The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-05-13 00:00:00

GREAT SOLAR ECLIPSE.

We copy from the Liverpool Courier the following letter re-
specting this event, which will take place on Sunday after-
noon :

Sir,—Perhaps there is not in the whole range of physical
sciences any one that awakes more interesting and pleasing re-
flection than the study of astronomy. By reading its history
we see the great intellectual progress which the human mind
has made, when the rude calculations of past ages ate compared
with our present knowledge, for the accuracy of our astronomical
instruments, and their judicious application to the purposes of
science, as well as the exact calculations deduced by their
means, all prove the gradual advance of the mental powers of
man; while, on the other hand, these discoveries unfold to us
the surprising fact, that the heavenly bodies, after travelling
millions of miles, arrive at their appointed destination with a
certainty, in point of time, that even surpasses our nicest calcu-
lations.

Although the tests are various which prove this accuracy
of movement among the heavenly bodies, yet there are none
Which excite the attention of the public so much as eclipses of
the_ sun. In the variety of appearances which these phenomena
present, we sometimes witness a total eclipse of the sun, and it
is recorded that during some of those eclipses the darkness was
so great that the stars were visible, and the fowls went to roost,
supposing it to be the approach of night. A total eclipse of the
sun can only happen' when the moon is*iearer to the earth than
her mean distance; but when she is further from the earth than
hermean distance, she appears under a smaller angle than is
subtended by the sun, which will be the case in the eclipse at
present under consideration, when a luminous ring will appear
all round the dark body of the moon, and display to many
places what is termed an annular eclipse of the sun.
In observing the beginning of the eclipie considerable atten-
tion will be requisite to ascertain the exact moment when toe
first. contact of the limbs take place, btrt the ending of the
eclipse will be more easily and accurately observed by those
who are not accustomed to astronomical observations, as the
retiring body of the moon may be distinctly traced, with a good
telescope on a stand, until it has ceased to obscure any portion
of the sun's disc, which instant will be the exact time required
The correct time thus found may be most usefully employed in
rectifying sundials. of which most towns possess one at least ;
and• as they have generally been put down by the compass,
which is an imperfect method, or by watches whose time was
not accurately known, they seldom give the true time; there-
fore; Ira good watch be set by a sundial, at twelve o'clock,
(allowing for the equation of time,) the error of the watch, (if
any,) at the ending of the eclipse, will show how much the dial
is erroneous, and which being known can be easily allowed for
at any future time.
The first contact will take place at a point 131 degrees west
of the vertex, and the last at 30 degrees to the east of the ver-
tex; or, if we suppose thZ sun to represent a clock face, the
eclipse will begin where '22 minutes is on the clock, and end
where II hours is marked on the clock face. At the time of the
greatest obscuration, Venus will, in all probability, be distinctly
visible to the naked eye, at au altitude of about 62 degrees and
about three degrees eastward of the meridian: Jupiter, at the
same time, will be about 6 degrees east of the meridian, altitude
60 degrees; and Mars will be in the west, at an altitude of 14
degrees :

Parlial eclipse
begins.

Partial eclipse
ends.

Liverpool
Ivlanehester.....
Sheffield
Nottingham
Birmingham
Chester.
Holyhead
Carlisle
Newcastle
Belfast

H. M. S.
1 33 55
1 38 0
1 42 30
1 44 13
1 40 12
1 34 36
1 25 25
1 34 17
1 41 51
1 18 7

H. H. S.

23 0
4 26 23
4 30 19
4 32 10
4 29 4
4 23 45
4 15 46
4 21 46
4 28 13
4 8 10

Magnitude at Liverpool 0 .891
Having made the calculations respecting the beginning and
ending of the partial eclipse at the different places enumerated
above, there is a peculiarity attending its appearance at Carlisle,
Newcastle, and Belfast, which deserves . special notice, as the
eclipse will be annular at those places. This is a phenomenon
of so rare Occurrence that in all probability such an one has
never been seen in England by the oldest person now living.
We
have it on record that an annular eclipse was seen in
France,
Denmark, and Lapland, about seventy years ago, but
no record that any has been seen in England for a
longermuch
will happen atP ed; therefore I have given the time when it
those places by sorn
thoseat towns, that it may be accurately recorded
attentive
observer.

\Beginning .iliddle. End.
Carlisle .. -----
it. . s 11. IL 8. H. M. 8.
Newcastle ................ m 2 59 9 3 1173 3 25
•—•
Belfast 3 5 11 3 $ 21 3 11 31
•••• 2 44 51 2 46 25 2 47 59

_____ _
from Pinkerton's extensive atlas, and____
The geographical positions of the above towns were taken
it correct, the times as
given above may, I think, be depended onspectfull y, to within two or three
seconds.-1 remain, sir, yours re
Liverpool, May 10, 1836. T. BYWATER.

