MERCURY () will be visible in the evening about March 10, July 6 and November 4; and visible in the morning, April 26, August 22 and December 13.

Venus (9) will be morning star until July 13, and evening star for the rest of the year. It does not attain its greatest brilliancy this year. Mars () will be visible in the evening until October 25, and in the morning for the rest of the year.

Jupiter (2) will be visible in the evening until March 15, when it sets about the time of sunset. After that it will be seen in the morning before sunrise until the middle of July, when it rises about midnight. In October it will begin to rise about sunset, and after that will be visible in the evening.

Saturn (h) will accompany Jupiter through the year, being about thirty degrees east in January. The planets will gradually approach each other until their conjunction in April, 1881.

OTHER observers with the spectroscope have not yet been able to verify Dr. Draper's discovery of oxygen in the sun.

2 27 9 24 9 46 0.3 3 11 10 710 6.4

3 54 10 5111
4 38 11 35 11 57

O 19 6.4 0 40 I 16.3

I 22 1 45 6.1

3 46 10 38 11

20 5.8

4 40 11 33 11 59 6.5

0 25 6.4 O 49 I 12 6.2 640 7 3 1 36 1 59 6.0 7 26 7 52 2 22 2 45 5.8

MAY.

3.12 A.M. 2 rises. 5.00A.M. gr. H. L. S. 9.00 P.M. stat. 3.40 A.M. h rises. 7.00A.M. gr. H. LN. 3.45 A.M. 680. 6.52 P.M. H S. 4.04 A.M.

8.00 P.M.

rises.

9 30 P.M. Spica S. 11.00 P.M. 69. 11.10 P.M. sets.

11.11 P.M. Capella sets. 10.06 P.M. Arcturus S. 2.24 A.M. 2 rises. 9.03 P.M. Polaris N. 3.00 P.M.CO. 7.36 P.M. Antar, rises. 3.31 A.M. W rises. 11.00 P.M. Pollux sets. 5.00 A.M. in 2. 1.53 A.M. Vega S. 2.31 A.M. h rises.

() MERCURY very near (h) Saturn on the 6th.

PROF. E. E. HOLDEN has given, in Harvard College Library Bulletin No. 9, a list of books

and papers on the transits of Mercury by about

one hundred and fifty different authors, extending from 1631 to 1868, with notes.

VENUS and Mercury, when seen in the field of the telescope together by Mr. James Nasmyth, appeared to him, the former like bright silver, and the latter like bright zinc. He supposes this difference to be caused by some unknown peculiarity in the surface of Mercury.

out of this township, and it included portions of Rising Sun and Nicetown and Fort St. David's, afterward called Falls Village. It was traversed in a north-western direction by the Ridge av. from Ninth and Vine sts., and north-eastwardly from the Schuylkill, between Fairmount and Lemon Hill, by Turner's lane, which ran into the Germantown road, and by Nicetown lane, from the Ridge road below the Falls, over to Nicetown, Germantown and beyond.

Philadelphia city. In "certain conditions and concessions agreed upon by William Penn, Proprietary and governor of the province of Pennsylvania, and those who are the adventurers and purchasers in the said province, the 11th of July, 1681," it was agreed that "so soon as it pleaseth God that the above persons arrive there a certain quantity of land or ground-plot shall be laid out for a large town or city, in the most convenient place upon the river for health and navigation.” On Sept. 30 of the same year, William Crispin, William Heage, Nathaniel Allen and John Bezer were appointed commissioners to lay out "a great town of 10,000 acres." Crispin died during the passage; Heage, Allen and Bezer are supposed to have arrived in the latter part of the year 1681. From such evidence as is now extant it is supposed that the site of the great town was determined upon by them as early as the beginning of May, 1682. Exactly when the name Philadelphia was applied to this great town cannot be ascertained. One of the earliest surveys on record, to David Hammond, dated the roth of the fifth month (July), 1682, speaks of the lot being situate on Pool st. (afterward Walnut st.) in the city of Philadelphia. It is probable that about this time the name Philadelphia began to be applied to the great town. Penn must have determined upon that name almost as soon as he had obtained the charter for the province and contemplated the settlement of a large town. In his letter to Thomas Lloyd and others, members of the Society of Friends, written aboard the ketch Endeavor, on which he had embarked to return to England, in Aug., 1684, he wrote: "And thou, Philadelphia, the virgin settlement of this province, named before thou wert bornwhat love, what care, what service and what travail hast there been to bring thee forth and preserve thee from such as would abuse and defile thee!" The origin of this name is conjectural. The reason of Penn for adopting it is not known. It is supposed that he selected it from that of a city in Lydia, Asia, the seat of one of the seven early Christian churches. (See Rev. 1:11; 3:7, 9-11.) The signification, "brotherly love," no doubt commended the name to his taste and judgment. The original boundary of the city of Philadelphia was between the streets called Valley (now Vine) and Cedar (now South)

