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THE 
 
 ESSAYS, HUMOR, AND POEMS 
 
 OF 
 
 Nathaniel Ames, 
 
 Father and Son, 
 
 OF DEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, 
 from their 
 
 ALMANACKS 
 
 17261775, 
 
 WITH NOTES AND COMMENTS , 
 
 BY 
 
 SAM. BRIGGS, 
 
 Vice President Western Reserve and Northern Ohio Historical Society, Corresponding 
 
 Member Rhode Island Historical Society, and Dedham 
 
 (Mass.] Historical Society. 
 
 No one who would penetrate to the core of early American literature, and would 
 read in it the secret history of the people in whose minds it took root, and from whose 
 minds it grew, may by any means turn away in lofty literary scorn from the Almanack 
 most despised, most prolific, most indispensable of books, which every man uses, and 
 no man praises ; the very quack, clown, pack-horse, and Pariah of modern literature ; 
 the supreme and only literary necessity even in households where the Bible and the 
 newspaper are still undesired or unattainable luxuries. MOSES COIT TYLER. 
 
 CLEVELAND, OHIO, 
 1891. 
 
COPYRIGHT 
 
 1891 
 
 BY 
 
 SAM. BRIGGS. 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE SUBSCRIBERS 
 
 BY 
 
 SHORT & FORMAN, 
 CLEVELAND, O. 
 
TO 
 
 THE SUBSCRIBERS 
 
 WHOSE PROMPT AND GENEROUS RESPONSE 
 
 HAS MADE 
 THE PUBLICATION OF THIS BOOK 
 
 A 
 
 POSSIBILITY 
 
 THIS VOLUME IS GRATEFULLY 
 DEDICATED. 
 
 974119 
 
An Ajtronomnal Diary < 
 
 A LMANACK 
 
 For the Tear of Our Lord CHRIS! 
 1726". 
 
 And from the Creation of the WorldJ 
 
 according to the beft of Prophanc Hcftory, 5^75.: 
 But by fhe Account of the Holy Scripture, f 688: 
 
 It being the Second after Bi/extil* or Leap. Year, 
 Amfthe Twdfth Year of the Reign of OurMoft 
 Gracious Sovereign Lord KING GEORGE 
 
 Wherein is Conrain d the Lunations, Eclipfes of 
 the Luminaries, the Planets Motions & Mutual 
 4fpc8r, the Suns Rifing and Setting, Time of 
 Higl) Water, Court t t Spring Tide*, judgment of the 
 Wtatier. Together \vjth many other Thigs 
 neccffary far fuch a Work. 
 
 d Tor the, Meridian of BoHon, N.England, 
 Latitude, is 42 Jtg> 15 min 
 
 NATHANIEL A M.E S, 
 
 .Student io Pfyjick and Aflronomj. 
 
 $ W Seventeen hundrtdFg Twenty Six tty Sun fi 
 His annual courfe ffrtce CHKJST ^ i Birtb haib run. 
 Strange Revolutions in thif time have been, 
 la divert Lands, Kingdomttnd Countries fetn, 
 &>nx Yean were happy, feme with Woes perplex t 
 And Q O D knows nfo fall Uve -unto the 
 
 ST AT : Printed and Sold by B, Own, and 
 Sold aifo ac the BookfeUars Shops, 1746 
 
 The title page of the first Almanack of Dr. Ames. 
 
Kind Reader, 
 
 * fl * 
 hcl) 
 
 Almanack://0 p?airi that it 
 
 Explanation, except tl?e -place of Saturn and Jupiter, 
 it over the loft Column, at the top -of every Page,, for the 
 Sth t i6tb t and -i^th Days of every Monti) in this fear. 
 
 The Names and .Characters of chc planets, Signs, 
 and Nodes arc thcfc, 
 
 e S 
 cts, "2 
 
 Saturn fj , Jupiter #, Mars $ Sol or Sun Q, 
 Venus $, Mercury , Luna or the Moon > 
 
 e 
 
 C Acies Y.Taurus ^5 Gemini lt,Canccr ^|p,Leof^ t 
 < V r go W Libra ^.Scorpio m-Sagiurius >^,Ca^ 
 I prico-n VS, Aquarius ZZ, Pifces X- 
 
 Tbc OJdAfpw:^s are Five inNumber,as the Conjunction 
 Scxtile i- Quarti }e D,Tcinc A, Oppodtion g. 
 
 The New Afpefts arc Eight in Number, viz. 
 
 Semifcxcile SS Tridecllc Td 
 Decile <3cc SefiquadrAte 
 
 Quincilc Q BiquLile 
 
 Th 
 
 Nodes 
 
 ic J The Dragons Head Q, Dragons Tail 
 es. ( Pfcrc of Fortune Q) 
 
 The Vulgar Notes of tfrii Year arc, 
 
 Golden Number 7?5 Epaft- ~. 7 
 
 Cycle of the Sun <2 73 c Dominical Letter. %3 
 
 Note t The Glorious Planet Ve*w is Occidental or 
 Evening Scar, t\\\ rhe aj of March, from thence 
 Oriendal or Morning Star, to the Years End. 
 
 The second page of Dr. Ames first Almanack, 
 1726. 
 
Of the E C L I P S E S this Year, 
 1726. 
 
 THERE will happen this Year Four Eclipfcs of the 
 Luminaries. Two of the Sun, and Two of the 
 Moon. 
 
 I. The Firft will be an Eclipfc of the Sun, March 11 
 about in the Morning ; but by Reafon of the Moons 
 South Latitude it will be Invifible to us. 
 
 II. The Second will be of the Moon, cri the, $tfy of Jtp d, " 
 about 8 in the Morning, and for chat Rcafon. Irwifible. 
 
 Ill The Third will be a Great Eclipfe- of che Sun, and 
 Vifible to us if the Air be clear; it happens on Wedncfday 
 the lOftb of Stf timber. The Calculation is as follows. 
 
 The Beginning will be at- 36 min. p. 10 Morn. 
 
 The Middle at . Noon. 
 
 The End 1 24.min,-p i.Aftern. 
 
 The Whole Duration a Hours 48 min. 
 
 The Digits Eclipfcd are about 10 
 
 IV. The Fourth and Laft is of the Moon.the Beginning 
 will be on the 29*6 of September, and about Six Digits of 
 the Lower or South half of the .M6on will pafs thro* the 
 Earths Shadow, it will be Vifible to us if the Weather 
 permit, which according to Calculation will be as follows. 
 
 The Beginning 29 Day 34 min. paft 10 /Night 
 
 The Middle . 39 Day 3.9 mftt.ptft xi ; Night 
 
 The End 30 Day . 4 min. putt i Mom. 
 
 The whole Duration . *.. a Hours 30 min. 
 
 This Eclipfe of the Moon happens;& ; near 
 the Great Benevolent Jufitcr, the Effeds tis 
 will ; not be ill/ 
 
 The seventh page of Dr. Ames first Almanack,, 
 1726. 
 
TO THE READER. 
 Courteous Reader, 
 
 JJtve hire adventured to pftfcntyou with an Alma 
 nack/*^ the EnfalngTear. It Vting my fir ft made 
 Publick by the Prefs ; (fould it find ^cctptance, 1 hoot 
 my End And fpmll receive Jt$cjtflt.Encw*tip(Jit lo Vn. 
 dertafojomwhat more for your bentflt* Thus Reader far 
 ydurjjfibe / have expoftd my f elf to the dangerous & Jbtirp 
 Teeth of tnvittis Dtirtcion, w^ich. is a great H***ard :Jpe- 
 fo tku ywHjh d dgt, amtng fo mw} ffii & cttriottt 
 nto fared? can appr ov&df+any thing, tbo -never fo 
 Cowpoftd. There but hen no pains, nor care, 
 tcftfor ihefe fyhiil*liwTf Atfrte froto Error t as 
 yet if ^tny fault commit fed ly my Pen or Prejs fajs 
 ed^ lLxcnfe jt 5 in /o doing yw -will not only do 
 AJZmdnefj, but *ljo oblige k\w, t\b^ is a friend to 
 that fre MMhemtttctlly inclirtfd t .end a red Lwtr of 
 
 of Afhwwmj) N. Anit s 
 
 Oftob. J2th. 
 
 n& LcArn lut dun t ali falu 
 $lnce they can only fftd&c that can Cvrreft ; 
 To whom my Worls appeal, and if I find, - 
 Son/ of 4rt to favour tbtm indw d ; 
 their Propitious /miles, u fall ft$cf, 
 the &o&ns of Enemies, 
 
 R 
 
 TWi io a Century ( Old Indian* Iky.) 
 Out Land abounds with Bears & Btafts of Prey ; 
 Wfcetcoffonie do embrace ProudNeptunes Waves 
 And With ttie Scaly Tttbe fwiai to thtn 
 Others Rctrea.t tcrvsraidsthrFiigid ant, 
 And dwell in Detcrt yet to us unknown ; 
 They 11 cotne,no inorfi from whence they jdo Re 
 UauJ, Jobtiee of Years Expire, 
 
 I Dele Sup. C. JSoflcm, tie FviLTucfty in 
 
 The eighth page of Dr. Ames first Almanack, 
 1726. 
 
APOLOGY. 
 
 VERYTHING has a beginning, and books afe> rvo .ekc>ption 
 to the rule. A book without a preface would eertaftilv VH 
 
 % "r I,, - 
 
 unique, for some excuse must always be found for public 
 calamities; hence I, in introducing my author anew to the public, 
 after a lapse of so many years, essay this apology for my temerity, 
 and relate how I became so interested in what is generally and 
 ignorantly classed as the most insignificant of works. My first 
 intimacy with the almanack was at a very tender age before my 
 advent into nankeen trousers and the first copy that ever 
 attracted my attention was one of a number that hung suspended 
 from a brass knob, at the corner of a mantel which surmounted 
 the cavernous kitchen fireplace in the chateau where my 
 grandfather resided. 
 
 It was about dusk, I was alone or almost so two self-satisfied 
 looking silhouettes that beamed graciously from their mournful 
 frames above the mantel were the only company present, and the 
 brass andirons which I had regarded complacently by the light 
 of the flickering fire, seemed to express sympathy for the only 
 child in the house. 
 
 As I have said, the suspended bunch of almanacks attracted 
 my attention. The huge rooster on the outer cover, surrounded 
 by the legend "HUTCHINS FARMERS ALMANACK, FOR THE YEAR 
 OF OUR LORD 1846," seemed to say "come, and enjoy the contents 
 hereof," and I accepted the invitation. First, I essayed to reach 
 
10 APOLOGY. 
 
 the library with the turkey wing no success; next, the brass 
 mounted tongs refused to gather the treasure; and finally, an 
 assault upon the work was inevitable. I pushed a very shaky 
 list-bottomed rocking chair of perpendicular architecture, from 
 the other side of the room to the corner of the fireplace, mounted 
 this very wiggly ladder, and tremblingly reached for the prize. 
 The rooster appeared to ope his mouth to denounce the infidelity 
 of a youthful Peter; the occupants of the silhouette frames 
 appeared to frown, the fire seemed desirous of going out ; I 
 grabbed <the: pamphlets, the list-bottom subsided, in fact gave 
 (me) ,aw,ay. .Onfe- leg went through, my balance was missing, the 
 airiian&ekG*anel brass button came also; so did a crash, a scream, 
 and my grandfather s eldest daughter, who elucidated the enor 
 mity of my crime by sundry resonant spanks, on that portion of 
 my anatomy as yet guiltless of nankeen. 
 
 To continue my tale I never took much interest in almanacks 
 from that day, until about fifteen years since, when I made a visit 
 to a sequestered retreat in Connecticut, of absolute Arcadian 
 simplicity, 1 nine miles from civilization, where a locomotive 
 whistle was never heard, where a steamboat was never known to 
 stop, where people have lived and died happily, as stones in the 
 graveyard have attested for more than a century ; where Sunday 
 commences Saturday night, where attending meeting is an all 
 day job, where a funeral is a solemnity, where the mail comes 
 but twice a week, and where at other times the intelligence is 
 conveyed by those who gathered at " Squire Arnold s tween 
 services last Sabbath." 
 
 On the occasion of this never-to-be-forgotten visit, a dolorous 
 
 1 Only the people wore more clothes. I never rightly appreciated 
 
 what " Arcadian simplicity " was, until my friend, John W , then U. S. 
 
 Consul at M explained to an inquiring caller in my presence that the 
 
 natives of a certain province in North Africa were arrayed with "Arcadian 
 simplicity." More details being required, John explained that "they only 
 wore a little cotton in their ears." 
 
APOLOGY. 1 1 
 
 succession of wet days, a consequent dearth of amusement, 
 engendered a desire for self-destruction, and I went up into the 
 attic or garret of this farmhouse to procure the necessary tools. 
 I had no sooner bumped my head against the rafters when my 
 mind changed, and I seated myself like Mr. C. Marius among the 
 ruins of Carthage, and contemplated my surroundings. There 
 were bunches of dried herbs, antiquated farm tools, popcorn, 
 seed corn, buckwheat, wool, old quilts, spinning wheels, close 
 stools, (auglice, invalids chairs), flax hetchels, scythes, tobacco 
 plants, hen feathers, (and other gallinaceous jetsam,) wasps nests 
 with some wasps, cobwebs, old boots and other considered trifles 
 of rustic life that might corne handy some day. While mentally 
 taking this inventory my eyes rested on a stack of papers, books 
 and pamphlets in various stages of decay, giving forth a peculiar 
 aromatic incense, reminding one somewhat of a certain insect, 1 
 than which, according to a discriminating Frenchman, the odor 
 of the remark made by Cambronne at Waterloo, was infinitely 
 more preferable. 
 
 Reading matter on a farm of the character of this abiding 
 place is always a scarce article, and at this juncture this mine of 
 odoriferous scraps was gladly welcomed. The world seemed 
 young again, dull care had vanished, and I lost myself in the 
 wilderness of religious pamphlets, ancient Congressional Records, 
 early school books, weekly newspapers, the " Russel Colvin 
 miracle" the "I^ast dying speeches of Gibbs and Wansley, the 
 Pirates," the latter appropriately illustrated with two occupied 
 coffins, and other miscellany, among which was sprinkled many 
 copies of ancient almanacks, principally the productions of 
 Nathan Daboll, the time-honored Connecticut mathematician. 
 
 The almanacks interested me the most, and I carried off all I 
 could find. Since this occasion I have gathered them in from 
 almost every part of the world. Early in this craze, a quantity 
 
 1 Cimex lectularius, of the order Hemiptera, which has no wings at all. 
 
12 APOIvOGY. 
 
 of the Ames publications came into my hands, with the contents 
 of which I occasionally regaled my friends who appreciated the 
 quaintness of the essays and other contents. Then I found later 
 that Professor Moses Coit Tyler had devoted a portion of his 
 History of American Literature to the endorsement of the merit 
 of Nathaniel Ames as an author, and subsequent visits and 
 correspondence with the historical societies at Providence, R. I., 
 and Dedham, Mass., convinced me that the Ames Almanacks, if 
 re-published, would interest more than the antiquarian ; and 
 these facts collectively constitute my apology for the appear 
 ance of this work. 
 
 In this connection I desire to express my thanks to the officers 
 and members of the Rhode Island and Dedham Historical 
 Societies, for the loan of books and documents which have been 
 of material aid in the perfection of this work. Particularly am 
 I under obligations to the Hon. Amos Perry, the secretary and 
 librarian of the former, and Messrs. Don Gleason Hill, H. O. 
 Hildreth, M. Gardner Boyd, Krastus Worthington and John H. 
 Burdakin, of the latter, for many kindly courtesies extended. 
 Mr. John Ward Dean, the librarian of the New England Historic 
 Genealogical Society, has also served me by the loan of almanacks 
 from their collection, for which, I trust I am duly grateful. 
 
 For photographic views, original documents, copies of papers, 
 and sketches for purposes of illustration, I am also indebted to 
 Miss Sarah B. Baker, Miss Annie R. Fisher, and Mr. John F. 
 Guild, of Dedham, whose aid in this direction is most thoroughly 
 appreciated. 
 
 And lastly, I desire to express my gratification to Professor 
 Moses Coit Tyler, for the opportunity afforded me of confirming 
 my own opinion and that of my associates, concerning the 
 excellence of the Ames Almanack Essays, etc., by the perusal of 
 his History of American Literature, and from which I shall 
 largely quote in this volume. 
 
OF ALMANACKS IN GENERAL. 
 
 AN almanack ! There is very little, if any, inspiration in either 
 the word or the book itself when viewed through modern 
 spectacles. In the springtime it makes its presence felt by being 
 lodged under the door mat, pushed into the mail receiver, or, by 
 being tied up with the package of spring medicine purchased 
 by pater Jamilias on his way home Saturday evening, is thus 
 surreptitiously introduced in the home circle. 
 
 In these degenerate days it has to be forced into an existence, 
 for but fe. w ask for it, and a lesser number care for it. Its columns 
 teem with the virtues of pills, potions and plasters, interspersed 
 with views of our internal economy calculated to make the well 
 man ill, and the invalid to relax his grasp on the thread of life. 
 
 "But full is fickle Fortune s smile 
 
 of guile ; 
 
 For Dan brought home one day, alack ! 
 A patent medicine almanack, 
 And full of long and learned theses 
 Upon the symptoms of diseases ; 
 
 Dan read the symptoms, great and small 
 
 And HAD THEM ALL." 
 
 How are the mighty fallen ! It was not always thus. Far 
 away in the dim vista of the past this humble vehicle of general 
 knowledge was an honored guest at every fireside ; the chimney 
 corner was its throne, and its well-thumbed leaves gave evidence 
 of the estimation in which it was held. Interleaved, it became a 
 
14 ALMANACKS IN 
 
 register of domestic occurrences and neighborhood happenings. 
 Its predictions and weather wisdom were reverenced next to the 
 sacred writings, and quite often was the only literature to be 
 found in many homes where its annual visits were anxiously 
 awaited. However, it is not the purpose of this chapter to 
 lament the fate of the almanack, which has but attained the 
 destiny of all created things, but it is intended merely to place 
 this nowadays inconsidered trifle in its proper historical niche, 
 and briefly sketch its inception, its life, and its decline as a 
 prominent feature of literature. 
 
