By the almanac it will be found, that there are nearly eight days more in the interval between the vernal and the autumnal equinox, than between the latter and the return of the vernal equinox. As, therefore, from the vernal to the autumnal equinox, the sun is on the northern side of the equator, our summer occurring during this period, gives us an advantage of nearly eight days, in this respect, over the southern hemisphere. This difference arises from the oval or elliptical form of the earth’s orbit. The earth, therefore, being at different distances from the sun during the year, it is found to move with different velocities; moving slowest when furthest from the sun, and quickest when nearest to that luminary. It happens to be at its greatest distance just after our Midsummer, and moving consequently slower during _our_ spring and summer months; our summer is about eight days longer than that of the southern hemisphere, our winter eight days shorter than theirs. * * * * * The annexed diagram will exhibit the equinoctial condition of the earth; the sun’s rays at their noon falling vertically to the inhabitants of the equator. [Illustration] ~Care Sunday.~ Care Sunday; care away, Palm Sunday, and Easter day. Care Sunday is the fifth Sunday from Shrove Tuesday, consequently it is the next Sunday before Palm Sunday, and the second Sunday before Easter. Why it is denominated _Care_ Sunday is very uncertain. It is also called _Carle_ Sunday, and in some parts _Carling_ Sunday. A native of Newcastle-upon-Tyne[33] observes, that in that town, and many other places in the north of England, peas after having been steeped a night in water, are fried with batter, given away, eaten at a kind of entertainment on Carle Sunday, and are called Carlings, “probably as we call the presents at fairs, fairings.” To this he attaches a query, whether Carl_en_ may not be formed from the old plural termination in _en_, as hos_en_, &c. The only attempt at a derivation of the word _Care_, is, that “the Friday on which Christ was crucified, is called in German both Gute Freytag and _Carr_ Freytag;” and that the word _karr_ signified a satisfaction for a fine, or penalty.[34] The inference is corroborated, by the church of Rome anciently using rites on this day peculiar to Good Friday, whence it was also called _Passion Sunday_. It is noted in an old calendar, that on this day “a dole is made of soft _beans_,” which was also “a rite in the funeral ceremonies of heathen Rome.” This “dole” of soft beans on Care Sunday, accounts for the present custom of eating fried peas on the same day. No doubt the beans were a very seasonable alms to help out the poor man’s lent stock of provision. “In Northumberland the day is called _Carling Sunday_. The yeomanry in general steep peas, and afterwards parch them, and eat them on the afternoon of that day, calling them _carlings_. This is said by