sts.

to the city corporation, Oct. 25, 1701, he says that the city shall extend the limits and bounds" as it is layed out between Delaware and Schuylkill." This charter was in operation until it was superseded by the events of the Revolution, and ceased to be effective after July 4, 1776. For nearly thirteen years Philadelphia was governed by wardens and commissioners. A new charter was granted by the Legislature March 11, 1789. This was greatly extended by act of Feb. 2, 1854. commonly called the Consolidation law, which extended the boundaries of the city over the entire county of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia county was laid out by William Penn, it is supposed, after his return from New York, which visit probably took place in November, 1682. On his return, it is said, he estab lished the counties of Chester, Philadelphia and Bucks. Chester was south and west of Philadelphia; Bucks was north and east. The county of Philadelphia was without boundaries, except so far as they were limited in the royal grant of the province to Penn and by the establishment of Chester and Bucks counties. Philadelphia lay between those counties, and extended from the Delaware and the boundaries of Chester (now Delaware) county and the southern and western boundary of Bucks county to an unlimited extent, and may be said to have embraced all the rest of the land in the province except the counties of Bucks and Chester. This great area was diminished by the establishment of Berks county, March 11, 1752, and other counties north and west of Bucks, and by the establishment of Montgomery county, Sept. 10, 1784, which blocked off all further claim north of it.

Richmond, sometimes called Port Richmond, originally the name of a tract of land in the township of Northern Liberties, adjoining the Delaware north of Ball Town and south of Pointno-Point. The name was derived from two country-seats in the vicinity-the Richmond property of the Roberts family, lying on the Point road near the Delaware, and Richmond Lodge, which in 1868-09 belonged to the Fox family. It was incorporated as a district on Feb. 27, 1847, under the title of "the Commissioners and Inhabitants of the district of Richmond, in the county of Philadelphia." It extended along the Delaware River to a point some distance north-west of the upper end of Petty's Island; then north-west nearly to the point where Frankford Creek makes its most southerly bend; thence south-west to Westmoreland st.; north-west along the same to Emerald st.; south-west along the latter to a lane running from Frankford turnpike to Nicetown lane; along Frankford turnpike to the north boundary of Kensington, and down the same to Gunner's Run, and along that stream to the Delaware River. The area was 1163

acres.

THE Ephemeris for the present year gives, as heretofore, the day of the year, the day of the month and day of the week, in civil time, according to which the day begins at midnight. Next are given the time of sunrise, the time before or after noon, at which the sun's centre souths, and the time of sunset. The times of sunrise and sunset are in each case for the upper limb or edge of the sun, corrected for refraction. They are more accurate than usually found in popular almanacs, and will give the time with sufficient accuracy for ordinary purposes. An ordinary surveyor's level will give the horizon where the upper edge of the sun should be at the time given in the almanac. If the telescope of the leveling instrument inverts, the upper edge will, of course, be apparently the lower one. are given the times of rising, southing and setting of the moon's centre, and also its age, or the number of days elapsed since new moon. Then follow the times of high and low water for Philadelphia. Lastly is given a collection of interesting astronomical phenomena for the year.

