Gold chain and seals, too! Well--it can't be helped. In these cases a pinch of snuff often--often--pshaw!--often relieves--relieves one--hillo! have I been relieved of that, also! Perhaps it's in my side pocket, with my purse--purse! why, my purse is gone; I really begin to think I must have been robbed! CONCERNING THE ECLIPSES IN THE MONTH OF JULY, 1851. BY CHARLES COLBY. In the month of July, 1851, there will occur two eclipses; one of the moon and one of the sun. The former will occur after midnight, Sunday morning, July 13th; and the latter on the morning of Monday, July 28th. Unless clouds prevent, both will be visible throughout the United States; and if visible will (the solar eclipse especially) attract general observation. [Illustration] As here represented, there are formed complete shadows, called _umbras_; and partial shadows, called _penumbras_. When an eclipse of the sun occurs, it appears totally eclipsed to those persons who are within the moon's umbra, and partially eclipsed, to those situated within the penumbra. When an eclipse of the moon occurs, it appears totally eclipsed, if entirely within the earth's umbra, and partially eclipsed, if partially within it. The length of the moon's umbra is usually greater than the distance of the moon from the earth. [Illustration] The moon, therefore, crosses the sun's path twice in each revolution. If, at new moon, it always crossed exactly in that part where the sun is, there would evidently be an eclipse of the sun; and it would recross in the opposite part and pass through the earth's umbra. But the moon does not always cross the ecliptic where the sun is, nor uniformly in the same part. Its crossing-place is different at each succeeding revolution. [Illustration] Since the limits of this article will not allow an extended explanation of the manner of mathematically predicting eclipses, we will apply the foregoing statements in showing that there will occur an eclipse of the sun in July, 1851. The first diagram on page 240 represents the relative positions of the sun and moon at the time of new moon in June, July, and August, 1851, calculated for Greenwich. It is probable that there will be but few among the millions who may thus behold these wonderful phenomena who will not understand their causes. However, an article explaining the manner of predicting these eclipses with diagrams illustrating the path of the moon's shadow in the solar eclipse across the United States and upon the whole earth, may not be acceptable. Since the earth and moon are solid opaque bodies, they intercept the light passing from the sun through the heavens; or, in other words, they cause the existence of shadows. Hence, if the moon, in its revolution pass directly between the sun and the earth its umbra will fall upon the earth, and cause a total eclipse of the sun.