This then is a declaration by the nation, that an act was not immoral, of which they were in the habitual use themselves as a part of the regular means of supporting the government:  the tax on the vender of tickets was their share of the profits, and if their share was innocent, his could not be criminal.

2.  It has been abundantly permitted, to raise money by lottery for the purposes of schools; and in this, as in many other cases, the lottery has been permitted to retain a part of the money (generally from ten to fifteen per cent.) for the use to which the lottery has been applied.  So that while the adventurers paid one hundred dollars for tickets, they received back eighty-five or ninety dollars only, in the form of prizes, the remaining ten or fifteen being the tax levied on them, with their own consent.  Examples are.

1784. c. 34.  Authorizing the city of Williamsburg to raise L2000 for a grammar school.

1789. c. 68.  For Randolph Academy, L1000.

1789. c. 73.  For Fauquier Academy, L500. c. 74.  For the Fredericksburg Academy, L4000.

1790. c. 46.  For the Transylvania Seminary, L500.  For the Southampton Academy, L300.

1796. c. 82.  For the New London Academy.

1803. c. 49.  For the Fredericksburg Charity School. c” 50.  For finishing the Strasburg Seminary. c. 58.  For William and Mary College. c. 62.  For the Bannister Academy.c. 79.  For the Belfield Academy. c. 82.  For the Petersburg Academy.

1804. c. 40.  For the Hotsprings Seminary. c. 76.  For the Stevensburg Academy. c.100.  For William and Mary College.

1805. c. 24.  For the Rumford Academy.

1812. c. 10.  For the Literary Fund.  To sell the privilege for $30,000 annually, for seven years.

1816. c. 80.  For Norfolk Academy, $12,000.  Norfolk Female Society, $2000.  Lancastrian School, $6000.

3.  The next object of lotteries has been rivers.

1790. c. 46.  For a bridge between Gosport and Portsmouth, L400.

1796. c. 83.  For clearing Roanoke River.

1804. c. 62.  For clearing Quantico Creek.

1805. c. 42.  For a toll-bridge over Cheat River.

1816. c. 49.  For the Dismal Swamp, $50,000.

4.  For roads.

1790. c. 46.  For a road to Warminster, L200.  For cutting a road from Rockfish gap to Scott’s and Nicholas’s landing, L400. 1796. c. 85.  To repair certain roads.

1803. c. 60.  For improving roads to Snigger’s and Ashby’s gaps. c. 61.  For opening a road to Brock’s gap. c. 65.  For opening a road from the town of Monroe to Sweet Springs and Lewisburg.

* The acts not being at hand, the sums allowed are not known.

1803. c. 71.  For improving the road to Brock’s gap.

1805. c. 5.  For improving the road to Clarksburg. c. 26.  For opening a road from Monongalia Glades to Fishing Creek.

1813. c. 44.  For opening a road from Thornton’s gap.