Next

MR. HENRY BESSEMER has given in Nature, Jan. 24, 1878, a plan for figuring and mounting large glass reflectors for the telescope.

I 14

2 10

o 47

25-7

7 35 8 6 5.9 I 41 8 33 9 06.1 2 37 9 29 9 56 6.3 3 4 3 29 10 23 10 48 6.5 3254 4 17 11 13 11 36 6.5 4 4 5 3 06.5 5 25 5 46 O 22 0 44 6.4 6 281 1 5 1 26 6.2 6 50 7 13 I 47 2 9 5.9 7 38 8 5 2 32 2 57 5-7

4.03 A.M.

10.57 P.M. Reg. sets. 10.10 P.M. sets. 2.00 P.M. Sum. com. 9.00 A.M. in . 8.30 A.M. ( ecl. inv. 1.47 A.M. W rises. 10.59 P.M. Algen. rises. 0.27 A.M. rises. 9.06 P.M. Pollax sets. 0.51 A.M. h rises. 8.41 P.M. Capella sets. 11.58 P.M. Vega S. 3.33 A.M. & 4.

JUNE.

(♂) MARS near the Moon in the evening of the 11th.

MR. J. NORMAN LOCKYER is believed to have demonstrated, by means of the spectroscope, that calcium and some other substances hitherto regarded as simple are really compound.

VOL. IV. of the Moscow Observatory contains a series of meridian observations of Mars in opposition, which, combined with observations in the southern hemisphere equally good, will give the solar parallax with very small probable error.

How much easier do we find it to commend a

good action than to imitate it!

A CALUMNIOUS abuse, too often repeated, becomes so familiar to the ear as to lose its effect.

ABSENCE extinguishes small passions and increases great ones, as the wind will blow out a candle and blow in a fire.

If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man should keep his friendship in constant repair.

not always as much unanimity, and for the want of such regulations the inhabitants applied to the Assembly by petition. On May 14, 1762, an act was passed to create a municipality in the southern suburbs to be called the district of Southwark. The bounds commenced on Cedar st. at the Delaware, and proceeded thence west to Passyunk road; along the latter to Moyamensing road; thence by Keeler's lane to Greenwich road; thence to the river Delaware, and along the several courses of the same to the place of beginning. The officers of the corporation were three assessors and three supervisors, who jointly had a right to lay taxes for repairing and cleaning streets, and three surveyors and regulators to regulate the courses of streets, etc. and lay down gutters and conduits. The events of the Revolution were held to supersede this charter in the same manner as the city charter was supposed to be nullified. On Sept. 29, 1787, the General Assembly passed an act to appoint commissioners to lay out the district of Southwark, marking out the courses of the principal streets, not only in that district, but also in Moyamensing and Passyunk. This was preparatory to the passage of an act of April 18, 1794, which erected a full corporation under the title of "the Commissioners and Inhabitants of the district of Southwark. They laid out a large number of streets, and most of their plans were confirmed by the Supreme Executive Council in 1790. The greatest dimensions were 14 miles in length by 14 in breadth; area, 760 acres. The name was partly adopted in allusion to the situation of the district south of the city of Philadelphia, but it was also adopted from the name of a borough in the county of Surrey, England, immediately opposite the city of London, and for many years considered a portion of that metropolis.

Spring Garden appears on Varle's map of 1796 as a small settlement between Vine st. and Buttonwood lane and a point on a line with Seventh st. (then unopened), and extending as far west as the Ridge road. There was a street (now known as Franklin st.) which ran north from Vine st. across Callowhill, and stopped opposite a house halfway between Callowhill st. and Buttonwood lane. The street now known as Eighth st. (then called Garden st.) ran through the centre of the district, and the street now called Garden st. (then known as Spring st.) ran from Vine to Buttonwood, Charles st. ran from Callowhill to Buttonwood. The district was incorporated March 22, 1813, as "the Commissioners and Inhabitants of the district of Spring Garden." The original boundaries were Vine st. on the south; the middle of Hickory lane (afterward Coates st., now Fairmount av.) on the north; Broad st. on the west, and the middle of Sixth st. on the east. On March 21, 1827, the district was enlarged by adding that part of Penn township beginning at the middle of Sixth st. to a point 210 feet north of the north side of Poplar lane; thence north-west, parallel to the lane, at a distance of 200 feet from the latter, to the middle of Broad st; thence parallel with Vine street to the river Schuylkill. The meaning of this was, that whilst the upper boundary of the district took a course from Sixth st. west by north to Broad st., the line beyond the latter ran due cast and west to the Schuylkill. It extended by the course of that river to Vine st., and along the latter to Broad, where it met the old district

