proposal being graciously accepted, Sir Henry armed the earl, and mounted him on his horse: this done, he clothed himself in a long velvet gown, and covered his head, in lieu of a helmet, with a buttoned cap of the country fashion."

"This is by far the most elegant ceremony you have described, Sir," said Mrs. Spencer; "but I cannot help lamenting, that the distinguished character of Elizabeth should be sullied with such weakness."

"We will turn," said Mr. Wilmot, "from the contemplation of her defects, to view her in those affairs, when the strength of her character appears in all its native lustre-when the sacred feelings of the moment, lent to her words and actions that energy and dignity, which so often gained her the admiration of hoary statesmen, and of surrounding nations. You have heard of the threatened attack of the Spanish Armada, and the vigorous measures that were taken to defend the country against the threatened invasion. When all the preparations of defence were finally arranged, the queen resolved to visit, in person, her camp at Tilbury, for the purpose of encouraging her troops.

"Mounted on a noble charger, with a gene

ral's truncheon in her hand, a corslet of polished steel laced on over her magnificent apparel, and a page in attendance, bearing her white plumed helmet, she rode bare-headed, from rank to rank, with a courageous deportment and a smiling countenance; and, amid the affectionate plaudits and shouts of military ardour, which burst from the animated and admiring soldiery, she addressed them in the following short and spirited harangue.

"My loving people, we have been persuaded, by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you, I do not desire to live, to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear: I have always so behaved myself, that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects.

"And therefore I am come amongst you at this time, not as my recreation or sport; but being resolved, in the midst and heat of battle, to live or die amongst you all: to lay down, for my God, and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have but the body of a

weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England too; and think foul scorn, that Parma, or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm.

"To which, rather than any dishonour should grow by me, I myself will take up arms; I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.

"I know, already, by your forwardness, you have deserved rewards and crowns; and we do assure you, on the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you. In the mean time, my lieutenant-general shall be in my stead, than whom, never prince commanded more noble and worthy subjects; not doubting, by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.'

"It is, indeed, a noble speech," said Mrs. Spencer; " and one can imagine the loud plaudits that would ensue, when she had ended her address. If I am not mistaken, it was about this time that newspapers were introduced."

"Yes," answered Mr. Wilmot: "the intense

interest in public events, excited in every class by the threatened invasion of Spain, gave rise to the introduction, into this country, of one of the most important inventions of social life, that of newspapers. Previous to this period, all articles of intelligence had been circulated in manuscripts; and all political remarks, which the government had found itself interested in making to the people, had issued from the press in the shape of pamphlets; of which, many had been composed during the administration of Burleigh, either by himself, or under his direction. But the peculiar convenience, at such a juncture, of uniting the two objects in a periodical publication, becoming obvious to the ministry, there appeared, some time in the month of August, 1558, the first number of the English Mercury, a paper resembling the present London Gazette, which must have come out almost daily; since the number 50, the earliest specimen of the work now extant, is dated July 23rd of the same year. This interesting manuscript is preserved in the British Museum. But (said Mr. Wilmot, turning to Susan and Ann) I think that you both know the Royal Exchange."

Yes, Sir," they replied; "but we do not

know who built it."

"It was built," answered Mr. Wilmot, "by Thomas Gresham, a merchant. Born of a family at once enlightened, commercial, and wealthy, he had not only imbibed their spirit and their virtues; but, fortunately for himself, neither the advantages of the education he had received at Cambridge, nor his own superior attainments, tempted him to quit the walk of life for which he was intended, and in which he afterwards so eminently distinguished himself.

"His father, Sir Richard Gresham, had been agent to Henry the Eighth, for negociations of loans with the merchants of Antwerp; and the abilities of young Gresham were soon discovered, by the eminent services he rendered, when in a similar capacity to Edward the Sixth, by redeeming the credit of the king, then sunk to the lowest ebb by the mismanagement of his father's immediate successor. Under Eli

zabeth he enjoyed the same appointment, to which was added that of queen's merchant; and it appears, by the official letters of the times, that he was occasionally consulted in political as well as pecuniary affairs. He was a spirited promoter of the infant manufactures of his country, several of which owed their origin to him.

"By his assiduity and commercial talents,