 Almanacks have existed in some form from time immemorial, 
 and almanack makers have always had a reputation entitling 
 them to great respect and reverence from a very early day. In 
 manuscript form they were known centuries before the invention 
 of printing, and upon the advent of that invention they were 
 among the first publications issued to the world from that very 
 convenient machine. 
 
 I have always had the notion that the "miraculous pillar of 
 fire" which preceded the expedition of the Israelites toward the 
 "promised land," was simply the comet of that season, possibly 
 mentioned by the court astrologer of the previous year, as being 
 of disastrous portent, which disaster was speedily taken advantage 
 of by Moses, who immediately started his expedition. 
 
 Those shepherds of the ancient day who looked after the 
 stray lambs in the evening, doubtless were largely responsible 
 for early astronomical lore, their opportunities for observations 
 on the movements of the stars being largely due to their very 
 convenient occupation, and a lack of other matters to distract 
 their attention. They probably reported the "prodigies" which 
 they noted, to the astrologers who compared notes, checked up 
 the alleged causes and probable effects, and finally succeeded in 
 inaugurating a system of predictions which enhanced the reputa 
 tion of the soothsayers generally, bringing astrology to the front 
 
ALMANACKS IN GENERAL. 15 
 
 as a science. Nearly all the earlier nations were intimate with 
 the study of the stars. The Chaldees were familiar with astrology, 
 the Jews practiced it during the Captivity at odd hours, when 
 their attention was not taken up with the construction of the 
 Pyramids and such other little Egyptian necessities. 
 
 Among the Hindus it was known, and the tribes of Arabia 
 were adept in the art of forecasting the future by the stars. The 
 Druids also possessed some knowledge of astronomy, and an 
 ancient poem in the primitive Irish (Erse) tongue bears evidence 
 that that nation had some astronomical knowledge at an early 
 day. 
 
 The Arabians, however, appear to have been the most 
 advanced students of the sciences of astronomy and astrology, 
 and this nation being at an early period (prior to their expulsion 
 from Spain) the conservators of art and literature, were the first 
 who introduced it into Europe, possibly about the same period 
 with alcohol, (also of Arabic origin) that prominent factor in the 
 elevation of the race. 
 
 The history of written almanacks has not been traced farther 
 back than the second century of the Christian era, at which 
 period it is supposed that they were constructed by the Greeks 
 of Alexandria. 
 
 Lalande, an investigator of early astronomical works, did not 
 find any express mention of almanacks anterior to those pub 
 lished by Solomon Jarchus, A. D. 1150. 
 
 The earliest almanacks known to exist are in MS. of the 
 twelfth century, and examples are to be found in the libraries of 
 the British Museum, Cambridge and Oxford Universities. 
 
 In the Savilian library at Oxford is a manuscript copy of the 
 almanack published about the year 1300 by Petrus de Dacia. 
 
 Contemporary with this author are recorded the almanack 
 productions of the Rev. Roger Bacon, of the Church militant, 
 
i6 
 
 ALMANACKS IN GENERAL. 
 
 (reputed as the inventor of the Anglo-Saxon civilizer, gun 
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 Blvendene, 1327. 
 
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 frnprefTum Vlme per |ob"*" Zamer 
 iKnno Commia mcarnaboma .i 
 
 Reduced fac-simile of a page from the Regio-Montanus Almanack printed 
 at Ulm in 1478, by John Zainer. 
 
 At Oxford, formerly the seat of British science, were issued 
 the earlier standard almanacks. Here were published the pro 
 ductions of John Somers, 1380; Nicolas de Lynne, 1386, and 
 many others. 
 
ALMANACKS IN GENERAL. 17 
 
 The first printed almanack bears imprint 1457. 
 
 Regio-Montanus appears to have been the first in Europe who 
 reduced the almanack to its present form and method, gave the 
 characters of each year and month, foretold the eclipses and 
 other phases, calculated the motions of the planets, etc. He 
 printed an almanack in Nuremburg in 1472, which embraced 
 three Metonic Cycles, or the fifty-seven (57) years, 1475-1531, 
 inclusive. 
 
 The earliest almanack known to have been printed in England 
 was " The Sheapheard s Kalendar" translated from the French 
 and printed by Richard Pynson, 1497, copies of which have been 
 sold as high as $75 within the past five years. 
 
 From this period down to the golden age of the almanack, 
 which was attained during the Commonwealth, and the subse 
 quent reigns of Charles II, James and William, these publica 
 tions were more generally circulated, owing to the increase of 
 printing presses, and the popularity of judicial astrology. All 
 the almanacks of this period are of the same general tendency, 
 but with the advance of education their reputation waned and 
 now they barely have an existence in England the former 
 paradise of the astrological almanack only being represented 
 now by the " Francis Moore" or "Old Moore s Almanack," the 
 lineal descendant of the " Vox Stellarum" originated by that 
 gentleman who was an astrologer, physician, and schoolmaster 
 in England about 1680, and for which Henry Andrews, a cele 
 brated mathematician, made the astronomical calculations for a 
 period of forty-three years next preceding his decease in 1820. 
 
 At the present day, the only almanack of practical utility 
 published in Europe is the "Almanack de Got ha" founded in 
 1764, and is a condensed annual compend of the history and 
 statistics of every civilized nation on earth. 
 
THE RISE OF THE ALMANACK IN AMERICA. 
 
 /CAMBRIDGE, in Massachusetts, was the cradle of the 
 Almanack in America. The first printing press estab 
 lished in the British Colonies was there located and placed 
 under the supervision of Harvard College, and the first book 
 issued from the College press was an Almanack for the year 
 1639 ; and thereafter, and until near the close of the seventeenth 
 century an almanack was annually issued from this press. 
 
 The printing press at Cambridge was first under the manage 
 ment of Stephen Daye, who was evidently brought from London 
 for the purpose, but in a few years he relinquished the business, 
 and Samuel Green was appointed by the Corporation of Harvard 
 College as " College printer," and the press remained in his con 
 trol for many years. Green w r as the progenitor of a generation 
 of printers, and either he, or his immediate descendants estab 
 lished the first presses in nearly all of the original thirteen 
 colonies. 
 
 The first almanack printed in America was for the year 1639, 
 and compiled by WILUAM PIERCB, Mariner , " one of the most 
 active shipmasters in the days of the Pilgrims." It was entitled 
 " An Almanack for New England for the year 1639." Following 
 this publication, each year brought forth its Almanack through 
 the medium of the Cambridge press, many celebrities, divines, 
 and graduates of Harvard, being authors of their astronomical 
 calculations and other contents. Among these Danforth, Oakes, 
 
THE ALMANACK IN AMERICA. 19 
 
 Brigden, Cheever, Chauncey, Dudley, Foster, and even those 
 prolific writers, the Mathers, ceased on occasion, from their 
 combats with Satan, to rejoice the world with an Ephcmeris. 
 About the close of the seventeenth century, with the establish 
 ment of the printing press at various places in the colonies, the 
 publication of the Almanack was not restricted to any particular 
 locality, and following close upon Cambridge, Boston became 
 early celebrated for the number and variety of these publications, 
 and the intellectual attainments of their authors. 
 
 The first humorous almanack in the Colonies was compiled 
 by John Tully, of Saybrook, Conn., who issued annually 1687- 
 1702, and introduced into his publication entertaining features 
 of varied interest which made his almanack quite popular. 1 
 
 Persons who advert to Almanacks, especially those of 
 American origin, and who are disposed to allow any merit to 
 this class of literary work, are very prone to dismiss the subject 
 with very few words, and close their remarks in fulsome praise 
 of " Poor Richard 1 s Almanack," 2 its gifted and patriotic compiler, 
 good Benjamin Franklin, and descant upon the beneficent influ 
 ence exerted by this publication upon the manners of the age 
 and community, when, and in which it was circulated. Many 
 have labored under what is claimed to be an erroneous impres 
 sion, concerning the authorship of the matter contained in this 
 (Franklin s) publication, and without pretending to prove or 
 disprove the assertion that the contents of "Poor Richard" 
 emanated from the pen of Benjamin Franklin, I will merely say 
 
 1 A Rev. Thomas Robie of Salem, a Harvard graduate, was once 
 severely criticized by a bilious critic, who said, " that his sermons were 
 only heathenish discourses, no better Christianity than there was in 
 Tully." Tully, the Almanack man, had deceased before this harsh censor 
 had uttered this calumny, and hence was undisturbed by these unfeeling 
 remarks. 
 
 2 Published 1733-1758 under the nom de plume of Richard Saunders, 
 assumed by Franklin. 
 
20 THE ALMANACK IN AMERICA. 
 
 that the long experience of Benjamin as a printer and newspaper 
 man, would better enable him to collate and publish what would 
 please the people, than most any one that might be mentioned 
 among his contemporaries. 
 
 Professor Moses Coit Tyler says, " One of the numerous 
 myths still prevailing in the world with reference to Benjamin 
 Franklin, describes him as the first founder of an almanac blend 
 ing those qualities of shrewd instruction and keen mother-wit, 
 that are to be seen in his famous series ; a French encyclopedist, 
 for example, declaring that Franklin put forth the first popular 
 almanack which spoke the language of reason/ but Franklin 
 borrowed much of the wisdom and wit which he introduced into 
 his almanacks from Bacon, Rabelais, Rochefoucauld, Steele, 
 Swift, DeFoe, and others ; but even the idea of introducing into 
 an almanac wit and wisdom, whether original or borrowed, had 
 been thought of and put into practice before Franklin s " Poor 
 Richard" was born. In 1728, five years before that event, 
 Franklin s brother James, sent forth the first number of " The 
 Rhode Island Almanac ;" and in its pages, year by year, one 
 may find no little of that sagacity, humor, and knack of phrase, 
 that did so much for the fortunes of his own runaway apprentice. 
 But even three years before James Franklin s almanac appeared, 
 Nathaniel Ames, a physician and inn-keeper of Dedham, Massa 
 chusetts, a man of original, vigorous and pungent genius, began 
 the publication of his "Astronomical Diary and Almanack;" 
 which he continued to publish till his death in 1764; which 
 under his management acquired an enormous popularity through 
 out New England ; l and which from the first, contained in high 
 perfection every type of excellence afterward illustrated in the 
 almanac of Benjamin Franklin. Indeed, Ames s Almanac was 
 in most respects, better than Franklin s, and w r as probably, the 
 
 : It had reached during the period 1726-1764 an annual circulation of 
 sixty thousand copies. 
 
THE ALMANACK IN AMERICA. 21 
 
 most pleasing representative we have of a form of literature 
 that furnished so much entertainment to our ancestors, and that 
 preserves for us so many characteristic tints of their life and 
 thought. 
 
 " Nathaniel Ames made his Almanack a sort of annual cyclo 
 pedia of information and amusement, a vehicle for the conveyance 
 to the public of all sorts of knowledge and nonsense, in prose 
 and verse, from literature, history, and his own mind; all 
 presented with brevity, variety and infallible tact. He had the 
 instinct of a journalist; and under a guise that was half frolic 
 some, the sincerity and benignant passion of a public educator. 
 He carried into the furthest wildernesses of New England some 
 of the best English literature, pronouncing there, perhaps for the 
 first time, the names of Addison, Thomson, Pope, Dryden, 
 Butler, Milton ; and repeating there choice fragments of what 
 they had written. Thus eight years before Benjamin Franklin 
 had started his almanac, Nathaniel Ames was publishing one 
 that had all its best qualities, fact and frolic ; the wisdom of the 
 preacher without his solemnity, terse sayings, shrewdness, wit, 
 homely wisdom, all sparkling in piquant phrase. 
 
 " As the public expected the almanac-maker to be a prophet, 
 Nathaniel Ames gratified the public, and he freely predicted 
 future events, but always with a merry twinkle in his eye, and 
 always ready to laugh the loudest at his own failure to predict 
 them aright. He mixes, in delightful juxtaposition, absurd 
 prognostications, curt jests, and aphorisms of profound wisdom, 
 the whole forming a miscellany even now extremely readable, 
 and sure, at that time, to raise shouts of laughter around 
 thousands of fire-places where food for laughter was much 
 needed." 
 
 I have drawn thus liberally upon the writings of Dr. Ames s 
 most extensive commentator, to make plain the estimation in 
 which these humble almanacks are held by others, and now, in 
 
22 
 
 THK ALMANACK IN AMERICA. 
 
 conclusion : if Coleridge " could write a treatise in praise of 
 Rabelais work which would make the church stare and the 
 conventicle groan," I feel quite assured that our new world 
 philosopher and humorist, while not possessing such shocking 
 merits, will not be received with disfavor by those who may 
 now know him for the first time. 
 
THE AMES FAMILY, AND THE TOWN OF DEDHAM. 
 
 were three men of the name of NATHANIEL AMES; 
 grandfather, father and son. They were descended from 
 Richard Ames of Bruton-Somerset, England, whose son William 
 Ames was born at Bruton, 6 Oct., 1605, and who settled at 
 Braintree, Mass., as early as 1640, where his eldest son John 
 was born May 24, 1647. He (John) removed to West Bridge- 
 water about 1672. Theyzr^ Nathaniel was the second son of 
 John, and was born Oct. 9, 1677. He was known as CAPT. 
 NATHANIEL AMES, and was reputed as learned in astronomy 
 and mathematics. He died at Bridgewater, Mass., in 1736, aged 
 59 years. 
 
 The second NATHANIEL AMES, son of CAPT. NATHANIEL 
 AMES, was born at Bridgewater July 22, 1708; moved from 
 thence to Dedham in 1732, and was married Sept. 14, 1735 to 
 Mary, daughter of Capt. Joshua Fisher of Dedham, by the Rev d 
 Samuel Dexter. This Nathaniel was a reputable physician, and 
 by a biographer is described as "a man of acuteness and wit, of 
 great activity, and of a cheerful and amiable temper. To his 
 skill in his profession he added a knowledge of natural philos 
 ophy, astronomy and mathematics." 
 
 Upon his marriage he added the business of tavern keeper 
 to his professional pursuits. 
 
 His son Fisher Ames was born Oct. 24, 1737, and on the nth 
 of November the same year, his wife died, the son surviving 
 her only until Sept. 17, 1738. 
 
24 THE AMES FAMILY. 
 
 In the settlement of this estate a lawsuit developed; the 
 Doctor claiming inheritance through his son according to the 
 Province L,aw, and being opposed by others who claimed under 
 the Knglish common law. 
 
 The case was many years before the courts and was finally 
 decided in favor of the Doctor; this being the first time the 
 principle was established that the estate ascended to the father 
 as next of kin to the son, notwithstanding the intervening life 
 estate in Hannah, widow of Capt. Joshua Fisher. 
 
 This being a cause cclebre and the Doctor being much annoyed 
 at the law s delay, could not resist the temptation to lampoon the 
 Court, the source of his annoyance. The following account is 
 given in Worthington s History of Dedham, 1827, note p. 92 : 
 
 "The Supreme Court, (two judges dissenting) decided that it 
 did ascend. Dr. Ames, although the successful party, expressed 
 his dislike at the conduct of the dissenting judges, (one of which 
 was Paul Dudley, the Chief Justice,) by causing the whole Court 
 to be painted on the large sign-board of his tavern, sitting in 
 great state in their large wigs, each Judge being clearly recog 
 nized. An open book was before them, underneath which was 
 written province laws." The dissenting judges were represented 
 with their backs turned towards the book. The Court hearing 
 of the sign, sent the sheriff to bring it before them. Dr. Ames 
 heard the order given, being then in Boston, and by good luck 
 and hard riding, had just time enough to pull down his sign 
 before the sheriff arrived at Dedham. 1 
 
 x As stories never lose anything, but are liable to be elaborated, con 
 trary to the general custom of devastating time ; it is further related in 
 connection with this incident, that the Doctor had sufficient margin in his 
 race with the sheriff, to not only take down the offensive "bush," but to 
 substitute in its place a board with the legend <f A wicked and adulterous 
 generation seeketh after a sign, and there shall no sign be given unto it." 
 If not for the incident related, the Doctor might have died and made no 
 sign. 
 

 Neare&b aKnxtor 
 
 ic^r = _.-^- I^^J ~ 
 
 -.- 
 
 THE TAVERN SIGN 
 
THE TOWN OF DEDHAM. 25 
 
 NOTE. The plate on the opposite page is a copy of the original sketch 
 made by Dr. Ames for the sign, the sketch having been found recently 
 among his papers. 
 
 The characters represented on the Tavern Sign, commencing on the 
 left of the illustration, are : 
 
 BENJAMIN LYNDE, appointed Judge 1745; appointed Chief Justice ^769; 
 
 died 1781. 
 
 RICHARD SAI/TONSTAI,!,, appointed Judge 1736; died 1756. 
 PAUI, DUDLEY, appointed Judge 1718; appointed Chief Justice 1745; 
 
 died 1751. 
 STEPHEN SEWAI.IV, appointed Judge 1739; appointed Chief Justice 1752; 
 
 died 1760. 
 JOHN GUSHING, appointed Judge 1747; resigned 1771; died 1775. 
 
 Upon the original sketch of the sign the following words are written : 
 
 "Sir, 
 
 I wish I could have some talk on ye above subject, being the bearer 
 waits for an answer shal only observe Mr Greenwood thinks yt can not be 
 done under ^40, old tenor." 
 
 During the prevalence of the small-pox in Massachusetts in 
 the winter of 1763-4 and the following spring, Dr. Ames s sons 
 were attacked with this malady and they were sent to a Hospital 
 at Boston then in charge of a Doctor Mather. The appended 
 letters will be of interest as showing a portion of the methods 
 practiced at that day, as well as evidencing that there were 
 schools of medicine in the Colonies, and diversity of opinion also. 
 Sr. 
 
 I Reed yours of the 23d Ins*. I was from the begining fully Satisfyed 
 that my Sons were under your Care, and am aboundantly thankfull that 
 Providence has hither to Smil d upon your Practice. I am glad you are a 
 Fellow-Sharer in that Harvest of Honours which results to the new Doctors 
 on this Question. ( Custom in this Country has distinguished you & 
 your brethren from the Bostonians by the Appellation of New Doctors.) 
 
