The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-07

ASTRONOMICAL CIocx.-We understand that a
curious astronomical clock 10 1t present being
sructcd in tho vicinity of Liverpool, by E. Hen
derson, Ii D., &C.. from series Of very intricate
calculus and complicated projections, which has
engro.sed a large share of his time and attention
pletely throw into tho shade tho celebrated horol-
ogics" Of antiquity and other clocks and planeta-
ria of modern times. Hitherto such pieces of me.
chanism have exhibited very curious results, but
they have been inaccurate in their motions, revo-
buttons, and phenomena; 80 much So that, at tho
end of year or two, the machines gave out indi-
cations very wide of the truth, and required to be
rectiied. This, in great measure, arose from the
inaccuracy of the calculations, produced from a
wrong basis, and such formulas thrown into wheel
work. The present clock will entirely obviatc such
errors il il calculated finely thati many Of the
motions by the whecwork il will not err one minute
in one thousand years. These calculations, we un-
derstand, have received the unqualified apProba-
ton Of the leading scientific men and astronomers
of the day, both in Britain and foreign countries
where the calculator is known. The clock will
show the minutes and hours of the day; the SUMS
place in the eclptic; the day Of the month, perpet-
ually, and take leap year into accounts tho moons
age, place, and phases; the apparent diurnal revo
aution of the moon; the ebb and flow Of tho sea At
any port in the world; the golden number, epact,
solar cycle, Roman induction, Sunday letter, and
Julian period; the mean time Of the rising and
setting Of the every day of the year with its
terms and fixed and movable fcasts. Tho day of
the week will also be indicated, and the year will
BE- registered for 4, 600 years. past or to come
minute, the slowest IN 10000 years for the date
To show the very great accuracy of the mo-
tons in this complicated clock, few of the Pc
RODS may be noted-nainely, the apparent dur
nal revolution of the moon ia accomplished in
- hours so minutes % seconds, and 379 1888 ,26S
decirnals OF = second. which makes error
of one minute too fast at the end of l,47O
years. The stars will make revolution in %
hours 56 minutes seconds and 09 ,0S7 ,2S4 deci-
mails Of q second, which gves an error OF ono min
ute too slow at the termination of 5s9l years. The
ls~~1 oI.,as- - H. r. Al
wheels in 90 days ~ hours a. minutes 2 seconds
and S73, 544 1888 dccma)s Of q second, and this will
give an error of one minute fast in l67 years
The sdereAl year IL done in 365 days hours min
which will make an error Of ono minute slow in
l.SO6 years. Tho other astronomical motions are
too numerous for detail here but they all bear the
same stamp of accuracy. The clock will go lOt
years without requiring to be wound up, which is
uncqualled in Theological science. The clock will
contain about ITO wheels and pinions, and upwards
and space been given for the clock at, the great
hibtion, and understand that if possible it will
appear in that gorgeous cdifcc.-Liurpoot Albion.
NUT FOR GRAMMARIAxs.-The Boston Transcript
publishes ga coavcrsation between young lady
who writes for the magazines and an old gentle
man who can speak English"
Old Gentlenan.---" Arc there any houses build.
Young Lady. =" No sir. There is new house
being built for Mr. Smith, but it is the carpenters
who are building"
Old Genteman.-"T True; sit corrected. To be
building ia certainly different thing from to be
being built; and how long has Mr.. Smiths house
been being built?"
Young Lady.-( Looks puzzled a moment, and
then answers rather nbruptly.) "Nearly year"
Old Gentleman. How much longer do you
think 1t will be being buiIt?'
Young Lady.-(Explosively. al don't know
Old Gentleman.--''I should think Mr.. Smith
would be annoyed by its being 80 long being built,
for the house he now occupies being old, no must
leave it, and the new enc being only being built,
instead of being built as he expected he cannot
The young lady leaves the room very suddenly