The winter solstice, though uniformly dull and uncheerful in a rural life, generally affords, in anticipation at least, a brighter prospect in the distance.-The grazier surveys with pleasure and satisfaction, his cattle preparing for the shambles; the farmer watches the operations of the barn, in hopes of obtaining a remuneration for his last year's labour; and the housewife calculates on the Christmas market, for her poultry to recruit her exhausted finances in the domestic economy of the house.

But, alas! the provincial papers exhibit evidence of an opposite characterassignments, executions, and distress for rent, make up the melancholy catalogue: and although a salvo is offered by some considerate landlords, in the shape of deduction, yet twenty per cent. is but a poor relief, where the remaining eighty must be taken from the capital, or obtained by loan. Such is literally the case, for it is quite certain, that at the present price of grain, a large amount of the rent is a dead loss to the occupier.

The little that is doing on the farm (for the spirit of improvement is annihilated) has been greatly facilitated by open weather-the stubbles are nearly all ploughed, and some manure has been carted for the next year's fallows.

Wheats have planted kindyl, and are secure from the depredations of the feathered tribe. Turnips too have improved materially, but are still far short of a crop; nevertheless, the few that stood from the first sowing, are as perfect in quality and acreable quantity, as any season has ever produced, which, together with the relief afforded by pastures and grazing-grounds in consequence of the mildness of the season, will make the deficiency less severely felt.

The hop duty for the year 1820, distinguishing the old from the new growth, is as follows:

Old Duty.

At 1d. 12-20ths per lb. 138,3301. 9s. 6d. 8-20ths. New Duty.

At d. 8-20ths per lb. 102,2441. 58. 34d. 12-20ths. Total... L240,574 14 10

Mr. EDITOR,

In the 49th vol. of the Phil. Magazine, p. 182, I find an article upon the solar spots of 1816, by Mr. Mosely, of Wintadyne House, Worcestershire, upon which and his method of observing them, I have to make a few remarks.

He states that the sun's image was received upon a paper screen, on which was drawn a circle of the same diameter as that produced by the sun's rays, when falling upon it with the focus of the eyeglass properly adjusted; and that across the circie were drawn three lines, one exactly perpendicular to the horizon, another inclining 8 deg. westward, representing the axis of the sun, and a third at right angles to the axis, representing the equator, &c. &c. Now, as the sun's axis, when he is on the meridian, will only coincide with that meridian twice a year, viz. about the beginning of September, when his long. is from 5 s. 8 deg. to 5 s. 12 deg. and in the latter end of February and beginning of March, when his long. is from 11 s. 8 deg. to 11 s. 12 deg. and will twice a year decline from it the greatest possible quantity, being when his long. is 2 s. 10 deg. and 8 s. 10 deg. or in the beginning of June and December, in the first case to the west, and in the second to the east; I should conceive that in such observations, a new projection of the sun's disc, axis, &c. is highly necessary for at least every week or ten days, as in that time there will be a sensible difference in the inclination. I also conceive, that as we cannot always be sure of an observation when he is on the meridian, a telescope mounted on a polar axis will be found a proper instrument, as by following the sun's motion in the parallel he describes on any particular day, the projection will, if rightly constructed, be correct at any distance from the meridian, provided the motions of the instrument are good, and it is exceedingly well mounted. I may also further observe, that during the period of observations in question from September to November, the sun's axis declined from about 0 deg. 10 min. W. to about 3 deg. 45 min. E. supposing him upon the meridian, instead of being constantly 8 deg. westward, stated by Mr. M.; and consequently those observations are absolutely wrong, if the tables are right, as to the position of the axis, and direction of the spots.

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I recommend to such as speculate upon these curious phænomena, after observing the sun's image upon paper for the purpose of tracing the places and directions of the spots, to examine them by

means of a dark glass applied to their telescope, before they describe their shape, as I am convinced from long and repeated observations, that their true appearance is much better seen that way than the other. They would also do well to remember, that a telescope which produces erect vision, when looking in it, inverts the images when received upon paper, and that if inverted vision is produced by looking in the instrument, erect objects will be seen upon the paper, but the right and left edges of an object will change places, when the observer's back is turned upon it, as it must be in such observations.

I prefer a dark glass, or what is much better, a green and a red one united in one cell, because the penumbra or lighter side of a spot is seen perfectly defined, and smaller spots which are nearly invisible by the other method, may be distinctly seen and counted if necessary by this. Indeed in a favourable atmosphere with no larger instrument than Mr. M.'s, and a very moderate power, I have not only done so, but have seen also the brighter spots, or faculæ, or bright lumps, behind which the dark ones seem to lie when near the limb, as well as the innumerable small dark points which cover the whole face of the sun, when by receiving the image on paper I could not see them at all.

The conversion of dark spots containing nuclei, into bright ones called faculæ, seems to consist in their being hidden behind the bright spots or lumps of shining matter I have before mentioned, when going off the western limb, and the contrary takes place when entering on the eastern limb, while in the middle of the disc. there are rarely, if ever, seen any bright spots or lumps of shining matter, probably from the more intense light of the sun's centre then rendering them invisible.

