3rd-Attempted arrest of time five members, 1642.

It is difficult to find in the whole of England such an instance of tyranny, perfidy and folly. The Commons refused to surrender their members, and a contest began, in which violence and weakness were on one side, law and resolution on the other. The five members had time to withdraw before the arrival of Charles. He knocked, entered, darted a look towards the place which Pynn usually occupied, and, seeing it empty, walked up to the table. He looked round the House, but the five members were nowhere to be seen. As he passed along the benches to retire, several resolute voices called out audibly, "Privilege!" A violent and sudden revulsion of feeling was the effect of the proceeding of the King, London was in arms, and the citizens were inflamed to fury by the insult offered to the House of Commons. They resolved to bring back the champions of liberty before the windows of Whitehall, and the populace hooted and shouted all day before the royal residence. The tyrant could not bear to see the triumph of those he had destined to the gallows and the quartering-block. On the day which was fixed for the return of Hampden and his friends Charles fled from the palace, which he was never to see again till he he was led through it to the scaffold.

—Macaulay.

10th-Penny Postage commenced, 1840.

When Mr. (afterwards Sir) Rowland Hill suggested his plan of reform in 1837, it evoked strong opposition both from within the Post Office and the public without, but it was eventually adopted by the House of Commons and page 231 launched on the above date. The rates for a single ordinary letter began at 4d. for any distance under 20 miles, and rose by equal amounts of a penny for comparative distances up to 300 miles, for which one shilling was charged. At the present time letters are charged by weight, and a penny stamp is the usual rate for all inland deliveries. In 1839, the year before the new system was introduced, the number of letters passing through the English Post Office was 82,500,000; in 1840 the number was more than doubled. In 1890 the grand total of letters, post cards, etc., received in England alone reached the almost incomprehensible number of 2,500,000,000, the gross revenue from which exceeded twelve million pounds sterling. Probably before another decade has passed international penny postage will be adopted by all English-speaking communities, irrespective of distance.

12th-Edmund Burke born, 1729.

Who, born for the universe, narrowed bis mind,
And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.
Though fraught with all learning, yet straining his throat,
To persuade Tommy Townshend to lend him a vote.
Who, too deep for his hearers, still went on refining,
And thought of convincing, while they thought of dining;
Though equal to all things, for all things unfit,
Too nice for a statesman, too proud for a wit;
For a patriot too cool; for a drudge disobedient;
And too fond of the right to pursue the expedient,
In short, 'twas his fate, unemployed, or in place, sir,
To eat mutton cold, and cut blocks with a razor.

Goldsmith's Retaliation.

16th Edward Gibbon died, 1794.

In most of the essential qualifications of a historian Gibbon was equal to either Hume or Robertson. In some he was superior. He had greater depth and variety of learning, and a more perfect command of his intellectual treasures. It was not merely with the main stream of Roman history that he was familiar. All its accessories and tributaries—the art of war, philosophy, theology, jurisprudence, geography, every shade of manners, opinions and public character he had studied. These solid and bright acquirements of the historian were not without their drawbacks. Deficient in depth of moral feeling. Gibbon seldom touches the heart or inspires true enthusiasm. The reader feels that, as in the state of Imperial Rome itself, the seeds are developed amidst flattering appearance. "The florid bloom but ill conceals the fatal malady that preys upon the vitals."

Chambers' Cyclopedia of Literature.

20th-Garriok died, 1779.

Here lies David Garrick, describe him who can,
An abridgement of all that was pleasant in man;
As an actor, confest without rival to shine :
As a wit, if not first, in the very first line.
On the stage he was natural, simple, affecting;
'Twas only that when he was off he was acting.
With no reason on earth to go out of his way,
He turned and he varied full ten times a day;
He cast off his friends, as a huntsman his pack,
For be knew when he pleased he could whistle them back.
Of praise a mere glutton, he swallowed what came,
And the puff of a dunce he mistook it for fame.
But peace to his spirit, wherever it flies,
To act as an angel and mix with the skies:
Those poets who owe their best fame to his skill
Shall still be his flatterers, go where he will.
Old Shakespeare receive him with praise and with love,
And Beaumonts and Bens he his Kellys above.

Goldsmith.

25th-Robert Burns born, 1759.

He was born in a poor Ayrshire hut. The largest soul of all the British lands came among us in the shape of a hard-handed Scottish peasant. Here was a piece of the right Saxon stuff. A wild impetuous whirlwind in passion and faculty slumbered quiet there; such heavenly melody dwelling in the heart of it. From the gracefullest utterances of courtesy to the highest fire of passionate speech; loud floods of mirth, soft wailings of affection, clear piercing insight; all was in him. Wit, wild laughter, energy, directness, sincerity—so in his poetry, so in his life. The song he sings is not of fantasticalities; the prime merit of this is truth.

Carlyle's Hero Worship.

30th-Charles time First executed, 1649.

Charles appeared before Bradshaw's Court only to deny its competence and refused to plead, and it was not until the fifth day of the trial that he was condemned to death as a tyrant, traitor, murderer, and enemy of the country. As the trial went on, all save the loud outcries of the soldiers was hushed as Charles passed to receive his doom. Whatever had been the faults and follies of his life, "he nothing common did or mean upon that memorable scene." Two masked executioners awaited the King as he mounted the scaffold. His head fell at the first blow, and as the executioner lifted it to the sight of all a groan of pity and horror burst from the silent crowd.

—Green's History.