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RATHER NEW --Tempora muianf,ey.- Some of our readers will be not a little sur- prsed to learn that they have made mis- take in their reckoning of time, and that in- stead of 1896 1t IS now 1S40. An article in the North American Review, on the diyi- sion of time, states that there was no att tempt made to reckon the years from the time of our Saviour's birth until the year 527, when Dyonysius Exignus, Roman abbot, suggested it. There being no his- torical record, and the science of astronomy being then very imperfect, the only method adopted was to compare sacred history with proiane. But this science has been brought 10 such advancement that it is now easily ascertained when the eclipse happen- ed which Josephus relates to have occurred during Herod's last illness, (47l0th year of the Julian pefiod) and knowing that the birth of our Saviour took place before that event, and knowing that the time fixed up- on by Dyonysius was in the 47I4th year of the Julian period, it is perfectly plain that the Christian era commenced four years at least sooner than the period commonly supp posed, and If 1t had been correctly deter mined, the present year would have been 1889 or 40, or perhaps 4l. The mistake has never been corrected, because it is irn- possible to determine the precise year of the nativity, and any alteration would confound all historical dates. We have heard solita- ry individuals threatened with being kicked into the middle of next week. but this un- ceremonious thrustng forward of the ontire Christian world five whole years, is such leap in the dark, over frigbtful chasm. that we are moi fully prepared for it. The child that was honestly born in the good year 1885, we find to-day 10 be almost six years old, and he who died yesterday has been in his grave halfa dozen years. Be- sides, the money lenders notes are all out lawed, though taken this month, and provi- sions that were fresh this morning are kept over to 1840.-There is no help for it, they must serve us. live felt sure of any thing, 1t was that this IS the year 1885. But, alas! even lime itself is obliged to yield to inc restless spirit ofthe age, 10 break up all its old associations with the years and hours,. and to leap headlong into fiturity.

 ". Q. Courier.