ration in the calendar; but Robert Bishop of Leeds, in a general chapter of the Cistercian order, procured a solemn feast to his honour in the church in 1240.

17, 19, 20.-EMBER DAYS.-See p. 43.

*18. 1822.-STIRBICH FAIR PROCLAIMED. This was formerly, before our roads were so good, and the communication with London so ready, the great emporium for the housekeepers and dealers in that part of the kingdom laying in their stores for the year; but, like all other fairs, it has dwindled, and is now kept up, probably, only by its being the season when the Norwich company of comedians come to Cambridge and perform for three weeks.

21.-SAINT MATTHEW.

In the year 64 or 65, Matthew wrote his Gospel in Hebrew, which was afterwards translated into Greek. After many labours and miracles, he closed his life at Nadabar, in Ethiopia, probably by martyrdom.For an account of some civic ceremonies in London on this day, see our last volume, p. 245.

26.-OLD HOLY ROOD. See HOLY CROss, p. 256.

26. SAINT CYPRIAN.

He was an African by birth, of a good family, and well educated. He behaved with great courage and resolution in the Decian persecution, and openly invited the people to constancy and perseverance: this conduct so enraged the pagans, that he soon fell a victim to their fury, and suffered martyrdom under Valerianus and Gallienus, in 258.

29.--SAINT MICHAEL.

Saint Michael was an archangel who presided over the Jewish nation, and had an army of angels under his command and conduct; he fought also with the Dragon or Satan, and his angels; and, contending with the Devil, he disputed about the body of Moses. See Rev. xii, 7; Jude 9.

This was formerly a season of great celebrity: at present, all that we do in honour of it is to eat a goose. The origin of this custom is referred to Queen

Elizabeth, who was eating goose on Michaelmas Day, when the news came to her of the destruction of the Spanish Armada. For our part, whatever may be the origin of eating goose on this day, we should be sorry to be without so excellent a dish at any time when it is in season, but more especially on the feast of St. Michael; for we are entirely of Garrick's opinion in this matter, and we say with that great actor, 'He that has no taste for a Christmas-carol nor a MICHAELMAS GOOSE, is not a man to our taste.'

Geese are not, in general, of such famous repute in France, as they are here, and seldom make their appearance upon the tables of the Parisian epicures. The flesh they condemn as coarse and unwholesome; and the apple-sauce, when mentioned, never fails to elicit flashes of astonishment, subsiding into peals of laughter. But the livers and thighs of geese, learnedly made into pies, and properly truffled, 'patés de foies gras,' are reckoned a most delicate article; yet they have killed nearly as many gastronomers as the small-pox and scarlet fever have destroyed children. The department of Perigord, with Toulouse and Bayonne, used, notwithstanding, to cook annually, for the rest of the world, about 120,000 of these lethiferous pies. Large droves of geese were antiently led from Picardy to Italy, waddling over the Alps, and constantly stooping, according to their prudent custom, under the lofty triumphal arches which they happen to pass in their way. Yet geese are not so stupid as they are generally supposed to be. The famous chemist, Lemery, saw a goose turning the spit on which a turkey was roasting; unconscious, we hope, that some friend would soon accept the office for her. Alas! we are all turnspits in this world,' adds the gastrographer who relates the fact; and, when we roast a friend, let us be aware that many stand ready to return the compliment.'-(See p. 39 of the very amus

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ing Notes to Tabella Cibaria, an ingenious Latin poem on the well-known French Carte, or Bill of Fare, which offers so many attractions to the gourmand as well as the gourmet.)

30.-SAINT JEROME.

Jerome was born in a town called Stridon, on the confines of Pannonia and Dalmatia. He translated the Old Testament into Latin; and died in the eightieth year of his age, A.D. 422.

Astronomical Occurrences

In SEPTEMBER 1823.

SOLAR PHENOMENA.

THE Sun enters Libra at 6 m. after 9 in the evening of the 23d of this month, and rises and sets at the following times. Proportion will give the intermediate epochs very nearly.

TABLE

Of the Sun's Rising and Setting for every fifth Day. September 1st, Sun rises 14 m. after 5. Sets 46 m. past 6

6th,

24

.......... 5

36

....... 26

5

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

..........

Equation of Time.

When the following numbers are applied as directed to apparent time, they will give the hour which should, at the same instant, be indicated by a well regulated clock. The intermediate correc tions must be found by proportion.

TABLE

Of the Equation of Time for every fifth Day.

m. S.

Monday...... 1st, to the time by the dial add...... 0 2
Saturday... 6th, from the time by the dial subtract 1 34

Moon's Passage over the Meridian.

The following have been selected from the Moon's passages this month, as affording the best opportunities for observation, should the atmosphere prove clear in that direction, viz.

September 11th, at 23 m. after 5 in the evening

Venus attains her greatest brilliancy in the early part of this month, and now exhibits a celestial ob'ject of great beauty. By referring to page 51 of our volume for 1819, it will be seen, that, on account of the great variation in the distance of this planet from the earth, her maximum brightness takes place when 3.1908 digits of her diameter is illuminated. The difference in her appearance will not, however, be very great for a few days, and therefore, if the atmosphere be serene and clear, she will be uncommonly brilliant all the first half of this month.

Illuminated part

3.43776 digits

Sept. 1st, {Dark part.........=8-56224

Now are the beautiful lines of Mrs. Barbauld peculiarly applicable to this planet; and we think our readers will scarcely fail to perceive something like the soft brilliancy of her light in the touching sweetness of the poetry.

Fair VENUS shines,

Even in the eye of day; with sweetest beam
Propitious shines, and shakes a trembling flood
Of softened radiance from her dewy locks.

Eclipses of Jupiter's Satellites.

The following are the visible eclipses of the first two of these small bodies this month, viz.

Immersions.

First Satellite, 3d day, at 26 m. 17 s. after 3 in the morning

The Moon will be in conjunction with Mars at 57 m. past 9 in the evening of the 1st of this month. Saturn will be stationary on the 7th; and the Moon will be in conjunction with Venus at 18 m. after 7 in the evening of the same day. She will also be in conjunction with a in Scorpio at 12 m. past 8 in the

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