line. By this addition the size of Spring Garden was more than doubled. At the time of Consolidation the area of the district was estimated to be 1100 acres. There are two theories as to the origin of the name. One is, that it is derived from Spring Garden, the name of a country-seat in that neighborhood, which in the year 1723 belonged to, and was for sale by, Dr. Francis Gan louet. A better suggestion is, that it was derived from the Spring Gardens, an old-established place of resort in London.

Tacony, Toaconing or Toaconick, a small township laid down on Holme's map of 1633-84, situate in the bend between the river Delaware, Wissonoming Creek on the north-east, and Frankford Creek and Little Tacony Creek on the south and west. It lay east of the town of Frankford, and at an early date was incorporated in Oxford township. The name was derived from Tekene, and means "wood or an uninhabited place.'

West Philadelphia, in the township of Blockley and west of the Schuylkill River, was created a borough on Feb. 17, 1844, and embraced Hamilton and Mantua villages and the ground between. On April 3, 1851, its title was changed to the district of West Philadelphia, and its boundaries considerably enlarged.

White Hall, north-west of Bridesburg, extending from the United States Arsenal westward, contained in the bend made by Frankford Creek and Little Tacony, and adjoining Frankford. It was situate in the old township of Tacony and the later township of the Northern Liberties. It was incorporated into a borough on April 9, 1849.

ELECTIONS IN 1880.

IN 1880 general elections will be held in the city of Philadelphia as follows:

For city and ward officers, on Tuesday, February 17th. To be elected: Receiver of Taxes, City Solicitor, Magistrates, members of Councils, Assessors, election officers, School Directors, etc. Last day for payment of taxes, January 17th. Last day for naturalization, January 17th. For Federal, State and county officers, on Tuesday, November 2d. To be elected: Electors of President and Vice-President of the United States, members of Congress, Justice of Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Auditor-General, Judge of Court of Common Pleas No 3, State Senators in odd-numbered districts, Representatives in General Assembly, District Attorney, Coroner, Clerk of Quarter Sessions, City Controller.

Last days for extra assessment, September 1st and 2d.

Last day for payment of taxes, October 2d.
Last day for naturalization, October 2d.

QUALIFICATIONS OF ELECTORS.

VOTING ON AGE.-Every male citizen between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-two years may vote without being assessed. He must previously have resided in the State one year, and in the election district (or division) where he offers to vote for at least two months before the election. If his name is not on the registry of voters, he must make affidavit, if a native citizen, as to his birthplace and residence in the district for two months, and in the State for one year, except in case he had been a resident and removed therefrom and again returned, when six months' residence will be sufficient. If he is not native born,

[1880.

PHENOMENA.

8 21 6.1

11 24 11 51 O 17 0 41 I 2 8 o I 42 8 41 9 16.21 2 259 239 44 6.4 3 4 10 310 236.5 36.5

I 22 2 4

3 44 10 43 II
4 22 11 22 11 41 6.5
0 16.4
0 41 6.3
123 6.2
2 115.9

5 2
5 430 21
6 27 I 2

I 28 8 22 8 47 6.2 2 18 9 12 9 37 6.4 2 42 3 5 10 110 24 6.5 3 27 3 48 10 46 11 716.5 4 31 11 29 11 50 6.5 5 13 o 116.4 5 34 5 54) 0 32

Apo., 4d.11h, P.M.
Per., 20d. 6h. A.M.

