The seven years' reign of William the Fourth was in many respects a very eventful one. The discussion concerning, and the passing of the Reform Bill, caused an agitation in every grade of society, of which it must be very difficult for the present generation to form any idea. Optimists and pessimists, elderly and middle-aged, swang their pendulums to the extreme of their opinions. On one side we were told to expect universal prosperity, on the other that the country was going to destruction. I think the result was that the generality of young men, as well as young women, instead of taking a patriotic and enlightened interest in public affairs, as they might have done under different circumstances, grew heartily tired of politics. Not that my contemporaries were altogether frivolous, for the “Tracts for the Times” stirred up deep feelings and led to ample discussion. But undoubtedly it was at this time that the pleasure-loving era among the masses set in. Cabs and omnibuses were well established, and made “getting about” easy. Places of entertainment multiplied, as well as newspapers and cheap and amusing literature. Old people were in a measure dazed by the rapid changes that were going on, and greatly relaxed their control over the young, though of course there were a few grand exceptions that served as clogs to the wheels rolling on somewhat dangerously.