ys and 6
hours, which exceed the true solar year by 11 minutes, for
astronomers compute the yearly revolution of the sun not to exceed
365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 37 seconds, according to Cassini,
but according to Keil 57 seconds, or almost 49 minutes. This error,
becoming daily more sensible, would have occasioned the autumnal
equinox to have at length fallen on the day reckoned the solstice,
and in process of time, on that held for the vernal equinox. The
Golden number, or Grecian cycle of the lunar years, was likewise
defective. The remedy both which, pope Gregory XIII., in 1585,
established the new style. Scaliger, Tachet, and Cassini have
demonstrated that cycles might be chosen still more exact by some
few seconds: however, this adopted by pope Gregory, besides being
the easiest in the execution, admits of no material error, or
sensible inconveniency. This correction of the style was received by
act of Parliament, in Great Britain, in 1752; for the promoting of
which, great praise is due to the two illustrious ornaments of the
republic of letters, the earls of Chesterfield and Macclesfield.
12. Heb. x. 25.
13. Luke xxi. 36.
14. Exod. v. 25.

THE LIFE OF S. FULGENTIUS, B.C.

Extracted from his works, and from his life, accurately written by a
disciple of great abilities, the companion of his exile: and dedicated
to Felician, his successor in the see of Ruspa. The author declares
himself a monk: consequently was not the deacon Ferrandus, as some
critics imagine.

A.D. 533.

FABIUS CLAUDIUS GORDIANUS FULGENTIUS was the descendant of a noble
senatorian family of Carthage: but much decayed in its splendor by the
invasion of the Vandals. His father Claudius, being unjustly deprived of
his house in Carthage, which was made over to the Arian priests, settled
at an estate belonging to him at Telepte, the capital city of the
province of Byzacena. Our saint was born in 468, about thirty years
after the Barbarians had dismembered Africa from the Roman empire. He
was educated in sentiments of piety with his younger brother, under the
care of his mother Mariana, who was left a young widow. Being, by her
particular direction, taught the Greek very young, he spoke it with as
proper and exact an accent as if it had been his native language. He
also applied himself to Latin, and all the useful parts of human
literature, under masters distinguished for