play. After the play the best company commonly go to Tom's or Will's coffee-houses, and spend the time till midnight in conversation, cards, or politics; but party runs so high here, that Whigs and Tories have each their respective coffee-houses, and would not on any account be seen at any other. If you like the company of ladies, there are assemblies at most houses of people of quality."

I must not forget to tell you of the change of style, or the change in the method of reckoning the year, which took place about the middle of the last century.

George. I don't understand what you mean,

mamma.

Mrs. M. I fear I shall find it difficult to make you perfectly comprehend the subject. I will, however, try. I must go back as far as Julius Cæsar, who corrected the old calculations that had been made as to the number of days and hours in the solar year. He calculated the year to consist of three hundred and sixty-five days, and six hours. But astronomers have since discovered that this reckoning is eleven minutes too much. These eleven minutes at length accumulated to the same number of days. In the year 1572, pope Gregory the Thirteenth effected the reformation in the calendar which this error rendered necessary, and reduced the year to its exact length. All the nations of Europe, except, I believe, England, Russia, and Sweden, adopted the new mode of

reckoning thus introduced, which is called the new or the Gregorian style. England persevered in following the old or Julian mode of computation till 1752, when it was found to be so great an inconvenience, particularly to merchants who had foreign correspondents, that an act of parliament was passed to adopt the Gregorian calendar in England. The eleven overplus days were taken out of the month of September; the day after the second of September being called the fourteenth instead of the third. The year also, which till that time had been reckoned to begin on the 25th of March, has since been always computed from the first of January.

GEORGE III. had completed his twenty-second year, when the death of his grandfather placed him on the throne. He had resided with his mother, the princess dowager of Wales, between whom and George II. there existed no cordiality; and having thus been in a manner excluded from court, and not interfering in any of the political parties of the

day, he had led what might be called a retired life, associating only with the small but select circle which was collected round the princess. This was in some respects a disadvantage to him, as it gave him an awkward and diffident manner, which an earlier introduction to general society might have remedied. His usual way of speaking was hurried and confused; but when he was called on to speak in public, his delivery was remarkably graceful and impressive. He was tall, with a good air, his features well formed, his complexion fair, and his countenance open and cheerful, with a great expression of goodness. He had a solid understanding, and much penetration into men's characters. He had indeed much more of this penetration than those who judged from his hurried manner could have supposed. The ruling principle of his mind was religion. His greatest happiness was in the tranquillity of domestic life; and I believe I may confidently affirm that a better father, husband, son, and brother, never existed. His heart was open not only to kindly affections towards his own family, but also to a general good-will towards mankind. His charities were extensive and judicious, and there is not one cruel or unfeeling action recorded of him during the course of his long life. He may have committed errors in regard to politics, and maintained his opinions with a degree of pertinacity which some called obstinacy; but it was his judgment, not his heart, which on those occasions

was in fault: and he always acted conscientiously on the great principles of justice and religion. He married, Aug. 7, 1761, Charlotte, princess of Mecklenburg Strelitz. The last public service which the veteran admiral lord Anson performed was that of bringing the new queen to England.

The war was for some time continued with vigour, though the nation was become weary of the great expense at which it was carried on, particularly of the expenses which were lavished in Germany. Proposals were made for a general peace; but the French having acquired a preponderating influence in the court of Spain, and entertaining the project of drawing that country into open hostilities against England, do not appear to have been sincerely desirous of putting an end to the war.

Of this ascendancy of the French interest in Spain, and that a breach with that country would soon become unavoidable, Mr. Pitt was fully aware, and he earnestly advised to lose no time in declaring war against Spain, in order to take this new enemy unprepared. This proposal being rejected, he resigned his office as minister. On his resignation he was created earl of Chatham.

Soon afterwards war with Spain was declared: and France and Spain declared war against Portugal, because it refused to desert its alliance with England. Some British forces were sent to the

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