The Right Honourable the Earl of Burlington has appointed
the Rev. John Downall, formerly curate of St. Mark's
Church, in Liverpool, one of his lordship's domestic chaplain 8

ADVERTISIIMENTi
ANOTHER BAN 1

The public are very respectfully informed that in consequence
of the universal approval given on all sides to joint stock banks,
and the unbounded confidence reposed in.thein, it has been de-
termined to establish one more in addition to the present num-
ber, ( which, if anything is still too limited:) to be called the
Liverpool Grand Auxiliary SAND BANK
To the numerous enlightened individuals residing in the sea-
port town of Liverpool it would be idle indeed to dwell at any
length on the nature and effects of whdt must be an every day
topic with the money lender, the shipow r, and the mariner.
It need scarcely be said that the allusio is to banks. Banks
are vital to the usurer, sometimes agree le sometimesdisag,ree-
able to the shipowner, and the same t he mariner, as shall be
proved, by and bye, to general satisf lion.
Now, as to sand banks, there is no subject on which different
individuals differ more. Talk to some men of new town council
refinement, and they will tell you that4a sand bank and a rock
are one and the same thing; that modern philosophy has marked
them in the most celebrated charts as either of a doubtful cha-
racter or the decided foe of mankind. But this is a very short-
sighted and illiberal construction; for various instances are on
record, as many on the one hand as on the other, of sand banks
-affording a footing and protection to people for a time who could
walk, wade, or swim to them, or of their being fatal to life.
Despite, however, of all conflicting opinions, it has been re-
solved to establish a sand bank in Liverpool, the situation to be
as near the new town council room as possible (with the per-
mission of the Mayor), in order that, when the other and smaller,
sand banks are washed away; the
LIVERPOOL GRAND AUXILIARY SAND BANK
May show its exalted form, and afford to the money lender, to
the shipowner, to the mariner, and to the public at large, who
may have bad the misfortune of being wrecked, a rendezvous,
(though they come with long faces and short purses,) with free
and full permission to walk, wade, or swim, as they choose, for
this will make no difference. As war is daily expected, and
odious peace is now soon to be at an end, a grand stir is ex-
pected iu the money market, when a full meeting of the friends
of the Liverpool Grand Auxiliary Sand Bank will assuredly
take place.
A prospectus will shorty appear.

•TO MR.•J,~TY COVMO.N COUNCIL-MSN

H4BERDJSHER.

Sia,—We have all heard of a proverb respecting the way certain
persons ride when they have the misfortune to get mounted on horse-
back, a proverb brought very forcibly to my mind by your conduct a
the meeting yesterday—it is said that in the plenitude of your great-
ness you had the modesty (shall I say ?) to order a policeman to take
into custody a gentleman who was taking an interest in the question
then before the meeting, because, perhaps, that opinion was at vari-
ance with your own ; it is a great pity that some new fledged official
do not take a lesson in the art of conducting themselves as gentlemen
from the worthy man who presides over their unruly discussions, it
would in some cases, as in yours, prevent the mortification they mus
feel in the reflection that they have incurred the contempt of every
honourable mind, as yon did in the case in question, when you sought
to insult a gentleman whose family were amongst the most respected
of Liverpool merchants at a time when you were scarce trusted with
the watering of a " Cockney haberdasher's shop."
Now, sir, if I might venture upon advice to so great a personage, I
would remind you that although by the ferment of a democratic mea-
sure, matters have been so far reversed that comparative strangers
have been elevated to seats formerly occupied by gentlemen, merchants,
and others, known to the town and deeply interested in its great com-
merce, the time may perhaps come when common sense will resume
its usual sway over the minds of Englishmen, and they will discover
that agents of London shopkeepers and other strangers, however
respectable in their sphere. are not the best calculated to represent
interests they are utterly ignorant of—then the question of the quali-
fications of such people will be more severely scrutinized than on a
former occasion, and of some of them the " wonder " will be

HoW the devil they came there."

Then, perhaps, also it may be asked, how they bore the honours
" thrust upon them ? "—and you may be remembered as having while
" Drest in a little brief authority
Played such fantastic tricks before high heaven
As make the angels weep "—and awn laugh !
—Yours, &c.
Saturday. A Liverpool man.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,--Will you permit me, through the medium of 3 our valuable
paper, to call the attention of those who are friends to scriptural edu-
cation to the number of Sunday schools and children in connexion
with the established church, in Liverpool.
The Mercury of last Friday states, that there are thirty Sunday schools
and 4440 children, within the parliamentary borough of Liverpool,
one only with 80 children belonging to the established church.
Being connected with and deeply interested in more than one church
Sunday school, in Liverpool, I subjoin a list with the numbers of chil-
dren in each, to the best of my knowledge.

Children.
1. —All Saint's Church (Grosvenor-street) about
2.—St. Paul's (Cheapside)
3.—St. Matthew's (Lumber-street)
4.—St. Michael's (Parr-street)
s.—St. Mark's
6.—St. Jude's
7.—St. Bride's
B.—St. Audrew's (Slater-street) BO
9.—St. Augustine's (Upper Beau-street) 5O
10.—Mariner's Church Redcross-street) 4O

Total 1090
I believe there are several others besides the above, I have reason
to believe there is one at St. George's, Everton, oae at St. Catherine's.
and one at St. John the Baptist's Church, Toxteth-park.
Trusting that the above will be acceptable to some of your readers,
I remain yours, &c.
Liverpool, March 91h, 1836. 3. C. J.