 We Americans well know what is meant by an Indian gift, that is to 
 make a present but expect more in return than we give. Just so the 
 
26 THE AMES FAMILY. 
 
 Mercenary World treats you, because you have done us so much Good in 
 Carrying of us well through a Tremendous Distemper we will Imploy our 
 Breath in your Praises : the next generation will look back on those * * 
 element (?) who have acted their part on the Stage in Boston in this affair 
 A. D. 1764 as we now look back on Borehave and Sydenham, the merits of 
 the former is acknowledged concerning Mercury in this Distemper and 
 the latter for his Instituting of the Case Regimen. I think it is the 
 greatest thing that ever was acheived in the Art of Medicine to disarm so 
 dreadfull a Distemper of all its terrors and dangers. 
 
 Pray Continue your care for my Sons. Caution them not to rebel 
 against yours and Nature s prohibitions least they should be taught by 
 fearfull Example that the Small-Pox in no Stage will be trifled with. 
 
 I am S r y r most obedt Humble Serv*, 
 DEDHAM, March 26, 1764. NATHL AMES. 
 
 Worthy Sr. I return my hearty thanks to the grate disposer of all 
 events & to you as the Instrument for Carrying my Sons so far through 
 the Small-Pox, so (that) they May return with Safty to a House I have 
 provided for their reception ; I have just payd away a large Sum since my 
 Sons entr d the Hospital ; and it is now perfectly low Water with me but 
 be so kind as to send me your Bill and also the Bill for Nursing and all 
 other demands and I will Discharge them as soon as possible, the Young 
 Man that lives with me Son to Mr. Seth Sumner of Milton is about to 
 come to you to-morrow provided you will give directions concerning his 
 coming into Town. I also expect Doct r Gerould but he is not yet come. 
 I shall use my Intrest to send what Patients offer to you but the bearer 
 waits with company therefore in Hast I subscribe your Friend and very 
 Humble Servt NATHL AMES. 
 
 DEDHAM, April 5, 1764. 
 
THE TOWN OF DEDHAM. 
 
 27 
 
 
 O^ 
 
 
 *** // 
 9 
 
 
 0<jdk 
 
 ^ 
 
 * 
 
28 THE AMES FAMILY. 
 
 In 1725 Dr. Ames commenced the publication of his almanacks, 
 the first being for the year I726. 1 His taste for astronomy being 
 acquired from his father (Nathaniel), who took a deep interest in 
 such studies. He published them continuously for thirty-nine 
 years and prepared a portion of the fortieth for the year 1765. 
 
 Dr. Ames married Oct. 30, 1740, a second wife, Deborah, 
 daughter of Jeremiah Fisher, by whom he had: i. Nathaniel, 
 born, 1741 ; graduated at Harvard, 1761 ; was a physician; died 
 at Dedham, in 1822, leaving no children. 2. Seth, graduated at 
 Harvard, 1764; also a physician, who died at Dedham, 1778. 
 3. Fisher, one of the most brilliant men ever produced in this 
 country ; born, April 9, 1758 ; entered Harvard College at twelve 
 years, and graduated 1774. He died July 4, 1808, aged 50 years, 
 and was interred at Dedham. 4. Deborah. 5. William. 
 
 The Boston Evening Post, Monday, July 16, 1764, concerning 
 the decease of Dr. Ames, says : " About a fortnight ago was 
 seized with a painful billious disorder, which was followed with 
 a nervous fever, and last Wednesday morning (July 1 1) died, at 
 Dedham, Doctor NATHANIEL AMES, aged 56 years. Besides his 
 practice in Physick he followed the study of Astronomy from 
 his youth. He has published an ALMANACK annually for 38 
 years past, to the great, very great Acceptance of the Inhabitants 
 
 1 A few years since the late Ellis Ames Esq., of Canton, Mass., stated 
 that " the first Almanack by Nathaniel Ames was for the year 1725, which 
 we have often seen, and which of course was finished in the latter part of 
 the year 1724, &c." I think the best evidence is the Almanack itself, and 
 the Doctor s own statement therein. (See re-production of the pages of 
 Almanack 1726 on pp. 5 to 8.) The statement in the almanack 1765, made 
 by his son relative to " the fortieth almanac he (his father) ever published," 
 is not to be considered except to verify the fact that the almanack 1765 
 was prepared almost entire before the first Dr. Ames deceased. Neither 
 should the age of the Doctor in 1725 (less than 16 years as stated) be urged, 
 as precocity in almanac making was known aforetime. It is of record that 
 Increase Gatchell aet. 16 produced an Almanack at Boston in 1695, and the 
 same author at the same age produced another in 1715. 
 
THE TOWN OF DEDHAM. 29 
 
 of this Province, as also to the neighboring Colonies and 
 Provinces." 
 
 The Boston Gazette, of the same date, adds: "His remains 
 were decently interred last Saturday afternoon (July 14)." 
 
 After the decease of Doctor Ames, some persons endeavored 
 to profit by his fame, by publishing an almanack for the year 
 1766, stating that the "son of the lately deceased Dr. Ames, 
 declined furnishing the Public with an Almanack for the year 
 1766," adding that "The Author has put this Almanack into the 
 same Form with those published by the late Dr. Ames, whose 
 annual performances of this Sort gave general satisfaction." 
 This almanack was issued over the authorship of " Mr. Ames." 
 
 After the decease of Dr. Ames, his widow continued to keep 
 the Tavern until her marriage with Richard Woodward, when 
 the hostelry passed under the title of THE WOODWARD TAVERN. 
 
 The second Dr. Nathaniel Ames, (the third of the name) was 
 born at Dedham, Oct. 9, 1741, and died there July 22, 1822. He 
 graduated at Harvard College in 1761, studied medicine, received 
 his degree of M. D., was a member of the Massachusetts Medical 
 Society, and was a successful practitioner of his profession at 
 Dedham for over 50 years. He was also Clerk of the Court of 
 Common Pleas for the County of Norfolk, and of the Court of 
 Sessions from 1793 during its existence. 
 
 "Dr. Ames was an intense partisan of the Republican school, 
 and his political opinions are expressed without any reservation 
 in his Diary," now being published in Dedham Historical 
 Register, and which covers a period 1758 to 26 June, 1821. 
 
 "The Diary is valuable for the extended period of time it was 
 continued, for its concise, comprehensive and accurate state 
 ments, which made it entirely reliable, and it reflects a good deal 
 of the spirit of that period, which included the years before and 
 during the Revolution, as well as the first thirty years of our 
 national life." 
 
3O THE AMES FAMILY. 
 
 " From this Diary (now in possession of the Dedham Historical 
 Society), the intelligent reader will easily infer that Dr. Ames 
 was a man of uncommon acuteness as an observer, a student of 
 varied tastes, fond of investigation, especially in scientific 
 matters, of quaint humor, strong in his prejudices, and altogether 
 a man of great originality and force." Dedham Hist. Register, 
 } W. /, />. 10. 
 
 He erected his residence in Dedham in 1772, and resided 
 there until his decease. 1 
 
 He was married by the Rev d M r Clark of the Episcopal 
 Church at Dedham, on the i-j-th of June, 1775, to Miss Meletiah, 
 sister of Jeremiah Shuttle worth, the first postmaster of Dedham. 
 
 That some idea may be formed of the manner of boy and man 
 he was, the following extracts from his Diary will be found 
 interesting. 
 
 Cambridge Septr 2oth 1758. They who see this in future times may 
 know that it is the covering of an old Almanack 1758. And do not despise 
 old times too imich. for remember, that 2 or 3 centurys from the time of 
 seeing this, you will be counted old times folks as you count us to be so 
 now, many People in these times think the Consumation very nigh, much 
 more may you think so, and do not think yourselves so much wiser than 
 we are as to make yourselves proud, for the last day is at hand in which 
 you must give an account of what you have been about in this state of 
 Probation, &. very likely you are more given to Vice than we are, and we 
 than the last Century folks ; if you have more arts than we have that you 
 yourselves have found out, impute it not to our inability that we could not 
 find them out, for if we had had only those very arts that we have now, 
 when we first came to settle in X. America, very like we should have 
 found out those very things which you have the honour to be the Invent 
 ors of. 
 
 Dinner is ready I must leave off. 
 
 : The residence is now owned and occupied by Dr. J. P. Mayiiard. 
 
THE TOWN OF DEDHAM. 31 
 
 June 22, 1758. " Roman Father" play performed (? Boston). 
 
 July 3, Cato " " (Warren s Cham.) 
 
 6, " to perfection. 
 
 14, more perfect. 
 
 Apr. 20, 1759. " Drummer" acted at Hows. 
 
 July 6, " Revenge" acted. father came. 
 
 Sept. 7, Cato. 
 
 Nov. 23, " Revenge" (at Bowman s ? Boston). 
 
 June 13, 1760. Acted " Tancred and Sigismunda " for which we are like 
 
 to be prosecuted. 
 
 Sept. 9, 1761. Boston People flock up to Newport to see the plays by the 
 
 English Actors. 
 
 Nov. 12-13. In tne evening acted a Play rebuked for it by our Parents. 
 
 -V-Oct. 12, 1763. Mr Benj. Franklin here famous Dr Franklin. 1 
 
 July 5, 1764. Went Bost for a Doctor to my Father. 
 
 6, Went Watertown for a Doctor. 
 
 7, Father got a nervous Fever. 
 
 8, Doctors Convers & Sprague pronounce my Father almost 
 
 irrecoverable. 
 
 9, call d up to see my Father die. 
 
 10, Convers has better Hopes of my Father. 
 
 n, 6 o Clock A. M. My Father s noble and generous Soul took 
 
 her Flight into the Region of Spirits. 
 
 Death I defy thee, use thy utmost Force 
 
 My noble Parent has a fair Divorce. 
 
 Here plunge thy Dart, thy last poor Thrust now give 
 
 Nor let a Monster so ungratefull live 
 
 As I, who thus, my Father have misus d, 
 
 And vainly tho t by him I was abus d. 
 
 July 13, 1764. Mrs. Nazrow here. Now leaning on my Father s CofHn. I 
 could not help writing the last Words he ever said to me. 
 Scil : Natty, Natty, is it not very hard that I cannot have 
 one Trial. 
 
 August 13, much engaged in Calculating Eclipses. 
 
 29. very busy calculating for a new Almanack. 
 
 1 The last three words were written later. Possibly Benjamin came up 
 from Philadelphia to consult concerning almanacs, jokes, etc. 
 
32 THE AMES FAMILY. 
 
 Sept. 10. preparing a Dress for the Almanack. 
 
 Nov. i. Stamp Act takes place. Grenville & Rush hanged in 
 
 effigy. 
 
 5. Pope Devil and Stampman hanged together. 
 
 13. Undertake to act the Orphan. 
 
 20. Scholars punished at College for acting over the great and 
 
 last day in a very shocking manner, personating the Jude, 
 etertat Devil, &c. 
 
 Dec. 18. M r Oliver 1 oblig d by the People to resign his office at the 
 
 Tree of Lib. & makes Oath before M r - Dana never to act 
 in it. 
 
 19. News that our proceeding against the Stamp Distributors 
 
 & Opposition to the Enaction of the Stamp Act meets 
 with the Approbation of the Merchants at home & others 
 in general. 
 
 20. The Connecticut people far outshine the other Gov m * s in 
 
 the Cause of Liberty & merit the Blessings of all Pos 
 terity. 
 
 23. Many people drink for want of comfortable Food. Stamp 
 
 Act has this only happy Effect, viz : It unites the Colonies. 
 
 If the Art of Physick consisted in the knowledge only of 
 
 Medicines & their Virtues then every Apothecary would 
 
 be the best Physician. 
 
 1766. 
 
 Sept 4. I was deeply engaged in calculating for an Almanack for 1767 & 
 
 [fly leaf] broke off by the importunity of my Mother to settle the Estate, 
 who they not agreeing to take care of the Tarv n whilst I could 
 make an Almanack, so that my character will be spoiled & I 
 deprived of the only means of getting a living in this World. 
 Wherefore I pray God to take my Soul into the next scene of 
 Being where I hope to know everything intuitively for wh h I 
 now grope about by the dim light of Reason. 
 
 June 12. Calculating for 1767 very dry time. 
 
 Sept 4. Laid aside Astronomy & tho ts of publishing an Almanack. 
 
 1 Oliver was Secretary of the Province and was appointed Distributor 
 of Stamps. 
 
THE TOWN OF DKDHAM. 33 
 
 8. Reed a letter from Edes & Gill desiring to have the copy of an 
 
 Almanack. 
 
 20. Gill here about Copy of an Almanack, disagre. 
 Nov. 8. Went Milton & Boston. M Alpine copy aim. 
 
 12. M Alpine here. 
 
 Dec. 2. Very cold, returned from Boston with new Almanacks. 
 Aug 5. Sun s Eclipse came on rather sooner than the time I said perhap 
 [fly leaf] 3 Minutes in the midst thereof it was a very serene air but a 
 peculiar gloominess overspread the horizon such as I never 
 saw before. 
 
 Aug 7. Draper put in Thursday Paper that ye Eclipse nearly agreed 
 with the Gentlem" who favored Dr. Ames with his calculat"- 
 best observation of the Eclipse at Newport. 
 
 Sept. 24. Never let me write again to the Printers of Boston News Papers 
 for they are all Knaves Liars, Villains to serve their Intrest & 
 when they appear most Friendly have most of the Devil in 
 their Hearts. 
 (Dr. Ames bore on hard to the pen which wrote this entry. ED.) 
 
 Oct. i. Had a conversation with a gentle^ about my Almanack obtain 
 ing a patent of the Minister of State for the sole printing & 
 vending thereof, this Gentleman thinks that by the recom 
 mendation of Friends I might obtain it for less than 20 Guineas. 
 The Friends I have tho ts of applying to are George Apthorp 
 of London, Brother to alderman Trecothick a man of great 
 Influence & to John Winthrop, Esq., Professor of Harvard 
 Col. F. R. S. & to Sam. Dexter, Esq. to write to his old cor 
 respondents in London & to Mr. Sheriff Greenleaf of Boston 
 & to Mr. Fayerweather of Narraganset in Colony of R. Island 
 & to Edmund Dana now in England married into a noble 
 Family & to Thomas Palmer now in London both my Friends, 
 but all will avail but little unless I can invent something new 
 & useful to mankind. 
 
 Country People complain that I have mentioned no Snow in 
 nex year s AlmanK 
 
 1767. 
 
 Oct. 7. Was at Boston had conversation with McAlpine about Copy of 
 an Almanack he would not give 200^ unless I would take it all 
 
34 THE AMES FAMILY. 
 
 in almanacks. Rec d a letter from Mein that he was provided 
 with a copy but knew of a person who would give a moderate 
 Price. 
 
 8. Was at Boston and agreed to let Edes & Gill have my copy for 
 150 they engaging on their words & honor to raise it to 200^" 
 next year if possible & let me have their Paper or Gazette i 
 year from this time. I paying Mumford for brigng also to 
 to supply me with Almanacks at 135. 6d per doz. before they 
 expose any to sale anywhere or send any off to be sold. 
 19. Carry d copy of Almanack for 1768 to Edes & Gill Might had 100 
 Dollars for it of Mein. 
 
 Oct. 20. This day compleats the 26th year of my age. 
 
 Nov. 13. Went Boston. Case not come on. Got i gro. Almanacks. 
 
 Oct. 18. Vastly hurried about my Almanack for 1768 1 would exhort myself 
 to begin calculation earlier so that I might have time (to) fill 
 up with useful & entertaining things against another year to 
 stop the progress of other Almanacks especially Bickerstaffs 
 which is like to have a great sale, being printed on a good 
 Type & full of useful and entertaining things. 
 
 1768. 
 
 Jan. 19. The Eclipse happend much as this Almanack says it look t dark 
 
 & gloomy in the midst of it. 
 
 Feb. 25. Sam. Sterns of Boston wants to know how to make Almanacks. 
 
 June i. Began Calculations for 1769. Make slow progress. Called off. 
 
 June 29. Totally eclipsed according to this Almanack. 
 
 Oct. 29. Sent my copy for next years Almanack to Fleet for 2o. 
 
 Dec. 27. got half a gross Almanacks of Fleet. 
 
 1769. 
 
 June 3. Observ d the Transit of Venus happen according to this Almanack. 
 
 Nov. i. Went Boston agreed about Almanacks. 
 
 2. Lows Almanack published. 
 
 3. Wests Almanack published. 
 
 Nov. 16. Thadd 8 - Stowel who has been in York Govt brought a line to me 
 from Win- Coye requesting yt I would insert in my Almanack 
 two Courts held in ye County of Cumberland, in New York, 
 one the first Tuesday in June, ye other the first Tuesday in 
 
THK TOWN OF DKDHAM. 35 
 
 November, but whether Superior or Inferior Courts does not 
 say, yet says that Chester in the Shire Town. 
 Dec. 5. Went Boston brought i groce Alrnan. fr. Fleets. 
 
 1771 
 
 Oct. 24. Ezek l Russel offer d 40 Dollars for my copy (of) Almanack. 
 
 Nov. 7. Russel came again about the Copy. 
 
 Dec. 8. Bzekl Russell came here about Almanack. 
 
 1772. 
 Nov 28. Went to Boston dd copy Almanack. 
 
 1773- 
 
 May 9. Old Dick Woodward 1 struck me withis (sic) saw. 
 
 May 12. Dick Woodward fined for striking me & bound to good Behavior. 
 
 Nov 25. Annual Thanksgiving which I celebrated with much Thankfulness 
 in a little boiled Rice at home alone, then came in my Brother 
 William who had good provisions sent him from his Mother & 
 dind here at my House upon it, of which I could not so much 
 as taste. Mrs. Whiting my Housekeeper prevented my having 
 Provisions of my own cooked & went among her Relations to 
 dine leaving me to cook for my Self. 
 
 1774- 
 
 Jan 8. Went (to) Boston got 30 (of my) new Almanacks. 
 
 [7]. Title Page Verse for next years Alm k composed as I lay in Bed 
 this Morning Jany 7, 1774. 
 
 Let Tyrant Princes distant Climes explore 
 
 For wealth & power drench in human gore ! 
 
