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vest being slashed with white； was said by a wag to make the wearers look like magpies； his majesty changed the colour of the silk to black。 This 〃manly and comely habit〃 might have become permanently the fashion； if the King of France； by way of ridiculing the merry monarch； had not caused his footmen to be clad in like manner。 Therefore； in less than two years； this mode gave place to others more fantastical。 The vest was retained； but the shape and material were altered； the surcoat of cloth was discarded for velvet and rich plush； adorned with buckles of precious stones and chains of gold； the Spanish leather boots were laid aside for high…heeled shoes with rosettes and silver buckles。 Towards the close of the reign the costume became much plainer。 Through all these varying fashions the periwig； introduced in 1663； held its own； increasing in length and luxuriance with time。 On its first coming into general use； the clergy had cried out against it as ministering to the vanity and extravagance of the age； but in a while many of them adopted its use； for； as Granger remarks； 〃it was observed that a periwig procured many persons a respect and even veneration which they mere strangers to before； and to which they had not the least claim from their personal merit。〃
Amongst other strange innovations and various improvements known in this reign； the introduction of a penny post may be considered the most useful。 King James I。； of happy memory； had； in imitation of like regulations in other countries； established a general post for foreign parts； King Charles I。 had given orders to Thomas Witherings； Esquire； his postmaster…general； to settle 〃a running post or two； to run night and day between Edinburgh； in Scotland； and the city of London； to go thither and back in six days；〃 but the organization of a penny post； for the conveyance of letters and parcels throughout the capital and suburbs； was reserved for the reign of the merry monarch。 This beneficial scheme was originated by an upholsterer named Murray； who communicated it to one William Dockwra； a man who for over ten years had laboured with fidelity in the Custom House。 Uniting their efforts； they； with great labour and vast expense； carried the plan into execution in the year 1680；
The principal office was stationed at the residence of William Dockwra； in Lime Street； seven sorting…houses and as many as four hundred receiving…houses were speedily established in the cities of London； Westminster； and the suburbs； and a great number of clerks and messengers were employed to collect； enter； and deliver parcels and letters not exceeding one pound in weight nor ten pounds in value。 Stamps were used as an acknowledgment that postage was paid； and likewise to mark the hours when letters were sent out from the offices； by which； in case of delay； its cause might be traced to the messengers； and deliveries took place ten times in the vicinity of the Exchange and Inns of Court； and four times in the suburbs daily。 All persons were requested to post their communications before six o'clock in the winter； and seven in the summer； on Saturday nights； 〃that the many poor men employed may have a little time to provide for their families against the Lord's Day。〃 And it was moreover intimated that upon three days at Christmas； and two at Easter and Whitsuntide； as likewise upon the 30th of January； the post would not be delivered。
From the first this scheme promised success； the manner in which it was carried out being wholly admirable； yet there were many who raised their voices against it persistently。 Porters and messengers declared it took away their means of subsistence； whilst those of higher grade were confident it was a contrivance of the papists； which enabled them to carry out their wicked schemes with greater security。 But these illusions vanished with time； and the penny post became such a success that Government laid claim to it as a branch of the General Post Office； and annexed its revenues to the Crown。 ＇In the year 1703 Queen Anne bestowed a grant on Elizabeth； Dowager countess of Thanet； to erect a penny post…office in Dublin； similar to that in existence in London。＇
Another innovation in this interesting reign were stage…coaches； described as affording 〃admirable commodiousness both for men and women of better rank； to travel from London and to almost all the villages near this great city； that the like hath not been known in the world； wherein one may be transported to any place； sheltered from foul weather and foul ways； free from endamaging one's health or body by hard jogging or over…violent emotion； and this not only at a low price； as about a shilling for every five miles in a day； for the stage…coaches called flying coaches make forty or fifty miles in a day； as from London to Cambridge or Oxford； and that in the space of twelve hours； not counting the time for dining； setting forth not too early； nor coming in too late。〃
Likewise were divorce suits introduced whilst Charles II。 sat upon the throne for the first timeif the case of Henry VIII。 be exceptedwhen my Lord Rosse； in consequence of the misconduct of his lady； had a bill brought into the House of Lords for dissolving his marriage and enabling him to wed again。 There being at this period； 1669； a project for divorcing the king from the queen； it was considered Lord Rosse's suit； if successful； would facilitate a like bill in favour of his majesty。 After many and stormy debates his lordship gained his case by a majority of two votes。 It is worth noting that two of the lords spiritual； Dr。 Cosin； Bishop of Durham； and Dr。 Wilkins； Bishop of Chester； voted in favour of the bill。
The social history of this remarkable reign would be incomplete without mention of the grace and patronage which Charles II。 extended towards the Society of Antiquaries。 This learned body； according to Stow； had been in existence since the days of Elizabeth； but for lack of royal acknowledgment of its worth and lore； was permitted to languish in neglect and finally become extinct。 However； under the commonwealth the society had revived； from the fact that numbers of the nobility being unemployed in affairs of state； and having no court to attend； applied themselves whilst in retirement to the study of chemistry； mathematics； mechanism； and natural philosophy。 The Duke of Devonshire； Marquis of Worcester； Viscount Brouncker； Honourable Robert Boyle； and Sir Robert Murray； built laboratories； made machines； opened mines； and perfected inventions。 When the temper of the times permitted； these men； with various others of like tastes； drew together； held weekly meetings at Gresham College in Bishopsgate Street； discoursed on abstruse subjects； and heard erudite lectures； from Dr。 Petty on chemistry； from Dr。 Wren on astronomy； from Mr。 Laurence Rooke on geometry； so that the Society of Antiquaries may be said to have been founded in the last years of the republic。
Now Charles II。； having some knowledge of chemistry and science； looked upon the society with favourable eyes； and in the first year of his restoration desired to become one of its members； expressed satisfaction it had been placed upon a proper