and Archbishop of Canterbury. He died in 988. Many and ridiculous are the miracles imputed to him. 25.-WHIT-SUNDAY. Whit-Sunday takes place of the Pentecostal feast among the Jews, and is in commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, &c. on the day of Pentecost (Acts ii). It is held seven weeks after Easter, and has, probably, been continued regularly from the apostolical age (Acts xvi). 26.—WHIT-MONDAY. This day and Whit-Tuesday are observed as festivals, for the same reason as Monday and Tuesday in Easter.-For an account of John of Gaunt's Benefaction, see our last volume, p. 175. 26. AUGUSTIN, or AUSTIN, First Archbishop of Canterbury. He came into England in the year 596, and died on this day, A.D. 607. *26. 1826.-THE GODIVA PAGEANT AT COVENTRY. For a circumstantial account of this curious ceremony, see our last volume, pp. 140-143. *26. 1827.-REV. MARK NOBLE DIED, Rector of Barming, in Kent; a gentleman well known in the literary world, as an antiquary and historian. Residing upon his living, his leisure allowed him to write and publish a variety of works, extremely valuable, from the indefatigable industry and research which they display. The following is a list of them: Two Dissertations on the Mint and Coins of the Episcopal Palace of Durham, 4to, 1780;-Genealogical Histories of the present Royal Families of Europe, 8vo, 1781; Memoirs of the Protectorate House of Cromwell, 2 vol. 8vo, 1781;Memoirs of the House of Medici, 1797;-Lives of the English Regicides, 2 vol. 8vo, 1797;-History of the College of Arms, 4to, 1801;-Biographical Anecdotes of England, in continuation of Granger, 2 vòl. 8vo, 1809. 27.-VENERABLE BEDE. This great ornament of his age and country was born at Jarrow, in the bishoprick of Durham, A.D. 672, and died in 735. 28, 29, 31.—EMBER DAYS. See p. 50. *28. 1827.-WILLIAM JAMES DIED, Author of that highly esteemed work, "The Naval History of Great Britain', which occupied his unremitted attention for more than twelve years.-And here we would fain close our brief notice; but truth compels us to add-what may be esteemed a natural consequence of a devotion to literature-the widow and family of this indefatigable man are left in a state of hopeless destitution. The Literary Fund Society, to its immortal honour, has subscribed £50 towards their relief;-may this example be followed up by those who have the power and the will, to do not only a deed of benevolence, but an act of justice! The family of the Historiographer of the British Navy, have claims that should excite a feeling of sympathy in every bosom. Astronomical Occurrences In MAY 1828. SOLAR PHENOMENA. THE Sun enters Gemini at 34 m. after 3 in the morning of the 21st of this month; and he rises and sets, during the same period, as in the following TABLE Of the Sun's Rising and Setting for every fifth Day. May 1st, Sun rises 37 m. after 4. Sets 23 m. after 7 6th 29 4 .... 31 7 Equation of Time. When mean or true time is required, and only apparent time can be ascertained by means of a good sun-dial, the latter may be found by using the numbers as directed in the following Table. When other numbers are required, they must be found by proportion: TABLE Of the Equation of Time for every fifth Day. m. 8. Thursday, May 1st, from the time by the dial sub. 3 5 Tuesday .... ...... 6th Sunday.. 11th Monday......26th Saturday......31st ...... LUNAR PHENOMENA. Phases of the Moon. 3 36 3 59 3 55 3 42 3 18 2 41 Last Quarter 6th day, at 32 m. after 5 in the evening New Moon. 13th ...... First Quarter 21st 50 ...... ... Full Moon 29th ...... Moon's Passage over the Meridian. The Moon will pass the first meridian at the following times this month, which will affordopportunities of observation, if the weather be favourable. The times may also be readily reduced to any other meridian, by means of the difference of longitude, and the Moon's hourly motion. May 5th, at 52 m. after 4 in the morning Time of High Water at London for every fifth Day. The following are the times of high tide at London Bridge, for certain days of this month: for the other days, these times may be readily found by proportion, and for other places by adding or subtracting the numbers inserted for that purpose in the article for January. The following is the proportion of these phases at this time, from which it will be seen that her approach to the earth is diminishing the extent of her illuminated part; but this is more than counterbalanced by her increased brightness, and she therefore gradually becomes a more conspicuous object in the heavens. Eclipses of Jupiter's Satellites. There will be 27 eclipses of the first and second of these satellites during the present month, but only the following will be visible here: Emersions. 7th day, at 26 m. 54 s. after 2 in the morning 8 in the evening ...10 0 in the morning 9 in the morning First Satellite, 8th 15th 23d 7 16 .......... ......... 9 in the evening. Conjunction of the Moon with the Planets and Stars. May 5th, with 6 in Capricorn at 5 in the evening 12th Mercury. 27th Jupiter ........ 9 3 in the morning. Other Phenomena. Georgium Sidus will be stationary on the 6th of this month. Venus will attain her greatest elongation on the 19th. Mercury will be in his superior conjunction at 15 m. after 4 in the afternoon of the 23d. Mars will also be stationary on the 30th, near in Sagittarius.. The following poetical mirror of simplicity and elegance is so applicable to the rising of night's fair queen, on many of the still evenings at this season, that we do not hesitate to insert it. RISING of the MOON. The Moon is rising; silence reigns The wild-briar bush, in silver flower, With the yellow broom, so wild and sweet. So cloudless is the sky above, So freshly fair the leafy grove, So green the sward, where daisies pied, Where is the wanderer? This the road Blackwood's Magazine. |