 Let fleets & armies make their subjects pine 
 
 And cannon s mouths assert their rights devine 
 
 Let Spaniel Courtiers lick their masters feet 
 
 And conscious meanness make them feel they re Great. 2 
 
 1 Richard Woodward married the Widow Ames, the mother of Dr. 
 Nathaniel 2d. 
 
 2 This is a little different from the verses on the title page of Almanack 
 1775, which see. 
 
36 THE AMES FAMILY. 
 
 Oct 12. The Fair Stranger here at my House said to be a german Princess 
 in disguise. 
 
 [flyleaf] Old Richard Woodward has declared that he will fleece our Estate 
 as much as possible & accordingly Oct. 12 carried off several 
 Loads of unthrashed Rye & carried off all the last years Corn 
 & threatens to carry away the Hay out of the Barn I (in) defi 
 ance of Law & Equity threatens to strip & waste as much as 
 possible. 
 
 1775- 
 
 April 19. The regular forces sent by the British Government to Boston 
 march out to Lexington & fired on a Company of men & 
 killd six then immediately marchd off to Concord to seize our 
 Province Military Stores destroy^ some Flour 2 Cannon & 
 then upon being attack d by our People began to retreat & 
 continued fighting all the way to Charlestown 30 men lost on 
 our side many more on theirs. I went & dressed the wounded. 
 
 The following extract from the cook book of Dr. Ames will 
 serve to illustrate his political bias, as well as to indicate his 
 predilection for all the comforts of a home. 
 
 GOOD DEMOCRATIC CAKE. 
 
 3 quarts Flour 
 i lb Butter 
 \Yz Sugar 
 
 i^ Raisins 
 
 4 Eggs 
 
 Y Z glass Wine 
 i glass Brandy 
 oz. y 2 Cinnamon half an ounce 
 
 Some Corianders 
 oz. ]4 Alspice 
 
 Yeast i glass or half or half a jill sot rising over night and next morn 
 ing work the sugar & butter together half an hour at least, it will make 
 your cake lighter and whiter. 
 
 After it has puff d up light work in the rest except the Raisins, which 
 add at seting into Oven. 
 
THE TOWN OF DEDHAM. 37 
 
 FUDDERAL 1 PANCAKE. 
 
 Mix boulted Rye flour, boulted Indian meal, each a quart with salt into 
 three pints milk. Fry in lard. 
 
 Good enough for the Junto. too good ! 
 
 His part in the events which led up to the final separation of 
 the Colonies from the mother country, is condensed as follows 
 from " The 25oth anniversary of the settlement of Dedham." 
 
 Foremost among the friends of America in the English Par 
 liament who had been constantly laboring for the repeal of the 
 Stamp Act, was William Pitt, afterwards the Earl of Chatham. 
 It was he who maintained that " America being neither really 
 nor virtually represented in Westminster, cannot be held legally 
 or constitutionally or reasonably subject to obedience to any 
 money bill of the kingdom." The Stamp Act was repealed 
 March 18, 1766, and the news was received in Boston on the i6th 
 of the following May. The repeal was hailed with the greatest 
 demonstrations of joy. 
 
 Dr. Ames writes Feb. 15, 1767, that he "went to Boston with 
 Mr. Haven and Battle. Spoke Pitt s bust of Mr. Skilling." 
 
 Finally, February 26, Dr. Ames again went to Boston, and 
 " brought the bust of Pitt for the Pillar of Liberty." 
 
 The original inscriptions in Latin and English were undoubt 
 edly composed by Dr. Ames. He was accustomed to make 
 entries in Latin in his diary, and the style of the English is 
 characteristic. He writes : " Aug. 6. Howard altered erepsit 
 into evulsit" traces of which alteration are now discernible. 
 
 It strikes one strangely, perhaps, to find on this stone, erected 
 by the Sons of Liberty, an expression of satisfaction that their 
 loyalty to King George III. had been confirmed by the repeal of 
 the Stamp Act. But it must not be forgotten that it was then 
 ten years before the Declaration of Independence, and if any 
 
 1 Dr. Ames always spelled Federal in this manner, and always spoke of 
 the Federalists as " the Junto." 
 
38 THE AMES FAMILY. 
 
 entertained the thought of independence as a contingency which 
 might occur, certainly no one avowed it. The patriots fondly 
 indulged the hope, rather, that in the repeal of the Stamp Act 
 all their trials were ended, and that the oppressive policy of the 
 British ministers toward America had been reversed. But their 
 joy was short-lived, and by the passage of the act imposing a 
 duty upon tea and other articles passed in June, 1767, the series 
 of measures was continued which brought on the Revolution. 
 
 As the conflict approached, the Pillar of Liberty naturally 
 ceased to be an object of interest. Dr. Ames records, " May n f 
 1769. The Pillar of Liberty was overthrown last night." 
 Perhaps this was due to the revulsion in popular feeling. It is 
 not certain that it was afterward replaced. But there were those 
 living not many years since, who remembered in the last decade 
 of the eighteenth century both pillar and bust lying upon the 
 ground, and the latter being kicked about by the boys of that 
 period. It is certain that no one took pains to preserve them, 
 and they are now irrecoverably lost. 1 
 
 At the decease of Dr. Ames, he, having no issue, gave all his 
 property by will to his wife s niece Hannah, daughter of Jere 
 miah Shuttleworth. After the decease of Dr. Ames widow in 
 1826, she sold the house, and it is supposed that it was probably 
 the money ($2,300) from that sale, that she deposited about 
 1830 in the Massachusetts Hospital Life Insurance Co. This 
 fund she never disturbed but allowed it to accumulate, and at 
 her death (Feb. 22, 1886, aged 86 years) that company paid her 
 executor as the amount due thereon, over $40,000. From this a 
 legacy of $10,000 was paid to the Dedham Historical Society to 
 
 J The image of Pitt also ceased to be an object of interest in other 
 places. The writer remembers seeing when a boy, the headless, and arm 
 less remains of a statue of Pitt standing outside, and behind the railing of 
 the " Fifth Ward Hotel," on West Broadway in New York City ; naught 
 remaining to give it any dignity save the marble Roman toga in which it 
 was clad. 
 
THE TOWN OF DKDHAM. 39 
 
 build its building, and a legacy of like amount to the Dedham 
 Public Library. 
 
 From this source the Dedham Historical Society obtained the 
 land on which their building is located and where the house of 
 Miss Shuttleworth formerly stood and all the valuable papers, 
 diary, and the complete set of almanacks formerly owned by Dr. 
 Ames, which is now believed to be unique. 
 
 Society Building erected 1886-7, from the bequest of Hannah Shuttleworth. 
 
 Fisher Ames, a younger brother of Dr. Nathaniel Ames, was 
 not given to astronomy or almanacks, but was a lawyer of 
 prominence in Massachusetts; and during the period before, 
 and during the Revolution was active in maintaining the spirit 
 of independence, and at the conclusion of the struggle was one 
 of the master minds in the formation of the Constitution, and 
 our present form of government. 
 
 His residence was erected in 1795, and he deceased there on 
 July 4, 1808, aged 50 years. The house and grounds are now 
 owned by Fred. J. Stimson, Esq., known to the literary world as 
 " J. S. of Dale." The house, while the old frame is still in it,, 
 has been completely changed in both internal arrangement and. 
 exterior appearance. 
 
4 o 
 
 THE AMES FAMILY. 
 
 The site of the Law Office of Fisher Ames, built in 1794, was 
 on the corner of Court and High streets, near the Pitt s Head. 
 The building was afterward remodelled and reconstructed as a 
 dwelling-house. It was removed when the new Court House 
 was built, and again when the Dedham Bank building was 
 erected. It was a perfect sample of the old time country 
 lawyer s office. After the death of Fisher Ames it was occupied 
 by his son, John Worthington Ames, and then by James Rich 
 ardson ; and subsequently by Theron Metcalf, afterward Judge 
 of the Supreme Court. The late Ex-Governor Clifford, Judge 
 Seth Ames, and many other lawyers of eminence in this and 
 other States there read law with Judge Metcalf. 
 
THE OLD TAVERN. 
 
 (See frontispiece.) 
 
 A ROUND this caravansary now known only by tradition it 
 having been swept away by the march of improvement in 
 1817, after Mrs. Woodwards death centers much of the historic 
 interest of early Dedham and the Ames family. 
 
 It stood on the estate owned at the time it was taken down 
 by Fisher Ames, and here both he and his brother Nathaniel 
 were born. 
 
 This house had been a tavern continuously over one 
 hundred years, Lieut. Joshua Fisher, the original proprietor, was 
 licensed by the General Court, Oct. 20, 1658 "to sell strong 
 waters to relieve the inhabitants, being remote from Boston, for 
 one year." The Lieutenant, besides his military occupation, 
 was a surveyor, an apothecary, and an inn-holder. Capt. Joshua 
 Fisher 1 succeeded his father as an inn-holder. He died March 
 
 1 He devised this estate to his wife Hannah for life, and reversion to 
 his daughter Mary, and she became the first wife of Dr. Nathaniel Ames, 
 the elder, whom she married Sept. 14, 1735. At this time the old tavern 
 was raised six inches above its foundations, the walls filled with brick ; 
 it was fitted with closets, and completely finished " to the turning of the 
 keys, inside and out." 
 
 The tavern was known as the "Ames Tavern" until about the time of 
 the Revolution, when it became known as " Woodward s Tavern," or " the 
 Sign of the L/aw Book." 
 
 The illustration fronting the title, represents the building as it appeared 
 at the time of its demolition, and for some years previous thereto. The 
 sketch was made from the description given by several of the oldest 
 inhabitants of Dedham, two of whom, aged about ninety-three years (twins) 
 and one other also living in the possession of all her faculties, at the 
 
42 THE OLD TAVERN. 
 
 ii, 1730. The site of the tavern was near the corner of High 
 and Court streets, fronting on High street (see map). In the 
 journal of Madam Knight kept by that lady during her journey 
 from Boston to New York, 1704, Dedham is mentioned as one 
 of the towns through which she passed. She called on the Rev. 
 Joseph Belcher the minister of Dedham since Nov. 29, 1693, and 
 later in the day dropped in at the Ames Tavern (then the Fisher 
 Tavern kept by Capt. Joshua Fisher) in search of a guide for a 
 further journey the same night. There was a drinking room in 
 the brew-house, and one small beer vessel which perhaps is 
 what Madam Knight styles " the pewter engine," to which 
 their lips were tied at the time of her visit. 
 
 When Madam Knight returned Mar. 2, 1705, she again passed 
 through Dedham, this time partially on foot (her horse having 
 given out) and partly by water, she having met with a mishap 
 at the causeway (see map) on account of Dwight s brook having 
 exceeded its license. 
 
 In later years when Dr. Ames was mine host, the repute of its 
 larder, (and probably also the " tap,") was unquestionably good, 
 despite the attractions of the rival establishment of " Gay s." 
 The letter of Ezekiel Price, (a person from his association and 
 employment eminently capable of judging) will serve to interest 
 those who are curious as to the cuisine of the early days. 1 
 
 remarkable age of one hundred and three. These three persons well 
 remember the old house and many traditions connected therewith. The 
 room at the left of the entrance as we face the picture, was evidently the 
 " tap room " in ancient times the windows being screened on the inside 
 with wooden shutters as would be proper an heart-shaped opening being 
 cut in each to admit the light. When the room was lighted at night, these 
 " heart openings " were made more distinct, and " late-at-night " neighbors 
 journeying homeward would remark, " See the light shine through Mrs. 
 Woodward s heart." 
 
 iEzEKiEi, PRICE, before the Revolution was the confidential Secretary 
 of several of the governours of the province. 
 
 Soon after independence was declared, he was appointed Clerk of the 
 Courts of Common Pleas & Sessions for the Co. of Suffolk; in which 
 
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THE OU> TAVERN. 43 
 
 " From the early settlement and until a very recent period the 
 Tavern was a recognized and, it may be said, an Ordinary insti 
 tution of Dedham. But Woodward s Tavern became historic, 
 not merely as having been the birthplace of Fisher Ames and 
 the dispensary of good cheer, but as having been the place where 
 the famous Suffolk Convention was organized Sept. 6, 1774, to 
 which Dedham sent five delegates. A large committee was 
 chosen to prepare resolutions, and the convention then adjourned 
 to meet at the house of Daniel Vose, in Milton, where on Friday, 
 Sept. 9, 1774, Gen. Joseph Warren reported to the convention 
 the Suffolk resolutions which he had drafted. They w r ere read 
 several times and unanimously adopted. 
 
 Those who now or in after times shall examine the journal 
 of the earliest Continental Congress in search of the first recorded 
 resolution to try the issue with Great Britain, if need be at the 
 point of the sword, will find the doings of this convention entered 
 at length upon its pages, appearing as the medium through 
 which the object of their assembling was first presented to their 
 deliberations, and serving as the basis of their subsequent pro 
 ceedings. The house of Richard Woodward most of us remem 
 ber. In it was born Fisher Ames. Was it not the birthplace of 
 the American Revolution? f>1 
 
 services, as well as those of Notary Publick & Magistrate, he remained 
 20 years. 
 
 He was also for a long time Chairman of the Board of Selectmen for 
 the town of Boston, and in these & many other stations he acted his part 
 well in Society ; until that decay which so often attends the age of three 
 score & ten, made it necessary for him to retire to his family. In private 
 life he was amiable, as in publick life he was useful. 
 
 April 30, 1793, he was elected a member of the Massachusetts Histor 
 ical Society, to which he was a liberal benefactor. He died July 15, 1802, 
 aged 74 years. Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. Vol. viii, p. 85. He was a great 
 grandson of the famous Ezekiel Cheever, of whom the miracle is recorded, 
 that for seventy mortal years he was a schoolmaster, and " left off at last 
 without being tired, but simply because he was obliged to." 
 
 1 Haven s address, 2Ooth anniversary of the Town of Dedham, p. 45. 
 
44 THE OLD TAVERN. 
 
 The map 1 on opposite page represents prominent localities in 
 the town of Dedham in the time of Dr. Ames and his two sons. 
 
 Referring to the homes of the early ministers, the house (i) 
 in rear represents the site of the house built and occupied by 
 John Allin, the first minister, and where his successor, Wm. 
 Adams, also lived ; but the 3d minister, Joseph Belcher, soon 
 after his ordination in Nov. 1693, built the house (2) nearer the 
 main road the Parish having contributed 60 thereon, and this 
 was also occupied by Dexter and Haven, the 4th and 5th minis 
 ters, and was taken down in 1819 to make a site for the present 
 ist Congregational Church. 
 
 1 The map inserted needs little if any additional explanation, but the 
 very peculiar title (Beere Waye} given to the lane or roadway leading from 
 the main road to the " old burial ground," may seem somewhat misleading 
 at the first glance. When I first examined the map I assumed that the 
 name had some reference to the electric fluid of commerce, so potential at 
 the present day in ward caucuses. The connection between the tavern 
 and the liquid helped to confirm me in my mistaken notion ; and had it 
 not been for timely reference to a marginal note on the correspondence I 
 had received relative to the map I had undoubtedly blundered into a 
 very egregious error, which no amount of apology could have ever set 
 right. 
 
 I might have endeavored to excuse myself by taking the ground that 
 the " beere waye " if followed closely, would sooner or later lead from the 
 tavern to the burial ground, but I fear that that would not have consti 
 tuted a saving clause. 
 
 The " beere waye " I learn from the notation alluded to, was simply 
 the path along which, on funeral occasions, the "bier" with its burden 
 was borne to its final resting place. 
 
 Our language contains some very embarrasing spells even the latter 
 orthography fails to fully satisfy. 
 
HISTORICAL. 
 
 TTAVING now introduced our authors and their antecessors 
 to the audience, a brief review of the general condition of 
 things "at home," and in the Colonies during the period 1726 
 1764, may be desirable. The Hanoverian Georges had begun 
 the management of home affairs, Mr. John Law had exploited 
 his South Sea or Mississippi Cash and Confidence Association, 
 Mr. Richard Turpin and Mr. John Sheppard had expiated their 
 very taking ways, and made their last appearance at Tyburn. 
 Robert Walpole was keeper of the King s conscience, and mur 
 ders and robberies the latter in person or by proxy were of 
 daily occurrence, the " Rogue s March " being the most popular 
 anthem of the period. 
 
 In the north, the Scots were evincing their most thorough 
 disapprobation of capital punishment, and gave a practical 
 exhibition of its horrors by hanging Capt. John Porteous at 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 Rows of various calibre and importance were taking place 
 on the continent ; pugnacious John Bull taking a hand and 
 laying the foundation of English finance the National Debt. 
 
 While John s attention was thus distracted Mr. James Stuart 
 was moving on the English throne ; " Charlie over the Water" was 
 becoming interested, " Johnnie" Cope was trodden on during the 
 southward progress of the Pretender, and his name only per 
 petuated in song. The Duke of Cumberland tried conclusions 
 with the Scottish army at Culloden in April, 1746, and that was 
 the " be all and the end all " of that affair. 
 
 A contemporary historian thus sums up the general condition 
 
46 HISTORICAL. 
 
 of things at home ; " morality was lax, education was limited, 
 poverty was abundant, extravagance was very common, and 
 wealth extremely insolent." 
 
 In the colony of Massachusetts things were somewhat in the 
 condition of the mother country, only opportunities were some 
 what limited. 
 
 The population of the commonwealth at this period was 
 about 94,000 2,000 of which were slaves, 1,200 civilized Indians 
 the balance having probably been worn out in experimenting to 
 save this small crop and the balance of the returns were whites 
 several of whom earned the munificent compensation of two 
 shillings per day, possibly payable in store orders. 
 
 Currency of the flat quality was largely predominant, and its 
 expansive nature had the effect of reducing crime notably high 
 way robbery to a minimum. The honest granger of the period 
 could wheel the products of his farm from Dedham to Boston on 
 a Saturday morning, in a hand cart, dispose of the same and 
 in the evening himself and family could take home the proceeds 
 in " old tenor," carrying in their arms what the cart would not 
 hold, undisturbed by any " knight of the road," whose sympathy 
 for the toiling Cincinnati would be made manifest by a counte 
 nance more expressive of sorrow than of covetousness. 
 
