Astronomical Occurrences In DECEMBER 1822. SOLAR PHENOMENA. THE Sun enters Capricornus at 20 m. after 8 m the morning of the 22d 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. December 1st, Sun rises at 56 m. after 7. Sets 4 m. past 4 6th, 1 7 5 Equation of Time. 53 55 When solar time is known, subtract the following quantities, or add them, as directed, and the results will be mean time answering to the same instants. The quantities for the intermediate epochs must be found by proportion. Moon's Passage over the Meridian. The Moon may be observed in the meridian at Eclipses of Jupiter's Satellites. following twelve eclipses of the first two of odies will be visible this month, viz. rs will be in conjunction with Georgium Sidus e 2d of this month, when the former planet e 45' south of the latter. Mercury will be in nction with ß in Scorpio on the 7th, when he e 17' south of the star. The Moon will be in For DECEMBER 1822. The year's gay verdure, all its charms are gone, Dragging a darkling length of evening on, Whilst all things droop, as Nature's death were near. FROM the fall of the leaf, and withering of the herb, an unvarying death-like torpor oppresses almost the whole vegetable creation, and a considerable part of the animal, during this entire portion of the year. The whole race of insects, which filled every part of the summer landscape with life and motion, are now either buried in profound sleep, or actually no longer exist, except in the unformed rudiments of a future progeny. Many of the birds and quadrupeds' are retired to concealments, from which not even the calls of hunger can force them; and the rest, intent only on the preservation of a joyless life, have ceased to exert those powers of pleasing, which, at other seasons, as much contribute to their mutual happiness as to the amusement of their human sovereign. Man, at this season, should be peeuliarly impressed with the advantages which he enjoys over As the frog, lizard, badger, hedge-hog, &c. The bat is found in caverns, barns, &c. suspended by the claws of its hind feet, and closely portions of animated nature; the pleasures life, of domestic happiness,- of intellectual ts, are all reserved for him--and at no time ear is he so much in need of these blessin the WINTER, when all nature is, as it bread out in ruins before him. The year Her withered honours, and exhausted sway, Tute all her streams !—no sound, no motion cheers. And now, amid the wreck of all she gave, midst of such desolate scenes as these, when nd wind beat dark December,'-during the ng night of the winter season, how grateful pleasures afforded by intercourse with rational erful friends, and by a perusal of instructive eresting books! when we trim the gay taper, at the wint'ry paradise of home;' and Now, while the moaning night-wind rages high, As sweep the shot-stars down the troubled sky, While fiery hosts in heav'n's wide circle play, And bathe in livid light the milky way, Safe from the storm, the meteor, and the show'r, Some pleasing page shall charm the solemn hourWith pathos shall command, with wit beguile, A generous tear of anguish, or a smile. , CAMPBELL. and wind are now extremely prevalent; and frost seldom sets in till the latter end of the , December may be reckoned the most unpleaof the whole year. At other times, however, mber is better entitled to this appellation, and d snow contribute to give to Christmas that of frost and good cheer which form the usual cter of this season. December has, occasionally, 1 a milder character. See our last vol., p. 303. evergreen trees with their beautiful cones, such s and pines, are now particularly observed and d. In the warmer countries, where shade is desirable, their worth and beauty are more re-ly appreciated. The different species of the everlasting flowers, so pleasing an ornament to our parlours in winter, and indeed during the whole year, with the mode of culture, are described in T.T. for 1820, pp. 313-315. The redbreast is still heard to 'chaunt his cheerful strain,' and the sparrow chirps. Towards the end of the month, woodcock shooting commences; and the snipe (scolopax gallinago) becomes a prey to the fowler. The oak, the beech, and the hornbeam, in part, retain their leaves, and the ash its keys. The common holly (ilex aquifolium), with its scarlet berries, is now conspicuous, as is the pyracanthus with its bunches or wreaths of fiery berries on its dark green thorny sprays; and those dwarfs of the vegetable creation, mosses, and the liverwort (lichen), now attract our notice.-See T.T. for 1817, p. 358. We have now conducted the admirers of creation through another annual revolution of time, ar have endeavoured to direct their attention to the eeting beauties of Nature as they rise in rapid succession before us; we conclude with the following 'Allegory,' which we trust will be found both pleasing and instructive: it is entitled THE COMPLAINT OF THE DYING YEAR'. Reclining on couch of fallen leaves, wrapped in fleecy mantle, with withered limbs, hoarse voice, and snowy beard, appears a venerable old man. His 'It first appeared in the Edinburgh Star,' and was attributed to the Rev. Dr. Henderson, the well-known Missionary, and author of 'Travels in Iceland.' Mr. M'Diarmid, author of the Lives of British Statesmen, and editor of Cowper's Poems, with a life and notes, has also given it a place in his very excellent and amusing Scrap-Book,' which we take this opportunity of recommending to our readers, as an admirable selection of the best floating literature of the day. Here is no honey from the old woods,' it is true; but there is a profusion of sweets culled from every flower that blows, and which would probably have been wasted on the desert air,' but for the taste and industry? Mr. McDiarmid who bee-like has here literally improved each shining |