{image: historiated initial letter 'T', showing six birds grouped in twos on vine leaves }

THE QUARTER.—An Almanac derives its name from the Arabian word, Almanah
meaning a New Year's Gift. Astronomical calculations of the course of the approaching
year, combined with Serviceable Information, and even pleasant fables, used to be offered by
philosophers as New Year's Gifts for princes. In this Almanac we adopt much of the old

plan, using the fables (which are all true ones) to show some points of the progress made by man
as the years roll. The present year flows in a stream across the middle of our page; we have
embedded it in recollections of the past, and planted by its side some of those living truths
which are to bear fruit for the future. Heedful of sun and moon, we heed also the songs of
birds, marking the days on which the most familiar may probably be heard for the first time,
we note the first appearances of insects, the first days on which familiar flowers may be
found in bloom. We shall endeavour at the same time to show simply why the English year, so to be
chronicled, presents to us the snow and the heat, the bare bough and the blossom each in its
season, and trust in the reader to remember by Whose strength all these things are and are
sustained.

Mid-winter begins the year, soon after the shortest day. Length of day is determined by both movements of
the earth; and out of the varying proportion between day and night arise the Seasons.

The earth runs, in three hundred and sixty-five days and about a quarter, through a circle, in the centre of which
stands the sun, and while so doing, it turns round upon itself once in every twenty-four hours—every Day.
These are its two movements. The three hundred and sixty-five days and about a quarter make of course the
Year, but the quarters of days are not counted until they make one complete. Thus, with exceptions afterwards
to be explained, a day comes to be added (in February) to every fourth year, which is called a Leap Year. This
year 1856 is a Leap Year.

The Moon is the earth's partner in its waItz about the sun, and whirls between twelve and thirteen times in a
circle round us—making so many lunar months—while the great circuit of the earth through its whole orbit is
{Continued on next page}

{image: decorative border, showing snowdrops, hills, birds, insects and stoat.}

CHRONICLE OF PROGRESS.—In the Days of Queen Mary.—In the beginning of the year fifteen hundred
and fifty-four, the day being Sunday, a cat with her head shorn, and the likeness of a vestment cast over her,
with her fore feet tied together, and a round piece of paper like a singing cape betwixt them, was hanged on
a gallows in Cheap, near to the Cross, in the parish of St. Matthew; which cat being taken down, was carried
to the Bishop of London, and he caused the same to be showed at Paul's Cross by the preacher, Doctor Pendleton.—
Holinshed.

In the Days of Queen Elizabeth.—In the second year of Queen Elizabeth, her silk-woman, Mistress Montague,
presented to her Majesty a pair of black knit silk stockings for a NEW YEAR'S GIFT; which, after a few days' wearing,
pleased her Highness so well, that she sent for Mistress Montague, and asked her where she had them, and if she could
help her to any more? who answered, saying, "I made them carefully on purpose for your Majesty; and seeing they
please you so well, I will presently set more in hand."—"Do so" (said the Queen), "for I like silk stockings so well,
that I will not henceforth wear any more cloth hose."—Stow's Chronicle.

In the Days of Queen Anne.—" At the Bear Garden, Hockley in the Hole, 1710. This is to give notice to all
gentlemen gamesters and others, that on this present Monday is a match to be fought by two dogs, one from Newgate
Market against one of Honey Lane Market, at a bull, for a guinea to be spent: five let goes out of hand; which goes
fairest, and farthest in, wins all.—Likewise a green bull to be baited, which was never baited before, and a bull to be
turned loose with fireworks all over him: also a mad ass to be baited.—Likewise there are two bear-dogs to jump,
three jumps apiece, at a bear, which jumps highest, for ten shillings to be spent: with variety of bull and bear-
baiting; and a dog to be drawn up with fireworks. {Image:pointed finger} To begin exactly at three of the clock. VIVAT REGINA."
—Harleian MSS.

On the Twenty third of January, 1571, Queen Elizabeth went in state from her Palace in the Strand, and after
dining at the house of Sir Thomas Gresham, in Bishopsgate Street, proceeded to the new Bourse on Cornhill, which
was then opened by sound of trumpet, and ordained to be called ever after by the name of the Royal Exchange.

On the Thirtieth of January, 1649, King Charles I. was executed in Palace Yard. The post did not go out into
the country on that day.

A Hundred Years Ago.—JANUARY 1756.—Thanks
came at the beginning of this month from the King
of Portugal for relief sent by the King and people
of England after the great  earthquake at Lisbon, which
took place at the end of the preceding year. Numbers
of carpenters and other artisans were engaged in this
country to go to Lisbon. The dispute with the American
Colonies (leading finally to their declaration of
Independence) having embroiled us with the French, on NEW
YEAR'S DAY notice was served on people living in the
neighbourhood of Chatham Dock ordering them to quit
their houses within thirty days, rooms being required for
works of defence. On the following Sunday, the FOURTH
day of the month, warrants were issued for impressing