Restor-ition of the Gregorian Calendar in France. 89 



the embarrassment which it produces in our foreign rela- 

 tions, by insulating us in that respect in the midst of Eu- 

 rope ; which would always exist, for we ought not to hope 

 that this calendar can ever be universally admitted. Its 

 epoch relates merely to our history : the moment when its 

 year commences is placed in a disadvantageous manner, as 

 it participates in and divides between two years the same 

 operations and the same labours : it has inconveniences 

 which would be introduced into civil life, as the day begins 

 at noon, according to the usage of astronomers. Besides, 

 this custom would relate only to the meridian of Paris. In 

 seeing others reckon the longitude from their principal ob- 

 servatories, can it be believed that they would all agree in 

 referring to the commencement of our year ? Two centuries 

 were necessary, and the whole influence of religion, to cause 

 the Gregorian calendar to be generally adopted. It is in 

 this universality, so desirable and so ditficult to be obtained, 

 and which it is of importance to preserve when it is ac- 

 quired, that its greatest advantage consists. This calendar 

 is now that of almost all the nations of Europe and Ame- 

 rica : it was a long time that of France : at present it regu- 

 lates our religious festivals, and it is according to it that 

 wc reckon our centuries. It no doubt has several consi- 

 derable defects. The length of its months is unequal and 

 whimsical, the origin of the year does not correspond to 

 that of auv of the seasons ; but it answers very well the 

 principal object of a calendar, by being easily decomposed 

 into days, and retaining nearly the commencement of the 

 incan year at tfie same distance from the equinox. Its 

 mode of intercalation is convenient and simple. It is re- 

 duced, as is well known, to the intercalation of a bissextile 

 every four years ; the suppression of it at the end of each 

 century, for llnee consecutive centuries, in order to re-esta- 

 blish it at the fourth ; and if, by following this analogy, wc 

 still suppress a bissextile every four thousand years, it will 

 be founded un the true length of the year. But in its pre- 

 sent state, forty centuries would be necessary to remove, 

 only by one dav, the origin of the mean year from its real 

 origin. 'I'he French mathematicians, therefore, have never 

 ceased to subject to it their astronomical tables, become, 

 bv their extreme precision, the base of the ephemerides of 

 ail enlightened nations. 



One might be afraid that the return of the old calendar 

 would soon be followed by the re-establishment of the old 

 measures. But the orator of goveriniient has taken care to 

 dispel that fear. Like him, I am persuaded, that instead 



of 