 The stern amusements of a previous generation were dropping 
 into desuetude, and the whipping post and stocks were not used 
 to illustrate the Articles of Faith. Stage plays were being per 
 formed by the students at College (when they weren t caught at 
 it), newspapers were not }^et of daily occurrence. Cotton Mather, 
 the high priest of Boston, "the literary behemoth of New Eng 
 land," had been gathered to his fathers, (1728) and the plethora 
 of literature from that source had ceased. The press was turning 
 out much that was interesting, each printing establishment had 
 1 its annual Almanack, and chiefest among these was the produc 
 tion of our author, which is set forth in the following pages. 
 
J&l 
 
 ! ALMANACK 
 
 t For the Year of Our. Lord CHRIof . 
 i 726: 
 
 ! And from the C? eanorf of >1td;\?orJd 3 ! 
 
 8Cordmg to the bcil of*PVophan iFftbry. 5;- 
 
 j:;,- , But ( by fhe Account: of^e ^ lo/, " ScjipcG^f , * 
 | It berng the Second after ^^a^Vc? LwpYc^,\ 
 Andtlie Twelfth Vcar dl the Reign of Our MoCt 
 
 Where" a is ConTgln d tKe^X fi^.Jffd HfJr P- ^fes .of i" 
 the LUi3iIrrieSr the P/5fU/^ M? tidirvSc /vt^^u-!? , 
 Jfps8*. i he $.ifisi Rsf{.:-:g xid ^erttng, Ti*ne f 
 
 tf- mlrt:" * Together \vr(t nuny other Thii^s" ; 
 neceffary for iuch a. \Vork. , J 
 
 Calcttiatefc for the $kria?a$0ffo&Qfi, N. En^tsp^^ 
 
 > ,N A T H A \ t L A ME S, Jn. 
 ^Utfarit in Fby/tzk and Jj/ltono:-n?l t 
 
 A" >T Swweenfanred 
 
 //! /i.i/ tourfeJi?fr$ : W 
 
 Kn\vi ye Rewjlationi in thh tim? ?>;ive frszn, 
 
 <^ .ttt$ YZar I WSff Il3>$$%? ff&jl i!*TS9f{<]! ti dZi pcif/t.V 
 
 -^4- : Q O D ,kwwi &k?ji?$i Live ttato tfa MX*. 
 
 \ 7 ) N -i Printed so<i Sold by /L G?- ! :f ?;. 
 
 Sold a lib at die Book&Ugrs Shop,;^^! ,7 a. 6 ,"4 
 
THE ALMANACK FOR 1726 
 
 BY NATHANIEL AMES, Jun. 
 
 Student in Physick and Astronomy. 
 
 BOSTON: Printed and Sold by B. Green, and Sold also at the Book 
 sellers shops. I726. 1 
 
 NO W Seventeen hundred & Twenty Six the Sun, 
 His annual course since CHRISTfas Birth hath run, 
 Strange Revolutions in this time have been 
 In divers Lands, Kingdoms and Countries seen, 
 Some Years were happy, some with Woes perplext, 
 And GOD knows who shall Live unto the next. 
 
 This Eclipse of the Moon happens so near the Great Bene 
 volent Jupiter, the Effects tis hop d will not be ill. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Our Northern Climes in shiv ring Cold remain 
 Till Glorious Phoebus shall return again. 
 
 More Snow than Lollies. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Cold Weather still on us attends 
 We feel it at our Finger s ends. 
 
 GREEN, JR., printed the Almanacks from 1726 to 1733, 
 inclusive, and perhaps those for 1734-1735. He was a son of Bartholomew 
 Green, also a printer, and grandson of Samuel Green, the " Colledge 
 printer " at Cambridge, who came over with Governor Winthrop in 1630. 
 Bartholomew, Jr., was also connected with John Draper, his brother-in- 
 law, in the business until about 1734, and later with John Bushell, and 
 Bezoune Allen. This latter partnership continued until about 1751, when 
 Green removed with his printing materials to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where 
 he died shortly after his arrival. 
 
48 ALMANACK FOR 1726. 
 
 Who out of Fortune s smiles do run, 
 All men their Company will shun. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Now comes the Spring, Sol by his splendid Rays 
 Turns gloomy Nights into bright shining Days. 
 
 Expectations of Peace. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Nature, that wealthy Dame, now briskly Pours 
 Upon the Earth her Fresh and Fruitful Showers. 
 
 Some in Dissembling have such Art, 
 Are Saints in Show Devils in Heart. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 The wing d Musicians now do Sing 
 To entertain the welcome Spring. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Now Sol from Cancer sends his Rays 
 Which makes with us the longest Days. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 The Husbandman walks o re his fertile Fields, 
 Which many charming Pleasures to him yields. 
 
 The Author born 22. July 1708. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 L/end them that want : th Almighty fav reth such 
 And in short time repays them twice as much. 
 
 There ne er was any Age so clear 
 But in her Face some Faults appear. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Phoebus with the Crelestial Scales doth now 
 An equal weight to Days and Nights allow. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Now some before cold Boreas fly 
 And many Thousands fall and Die. 
 
 Christopher Columbus found out the New World Oct. u, 1492. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1726. 49 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 No Art preserves from Age : devouring Time 
 Makes every thing (nay, the whole World) resign. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 The Year is past away, our Glass doth run, 
 And while we speak, the present Minute s gone. 
 
 KIND READER. 
 
 The Method of this Almanack is so plain that it needs no 
 Explanation, except the place of Saturn and Jupiter, which is 
 over the last Column, at the top of every Page, for the ist, 8th, 
 1 6th and 24th Days of every Month in this Year. 
 
 The Names and Characters of the Planets, Signs, Aspects 
 and Nodes are these, 
 
 The ( Saturn 1?, Jupiter 21, Mars d\ Sol or Sun >, Venus ?, 
 Planets, ( Mercury , Luna or the Moon Q). 
 
 YJ. (Aries T, Taurus tf, Gemini H, Cancer @, Leo ct, 
 ~. ] Virgo TIP, Libra ==, Scorpio fll, Sagitarius ^, Capri- 
 
 >lgns (corn V?, Aquarius , Pisces X. 
 
 The Old Aspects are Five in Number, as the Conjunction c/, 
 Sextile 3K, Quartile D, Trine A, Opposition o. 
 
 The New Aspects are Eight in Number, viz. 
 
 Semisextile SS Tridecile Td v 
 
 Decile dec Sefiquadrate SSq * U1 ; X , V ~ 
 
 Quintile Q Biquintile Bq Semiquadrat S 
 
 The f The Dragons Head Q, Dragons Tail ^, 
 Nodes, 1 Part of Fortune 0. 
 
 The Vulgar Notes of this Year are : 
 
 Golden Number 17 ) j Epact 
 
 Cycle of the Sun 27 j ( Dominical Letter 
 
 , The Glorious Planet Venus is Occidental or Evening Star, 
 till the 25 of March, from thence Oriential or Morning Star, 
 to the Years End. 
 
50 ALMANACK FOR 1726. 
 
 TO THE READER. 
 COURTEOUS READER, 
 
 I Have here adventured to present you with an Almanack for 
 the Ensuing Year. It being my first made Public by the Press; 
 Should it find Acceptance, I have my End and shall receive 
 sufficient Encouragement to Undertake somewhat more for your 
 benefit. Thus Reader for your sake I have exposed my self to 
 the dangerous & sharp Teeth of envious Detractors, which is a 
 great Hazard especially in this polish d Age, among so many 
 fine & curious Wits, who scarcely can approve of anything, tho 
 never so Judiciously Composed. There has been no pains, nor 
 care, wanting to render these Calculations as free from Errors 
 as possible, yet if any fault committed by my Pen or Press pass 
 Uncorrected, Excuse it ; in so doing you will not only do 
 your self a Kindness, but also oblige him, who is a Friend to all 
 that are Mathematically inclined, and a real L,over of the most 
 sublime study of Astronomy. 
 Bridgwater, Octob. i2th, 1725. N. AMES. 
 
 Read then and Learn but don t all faults Object, 
 Since they can only judge that can Correct ; 
 To whom my Works appeal, and if I find, 
 The Sons of Art to favour them inclin d ; 
 With their Propitious smiles, it shall suffice, 
 To, counterpoize the Frowns of Enemies. 
 
 Twice in a Century ( Old Indians say,) 
 
 Our Land abounds with Bears & Beasts of Prey ; 
 
 Whereof some do embrace Proud Neptune s Waves 
 
 And with the Scaly Tribe swim to their Graves ; 
 
 Others Retreat towards the Frigid Zone, 
 
 And dwell in Desert yet to us unknown ; 
 
 They ll come, no more from whence they do retire, 
 
 Until a Jubilee of Years Expire. 
 
 (Dele Sup. C. Boston, the First Tuesday in May.) 
 
 OH 1726. This Almanack partakes largely of the quality 
 of contemporaneous weather books, but it must be remembered that the 
 author was but a youth, and liable to follow at first the well worn path 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1727. 51 
 
 laid out by previous star-gazers. The couplets at the head of each 
 monthly page are rather of a better conception than the productions of 
 the average almanack bard, and the interlined wisdom give promise of a 
 maturing mind. 
 
 The " Expectations of Peace" under March, doubtless allude to the 
 difficulties with the Indians, as neither the mother country nor the 
 Colonies were at this time otherwise involved. 
 
 The allusion to the Eclipse of the Moon, and its probable " effects " the 
 benevolent Jupiter gives some evidence of the author s inclination toward 
 the prevailing belief in astrology. 
 
 His apologetic epistle displays his evident fear of adverse criticism, so 
 general at this period, and notably so among the almanack makers, but he 
 solaces himself by "dropping into poetry" to appease the would-be censor. 
 The jingle concerning the Indian tradition is curious, as being a relic of 
 aboriginal ideas, never to my observation having been referred to by any 
 other writer. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1727 
 
 BY NATHANIEL, AMES, Jun. 
 
 Student in Physick and Astronomy. 
 
 BOSTON: Printed and Sold by B. Green, and Sold also at the Book 
 sellers Shops, 1727. 
 
 " Swift Winged Time Feather d with Flying Hours, 
 Whose Hungry Jaws all Things on Earth Devours, 
 And when the space of a few Years and Days 
 Shall be expir d, we all must go our ways 
 To our long Home, where all in Silence mourn, 
 From whose dark shores no Travellers Return, 
 Where Mean and Great on equal Basis stand, 
 No Servants there obey, nor Lords Command." 
 
 That which is got by Fraud and Knavery, 
 Shall be a Curse unto Posterity. 
 
52 ALMANACK FOR 1727. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Cold Frost & Snow may in this month appear 
 But not so piercing as it was last Year. 
 
 Saturn & Venus do joyn here 
 
 With Mars to meet Heav ns Charoteer. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Boras his Blast from frozen Lakes bestows 
 Upon the Barth ; and Whitens all with Snows. 
 
 Industrious Nature whom all do implore 
 She rolls in Riches of all kinds of Store. 
 Her Gifts are large, and free by which you live, 
 As you received it freely, freely Give. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 The Ram that bore fair Haellen once away 
 Hath made dark Night equal to lightsome Day. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Now Swelling Buds on bloomy branches spring, 
 And chatt ring Birds their pleasant Notes do sing. 
 
 That s a knavish trick but he must 
 Answer for it. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Olympic Jove with angry Mars doth Rise 
 
 And with their dreadful Thunder Rend the Skies. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Upon Green Trees Thousands of young Birds fly 
 To be instructed in their Harmony. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Now Beasts do seek some shady Place, to shun 
 The scorching fury of the radiant Sun. 
 
 For what shall it profit a man if he 
 Should gain the whole World &c. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Unwholesome Gales Contagious Auster blows, 
 And trembling Barth some sad Distempers Shows. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1727. 53 
 
 While Titan shines now make your Hay, 
 Men live by Work, & not by Play. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 The fertile Earth with various Fruits abound, 
 
 The Fields with grateful Crops, Ceres hath crown d. 
 
 OCTOBER- 
 
 Now Leaves & Fruits from Trees are stole away, 
 And Night encroacheth on the Hours of Day. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Terra doth Mourn because she must Entomb 
 The seed she bore, again within her Womb. 
 
 Now Mars & Sol have joined here 
 To Warm the Austral Hemisphere. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Waters are pav d with Ice as firm as Stone, 
 And, without Faith, are daily walk d upon. 
 
 Reader, think not I write in vain 
 If it should Snow, when I say, Rain. 
 
 INGENIOUS READER. 
 
 Your kind accepting my poor Endeavours, and the general 
 Reception my Almanack found (with you) the Year past, hath 
 Encouraged me to present you with One for the year to come, 
 which I have Endeavour d to furnish with Matter fit for such a 
 work. I have at the desire of several of my Readers, Inserted 
 the Moon s Rising & Setting in the Sixth Column of this 
 Almanack, which I hope will be kindly Accepted, and I doubt 
 not but you will find my Calculations to Agree with Observa 
 tion. 
 
 As to what I have predicted of the Weather, it is from the 
 Motions & Configurations of the heavenly Bodies, which belongs 
 to Astrology : L,ong Experience testifies that the Sun, Moon 
 and Stars have their Influence on our Atmosphere, for it hath 
 been observed for Seventy Years past, That the Quartile & 
 Opposition of Saturn & Jupiter produce Wet Seasons ; and none 
 
54 ALMANACK FOR 1727. 
 
 will deny but that the Sun affordeth us his benign Rays & kind 
 influence, and by his regular Motion causeth Spring, Summer, 
 Autumn & Winter ; and if the Moon can cause the daily Hbbing 
 and Flowing of the Tide, and has the vast Ocean subject to her 
 government, she can certainly change the Air which is Thin, 
 and Tenuious. In fine, The Stars of Heaven give us such a 
 Noble Idea of the Infinite Power, Wisdom & Glory of God, that 
 they Invite our Thoughts to Soar among the heavenly Glories. 
 Thus wishing the Contemplation thereof may afford Praise to 
 the Infinite Creator and Contriver of them all. 
 
 I remain 
 A Friend to all Lovers of Urania, 
 
 N. AMES. 
 Bridgwater, Octob. 20, 1726. 
 
 " Now unto Heav n direct thy curious Eyes, 
 And view the wonderous Glory of the Skies : 
 And send thy Mind to walk the highest Sphere, 
 And know the Heav ns as if thou hadst been there. 
 Each Star above doth in a silent Story, 
 Declare the Greatness of their Maker s Glory." 
 
 on 1727. The youthful Astronomer deems no Apology 
 necessary for his offering the present year. His salutatory still savors 
 of the modes and fashions of the day Tempus fugit. The monthly 
 verses are more classical and scholarly than those of his first issue, and 
 the expression of the several old saws interpolated among his predictions, 
 smacks of originality. The unexplained parenthetical allusion, under 
 April, to a certain " knavish trick," doubtless has some local significance, 
 which is lost to us. 
 
 Under July, his quotation shadows forth some religious influence 
 which is repeated again in the December couplet. 
 
 The sentiment of the November verse is beautiful, and the poetic 
 imagery of the seasons unique. Sad November, indeed. 
 
 In his salutatory for this year, he explains how his weather predictions 
 are arrived at astrologically, of course and in accordance with the expe 
 rience of years agone. 
 
 He evidently has thoroughly imbibed his fathers love for Sidereali 
 Scientia, as his enthusiastic devotion to the study is shown in his conclud 
 ing lines, and the closing bit of verse. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1728. 55 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1728 
 
 BY NATHANIEL AMES, Jun. 
 
 Student in Physick and Astronomy. 
 
 BOSTON: Printed by B. Green and Sold at the Booksellers Shops, 1728. 
 
 " Time is devouring all that she brings forth, 
 And feeds on objects of the rarest worth, 
 She Changes all, and Dissolution brings 
 To Mean and Great, to Clowns as well as Kings, 
 Because the Laws of unmov d Fates Decree 
 That all things born (on Earth) shall mortal be 
 A much more strong and uncontrolled L,aw, 
 Than any Mead or Persian ever saw. 
 
 King GEORGE the Second proclaim d in London June 14, 
 1727, & proclaim d at Boston, N. E., the i6th of August follow 
 ing : Whom GOD preserve from all His Enemies, and give Him 
 the Zeal of David, and Wisdom of Solomon, to Chuse such 
 Counsellors, as may act for the Glory of GOD and tranquillity 
 of His People ! 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 From Northern Climes Congealing Winds do blow, 
 Which makes the Earth lye shivering in Snow. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Sol s warm d the South, and now is Marching back 
 To Melt the Snow, and make the Ice to crack. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Wit bought with the price of Woe is a little too dear. 
 
 Now the warm Sun thaws the benummed Earth 
 And Birds Rejoyce at Spring s Auspicious Birth. 
 
 Rainy wet weather produced by this Apertio Portarum Coeli. 
 
56 ALMANACK FOR 1728. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 In April Showers by Mystick Art Divine 
 
 Is wrought the Quintessence of Bread and Wine. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 The Earth is cloath d with Springing Grass, you see 
 Both Flowers and Leaves adorn the painted Tree. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 When day s bright Prince with light inspires the Skies 
 Night wand ring Stars with fainting Splendour flies. 
 
 K. GEOR. I 
 of blessed Memory Died the n. day 1727. 
 
 With Cadis Major Splendid Sol doth meet 
 Which adds both Strength & Vigour to his Heat. 
 
 Saturn and Jove this Month increase 
 Among all Men great talks of peace. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Sad grows the Times with Melancholy Chear 
 Remember now the Sickness of Last Year. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 The Toylsome Harvester with Sweating Brow 
 Doth reap the interest of his painful Plow. 
 
 Where there is War, they fall to blows. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Thousands do fly from Winter s wastfull Threats 
 And Flora Dyes with Morning Frosty Sweats. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 No Leaves on Trees, nor Corn in naked Fields 
 And barren Earth, no Fruit nor Comfort yields. 
 
 Debates about Religion by those that have none. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Sol s nearest now, yet makes the shortest Days 
 And is to us a Niggard of his Rays. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1728. 57 
 
 OF THE ECLIPSES THIS YEAR, 1728. 
 
