Note 982 — PART IV. From the Reformation to the present time. (continued 6)

During the whole continuance of this Paper scarce any thing more remarkable appeared among its contents than the memorable controversy about the termination of the century, which caused a sad division among our wise men of that period. Some affirmed that the century actually ended with that year, 1799; while others insisted that it could not end till the conclusion of the following year, for this plain reason, that ninety nine could not possibly make one hundred. In short, this controversy seems to have exhibited our wise men as somewhat akin to the wise men of Gotham.