1 8 BROWN : 



sevens, subtract the remainder from seven, and may, perhaps, 

 be a little puzzled to divine why our result is wrong, by one, 

 every time until we recollect that the year 1700, and that year 

 alone of all the century remainders, is a leap 3'ear. It throws 

 the letter back two places instead of one, and affects every result 

 after 1700 b}^ making a permanent addition of one to the sum 

 out' of which the sevens are to be cast. To provide for this 

 irreg-ularity one is subtracted from the backward places alreadj^ 

 obtained ; or, what is the same in result and more convenient, 

 six added to them. The sevens are now thrown out, the 

 remainder subtracted from seven as before — and the rule works. 

 The rule and the reasons might now take this shape : — 



1. Divide the centuries by four. 



To cast out the Dominical Cycles. 



2. Multiply the remainder by five. 



Because each remainder century gives five places back. 



3. Set down the odd years and a quarter of the same, neglect- 

 ing fractions. 



Because this gives the number of years in each of 

 which we back one. 



4. Add six. 



Because of the exceptional yeir 1700. 



5. Add up and divide by seven. 



To throw out the cycles of seven. 



6. Subtract the remainder from seven. 



To get the number of places forward instead of back- 

 ward from G. 

 The rule is unsuitable and useless. It is framed and intro- 

 duced here by way of illustration mereh". 



THE RHYME DEVICE. 



This is an expedient for making practical, every day use of 

 the Dominical Letter. It is known to many, but not to all. 

 Take this senseless old rhN^me : 



At Dover Dwells George Brown, Esquire, 

 Good Christopher Finch And David Frier. 



