TABLE

Of the Sun's Rising and Setting for every fifth Day.

December 1st, Sun rises 56 m. after 7. Sets 4 m. after 4

True time may be readily found from apparent, or that exhibited by a good sun-dial, by employing the equation as directed in the following table. For the other days of the month, the equation to be used must be found by proportion. Near the close of the 24th of the present month, the true and apparent time will be exactly the same, and consequently the equation then becomes nothing.

TABLE

Of the Equation of Time for every fifth Day.

Friday, December 1st, from the time by the dial sub.

Wednesday,.

.............

m. S.

10 48.

Monday,

6th, 11th,

8 47

21st,

1 44

26th, to the time by the dial add
31st,

0 47

14

...........

..........

LUNAR PHENOMENA.

Phases of the Moon.

First Quarter, 6th day, at 13 m. after 7 in the morning

Moon's Passage over the Meridian.

The Moon may be seen passing the first meridian at the following times during this month, if the weather be favourable. If the meridian for which the observation is required be any other than the first, a slight reduction in the time will be necessary.

Time of High Water at London for every fifth Day. For directions respecting finding both the time of high water on the intermediate days, and at other places, we must refer to the Occurrences in January, of the present volume.

This planet having now passed the point of her greatest brightness, assumes the appearance of a fine crescent, exhibiting a great resemblance to the new moon when it is first seen. The parts are,

Eclipses of Jupiter's Satellites.

As Jupiter recedes from the Sun, a greater number of these eclipses become visible, and the five following may be seen this month; viz.

Immersions.

First Satellite... 7th day, at 41 m. 57 s. after 5 in the morning

23d ......... 57 14

...

30th...... 50 39

..

Second Satellite 8th ......... 53 25

...

15th........ 26 14

Conjunction of the Moon with the Planets and Stars.

December 3d, with in Capricorn, at 4 in the morning

23d,

a ...

Virgo

27th,

.........

28th,

.........

.....

8 in the evening

Mercury .. 1 in the afternoon
Venus....11 in the morning

30th,....... Capricorn .. 3 in the afternoon

Venus will be stationary on the 3d of this month, and Mercury on the 6th, and again on the 26th. He will also be in his inferior conjunction at 6 in the morning of the 16th, and Venus at 15 m. past 3 in the morning of the 24th. Saturn will likewise be in opposition at 10 in the evening of the same day.

Few more solemn scenes can be presented to the imaginations of many persons than a lonely churchyard at midnight, when the Moon at fitful intervals breaks through the intervening clouds, and every object casts its sudden shadow on the undulated surface of the ground, beneath which the rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.'

The MOONLIGHT CHURCHYARD.

Round thee, pure Moon, a ring of snowy clouds
Hover, like children round their mother dear,
In silence and in joy, for ever near

The footsteps of her love. Within their shrouds,
Lonely, the slumbering dead encompass me !

Thy silver beams the mouldering abbey flout;
Black rails, memorial stones, are strewed about;
And the leaves rustle on the holly tree.
Shadows mark out the undulating graves;
Tranquilly, tranquilly the departed lie !—
Time is an ocean, and mankind the waves
That reach the dim shores of Eternity:

Death strikes; and Silence, mid the evening gloom,
Sits spectre-like, the guardian of the tomb!

Legend of Genevieve.

We cannot, perhaps, close the astronomical part of our endeavours to blend amusement with instruction for the present year, more appropriately than by the following sweet and pathetic lines, which, we believe, have not been previously published. They were written many years ago by a worthy Baronet; and should they now meet his view, we feel persuaded he will excuse the act for the sake of the motive. Read, therefore, and reflect; for the sentiment is not more beautiful than true.

An ADDRESS to the MORNING.

Hailed by sweet carols, see the MORN arise,
And chase the gloomy clouds of night away;
Her blushing glories streak the dappled skies,
And charm creation with the dawn of day.
The mountains first her glad approach behold,
To tinge their summits with a fluid gold.
The orb of Day, to glad the plains below,

O'ertops the hills, where gloomy clouds prevail;
Rolls the blue vapour from the mountain's brow,
Inhales the mist, and gilds the sloping vale.
But, though the Sun the clouded prospect cheers,
It smiles through ether still, but smiles, alas! in tears.
The bee, industrious, each returning morn,
To fill her cell employs each vacant hour;
And while the pearly dew the leaves adorn,
Sips the sweet essence from the op'ning flow'r.
Thus youth, the paths of science to explore,
Culls the choice sweets from ev'ry page of lore.
Like the fair Morn, we trace our infant years,
Smiling in innocence and matchless truth;
Th' expanding scene in brightest glow appears;
A dazzling prospect dawns upon our youth-
Fancy's fair traits a shadeless view pourtray,
And gild with callow hope the orient blush of day.
Then think, fond youth, nor ever hope to share
Perpetual blessings here, which Heav'n denies:
Enjoyment ever is alloyed with care,

And bliss that's perfect only glads the skies:
Thus shades the features prominent display-

Thus pain exalts our bliss-thus tempests cloud the day.

J. T. HUGHES.

The Naturalist's Diary

For DECEMBER 1826.

Darkness and death upon the world are brooding-
The leaves of Autumu rustle, fade, and fall,
The scythe-like wind of Winter sweeps them all;
The gardens have put off their spring-tide dress,
And Nature is in tears-while ice and snow
Are her dull, chilling weeds of lonely woe,

Which to the world her clouding griefs confess.

THE Winter is approaching: our eyes are no longer dazzled by the penetrating rays of the Sun, nor delighted by the variegated colours of a Summer prospect; the earth, shrouded in white after the slow, silent fall of the flakes of snow, presents to us on every side the same desolate scene; every thing from the hut to the castle, from the oak to the tuft of grass, wears an appearance of uniformity. Thus Winter seems contrasted with Summer, as the silence and the equality of the tomb is contrasted with the noisy bustle and continual variety of life.-And yet Winter has its pleasures;-the frosty morning's walk, with its invigorating breezes-the long nights, devoted alternately to study and to society, with the enlivening blaze of a sea-coal fire-and the glass that cheers, but not inebriates'-are no small attractions, and peculiarly endear to us this festive season of the year. Now, too, the fascinating, rosy-cheeked, little son of Venus, not unfrequently seeks the warm shelter of a Christmas parlour; and his wings with napkins dried,' and from wet and cold at ease,' he soon tries

If the wet hath not damaged the string of his bow; and many a swain, and many a fair, will find, to their cost, they have trouble enough with their heart.? The laughing month of May, and the frigid and cheerless December, are equally favourable to the attacks of the sly, little urchin.