ARTICLES Established by Alexander Hamilton, formerly Merchant in Roven in France, now in Edinburgh, and his Partners, in the Erecting in the said City, a profitable Adventure for the Fortunate, of Fifty Thousand Tickets, of Half a Crown each.  
December 9 1698.  
IN Imitation of that Adventure of 25 Thousand lib sterl. consisting of 50 Thousand Tickets, at 10 shillings Sterl. each, lately erected and finished at London, by Esquire Neal the Groom-Porter with so great Applause; but without the possibility of more than an fourth Part of his profit because the Sum here proposed, is but 25 Thousand Crowns, consisting of 50 Thousand Tickets, at half a Crown each: considering the Charges and Pains in managing, are much the same Alexander Hamilton and his Partners, at the special Request and Desire of many eminent Persons so fond of the Matter, (that they return Money to London to Invest in those Tickets, which would never be done, if it might be on the same terms done here) do in the same manner▪ propose the giving out 50 Thousand Tickets, at ● sh. 6. d. per Ticket, which he will begin to do on Thursday the 14 Instant, at the Old Post-Office, on the north side of the Street a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Cross▪ where the Adventurers shall be attended every Work day, from 8 in the Morning to 4 a Clock at Night: And it's hoped all the Tickets may be distributed against the First of March 1694. At which time, it is here proposed to begin to draw at Alexander Crombies' Great-room, opposite to the Entry to the Parliament Closs, and to continue daily and publicly with the assistance of the Overseers, till ended.  
And if in the above mentioned time the whole number of Tickets be not completed, the draught shall yet be made for those that have put in, and the Benefits proportioned to the number of Tickets, of which (by the Overseers) a diligent Calculate shall be made.  
Otherways, the day of Drawing shall be adjourned for some short time, as the Overseers shall think fit, which shall be published by a Placard.  
Now to answer the 25 Thousand Crown● so to be taken, for 50 Thousand Tickets to be given out at ● sh. 6. d. sterl. a piece. There will be 250 benefited Tickets, to make up the said 25 Thousand Crowns, abating 10 per Cent. only, to be allowed for the trouble and Charge; and as soon as the 50 Thousand Tickets are given out and completed, the Overseers after-named shall Meet, and call for the Books, and see all the Money so placed, as to be ready to be paid on demand, to such persons or their lawful Representatives, as shall present the benefited Tickets.  

The Benefited Tickets are to be To be paid in ready Money, when required, without any Rebate whatsoever.  1 Ticket of 3000 Crown● 1 of 2500 1 of 2000 1 of 1500. 1 of 1000 1 of 500 1 of 300. 1 of 200. 2 of 150 Crowns each 300 50 of 100 Crowns each 5000. 40 of 50 Crowns each 2000 50 of 40 Crowns each 2000 100 of 20 Crowns each 2000 And to the first Ticket, whether benefited or not, that shall be drawn besides the Benefit that may come out with it. 100 And to the first Person whose Ticket shall be drawn next after all the Benefited Tickets are taken out. 100  
And if it should happen that the last Benefited Ticket should be the last drawn, the said 100 Crowns shall be paid, besides what may come by the said benefited Ticket.  

