80 THE WILLEY SQTJIEE. 



famous grinnings through, horse-collars, great May- 

 pole meetings, and morris- dances. The girls used 

 to run races, clad in very Kght attire; and the 

 kind gentry and good parsons thought no shame in 

 looking on." He adds, "I have calculated the 

 manner in which statesmen and persons of condition 

 passed their time ; and what with drinking and 

 dining, and supping and cards, wonder how they 

 managed to get through their business at all." 

 That they did manage to work, and to get through a 

 considerable amount of it, is quite clear ; and pro- 

 bably they did so with all the more ease in conse- 

 quence of the amusement which often came first, as 

 in the case of " Naughty idle Bobby," as Clive was 

 called when a boy ; and not less so in that of Pitt, 

 who did so much to develop that spirit of patriotism 

 of which we boast. It was a remark of Addison, 

 that " those who have searched most into human 

 nature observe that nothing so much shows the 

 nobleness of the soul as that its felicity consists in 

 action ; " and that " every man has such an active 

 principle in him that he will find out something to 

 employ himself upon in whatever place or state he 

 is posted." 



Those familiar with the Spectator will remember 



