Observe. These dials require considerable thickness (let it be equal to a m,) because being placed parallel to the equator, the sun shines upon the upper face till the summer, and on the longest day is elevated 23 deg. 29’ above the plane of the dial, and consequently the shadow of a will fall at noon in the line a b, not in the point b, but at an angle of 23 deg. 29’ therewith, and on the shortest day the like angle will be formed, but in an opposite direction.  It must further be observed that after the proper points are determined on the plane, they had better be transferred to the sides of the cross, as is shown in fig. 2, for there it is the shadow will be seen to pass.  A dial thus formed is universal; when made according to the foregoing directions there is nothing more to do but to fix it by the help of your quadrant to the elevation of the equinoctial or complement of the latitude of your habitation, and so that the side a m may exactly face the south.  A dial of this sort has been standing in my garden, more than 12 months, and is found to answer the purpose well, being both useful and ornamental.

When the figures are painted on the thickness as in fig. 2, the upper surface being unoccupied, an equinoctial dial may be described thereon, which will be useful the summer half year, while on the lower surface a similar one may be placed for the winter half; or it may be made the bearer of some useful lesson, in the form of a motto, e.g. “Disce dies numerare tuos.”  But this is only a hint to the curious.

COLBOURNE.

Sturminster Newton, Dorset.

* * * * *

The Selector

AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS.

* * * * *

ATHERTON,

By the author of Rank and Talent.

This tale bids fair to enjoy more lasting popularity than either of the author’s previous works.  It has more story and incident, though not enough for the novel.  The characters, if not new, are more strongly drawn—­their colouring is finer—­their humour is richer and broader, and as they are from the last century, so their drawing reminds us forcibly of the writers of the same period.  There is none of the mawkish affectation of the writing of the present day, as coinage of words and fantasies of phrases which will scarcely be understood, much less relished, twenty years hence.  But the style throughout is plain, sensible, and natural, free from caricature, and more that of the world than of the book.

The plot is of the tale or adventure description; certainly not new, but its interest turns upon points which will never cease to attract a reader.  We do not enter into it, but prefer taking a few of the characters to show the rank of life as well as the style of the materials.  The first is a portrait of a London citizen sixty years since:—­