 ***** * #- -*- :;:- 
 
 The first of these Eclipses (moon) is Celebrated in 6 degrees 
 of Virgo, the second Sign of the earthy Triplicity, which 
 (authors say) portends the Scarcity of Fruit and Corn. 
 
 The second of these Eclipses, viz : That of the Sun on the 
 28th of February happens in 20 degree of Pisces, the House of 
 Jupiter, and Exaltation of Venus: learned Authors affirm, when 
 Jupiter bears Rule, and is Lord of an Eclipse (as in this he is) 
 he signifies Glory, Fertility, Tranquillity, Peace and Plenty ; and 
 such as are signified by Jupiter, especially Ecclesiastical Persons 
 do flourish and live in great Estimation. The Laws are well 
 Executed, and many Upright and Just Judges are very Active 
 for the Publick Good ; new Customs or Privileges, new Corpora 
 tions, new Honours, &c., are now most happily conferr d upon 
 People in general ; And these are the Natural Portends of Jupiter 
 when he bears Rule in an Eclipse. 
 
 Kind READER : 
 
 In my last Years Almanack I gave you a brief hint of the 
 motions & Diameter of the Planets & their distance from the 
 Sun : but above or beyond all these Planetary Globes is the 
 Firmament or the Region of the Fixed Stars, which are of such 
 Immense Distance from the Sun & this Earth on which we 
 live, that a Learned Astronomer writes, " That if a musquet had 
 been shot up at the Mosaick Creation to the nearest fixed Star, 
 and continued its swiftest course all the way, it would hardly 
 have arrived there by this time, after the long interval of above 
 Five Thousand Years." These Immensly numerous great & 
 amazing Systems of Globes or Worlds so much surpass this 
 Globe of Earth (on which we live) that it degenerates into but 
 little more than a point, when it is compared with the Regions 
 above, and prodigious magnitude of the heavenly Space & the 
 Bodies therein contained. 
 
 Which innumerable number of heavenly Bodies or Globes 
 are without doubt, Worlds, or places of Habitation & Conse 
 quently stock d with proper Inhabitants : for all the Multitude 
 of S3^stems and Habitable Worlds are created of GOD ; by Him 
 
58 ALMANACK FOR 1728. 
 
 the Worlds are made, it is said, in Heb. i, 2. The Omnipotent 
 Being is able to govern & provide for Ten Thousand Worlds, as 
 well as One : for, the Unlimited extent of GOD s Presence fills 
 the unfathomable Abyss of Infinite Extramundane Space ; but 
 the consideration of such Immensly great & glorious Globes 
 are enough to weary the thoughts, and amaze the Faculties of 
 inconsiderable Worms that creep upon this little spot of Earth. 
 To wade no further into this Immense Abyss, I shall conclude 
 with the following Lines of Sir Richard Blackmore : 
 
 " Hail King Supream ! of Pow r, Immense Abyss ! 
 . Father of Lights ! Exhaustless Source of Bliss ! 
 Thou Uncreated, Self-Existent Cause, 
 Controul d by no Superiour Being s Laws ; 
 Since thou didst all the Spacious Worlds display, 
 Homage to thee let all Obedient pay, 
 Let glitt ring Stars, that Dance their Destin d Ring ") 
 Sublime in Sky with Vocal Planets Sing, 
 Confed rate Praise to thee, O great Creator King. ) 
 Let the thin Districts of the waving Air 
 (Conveyancers of Sound) Thy Skill declare, 
 Let Winds the Breathing Creatures of the Skies, 
 Call in each vig rous Gale that Roving flies 
 By Land or Sea then one loud Triumph Raise 
 And all their Blasts imploy in Songs of Praise." 
 
 on 1728. The verses on title page and those at the head of 
 each monthly page give evidence of a studious mind, and the announce 
 ment of the succession of His Majesty George II breathes forth an 
 undoubted spirit of loyalty to the reigning family, and a desire for the 
 welfare of the crown. 
 
 The entire matter in the Almanack bespeaks the ardent lover of nature, 
 and the enthusiast in the study of the stars. The humor of later years 
 begins to manifest itself in a modest sort of way, interspersed with a mild 
 satire. 
 
 That the Doctor held very favorable views of Astrologic art, is evident 
 from his comment on the eclipses, and his quotations of what " Authors 
 say " concerning their dire effects on earthly affairs in certain conditions, 
 and their very happy forebodings in others. 
 
 And should the Authors enthusiasm be doubted concerning his Stellar 
 studies, and his appreciations of the immensity of the universe, etc., as 
 well, one need only read his address to the " Kind Reader " and then 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1729. 59 
 
 endeavor to deny the reflection of the late John Phcenix that " there are 
 not adjectives (and perhaps not adverbs) enough in the English language 
 to enable a person to speak the truth." The Doctor is to be congratulated 
 that he had Sir Richard Blackmore to fall back upon, when his own 
 language failed him to do the subject justice. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1729 
 
 BY NATHANIEL AMES, Jun. 
 
 Student in Physick and Astronomy. 
 
 BOSTON : Printed by B. Green, and Sold at the Booksellers Shops. 
 
 Man was at first a perfect upright Creature 
 The lively image of his great Creator. 
 When Adam fell, all men in him transgressed 
 And since that time they err that are the best. 
 The printer errs ; I err, much like the rest 
 Welcome s that man for to complain of me, 
 Whose self and works are quite from error free. 
 
 NOTE. Here for the first time in the Doctor s publication appears the 
 "Anatomy" and the Doctor evidently is an unwilling illustrator of his 
 book, mildly protesting in the accompanying verse. This household god 
 has been religiously bowed down to and worshipped by both the ancient 
 and modern rustic. It is supposed to have been originated under the 
 title of homo signorum by Petrus de Dacia, a firm believer in planetary 
 influence, and almanack maker, who lived about the year 1300. This 
 frightful caricature surrounded by the signs of the Zodiac, has always 
 occupied a prominent position in the Almanack mainly to gratify those 
 who had faith (which certainly is much required) in the influences por 
 tended thereby. 
 
6o 
 
 ALMANACK FOR 1729. 
 
 1 7 * 9- 
 
 "he Anatomy of Man\s Body, and what part thereof 
 
 f Represented by ibc \i Signs of ibc Zodiack. 
 
 Neck 
 Throat 
 
 , and 
 Scomach 
 
 Bowels, 
 and Belly 
 
 Secrets 
 
 VS 
 Knees 
 
 Y The Heacl & Face 
 
 ~ "ARIES, 
 TA\RV5^ iGEM1W] 
 
 TL 
 
 Arms cV 
 Shoulders 
 
 Back 
 
 ^v 
 
 Reins and 
 Loins 
 
 < 
 
 Thighs 
 
 & 
 
 Legs 
 
 K The Feet, 
 
 The Blackmoor may as eas ly change his Skin, 
 As Men forfake the ways theyV brought up in ^ 
 Therefore I ve fet the Old Anatomy, 
 Hoping topleafe my Country men thereby, 
 But whereas the Man that s born fc lives among, 
 
 pieafe a Fickle throng ? x 
 
 TbeV-ulgar Nous of Ms Tear, 1729. 
 
 . i? Epaft 
 
 Cycle of the Sun aS"> Dominical Letter C, 
 
 Nott, The Planet $ Vtnui is -Occidental or Evening 
 Star to the Third day of June, and from 
 Oriental 01 Morning ^car to the Years End. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1729. 61 
 
 Dr. Watts, of poetic fame, was moved to sing of 
 
 " The Ram, the Bull, the heav nly Twins, 
 And next the Crab, the Lion shines, 
 
 The Virgin and the Scales ; 
 The Scorpion, Archer, and Sea-Goat, 
 The Man that holds the Water-Pot, 
 
 And Fish with glittVing Tails." 
 
 Almanack makers have largely been skeptical concerning the powers 
 attributed to the influence believed in by the common people. 
 
 THE ANATOMIE. 
 
 " Should I but dare t omit the Anatomic, 
 Which long enough hath gul d my country friend, 
 He with contempt would straight refuse to buy 
 This book, and t is no Almanack contend. 
 Ask him its use, he le say he cannot tell ; 
 No more can I : yet since he loves t so well, 
 I le let it stand, because my Book should sell. 
 
 Edward Pond, 1633. 
 
 Samuel Clough, the author of " The New England Almanack" for a 
 number of years cast ridicule upon this idol of the people. 
 
 " The Anatomy must still be in 
 Else the Almanacks not worth a pin ; 
 For Country-men, regard the Sign 
 As though Twere Oracle Divine 
 But do not mind that altogether, 
 Have some respect to Wind and Weather. 
 Man s Head and Face Heaven s Rani obey, 
 His Neck, the Neck-strong Bull doth sway ; 
 Th Arm twining Twins guide Hands & Arms, 
 Breast Sides and Stomack, Cancer charms 
 The Lion rules our Back and Heart, 
 Bowels and Belly s Virgo s part. 
 To Libra Reins and Loins belong : 
 The Secrets to the Scorpion. 
 The Archer doth the Thighs affect 
 And Capricorn the Knees protect 
 T Aquarius lot the Legs do fall, 
 The Feet to Pisces ; And there s all." 1703. 
 
 The Anatomy s set here again, 
 To show what part the Sign is in ; 
 For if it hath not here its seat, 
 The Almanack is not compleat. 1704. 
 
62 ALMANACK FOR 1729. 
 
 " Here sits again the old Anotomy, 
 Which Use to please the Country People s eye ; 
 For if they in this place don t see his features 
 They ll not know at what time to Cut their Creatures." 1706. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 The Earth is white like Neptune s foamy face 
 When his proud Waves the hardy Rocks embrace. 
 
 Bad Weather a hatching. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Boreas s chilly breath attacks our Nature 
 And turns the Presbyterian to a Quaker. 
 
 Winter seems stronger 
 The Days are longer. 
 
 Rome s sign will disturb his Holiness. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Phoebus & Mars conjoin d do both agree, 
 
 This Month shall warm (nay, more than usual) be. 
 
 I now predict the Winter s Death & Spring s Birth. 
 
 Both Heat & Cold contend together 
 (to get the Day) about the Weather. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 The Birds like Orpheus now all things invite 
 To come and hear Melodious sweet delight. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 MAY, like a Virgin quickly yields her Charms 
 To the Embrace of Winter s Icy Arms. 
 
 A cold May storm which will pacific Noisy Affairs, & 
 Conclude long Debates. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 SOL S scorching Rays puts Blood in Fermentation 
 And is stark naught to Acts of Procreation. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 THE Moon (this Month) that pale-fac d Queen of Night 
 Will be disrob d of all her borrow d Light. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1729. 63 
 
 Now there s great signs of Rain or Hail 
 But in Dry times great Signs do Fail. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 The Earth and Sky Resound with Thunder Loud 
 And Oblique Streams flash from the dusky Cloud. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 The burthen d Earth abounds with various Fruit 
 Which doth the Epicurean s Palate suit. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 THE Tyrant Mars old Saturn now opposes 
 Which stirs up Feuds and may make bloody Noses. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Now what remains to Comfort up our Ljves 
 Is cordial Liquor and kind loving Wives. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 The Chrystal streams congeal d to Icy Glass 
 Become fit Roads for Travellers to pass. 
 
 Christmas is nigh The bare Name of it 
 
 to Rich or Poor will be no Profit. 
 
 TO THE LEGITIMATE SONS OF URANIA. 
 
 GENTLEMEN : 
 
 All the Ephemeries now Extant among us, and Tables of 
 that nature containing the Eclipses, Lunations, Planets places, 
 and aspects calculated for the meridian of London, are notori 
 ously false for the first four Months of this Year, and differ from 
 the Truth as far as light from darkness : but I with much care 
 and elaborate Calculations have supplied the defects of the said 
 four months in every respect, and with much difficulty have 
 introduced another Almanack into the World, which is entirely 
 of my own Calculating and not borrowed. 
 
 And tho I do not avouch the verity of my Calculation, yet I 
 doubt not but that they will come pretty nigh the Truth, except 
 some Typographical Errors intervene. I have inserted the 
 Moon s Rising and Setting in the last column of my Almanack, 
 
64 ALMANACK FOR 1729. 
 
 which I doubt not but will meet with general acceptance by my 
 Countrymen : And tho I have left out the Planets Places there, 
 and inserted them in the great Column of the Weather, here and 
 there, where there was room, yet it was not out of ill will to the 
 sublime Sons of Art, but because they spring up so thinly, 
 scarce one in an hundred. 
 
 And tho my Brethren Almanack makers be reckoned among 
 that Number yet they have all (this year) built upon Colson s 1 
 Calendar (a rotten foundation) which hath filled the first four 
 months of their Almanacks as full of Krrors as there are Days 
 in the same. I am far from laying a foundation for a long Con 
 troversy with those of my own fraternity, but because I would 
 not have the World depend upon so great untruth, I would have 
 them Re-calculate their Eclipses, and they shall find themselves 
 that they are mistaken : two of em make their first Eclipse 
 (which they say is of the Moon) to be on the 24th Day of Feb 
 ruary tho by their own Almanacks the Moon is at her first 
 Quarter at that time, and as for their Eclipse of the Sun which 
 they make to be on the igih day of March it is as far from the 
 truth as the other, for the Sun at that time is above forty degrees 
 distance from the Dragon s head, which carries the shade of the 
 moon to the north more than three times the Diameter of the 
 Earth, and therefore it is impossible in nature that the Earth 
 should suffer an Eclipse at that time. Thus much I thought fit 
 to tell the World that they might not mistake a third in the 
 Number, and a month in the Time of the Eclipses this year. 
 
 Octob. 25th, 1728. NATH. AMES. 
 
 OH 1729. The fear of adverse criticism which possessed 
 our Author when he essayed his first Almanack has now borne fruit, and 
 with the tide of success has floated in the carping censor, and on his first 
 page in this year s production he casts a poetical "sop to Cerberus." 
 
 The monthly poetical offerings of the muse continue to improve. 
 Momus exerts a mild influence, and in some lines the spirit of Hippocrates 
 is shadowed forth evincing the proficiency of the " Student in Physick," 
 while under November the social qualities of the future Dedham inn 
 keeper" are quite apparent. 
 
 1 Possibly Nathaniel Colson, a noted Almanack maker of London. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1730. 65 
 
 In his address to the " Legitimate Sons of Urania" the Doctor demon 
 strates his superiority in the world of figures, and while apologizing for 
 the non-appearance of certain Astrological features he berates his London 
 contemporary for his erratic conclusions, and in a left-handed manner 
 sympathizes with his Almanack making neighbors for their misfortune in 
 following blindly, the unverified Ephemerides of the mother country 
 Astronomer. While the Doctor s argument is unanswerable he has opened 
 the door now for continued controversy and aspersion. 
 
 One of the contemporary almanack makers whom Dr. Ames took to 
 task for erratic calculations was Mr. Nathan Bow en who wrote under the 
 soubriquet "a Native of New England" and in his Almanack 1730 thus 
 replied to his castigator : " I have once more ventured into the world, not 
 withstanding a Repulse I met with the last Year, from a Young Stripling, 
 who under the influence of Mercury, gave his Pen a Latitude beyond that 
 of his Beard ; but let him know, That tho he hath so great a value for the 
 merits of his own performance, were I disposed to pick holes in his Coat, 
 I should leave him in a ragged Condition ; tho I rather chuse to take the 
 Advice of Old Mecaenas to his friend Cremutius, which was never to be 
 concerned at what was spoken against him. For (saith he) If what is 
 alleged against us be true, it is rather our business to Reform our selves, 
 than for others to hold their Tongues ; But if what is said of us be false, 
 so soon as we show a Concern at it, we make it suspected for Truth, the 
 Contempt of such Discourses discredits them, and takes away the pleasure 
 from those that raise them ; If you resent them more than you ought to 
 do, it is in the power of the most contemptible Enemy to disturb the 
 Repose of your Life; and all your power cannot secure you against 
 vexation." 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1730 
 
 BY NATHANIEL AMES, Jun. 
 
 Student in Physick & Astronomy. 
 
 BOSTON: Printed by B. Green and sold at the Booksellers Shops, 1730. 
 
 Bright Scenes do change, three Posting Years shan t Cease 
 
 Before stern Mars stares in the Face of Peace, 
 
 Steel Glitt ring Spears the very Fields affright 
 
 And Europe all seems fir d with armour bright. 
 
 Saturn & Jove contend and will not yield 
 
 So dead & Wounded pave the bloody Field. 
 
66 ALMANACK FOR 1730. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Could st them mount up, and be as far 
 As (in our Sight) the farthest Star ; 
 Thou there as many more might see 
 Shine in the vast Immensity ! 
 And then as far again should st fly 
 Thou wouldest more and more espy. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Now all a Loud the Winds do blow 
 About the hoary heaps of Snow, 
 With feather d Rain the ways are foul 
 No Birds do sing Kxcept the Owl : 
 But every Bird has chose his Mate 
 The joyful Spring to Celebrate. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Cunkeechah Netop ? what News you speak to me ? 
 Muffy good news; what? you no Stommonee? 
 By by come Elwipes much as me can wish 
 Me Tink nuxt Week den me shan heb it Bish 
 Where is Tat prace you speak to me ? Me ashk it 
 Me tink some Pokes he cann his Lame Namaskitt. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 When first the Spring Dissolves the Mountain Snow, 
 And Western Winds upon the Waters blow, 
 When Neptunes fury stops, the Winds do sleep 
 And only Whisper Musick to the deep. 
 Then Smooth Fac d Thetis bids you hoist your Sails, 
 And plow the Briny Seas with prosperous Gales. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Aurora s Winged Choristers Prepare 
 To Chant forth Anthems in Harmonious Air 
 And Mounting Lark Day s Herald gets on Wing 
 And bids each Bird choose out their bough to Sing : 
 The Daz ling Sun sends down Porlific beams, 
 And Rarifies the Earth with piercing Gleams. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Hail, high-pitch d Sol, thy Scorching Aetna turn 
 To gentle heat, and let thy Rays not burn. 
 But }-et I say, thou Dumb and Senceless thing 
 Thou must obey thy Great Creator King. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1730. 67 
 
 For all the Stars that in the Heavens shine 
 Fulfill some deep and wonderfull design. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 The furious winds with one another Scold 
 And Sulph ry Vapours meet with Chilling Cold. 
 The Clouds do Roar and from their breaches throw 
 Such Thund ring Tumults as torment below, 
 And Heavens Artil ry horrid Noises make 
 Wherewith dull Earth and Wand ring Rivers shake. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 The Heavenly Globes in Liquid Aether Runs 
 With Rapid Motion round the Stedfast Sun ; 
 The smallest Stars that quite Surpass our Sight. 
 To other Systems may be Globes of Light 
 Systems Distinct in Order do imbrace 
 The Whole Abyss of Extra mundane Space. 
 
