*10. 1796.-ROBERT LOVell died.
Written on a Journey.

As o'er the lengthened plain the traveller goes,
Weary and sad, his wayward fancy strays
To scenes which late he passed, haply to raise
The transient joy which memory bestows;
And oft, while hope dispels the gathering gloom,
He paints th' approaching scene in colours gay:
So I, to cheer me in life's rugged way,

Or glance o'er pleasures past, or think of bliss to come,
But, ah! reflection vainly we employ

On pleasures past, and fugitive the joy
When the mind rests on hope's delusive power;
Blessed only they who present joys can taste,
Nor fear the future, nor regret the past,
But happy, as it flies, enjoy the present hour.

11.-ROGATION SUNDAY.

LOVELL.

This day takes its name from the Latin term rogare, to ask; because, on the three subsequent days, supplications were appointed by Mamertus, Bishop of Vienna, in the year 469, to be offered up with fasting to God, to avert some particular calamities that threatened his diocess.

*14. 1610.-HENRY IV OF FRANCE ASSASSINATED. 15.-ASCENSION DAY.

From the earliest times, this day was set apart to commemorate our Saviour's ascension into heaven: all processions on this, and the preceding rogation days, were abolished at the reformation. In London, on this day, the minister, accompanied by the churchwardens, and a number of boys, with wands, walk in procession, and beat the bounds of the parish. But this is not always practised, nor in every year.

19. SAINT DUNSTAN.

Dunstan was a native of Glastonbury, and nobly descended. He was a skilful painter, musician, and an excellent forger and refiner of metals: he manufactured crosses, vials, and sacred vestments; and also painted and copied good books. He was Bishop

M

of London, and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury. He died in 988.

*19. 1744.-QUEEN CHARLOTTE BORN.

Her present Majesty (Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburgh Strelitz) was born on this day, but her birthday is celebrated on the 18th of January.

25.-WHIT-SUNDAY.

On Whit-Sunday, or White-Sunday, the catechumens, who were then baptized, as well as those who had been baptized before at Easter, appeared, in the antient church, in white garments; hence the name.

The celebration of divine service in St. Peter's church at Rome, on Whit-Sunday, is described in T. T. for 1815, p. 165.

*25. 1805.ARCHDEACON PALEY DIED.

26, 27-WHIT-MONDAY AND WHIT-TUESDAY. In auntient tymes' Whitson Plays were acted at this season. At Chester, these plays were twenty-five in number, and were performed for above three centuries, annually. In the year 1600, they were enacted by the craftsmen of the twenty-five companies, who were all dressed in suitable habits. The subjects were taken from the Scriptures.

In modern times,' other plays' and 'pastimes,' the subjects not taken from the Scriptures,' are enacted in Greenwich Park and the vicinity; not often, we fear, to the advantage of the performers.

The Whitsun Ales, and other customs formerly observed at this season, are noticed at length in our former volumes.

Every third year, on Whit-Tuesday, the Montem at Eton is celebrated. It consists of a procession to a small tumulus on the southern side of the Bath road, which has given the name of Salt Hill to the spot, now better known by the splendid inns that are established there.-See T.T. for 1815, p. 168.

26.-AUSTIN.

This English apostle, as he is termed, was commissioned by Pope Gregory the Great to convert the Saxons. He was created Archbishop of Canterbury in 556, and died about the year 610. (See T. T. for 1815, p. 174.)

27. VENERABLE BEDE.

Bede was born at Yarrow in Northumberland, in 673.

29.-KING CHARLES II RESTORED.

On this day, in the year 1660, he made his magnificent entry into London. It is also his birthday.

In some parts of England it is customary for the common people to wear oak leaves, covered with leafgold, in their hats, in commemoration of the concealment of Charles II in an oak tree, after the battle of Worcester. To this tree, not far from Boscobel House, the king and his companion Colonel Careless resorted, when they thought it no longer safe to remain in the house; climbing up by the hen-roost ladder, and the family giving them victuals on a nuthook.

The following fine moral stanzas are said to have been a favourite song of Charles II:

The glories of our blood and state
Are shadows, not substantial things;
There is no armour against fate:
Death lays his icy hands on kings:
Sceptre and crown

Must tumble down,

And in the dust be equal made

With the poor crooked scythe and spade.
Some men with swords may reap the field,
And plant fresh laurels where they kill;
But their strong nerves at last must yield,
They tame but one another still.

Early or late,

They stoop to fate,

And must give up their murmuring breath,
When they pale captives creep to Death.
The garlands wither on your brow;

Then boast no more your mighty deeds:
Upon Death's purple altar now

See where the victor victim bleeds:
All heads must come

To the cold tomb:

Only the actions of the just

Smell sweet and blossom in the dust.

*30. 1431.-JOAN D'ARC BUrnt.

Astronomical Occurrences

In MAY 1817.

THE Sun enters Gemini on the 21st of this month, at 53 m. past 11 in the forenoon. The Sun will be eclipsed on the morning of the 16th, but the eclipse will not be visible in this country. He will be centrally eclipsed on the meridian at 18h. 53', on the 15th, astronomical time, in longitude 76°31' east, and latitude 6° 36' north. The time of the Sun's rising and setting for every 5th day of the month, is exhibited by the following

TABLE.

Thursday, May 1, Sun rises 37 m. after 4. Sets 23 m. after 7

Tuesday,

Sunday,

6, 11,

28

32

Friday,

12

48

Wednesday,

4

3

The following Table shows what is to be subtracted from the time shown by a good sun-dial to obtain true or mean time on every 5th day of the present month; and for the method of finding the quantity for any intermediate day, see Occurrences for the first month of the present year.

TABLE.

May 1, from the time on the dial subtract 3

6,

11,

16,

21,

m.

S.

3

3

36

26,

31,

The full of the Moon will take place on the 1st of this month, at 33 m. past 7 in the morning; her last quarter will commence at 39 m. after 3 on the morning of the 8th; and there will be a new Moon at 7 in the morning of the 16th. She will enter her first quarter 42 m. past 12 at night on the 23d; and she will be at full again at 21 m. past 3 in the afternoon of the 30th.

The Moon may be seen on the first meridian of this country at the following epochs, viz.

6th day, at 44m. past 4 in the morning

8 in the evening

On the 28th of the present month, the Moon will eclipse the star a in Libra; the immersion will take place at 21 m. past 9 in the evening, and the emersion at 4 m. after 10; and consequently the duration of the eclipse will be 1 h. 2 m. At the time of the immersion, the star will be 10 m. south of the Moon's centre; and at the emersion, 34 m. south of the same point. On the 18th, at 5 m. past 7 in the morning, the Moon and Mercury will be in conjunction; and on the 19th, Mercury will be at his greatest elongation. On the 21st, at midnight, Venus will be in her inferior conjunction. At 20 m. after 10 on the morning of the 27th, Saturn will be in quadrature; and at 45 m. past 4 in the afternoon of the same day, Jupiter will be in opposition.

The following visible eclipses of Jupiter's first and