0.09 A.M. 6 ha.
6.14 A.M. C.
9.39 P.M. & sets.
9.28 P.M. Antar, S.
9.00 P.M.
3.00 A.M.

sets. gr. el. E 5.42 A.M. O eel. inv. 11.35 P.M. Fomal rises. 6.42 P.M. 9 G. 2.59 P.M.SC. 3-57 P.M.HC. 11.21 P.M. 4 rises. 7.00 P.M.sup. 11.43 P.M. h rises. 10.56 P.M. Vega S.

6.00 P.M. in Aph. 11.59 P.M. Altair S. 9.04 P.M. sets. 10.53 P.M. Spi. sets.

8.00 P.M. OhO. 9.13 P.M. Algen. rises. 11.00 A.M. stat. 10.55 P.M. Capel. rises. 11.00 P.M. in Per. 8.33 P.M. Reg. sets. 10.29 P.M.

33

High Tide.

P.M. h. m.

3 52 7 32

4 37

4 3 7 32

2 36 24 73 36 25 4 33 26

8 34 9

A.M. P.M. A.M. h. m. h. m. h. m 3

h. m..

3 24

3 53 5.5

2 51 10 34 3 44 II 23

5 27 27 6 16:28 6 59 29

6 17

6 43 5.6

4 41 O 12

7 36

540

5 2 7 30

6 41

23456 78 a

9

7 51 8 26

4 461

5

7 26

3 29

815 0 6 10

9 4 9 41

200 18 S

201 19

M 4 47

6

4 7 25

203 21 W

202 20 Tu 4 48

204 22 Th 4 50

5 40 10 22

0 57

II

10 17 10 56

5 0

5 36 5.4

6 15

6 505.6

50 36

4 49

4 22, 14

6

12 22

8 25

1 19

206 24 S

5 39 15 6 54 16 2 10 8 5.17

I 3 1 53

207 25 S

4 53

18

208 26 M 4 54 209 27 Tu 4 55

6 157 19 9 47 3 45 10 19 19 6 14 7 18 10 15 4 30 11 23 20

210 28 W 4 55

6 13 17 10 465 16

I 35 6.0

9.40 A.M.

hc.

211 29 Th 4 56 212 30 F 14 57 213 31 S

6

11 7 16 11 21 6 3

1 27 22

2.06 P.M. 7.

2 26 23

7 56

8 26 2 47

3 15 5.6

4 58

9 28

() MERCURY a little north of the Moon in the evening of the 9th.

COMMANDER F. M. GREEN, U. S. N., has determined by telegraph the longitude of various stations in South America in connection with Lisbon.

Ir appears from a discussion of the photographs taken of the sun during the transit of Venus that the photographic diameter of the sun is of no value when accuracy is required.

DR. SCHRADER, in Hungary, has published a catalogue and maps of all the stars from first to fifth magnitude, inclusive, visible in northern latitudes. In these maps the brightness of the stars is indicated by the size of the spots representing the stars.

OUT of six thousand nebulæ known, about one hundred and fifty have been examined with the spectroscope. About one-fourth of these appear, from the lines observed, to be gaseous nebulæ, generally with regular outlines, but sometimes irregular in outline.

11.34 P.M. 7✶ rise. 3 45 4 165.410.38 P.M. h rises.

WE ask advice, but we mean approbation. A MISER grows rich by seeming poor; an extravagant man grows poor by seeming rich.

OUR alarms are much more numerous than our

dangers, and we suffer much oftener in apprehension than in reality.

THE art of using moderate abilities to advantage wins praise, and often acquires more reputation than real brilliancy.

THE Conqueror is regarded with awe, the wise man commands our esteem, but it is the benevolent man who wins our affection.

ATHEISM is the result of ignorance and pride; of strong sense and feeble reasons; of good eating and ill-living. It is the plague of society, the corrupter of manners and the underminer of property.

THERE is scarcely a single joy or sorrow within the experience of our fellow-creatures which we have not tasted, yet the belief in the good and beautiful has never forsaken us. It has been medicine in sickness, richness in poverty, and the best part of all that ever delighted us in health and success.