 A Fair Face but a foul Bargain. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 W T hen Tender Lambs with Wolves delight to play 
 Or from the West shall spring the Break of Day : 
 When Rocks forget their ponderous weight and fly, 
 Like waving Atoms in the Empty Skie : 
 Then shall vain Notions by Traditions bred, 
 Among the Vulgar be abolished. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Are Comets with their dreadfull firey Blaze 
 Made only Objects whereon Men might Gaze? 
 No, they from World to World are always Sent 
 To Warn them of some Sad and dire Event. 
 One met the Earth and Drown d that Generation 
 The same may cause the Gen ral Conflagration. 
 
 Hate not the man, but his vices. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Old Winter s coming void of all delight 
 
 With tremb ling steps his Head is bald and White 
 
 His Hair with Robes of Icicles are hung. 
 
 His Chatt ring Teeth Confound his Useless Tongue 
 
 He makes the Rich to Spend, and poor to Cry 
 
 For Want of that which would their Wants Supply. 
 
68 ALMANACK FOR 1730. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Sol through his Twelve Coelestial Inns has Run 
 And Now unto Cold Capricorn is come : 
 Where in that Solstice he so Pale is grown, 
 As if aeham d his Weakness should be known : 
 But in Six Months to us he will return 
 With such a Heat his Rays will almost burn. 
 
 Concerning the Eclipses this year, the Author would observe, 
 that according to Authors the Eclipse of the Moon (Jan. 22) 
 which happens in Leo the 2nd Sign of the fiery Triplicity, 
 threatens more Grudgings, Repinings, discord and hatred, mur 
 muring, complaints of the Common People, motions of Armies, 
 Wars, burning of Houses, sharp Fevers, Pestilential Diseases, etc. 
 
 And as for the Eclipse of the Sun on the 3rd of July, Mars 
 casts his Malign Rays to both the Luminaries, which portends 
 much Mischief to those Places and Countries, that are subject to 
 the Sign Eclipsed. 
 
 Note. In the last preceding Years, the Superiour Planets 
 have been within benevolent Rays, but in the three succeeding 
 Years they will be malevolently Affected and near the ^Equinox, 
 which perhaps may affect the bigger part of the Earth, with War 
 and Tumults. 
 
 KIND READER. 
 
 It may not be amiss to fill this Vacant Page with the follow 
 ing Lines written by an Accurate hand to Mr. H. Coley, on his 
 Clavis Astrologiae Elimata. 
 
 When the Divine Idaea s first unfurl d, 
 
 Themselves to raise this glorious Frame the World, 
 
 Almighty Wisdom by a Mistique Tye, 
 
 Spread through the whole a secret Sympathy ; 
 
 Impregnating Superiours to dispense, 
 
 On lower Bodies daily Influence ; 
 
 Which Train, if Causes that in order fall 
 
 The Wiser Nature, others Fortune call : 
 
 And whilst Man did in Innocence remain, 
 
 He knew ( tis like) each Link of that great chain ; 
 
 But when Sin Blurr d his Soul, that Light was Damp t 
 
 Affected Knowledge made him Ignorant ; 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1730. 69 
 
 Heaven s Language then no longer he could spell, 
 
 But rudely guess at what he could not tell : 
 
 Yet though Bclips d, his Mind, (not quite bereft) 
 
 Had still some scatter d Glimmering Notions left. 
 
 As Rallying Troops (after an Overthrow) 
 
 By Stratagems seem to Attaque their Foe ; 
 
 So humane kind hopes to Retrieve by Art, 
 
 That Skill from which they did so fondly part : 
 
 On plains of Shinar where enlarged Skie 
 
 Gluts with vast Prospect the admiring Eye. 
 
 The long liv d Patriarchs as their Flocks they Fed, 
 
 Observ d the wandering Glories Over-head. 
 
 Trac d all their Laws of motion and from thence 
 
 By sage Experience learn d their Influence : 
 
 URANIA then was chast, and known to be, 
 
 A hand-maid fit for bles d Theology ; 
 
 Until a Barbarous Crew had Seiz d upon her 
 
 Whose savage Rapes deflower d her blooming Honour ! 
 
 Chaldaeau Figments then debauch d her Race, 
 
 And with vile paint Sulli d her lovely Face : 
 
 Ignorance called her Witch, Malice a Cheat, 
 
 And every Gypsey did usurp her Seat. 
 
 But still with generous scorn she took these wrongs, 
 
 And left just Fate to scourge their Sawcy Tongues. 
 
 1730. This year the opening verse on title page savors 
 greatly of a bias toward Astrology, although "glittering spears," "armour 
 bright," and " dead and wounded " did not largely disturb the peace of 
 Europe this season. 
 
 The poetical offerings over each month have been elaborated from 
 couplets to six-line verses, mostly dedicated to the extolment of the starry 
 firmament and its glories, and with mythologic imagery of the planets, 
 their courses and influences. A notable exception however is the March 
 selection which is an attempt at an humorous Indian dialect soliloquy. 
 The circumstance covered by the verse may be freely rendered into Eng 
 lish, thus : ( The aborigine having saluted Netop (Englishman) with an 
 inquire of surprise, continues : What news you speak to me ? mighty 
 good news ; what ? don t you understand me ? By-and-by Alewives (a sort 
 of fish) will come, as much as I could wish. I think next week then I shall 
 have them sure. Where is the place, you ask me ? I answer, I think some 
 folks call its name Namasket (river.) 
 
 February evinces some familiarity with Shakspeare. Under August 
 appears a mild, yet pointed allusion to the social evil, and in September he 
 
70 ALMANACK FOR 1730. 
 
 shoots a bolt at flying folly. Under October crops out the direful Astro 
 logical idea of the baneful influence of the Comet s presence, and even the 
 probable destruction of the world by similar influence is foretold, as also 
 is the Deluge attributed to the collision of this terrestial ball, with one of 
 those erratic heavenly letters of marque. 
 
 Altogether the monthly verses are quite interesting as well as pleasing, 
 and amply make amends for the humorous items which are not very 
 plentiful this year in the weather column. 
 
 In his chapter on the Eclipses he again quotes the Astrological authors r 
 and "what they say," and concludes his Almanack with a poem dedicated 
 to Mr. Henry Coley, the pupil and successor to Mr. William I/illy, the 
 great Astrologer of the period of Charles I, the Commonwealth, and the 
 Restoration. This poem is quite entertaining, as the writer laments the 
 decline of the Astrologic art from its once high position as the handmaid 
 of Theology. 
 
 William Lilly, the most successful of these charlatans deserves more 
 than a passing notice. He flourished between the years 1602 1681 ; born 
 i May, 1602; died 9 June, 1681, and was proficient in all the unscrupulous 
 cunning, adroitness, and plausibility, which go to make up the successful 
 quack and impostor. When Charles I. was imprisoned at Carisbrooke 
 Castle, Lilly was consulted for the honr which would favor his escape. He 
 was satirized by Butler in Hudibras, as Sidrophel. 
 
 " Do not our great reformers use 
 This Sidrophel to forebode news ? 
 To write of victories next year, 
 And castles taken yet i th air ? 
 Of battles fought at sea, and ships 
 Sunk two years hence ? the last eclipse ? 
 A total o er throw given the King 
 In Cornwall, horse and foot, next spring? 
 And has he not point-blank foretold 
 Whats e er the close committee would? 
 Made Mars and Saturn for the cause, 
 The Moon for fundamental laws ? 
 The Ram, the Bull, the Goat declare 
 Against the Book of Common Prayer ? 
 The Scorpion take the protestation, 
 And Bear engage for reformation ? 
 Made all the royal stars recant, 
 Compound and take the covenant?" 
 
 Lilly was the author of almanacks entitled Merlini Anglici Ephctneris, 
 and Merlinus Anglicus Junior, and continued their publication from 
 1644 until his decease, when he was succeeded by his student, Henry Coley, 
 to whom the poem quoted by Dr. Ames was dedicated. 
 
AIRMAN ACK FOR 1730. 
 
 Merlini Jnglici Ephemeris : 
 OR, 
 
 Aftrolo$icall Predi&ions for the Year, 1.6 yi. 
 By W I LLI A M L I L L Y,Student in 
 
 Dem dabit his <juquf finem. 
 
 Printed for the Ompiiny of Stationers, and 
 the Ca&lc in Cornhllli 
 
 Portrait of 
 
 WIUJAM LILLY. 
 
 Title page of his Almanack. 1652. 
 
72 ALMANACK FOR 1731. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1731 
 
 BY NATHANAKI/ AMES, Jun. 
 
 Student in Physick and Astronomy. 
 
 BOSTON: Printed by B. Green and Sold at the Booksellers Shops, 1731, 
 
 From hence you carping Momus hence be gone, 
 To your deserved center Acheron 
 Keep court with Pluto, in the Stygian Lake, 
 Whose sordid Tongues do black Aspersions make 
 Your lot & portion black Tartarum yields ; 
 You have no right unto th Elysian fields, 
 Whose viperous Tongues abuse the Sons of Art, 
 When knowledge they to th blear-eyed World impart. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 When the Almighty to Create Essay d 
 Thousands of World s were out of Nothing made ; 
 When ancient Night its spacious Realms resign d, 
 Then Globes of Light in Fields of Azure shin d. 
 Confusion now no more provokes the Fray, 
 And comely Forms in decent Order play. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Stupendous Atheistical Nonsense ! 
 
 That Atoms floating in a Space Immense. 
 
 Should by the jumbling hand of Chance be hurl d 
 
 Into that order which compos d the World ! 
 
 Or if the Concave of the vast Expance, 
 
 Was by the senseless Hand of giddy Chance. 
 
 There will be Weather this Week tho I say nothing about it. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Fill d up with Stars and glorious Globes of Light 
 So beautiful and so amazing bright. 
 What could direct em in their beaten way, 
 That none do from their ancient Order stray ? 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1731. 73 
 
 Why, there must be one Architect above 
 
 By whom the various Springs of Nature move. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Who all the vast prodigious Worlds can weild 
 And strength compleat to labouring Nature yield, 
 Almighty Power doth over all preside. 
 And Providence the smallest Atoms guide, 
 And every Atom of this mighty Frame, 
 (By him Created) out of Nothing came. 
 
 T? Changes Signs so Many Changes happen. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 And to behold how natural Causes move, 
 
 Like Engines by th Artificer above, 
 
 Must help our stupid Minds and make us see 
 
 And know there s one Eternal Deity, 
 
 Omnipotent and most amazing bright 
 
 And doth command th imperial Realms of Light. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Who do divine incessant Praises pay 
 While on the Glories of his Face gaze they, 
 Inanimates Instinctive Honour give, 
 And shame the World who in Rebellion live : 
 The Sun and Stars obey his holy Will 
 Tho Men on Earth are Rebels to him still. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 By threatning Stars and Prodigies He shows 
 
 A sinning People their impending Woes, 
 
 Earthquakes sometimes the trembling Ground do tear 
 
 And blazing Comets rule the troubled air. 
 
 See how the Morning is mimic d in the North 
 
 By strange and vap rous Lights that there spring forth. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Which makes the Stars to shine with paler Beams, 
 And seem to tremble at such Midnight Streams 
 Unusual Lights by Night adorn the Skies, 
 And the cold North is filled with Prodigies 
 Unknown the Cause and tragical Portents 
 Of this strange Harbinger of dire Events. 
 
74 ALMANACK FOR 1731. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 But this we know that universal Doom, 
 
 Which wondrous Prophecies foretold shall come, 
 
 Earthquakes and Wars and wondrous Prodigies, 
 
 Forebode that great decisive Morn to rise, 
 
 When Heav ns bright Judge in op ning Skies shall show 
 
 His Grace and Justice to the World below. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 The Constellations and Superiour Stars, 
 Threaten the trembling World with dreadful Wars : 
 Chronos and Jove for Mischief are designd 
 Malignant Stars are to Malignants join d : 
 Sometimes one Spark devouring Flames create, 
 There s Matter lodg d for fiery bleeding Fate. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 There s some I know that presume to say, 
 The World was ne er forewarned such a way, 
 But I unto such " fiery Zealots tell 
 
 " Astrology s from Heaven not from Hell. 
 
 " Tis no Black Art, no damned Necromancy 
 f " No Witchcraft neither, as some please to Fancy. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 " For, shallow Brains think all that s hard & high, 
 
 " Unlawful, or impossibility." 
 Bold is the Wretch, Blasphemous is the Man 
 Who (Finite) will or dare attempt to scan 
 The Works of HIM who s infinitely Wise, 
 And those he cannot Comprehend, denies. 
 
 ECUPSES 1731. 
 
 Twice shall the Moon as she doth cross her Node 
 Eclipse the Sun in his Ecliptick Road ; 
 And twice the Disk of Earths obscuring shade, 
 The Borrow d Light of Luna shall invade. 
 
 Strange and wonderful have been the prodigious Effects of 
 Nature of L,ate Years in the production of terrible Thunder 
 & Lightning, violent storms, tremendous Earthquakes, great 
 Eclipses of the Luminaries, notable Configurations of the 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1731. 75 
 
 Planets, and strange Phenomena in the Heavens : The Aurora 
 Borealis (or Northern Twilight) is very unusual, and never seen 
 in New England (as I can learn) till about 1 1 years ago : Tho 
 undoubtedly this Phenomenon proceed from the concatination 
 of causes. For hot and moist Vapours, Exhaled from the Earth, 
 and Kindled in the Air by Agitation, according to their motion 
 may cause Strange Appearances. I do not say that this is the 
 true cause of these Northern Lights, but that they are caused 
 by some such way must be granted : nor must they be dis 
 regarded or look d upon as ominous of neither Good nor 111, 
 because they are but the products of Nature : for the great GOD of 
 Natue forewarns a sinful World of approaching Calamities, not 
 only by Prophets, Apostles and Teachers, but also by the 
 Elements and Extraordinary Signs in the Heavens, Earth and 
 Water. There seldom or never happen d any Revolution of King 
 doms & States, Sects and Seditions in the Church, Alterations of 
 Laws and Customs, Wars, Famine, Deluges, &c. But that the 
 Postures of the Constellations, preceding their Changes, were 
 very remarkable. I doubt not but the Oppositions of the 
 Superiours Saturn and Jupiter will have their malign Effects, 
 especially those which are celebrated in Cardinal and Equinoc 
 tial Signs. I do not pretend to determine the Event of these 
 things : yet doubtless he who lives a few years, and observes the 
 Mutations, Alterations, and Vicissitudes of things, and Accidents 
 of Mundane Affairs, may be able to judge from his own experi 
 ence, whether these Phenomena forebode Good or 111. 
 
 OH 1731* The Astronomer is evidently inspired in his open 
 ing lines by the perusal of a stray copy of the Almanack of " Poor Robin, 
 the Knight of the Burnt Island," which was one of the first productions 
 of the class called Comic Almanacks, and which mercilessly ridiculed the 
 Astrologic predictions of the Astronomers. Doctor Ames takes up his 
 cudgel, and with the aid of Melpomene, proceeds to castigate the offenders, 
 consigning them to the "abode of the lost souls." 
 
 The verses at the head of the prognostications for the month, set forth 
 with no uncertain sound, his firm belief in the Mosaic account of the 
 Creation. The lines under July and August give his idea of the Aurora 
 Borealis, and again he reiterates his continued belief in the influence 
 of " threatening stars and prodigies " upon the destinies of men, and 
 
76 ALMANACK FOR 1732. 
 
 thoroughly rivets his faith in the concluding lines of the months of 
 November and December. 
 
 The four lines announcing the Eclipses for the year, are ingeniously 
 conceived, and thoroughly cover the subject. 
 
 This year there is a total absence of humorous prognostications, and 
 wise sayings, from their usual place in the weather column ; the whole 
 attention of the author evidently having been devoted to the gentle muse. 
 
 He closes his annual production with a characteristic essay upon the 
 remarkable natural occurrences of recent years, and incorporates therein 
 also his theory of the " Northern Twilight " which had never been noted 
 in New England prior to the year 1719. He again alludes to the fact that 
 great changes in earthly affairs are always preceded by remarkable celestial 
 configurations, and while not willing to absolutely forecast the future, 
 wisely recommends that mundane happenings be strictly observed, that 
 experience may teach whether precedent Phenomena may not have 
 governed the ensuing occurences. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1732 
 
 BY NATHANAEI, AMES, Jun. 
 
 Student in Physick & Astronomy. 
 
 BOSTON: Printed by B. Green and Sold at the Booksellers Shops, 1732. 
 
 Come now, O Product of Elaborate thought 
 Which many a silent Hour on thee has wrought \ 
 Thou rt from an Embrio to perfection brought : t 
 Go forth into the World, for some shall Prize thee, 
 Some shall set light, and other some despise thee ; 
 But mind em not, only observe this Rule, 
 Always to Love the Wise, and shun the Fool. 
 
 INGENIOUS READER. 
 
