OF SELBORNE. 
days. Now nothing would be neceflary but to place thefe two 
objeSs with fo much exa£tnefs, that the wejlerly limb of the fun, at 
fetting, might but juft clear the zvinter heliotrope to the wed of it 
on the Jljortejl day ; and that the zvhole difc of the fun, at the longejl 
day, might exactly at fetting alfo clear the fummer heliotrope to the 
north of it. 
By this fimple expedient it would foon appear that there is no 
fuch thing, ftridly fpeaking, as a folftice ; for, from the portejl 
day, the owner would, every clear evening, fee the difc advancing, 
at it's fetting, to the wejlward of the objefl ; and, from the longejl 
day, obferve the fun retiring backwards every evening at it's fet- 
ing, towards the objed wejlward, till, in a few nights, it would fet 
quite behind it, and fo by degrees to the wejl of it : for when the 
fun comes near the fummer folftice, the whole difc of it would at 
firfl: fet behind the objedt ; after a time the northern limb would 
firft appear, and fo every night gradually more, till at length the 
whole diameter would fet northward of it for about three nights ; 
but on the middle night of the three, fenlibly more remote than 
the former or following. When beginning it's recefs from the 
fummer tropic, it would continue more and more to be hidden 
every night, till at length it would defcend quite behind the 
objed again ; and fo nightly more and more to the zvejlzvard. 
LETTER 