It is somewhat curious, that although the author quotes Mr Adams, upon .the variable paths of the spots, he has not discovered, in his observations, that these varied paths arise partly from the different inclination of the suns axis to an azimuth circle, at different hours of the day, on account of the earth's diurnal motion, and partly from the variable inclination of the sun's axis to an azimuth circle, arising from the earth's annual motion: even under the influence of both these causes, the same spot which at sunrise appears to advance from the southern to the northern limb, will in consequence of the sun's apparent motion, appear to ad

vance from the northers to the southern limb at sunset: but if we confine our selves to observations upon the meridian, that part of the phænomena depending upon the earth's annual motion, alone remains, and the spot will travel northward when the axis inclines eastward, and southward when it inclines westward. When observed out of the meridian, their path is, in strictness, influenced by both these causes. Their curvilinear direction results from our alternately seeing a little

more of the sun's northern, or southern polar regions, when the axis is least inclined, by which means they are convex to the sun's north and south poles by turns, in spring and autumn; this curvature is, therefore, a consequence of the earth's annual motion. The Author's remark, that "these irregularities are of rare occurrence," is, therefore, the result of a very slender acquaintance with these subjects.

Lloyd's Coffee-house, Dec. 20, 1820. Nothing could be better timed at this moment than a powerful discourse on the advantages of a circulating medium; for nothing is more difficult than to meet with what is usually understood by the phrase. "After the dividends, my dear sir, after the dividends,"—is the regular and almost the universal answer to an application for money, in whatever shape, throughout the city of London.

In fact, the Commercial Report for the present month might be given in a single word-EXPECTATION. Of real business there is very little; but all are alert in looking forwards.

Nor is this a state greatly to be regretted; since the few days lately passed have seen houses thought to enjoy very flattering prospects, unable to realize those prospects, and forced to confess that their hopes and expectations are exhausted.

In defiance of this pressure for money, and the uncertainty of whose turn may be next, the STOCKS have continued to rise, during the month, and from 65 or 66, have reached 70 or 71, for account. Now, this is demonstration enough to those who understand the mechanism of the money market, that there is plenty of money in the country. In fact, there is a prodigious and progressive accumulation of wealth; and wealth it really is, though it may assume very different shapes from what was acknowledged under that title by our grandfathers and great-grandfathers.

Even that accession of goods which is now finding its way into the warehouses of our extensive dealers, is wealth; it has been created by the wealth of individuals, and they will expect it to return, in proper time, not merely what it has cost, but also a profit, which future exertions may employ for renewed operations and progressive benefits. It follows, that however truth may compel us to de

A CORRESPONDENT,

scribe the state of things, at this moment, as rather hope and expectation than vivacity and briskness, yet the issue may prove profitable and prosperous.

Not only do the public securities look upwards, which is one good sign-but the prices of the precious metals look downwards, which is another good sign. Gold is no longer the object of that unnatural craving, which it once was; and greater quantities of gold and silver are now brought into this country than are carried out of it; the natural consequence is a gradual accumulation with a propor

tionate decrease in value.

The COTTON market continues without much resort: the quantity sold has been very limited, for the last week or two; and what has changed hands has been for exportation. The demand for home consumption has been languid from the Port of London; owing, no doubt, among other causes, to the season of the year, since the dealers are aware that before the article could arrive at its destination, the chances of the navigable canals being frozen, are much against them. This has given Liverpool an advantage over London for the season; and prices have actually risen at Liverpool for cottons of the same kinds as have suffered a depression in London. The business done, also, has been more extensive and more lively; especially for superior qualities.

SUGAR has been sold by those who must sell, on terms rather below the currency of the market; but the main body of the holders kept firmly to their valuation: in consequence, no great deal of business has been done; some former contracts of large amount have been realized, which has occasioned larger deliveries at the warehouses than usual; but it is generally understood that these are prudential operations, rendered necessary by the failures which have lately agitated the connexions of the market.

COFFEE has been all but standing still; the export is suspended for the present; the home consumption is principally attached to certain sorts, and is far from general, or from a settled state. We believe, that for some time past, neither buyers nor sellers have known well what to do: and the fluctuation of the market has given occasion to many complaints and to much disappointment and vexation. The India Company's quarterly sale of TEA has met with a steady attention. The better sorts have experienced the effects of competition among the buyers, and have risen in price accordingly. The inferior sorts have not been equally regarded, and

East India Company, is thought to be inconsiderable-some say insufficient; and if a sale should be declared, it is expected to be a very small one.

SPICES. The India Company have declared for sale 12th February:-Cinnamon 130,000 lbs. ; Cloves 31,000; Nutmegs 100,000; Mace 34,000; Oil of Mace 1,000; Saltpetre 1,000 tons. The demand for Pepper has increased, there being no declaration of Company's Pepper. Cloves have also been in more request, as the quantity declared is very limited, and reported to be the whole stock of the Company in England: the quantity usually declared in former years being 100,000 lbs. latterly 50,000 lbs. and now reduced to 31,000 lbs.

This is the time for the arrivals of FRUIT; but, for the last two weeks they have been extensive beyond precedent; the quality uncommonly fine. This reminds us of the duty of consumption, also; and as Fruit is both plentiful and excellent, we cannot but congratulate our good housewives, and give our voice for evidence demonstrative of this facton the Christmas table.