In that unique decree he gave a reason for this in the words, 'Because not only in many maratime regions of Christian Europe, but also with the Slavs (which on all things agree with the orthodox Church), in Wallachia (now Roumania), Moldavia (now North Roumania), Servia, Dalmatia, Bulgaria, and Greece, the year begins to be counted from 1st January. This imperial ukase, having been issued on 20th December, 1699, the then ensuing first day of January began the 1700th year A.D. Of course this was still the old style so far as regards the leap years; and accordingly, as they observed not only 1700 but also 1800 erroneously as leap terms, it follows that to-day their and our reckonings are out of touch by twelve days—two days more than the ten corrected by Pope Gregory at 1582. Further, this necessitates the affixing of two dates in international letters, instruments, or declarations; and this is done either January 113, 1895, or 1st January (13th January)—the former date (1st) being the old, and the latter (13th) the new style. This is not only cumbrous, but costly. A very good object-lesson on the international inconvenience arising from the forced use of two styles will frequently be found in the advertising columns of (say) The Times. There, for instance, on the 16th September, 1895, is a notice pertaining to the Russian Loan. A drawing had taken place 'on 20th August (1st September), 1895, reimbursable from the 19th November (1st December), 1895, at Saint Petersburg.' Indeed, in this single official notice of
Histoire de Charles XII., p. 17, 'L'ère des Moscovites commencait á la creation du monde; ils comptaient 7,207 ans au commencement du siècle passé, sans pouvoir rendre raison de cette date: le premier jour de leur année venait au 13 de notre mois de Septembre.'