ANd to farther explain the Practical part of this matter, Nota, Books will be purposely Printed, with Red Rules, containing the whole Number of Tickets, and of these, three of each sort (as here under-described) just Marked and Numbered alike.  NO. 1. With the Adventurers Name, or any other Mark he desires to be put. NO. 1. NO. 1. NO. 2. NO. 2. NO. 2.  
From which Books, the outtermost Ticket signed by Alexander Hamilton the Undertaker, shall be first cut, and given to the Person that so pays the half Crown for it; the next, which will be just like the Ticket given out, is to be cut, and put into a strong Box, whence it is to be drawn: then the third, just the same with the other two, will remain still in the said Book. So that to whoever Chance gives a Ticket that Entitles him to a Benefit, must bring or send the said Ticket to the place where the same shall be drawn, and there it must answer (to prevent all mistakes) the Ticket of the same Number drawn, which will likewise answer that that's left in the Book, and it so appearing to do, the Benefit forthwith to be delivered.  
And now the better to demonstrat how this is to be drawn and done.  
Note; All Tickets in the second place to cut out of the Book as aforesaid, just numbered and marked like those given out, are in presence of the Managers and Overseers after-named, to be put up into a large Glass, to be Sealed and Locked up in a strong Box, and there Jumbled together, and kept so Locked up, till it's drawn. And the Blanks with the 250 benefited Tickets, making together 50 Thousand; In like manner, in the presence of the said Managers, are to be put into another such Glass, to be also Sealed up and Locked in another strong Box, and there so to remain till drawn out, which is to be done thus.  
An Oval Table is to be set in Alexander Crombies' Great Room aforesaid; round which, the Managers and Clerks in Order are to sit. And at one end shall be placed the Box wherein are the Tickets so numbered and marked as aforesaid; and at the other end of the Table, the other such Box wherein are the benefited Tickets and Blanks; out of both which, one by one (by some Strangers) they are all to be drawn.  
The numbered Tickets as aforesaid, being put in one Glass, and the Blanks and Benefited in another; The said Glasses sealed up: Just before the Tickets are going to be drawn, shall be taken out of the strong Boxes, and showed to the Company present, with the Numbered Tickets, Blanks, and benefited Tickets in them; And be then shaked and jumbled together, that there may be no placing of either, which Glasses, shall again afterwards be placed in the strong Boxes, from whence all shall be drawn.  
First, From among the Tickets so Numbered and Marked▪ One shall be drawn, and before it be opened, or known what Number it is, another shall be drawn for it, out of the Blank and benefited Tickets; And if it prove a Blank, it shall be noted down on a Book, kept for that purpose, to the end every person at his pleasure, may know if his Ticket be yet drawn: But if it does prove a benefited Ticket, that and the Numbered Ticket shall be both filled up together, (but shall be first Noted by the Clerk, with the said numbered Ticket, at the same time drawn, in a Book kept apart for that purpose) which Note shall be underwit by two of the Overseers then present; the said Book to be kept, and showed in public and private, and Printed, as soon as all the Tickets are drawn out, that all Persons may see, to what Number each Benefit doth belong, and so accordingly come for the same: And all this, to prevent mistakes as aforesaid, and that no possible suspicion may remain, of any foul Play in this thing.  
In short, whoever is any way possessed of any one of these numbered Tickets, so Signed by Alexander Hamilton the Undertaker aforesaid, will this way be certain, that another such Ticket, so numbered and marked, as that he is possessed of, shall for him be put in, and drawn, at this adventure, in presence of the Managers: Where, whether absent or present, he will have an equal share with the rest, for the Benefits proposed; and be sure, that what Sum of Money soever, good Fortune this way shall design him, on production of his Ticket, that Entitles him to it, shall forthwith be paid at demand, free from all charge, or any deduction whatever.  
And that all possible fairness in seeing the numbered benefited and blank Tickets, duly put in, and duly drawn out, as they ought, and very other thing right done, which ought to be done in this case: The Viscount of Terbat, Lord Register, and the Lord Beilhaven, both Lords of Their Majesty's Privy Council, Sir Thomas Livingstaun Major-General of Their Majesty's Forces, and Commander in Chief in Scotland; Patrick Halyburton and William M●inzies, present Magistrates of the City; Colonel Richard Cunninghame, Sir James Dick of Priest-field, and Edward Marjaribanks, Merchants in the City: All Persons, who have no interest in Co-partnery, or otherways, with the Undertaker▪ Have been requested, and have undertaken to be Overseers, Directors, and Managers of the whole Affair, in which, there is nothing to be ordered, or done, without the Concurrence of three at least of the Persons beforenamed; so that there will be no room left, to doubt of justness and fairness, throughout the whole managing of it; And nothing ever like this was, at so small advantage, proposed.  
And lastly, That those to whom Fortune dispenses these benefited Tickets, whether absent, or present, may be certainly sure to have the Money in specie, as herein above-exprest. The said Alexander Hamilton the Undertaker, with Archibald Hamilton and James Grahame Merchants, as Sureties for him, have Subscribed a Bond to that purpose; and Consigned it in the Hands of the Overseers abovenamed, to lie depositate for the behoof of the Adventurers.   

Edinburgh, the seventh Day of December 1693.  
UPon a Petition given in by Alexander Hamilton, Undertaker aforesaid, To the Right Honourable the Lords of Their Majesty's Privy Council, Their Lordships, by their Act of the date foresaid, have Discharged any other Person or Persons then the said Alexander Hamilton, to undertake the above Bank, or profitable Adventure for the Fortunate, for the space of Six Months after the Date of the said Act of Privy Council.