THE WORLD. 



we have just shown that the dial was graduated, or marked, with 



unequal divisions on this very account. The little cross strokes 

 at II, IV, VI, &c., indicate the position of the sun each month 

 from the vernal equinox, P is the north pole of the heavens, and 

 P 1, P 2, P 3, &-c. are meridians cutting the ecliptic I, II, &c. above 

 the equator ; is the place of vernal equinox, VI the position 

 of the summer solstice, XII the place of the autumnal equinox, 

 and XVIII of the winter solstice. On the 2d day of May, which is 

 about midway between the vernal equinox and the summer sol- 

 stice, the sun would be at the point III, but if it had moved over 

 three equal divisions of the equator, it would be at 3, and now if 

 a meridian be passed through 3, as at P 3, it will intersect the 

 ecliptic beyond III, i. e. on the side towards IV. Now III being 

 the place of the sun, if we suppose a meridian passing through P 

 and III, it will intersect the equator on that side of 3 towards 2, i. e, 

 the sun would come to the meridian by the dial before it would by 

 the clock, for the dial will show 12 o'clock, when the meridian, 

 which passes through III, is in the mid-heavens, at any place, 

 but the clock will show 12, when the meridian, which passes 

 through 3, is in the mid-heavens, and this would be after the dial. 

 On the supposition that the earth's orbit is circular, the dial and 

 clock would now, when the* sun is at III (May 2d), be farthest 

 apart, after this they would come together and correspond at VI, 

 and 6, the time of the summer solstice, after this the clock would 



