TIME, equation of.
The nychthemeron is divided into twenty-four parts, called., hours, which are of two sorts, equal and unequal, or temporary.
Different nations begin their day at a different hour : thus the Egyptians began their day at midnight, from whom Hippo crates introduced that way of reckoning into astronomy ; and Copernicus and others have followed him: but the great est part of astronomers reckon the day begun at noon, and so count 24 hours till the noon of the next day ; and not twice 12, according to the vulgar computation. The method of beginning the day at midnight prevails also in Great Britain, France, Spain, and most parts of Europe. The Babylonians began their day at sun rising, reckoning the hour immediately before its rising again the 24th hour of the day, from whence the hours reckoned in this way are called the Babylonic. In several parts of Germany they begin their day at sun-setting, and reckon on till it sets next day, calling that the 24th hour : these are generally termed Italian hours. The Jews also began their day at sun setting ; but then they divided it into twice 12 hours, as we do, reckoning 12 for the day, be it long or short, and 12 for the night ; so that their hours continu ally varying with the day and night, the hours of the day were longer than that of the night for one half year, and the con trary the other : from whence their hours are called temporary ; those at the time of the equinoxes became equal, because then those of the day and night are so. The Romans also reckoned their hours after this manner : as do the Turks at this day. This kind of hours are called pla netary, because the seven planets were anciently looked upon as presiding over the affairs of the world, and to take it by turns each of these hours, according to the following order : Saturn first, then Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, and last of all the Moon; hence they denominated each day of the week from that planet, whose turn it was to preside the first hour. Thus assigning the first
hour of Saturday to Saturn, the second will fall to Jupiter, the third Mars, and so the twenty-second will fall to Saturn again ; and therefore the twenty-third to Jupiter, and the last to Mars ; so that on the first hour of the next day it will fall to the Sun to preside ; and by the like man nsr of reckoning, the first hour of the next will fall to the Moon ; of the next, to Mars ; of the next, to Mercury ; of the next, to Venus : hence the days of the week came to be distinguiseed by the Latin names of Dies Saturni, Solis, Lance, Maras, Mercurii, Avis, and Veneris ; and among us, by the names of Saturday, Sunday, Monday, &c.
DAY, in a legal sense, relates to the day of appearance of parties, or the continu ance of suits, where a day is given, &c. In real actions there are common days and special days given by the judges in an assize, &c.
Dais in bank, are days set down by statute or order of the court, when writs shall be returned, or when the party shall appear on the writ served. They say, also, if a person be dismissed without day, he is finally discharged.