I should have made no doubt of consenting upon general principles: nor does it seem to fall within the rules which your Lordships have laid down in your exceptions to the former lottery Bills. But as in consequence thereof your Lordships laid a general injunction upon me not to pass any more lottery Bills, I prevailed on the Gentlemen concerned not to bring in this Bill, untill I had time to lay the case before your Lordships and obtain from you a relaxation of that injunction in this Case, or rather a declaration that the rule of reasoning, upon which your Lordships disapproved of the raising the money by Lotteries for making bridges, mend roads &c, matters due from the Community either of the County or Township,633 does not extend to this Case. If there is any case wherein a Lottery may be said to be lawful and advisable, The providing for the education of Youth in the higher path of learning, for which the generality of the People are no ways obliged to contribute, is one. Upon this principle, The Academy at Philadelphia has received great part of it’s support from an annual lottery. And lately when A Scheme was formed for cutting off that resource by a general Act against lotteries, it was thought more advisable to allow a general licence for lotteries of all kinds, (abused as it was sure to be) than to suffer a learned seminary to be defeated of a considerable part of its usual income. For these reasons it is much more to be hoped that your Lordships will allow me (who am under no other injunction than a signification of your Lordships Sentiments upon lottery bills of another kind) to consent to this Bill for the benefit of a Society well deserving your Lordships favor, which is neither like to be abused or to be repeated.

    I beg leave to take this oppertunity to congratulate your Lordships upon the reduction of the Havanna and the Recovery of Newfoundland; in the latter of which this Province had so considerable a share as to turn the ballance of its practicability.

    I am with great respect My Lords, your Lordships most obedient and most humble Servant

    Fra Bernard.

    The Right Honble The Lords of Trade and Plantations

    tripLS, RC CO 5/891, f 94.