ISAAC NEWTON, the solar year consists of 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 57 seconds. But it has been calculated, by later astronomers, to consist of 365 days, 48 minutes, 48 seconds. But it is asserted, that our years are not always of precisely the same length.

The civil or political year, contains 365 days, in common years-and 366 days, in bissextile or leap-years. It begins on the first of January. In some few cases indeed, it commences on the 25th March, as it used generally to do in this country until the year 1752; though in Scotland the year was made to begin on the 1st of January, so early as 1600.

Our ancestors usually began the year at Christmas; and reckoned their Era from the Incarnation, until the reign of WILLIAM the Norman, when a new mode of computation was observed for some time, in which the year of our Lord CHRIST was seldom mentioned-that of the reign of William being substituted. From the time of the Conqueror, state-papers have generally been dated from the years of the reigns of the respective Sovereigns, with the addition of "and in the year of our Lord, &c." During some of the reigns immediately suceeding the Conquest, they were dated from the period of that event, as a new æra, thus

"Anno

regni Regis HENRICI Quarti post Conquesta sexto." In the usurpation of CROMWELL, the year of OUR LORD alone was the general method of dating, not only the public records, but also legal instruments between private persons.

The Russians did not adopt the Christian æra before 1725, computing until that time, from the World's age.

Month.

This term comes from the Saxon Monat, Monath, Moneth, from Mona, the Moon-probably derived from the Latin Mensis, which is from the Greek unv. The Hebrew word for Month, is likewise the one signifying Moon.

The Lunar month is the period of the moon's passage from any point of the ecliptic, until it arrive again at the same place. The Solar month, is the period of the Sun's passing through one of the twelve signs of the Zodiack. The usual, or Calendar month, is that established by law, and varying in the number of days, as prescribed by the Calendar.

By the common law, a month is only 28 days, unless otherwise expressed. In Notes of hand, or Bills of Exchange, a month is by custom deemed a Calendar month.

Next to the Week and Day, the Month is the most ancient division of Time. The visible daily alteration in the appearance, and the quick periodical revolution of the Moon, would naturally suggest that Luminary, as a convenient measure of Time even to an unlettered observer. To calculate the Solar Month, was reserved for a more advanced state of science.

Figuratively, a Moon is considered synonimous with a Month as "Scarce a Moon had passed," &c.; and also to denote particular periods, as "The IIoney-Moon" first month after marriage.

--

signifying the This expression

was first introduced by our Saxon ancestors, from a custom among the northern nations, of drinking a beverage composed of Honey, for thirty days after every wedding.

January.

By the act of Parliament passed in 1751, for altering our mode of calculation, from the Julian to the Gregorian style, the legal year (which in some parts of this country commenced in March, and in others in January,) was directed to begin, universally, on the first of this month.

January, which now consists of 31 days, is generally admitted to have derived that appellation from the Latin Januarius, in honour of JANUS, one of the Heathen Divinities. JANUS was supposed to preside over the gates of Heaven. Hence every door among the Ro mans had the name of Janua; and the month being named Januarius is thought by some au thors, to have expressly marked that month, as a door, or opening to a new æra: or a renewal of Time, over which Janus presided as well as over Peace and War..

The image of JANUS is usually represented with two faces, looking opposite ways. The one old, as emblematical of his experience, in allusion to Time past the other young, as typical of his looking forward into the future. He is also portrayed with four faces, as descriptive of the four seasons. Sometimes seated in the centre of twelve altars, alluding to the months, with the number 300 in one hand, and 55 in the other together 355 that being the number of days to which the year was augmented. Some authorities state him to have had 300 in one hand and 65 in the other..

* From which circumstance he is frequently depicted with a key in his right hand.

C.

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As the sun, about the commencement of this month, had reached its greatest declination, it was, on that account, thought proper then to begin the year, so as that it might keep pace with the course of that luminary,

The temple of JANUS was shut in time of peace, and open during war. In the course of 800 years it was only closed six times; once in the reign of NUMA; a second time at the conclusion of the first Punic war; thrice in the reign of AUGUSTUS and lastly, in the reign of NERO!

The emblematical representations of JANUS were chosen with considerable judgment. But, the primitive Christians, desirous of evincing their aversion to every thing connected with heathen superstition, observed the first of January as a solemn fast while the heathens kept it as a day of feasting, dancing, and rejoicing.

The ancient Saxons originally called this month, "Wolf-monat, because people were wont always in that month to be more in danger to be devoured of wolves than in any season else of the year, for that, through the extremity of cold and snow, those ravenous creatures could not find other beasts sufficient to feed upon."

Subsequently, when Christianity began to -prevail, Aefter-yula, that is, After Christmas, became the title of the month.

January is represented in ancient paintings, as a man clad in white a type of the snow usually on the ground at that season and blowing his fingers as descriptive of the cold. Under his left arm is a billet of wood-and standing near him, the figure of the zodiacal sign Aquarius, into which the sun enters on the 19th of this month. The Anglo-Saxons, who were much addicted to drinking, depicted January as a man seated at

麗

a table, holding a goblet of ale to his mouth, and in the back-ground were persons ploughing with oxen, sowing, &c. &c.

In the Cornish language this month was called Genver, an evident corruption of its common name January.

February.

The name of this month comes from Februa. Februaca, or Februalis, names of JUNO, who presided over the purification of women, because the Lupercalia were then held. Some contend that it is taken from Febrais expiatoriis, sacrifices for purging souls-there having been a feast on the 2d day of this month, when sacri fices were offered to PLUTO, by the Heathens, for the souls of their ancestors. As NUMA placed February under the protection of NEPTUNE chiefly, as it is supposed, on account of ' the advice he gave for carrying off the Sabine women there is reason to prefer the former etymology, from the obvious connection of that political outrage with the Lupercalia, instituted by ROMULUS, under the superstitious idea of rendering the Sabine women more fruitful.

FEBRUARY was called by our Saxon ancestors

"Sprout-kele, by Kele meaning the Kele-wurt, which we call the Cole-wurt, the greatest Pot-wurt in time long past that our ancestors used, and the broth made therewith was thereof also called Kele."

The SAXONS afterwards changed its name to Sol-monath, from the then-returning sun, which on the 18th of this month enters the sign Pisces, or Fishes; which being the most prolific of all