 The method of this Almanack is not alter d therefore it needs 
 no Explanation : only the Verses over each Monthly Page do 
 not properly appertain to the Months, and some perhaps may 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1732. 77 
 
 say, not to the Almanack neither : But I hope they will acknowl 
 edge that the consideration of the Distances, Places, Motions, 
 Center, and Magnetism of the Heavenly Bodies, and how 
 inviolably they obey the Laws of some Omniscient Contriver, 
 in their exact Revolutions, according to their several Periods, is 
 sufficient to lead my Thoughts this way to admire the Omniscient 
 Mind: whose All-disposing Providence not only guides the 
 Rolling Worlds, as they Plough the Liquid Aether, but also the 
 light Dust of the Ballance, and the Thousands of Atoms that 
 wander up and down in a Sun-Beam, which are all under his 
 Cognizance. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Not Man nor Angel was, nor laving Soul, 
 
 But Chaos wild Reign d where these Heaven s roll 
 
 When the Omniscient mind, the King Supreme 
 
 Laid out his Work, contriv d the wonderous Scheme 
 
 Of Excellence, which all Creaton shows : 
 
 HE Glory, Beauty, Eminence bestows. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 As Pre-Existing every Second Cause 
 
 He made them all to suit His Sacred Laws, 
 
 Whose firm Decrees, bearing Eternal Date 
 
 Enrolled are in Folios of Fate 
 
 Chain d to His Throne these Sacred Volumes lie 
 
 Nor Angel dares to read, nor Saint comes nigh. 
 
 More News & Business next Month than this. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 For Life and Death by the Eternal Pen 
 
 Are there Recorded, and the Fates ofMen ; 
 
 Our Thoughts and Words, nay not one single Hair 
 
 Upon our Heads but what is numb rd there, 
 
 Fate is an Agent, with first Causes made 
 
 By Springs from Heaven moves and is obey d. 
 
 False Reports. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 It finds a way to enter with the Breath 
 
 And Crouds its Force into all things on Earth, 
 
 It operates Incognito on all, 
 
 Vast Worlds unknown, nay Brutes & Insects small. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1732. 
 
 Things present and to come must all obey 
 Each Day and Hour shews its immortal sway. 
 
 A Wet Coat this Court. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 It dwells above in Harmonies alone 
 
 And moves to us by certain Springs unknown, 
 
 Reveal d in time each Day and Hour unfolds 
 
 What GOD alone Eternally beholds. 
 
 If this is Fate, then it serves GOD S Decrees, 
 
 And brings to pass whatever He foresees. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 For by His wise and absolute Decree 
 
 All Secondary Causes govern d be 
 
 For who s Supreme that can Decree besides ? 
 
 Or what is it that Providence not guides ? 
 
 A Special purpose always must be join d 
 
 With Special knowledge in th Omniscient Mind. 
 
 Sublata Causa Tollitur Effectus. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Which is from possible Mutation free 
 
 As He sees now He saw Eternally. 
 
 If Time brings forth what He has never will d 
 
 Then it is such as always he has nill d, 
 
 And He s Restrain d if nilling cant prevent 
 
 And so no GOD if not Omnipotent. 
 
 Take her at her Word for so many Matches are Retarded. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 The Architect Divine Work d up rude Clay 
 Which void of Thought, or Sense or Reason lay, 
 Till it the Breath of Life from GOD receiv d 
 Then Man arose, stood up, and spake and breath d. 
 Almighty Power and wonderous Art imploy d 
 To call Us up out of an Empty Void. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Not of ourselves, but by the Hand Divine, 
 Whose Sacred Word declares all Souls are mine : 
 My Glory I propose in all I ve made 
 And what I thus propose shall be obey d ; 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1732. 79 
 
 Not your s, but My Prerogative alone, 
 To Honour or Dishonour what s my own. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 But O ! Alas ! was Man made so accurst 
 His Fate so hard to Sin because he must? 
 Will GOD condemn the Soul to endless pain, 
 For doing only what Himself ordains ? 
 Sure God is good in all His deep designs, 
 No Attribute with greater Lustre shines. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 We be n t constrain d to Sin : for GOD S Decree, 
 Don t inconsist with Humane Liberty, 
 We freely have our choice in every way. 
 Yet all the while GOD S firm Decrees obey 
 For GOD decreed before the Worlds were made, 
 CHRIST JESUS should by Judas be betray d. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Deliver d up to Death, for he design d 
 Thereby to bring Redemption to Mankind, 
 But Judas only for the sake of Gold, 
 Not for our good, his Glorious Master sold. 
 Thus GOD for gracious ends ordain d that Act, 
 And Judas justly Damned for the Fact. 
 
 ECLIPSES 1732. 
 
 The Eclipses of the Luminaries are of use & benefit to Man 
 kind, for from their Observations many Truths are confirmed 
 which could be Demonstrated by no other Coelestial Phaenomena. 
 The Longitude of Places, the Distances of the Sun and Moon 
 from the Earth, and their Magnitudes, the Motion of the Earth 
 in the Zodiack, and that the Earth is on every Side perfectly 
 Round, or terminated by a Globular Figure : all these and many 
 other things may be demonstrated by Eclipses. 
 
 The Eclipse of the Moon, Nov. 2Oth is a very Remarkable 
 Eclipse, it is celebrated in 10 degree of Gemini. Mercury is 
 Lord of the Ascendant and place Eclipsed, which according to 
 Ptolomy & other Learned Authors is very Portentous : but I 
 
8o ALMANACK FOR 1732. 
 
 shall leave the Effects of this Eclipse to the Conjectures of more 
 able Astrologers. 
 
 There likewise happens this Year, two most famous Oppo 
 sitions of Saturn & Jupiter & both near the Equinox ; * * * 
 many notable Configurations also attend these Oppositions, 
 which may bring some Tragical Scene on the Stage of Action, 
 and the subject Matter of our " Weekly News-Letters" will be, 
 perhaps (more than what is common) of the Negotiations of 
 Kingdoms and Princes. 
 
 I shall conclude what I have to say on these Oppositions 
 with the words of the ingenious Mr. John Partridge^ in his 
 Almanack for London 1702, on the conjunction of these same 
 Planets in the sign Capricornus which are to this effect " From 
 this conjunction I do (says he) Predict a War, and as it happens 
 near the Equinox, I judge it will be Universal & will spread 
 (before it is ended) over all Europe, and also in some parts of 
 America ; and as it begins with a conjunction so I judge it will 
 continue some Years before it is ended, and very few (if any) 
 Kingdoms in Europe will escape the fury of it by War." 
 
 How far these Predictions of his are fulfilled is evident to 
 every one that has not forgot the Wars in the Reign of Queen 
 Anne which followed this conjunction. Now tho Saturn is near 
 
 1 John Partridge, b. 1644, d. 1714; a shoemaker by trade, acquired some 
 knowledge of Latin, astronomy and astrology, and undertook the publica 
 tion of an almanack. He was attacked by Swift who published a number 
 of satirical and humorous pamphlets against the shoemaker-astrologer. 
 Swift predicted the death of Partridge " having consulted the star of his 
 nativity, I find he will infallibly die on the 29th of March next (? 1708) 
 about eleven at night of a raging fever ; therefore I advise him to consider 
 of it, and settle his affairs in time." After this date had transpired, 
 Partridge publicly denied the predicted catastrophe. Swift followed with 
 An Elegy on the Supposed Death of Patridge the Almanack- Maker, 
 followed by 
 
 THE EPITAPH. 
 
 " Here, five foot deep, lies on his back 
 A cobbler, star-monger and quack, 
 Who, to the stars, in pure good-will, 
 Does to his best look upward still. 
 Weep, all ye customers, that use 
 His pills, his almanacks, or shoes ; 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1732. 81 
 
 the same degree of the same Sign where this great conjunction 
 was celebrated in the Year 1702, & Jupiter in opposition thereto ; 
 which makes this opposition very remarkable; yet I do not 
 pretend to know that it will have the same Effect : But I believe 
 these Oppositions will not pass without some Notable Effect to 
 Europe and America, if not to all the World in general. 
 
 The Time for holding Courts in South Carolina General 
 Sessions, 3rd Wednesday in March & October. Common Pleas, 
 2nd Tuesday in Feb., May, Aug. and November. 
 
 IVotes OH 1732. Dr. Ames this year salutes his production with a 
 poetic commendation, and dismisses his bantling to the world with some 
 very sage advice. In his address to the "Ingenious Reader," he again extols 
 the sublimity of the study of the heavens, and magnifies the all disposing 
 Architect of the Universe, and the w r orks of his hands. He apologizes for 
 the perceptible inappropriateness of the verses over each month, as not 
 being in consonance with the usual quality of the conventional lines thus 
 applied ; but the modern reader may find therein much to excite his curi 
 osity. The ingenious writer has embodied therein a gentle endorsement 
 of nearly every creed adduced from the fundamental basis of the Christian 
 
 And you that did your fortune seek, 
 Step to his grave but once a week. 
 This earth which bears his body s print, 
 You ll find has so much virtue in t, 
 That I durst pawn my ears t will tell 
 Whate er concerns you full as well 
 In physique, stolen goods or love, 
 As he himself could when above." 
 
 NOTE. Partridge s memory is preserved in Pope s " Rape of the Lock." 
 After Belinda s curl had been appropriated, the poet places it among the 
 constellations thus : 
 
 " This the beaumonde shall from the Mall survey, 
 And hail with music its propitious ray ; 
 This the blest lover shall for Venus take, 
 And send up prayers from Rosamunda s lake ; 
 This Partridge soon shall view in cloudless skies, 
 When next he looks through Galileo s eyes ; 
 And hence the egregious wizard shall foredoom 
 The fate of Louis and the fall of Rome." 
 
82 ALMANACK FOR 1732. 
 
 faith, and at a period when matters of religion were so generally the sub 
 ject of debate and conversation, it certainly was prudent in the author of a 
 work of general circulation, like the Almanack, either to ignore the subject 
 entirely which possibly might not have been wise or to compose a sort 
 of olla podrida for which the public might " pay their money and take their 
 choice." 
 
 To review the poem the Genesis of the world is treated from the 
 stand-point of the old dispensation ; then the muse gently slips along into 
 the discussion of the " Oraculum or Book of Fate," at which the Fatalist 
 may solace his mind with his peculiar notions. As we pass along, "Special 
 Providences" meet with their endorsement at the hands of the poet, and 
 under September we find that the " Omnipotent personal God declares his 
 purpose and prerogative to Honour or Dishonour what s my own." 
 
 In October, the Universalist queries whether the Soul shall be con 
 demned to endless pain, for only performing the work ordained by the 
 Superior Being ; and over the succeeding month, Predestination is royally 
 made manifest, it having been " decreed before the Worlds were made," 
 that Jesus " should by Judas be betray d," and the unfortunate Judas "justly 
 damned " for the act, in order to exhibit the Omnipotent power and 
 influence. 
 
 There is in this year s Almanack a scarcity of humorous remarks in 
 the weather column. The prediction under February of " more news & 
 business " for next month goes without saying, as in the natural order of 
 things both that condition, the " False Reports " for March, and the " wet 
 coat " for April court, might well be prognosticated for those particular 
 seasons. 
 
 The Latin " Haughty causes exalt effects," is a sort of general aphorism, 
 while the advice to "take her at her Word" is appropriately placed in 
 Cupid s mouth. 
 
 Some very practical Astronomy is taught under the head of " Eclipses," 
 and again the tendency toward the belief in Astrology is evinced in the 
 author s comments on the portents of both the Eclipses and Planetary 
 configurations noted. 
 
 No particular disturbance politically has been noted about this period, 
 as affecting either colonies or mother country, yet perhaps the " News- 
 Letter " mentioned may have contained an occasional allusion to Conti 
 nental European complications, which would serve to verify the predictions. 
 
 That a " prophet is not without honor save in his own country," is veri 
 fied in the allusion by the Doctor to the " ingenious Mr. John Partridge " 
 the Merlinus Liberatus of London, and who was so unmercifully lampooned 
 by Dean Swift. Dr. Ames evidently had confidence in the attainments of 
 
 1 The Boston News-Letter, published by John Campbell, Postmaster, 
 Boston. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1733. 83 
 
 the " Cordwainer-Astronomer, for he frequently quotes him and his works 
 in a very favorable manner. 
 
 At the conclusion is a notice of the court sessions in South Carolina, 
 which verifies the wide-spread popularity of the Almanacks of Doctor 
 Ames, and the evident pleasant relations which then existed between the 
 Colonies north and south. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1733 
 
 BY NATHANIEL AMES, Jun. 
 
 Student in Physick and Astronomy. 
 
 BOSTON: Printed by B. Green and Sold at the Booksellers Shops, 1733. 
 
 TIME works a Change on all material Things 
 
 Each Year new Cause of Admiration brings, 
 
 Perhaps you ll wonder e er this Year goes out, 
 
 Because an Egypt Plague 1 twil bring about ; 
 
 And would you know which of those Plagues twill be, 
 
 Wait but a while, and you shall really see. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 WHAT feeble Accents faulter on my Tongue ? 
 When I but think how ancient Poets Sung; 
 Who lavish d Art, to magnify the Fame 
 Of silly gods which their own hands did Frame 
 My Muse inspir d with Nobler Themes defies 
 Such Old, forsaken, Threadbare, Grecian Lies. 
 
 The Winter s milder than last year, 
 Your Hay will last, what need you fear? 
 
 1 Locust. 
 
84 ALMANACK FOR 1733. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 ATTEMPT ye Singers but in humble Lays, 
 
 With Fear and Trembling Sound your Maker s Praise 
 
 Enable me to Celebrate a right, 
 
 Creation, and the Wonders of His Might. 
 
 O ! Think how Loud the vast Bmpyren Rung ! 
 
 When all the bright Angelic Nature Sung. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 To see how Thousands of New Worlds were made, 
 And how the Basis of this World was laid, 
 How Chaos yielded to the powerful Word, 
 And moving Spirit of the Mighty GOD, 
 Who Silenc d Discord, and establis d Peace ; 
 The Elements Eternal jangle cease. 
 
 Art thou back-bited? 
 Rejoice, if guiltless, 
 If guilty, amend. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 LIKE things to like cohear, all Atonies Bright 
 Or Luminous, combin d in one great Light 
 Which Rules the Day, and keeps in Exile Night. 
 With an Almighty Arm He now stretch d forth 
 Upon the Empty Place the Spacious North 
 The Earth self-ballanc d on her Center hung, 
 Into the Mighty Seas the Waters run. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 AND left the smooth and level Surface dry, 
 
 Some part of which aspir d to Mountains high, 
 
 Whose Concave Heads do serve to feed the Springs, 
 
 And for a Womb to precious hidden things : 
 
 Some Portion into humble Vales subside, 
 
 And Campaign Plains (where Bloody Fights are tri d) 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 HE Cloath d the Fertile Surface o re with Vines 
 
 With Shady Palms, Great Oakes, and Stately Pines 
 
 And various useful Woods, Balsamic Shrubs, 
 
 Grac d with sweet scented Flowers and wholsome Herbs, 
 
 Effluvia that with each Flower dwells 
 
 Affects the sense with Oderiferous Smells. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1733. 85 
 
 JULY. 
 
 THE Eye delighted with a Wondrous Scene, 
 Of Colors, and among the rest the Green 
 That s painted on the Grass, for niter Blew, 
 And Yellow Sulphur, casts that Pleasant Hue, 
 The Fertile Vales with Crystal Streams supply d, 
 Which Cool the Air, and quench the Thirst beside. 
 
 Love is a frantick Frenzy, 
 
 That so infects the minds of men 
 
 that under this taste of Nectar 
 
 they are poisoned with the Water of Styx. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 OF Man and Beast : whose pearly Drops supply, 
 
 The wing d Musicians that inhabit nigh, 
 
 The spacious Seas in Equilibrio Stand, 
 
 Or in a due proportion to the Land, 
 
 For lo they serve for many uses more 
 
 Than to Convey the Ships from Shoar to Shoar 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 AND from the Dark and Gloomy Vaults below 
 The Surface of the Earth, great Riches flow. 
 The Subterraneous Streams concrete to Mines 
 Which serve in deep Medicinal designs: 
 His Voice the Air with Harmony inspires 
 From the sweet warbling of the winged Choirs. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 THE Scaley Tribe amidst the Liquid Seas 
 
 Nor Stormes, nor driftings fear, they Sail with ease 
 
 O re all His Works that Sublinary be, 
 
 He cast a Saphire Glittering Canopy, 
 
 Thunder and Lightning, Rain and painted Bow ~) 
 
 The spangling Stars, nay glaring Comets too 
 
 Adorn the Ample Theater below. ) 
 
 D 23 The Jarring Lovers are Reconciled. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 HE made (having His six Days Wonders done) 
 The sum of all His Works compriz d in One, 
 The noble Creature, Man, High Priest and King 
 Over this World, and every Living thing, 
 
86 ALMANACK FOR 1733. 
 
 And brought these glorious Scenes before His eyes, 
 Which fil d his Son, with joy and with surprise. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 BUT heedless Man ! He from the Hight of all 
 Through Satan s Wiles Received a fatal fall : 
 Vast Throngs of Wondering Angels Hast to see, 
 The dire Event of this Catastrophe. 
 Wonder Augmented still ! for thro free Grace 
 He s Raised Sublime above his former Place. 
 
 THAT this Earth and the other Worlds that dance their 
 destin d Ring about the Sun, (the Center of our System) shall 
 not always continue in a State of Order & Regularity, as at 
 present, is evident not only from the Word of GOD, but also 
 from all the Phoenomena of Nature ; which as with one Voice 
 declare the great Catastrophe of our System ; The quantity of 
 Light and Heat in the Sun is daily diminishing by reason of its 
 perpetually emitting Millions of Rays that never return to it any 
 more. This Earth on which we live by reason of its Eccentri 
 city, as it moves Periodically round the Sun, approaches nearer 
 the Sun every Year, and according to such a Motion, the Earth 
 in Time would be joined to the very Body of that stupendous 
 Luminary. Should Time continue, universal Nature would 
 gradually degenerate into its ancient State of Chaos, and the 
 whole material World would be blended into one promiscuous 
 Mass. But these things could not be accomplished till an 
 inconceivable number of Years were finished. We cant in 
 reason think that this World will continue till it is thus worn 
 out with Time ; for it is easy to conceive how this Earth and all 
 things in it, may be burnt up by the near approach of a vast 
 Comet, as it comes red hot from the Sun. There are Twenty 
 one in number of these Comets, and as they pass thro the 
 Planetary Regions they may most certainly approach to the 
 Planets themselves, both in their Ascent to & Descent from the 
 Sun, and so cause Shocks, Deluges & Conflagrations in these 
 Worlds. And as the Planets (of which this Earth is one) pass 
 through their Atmospheres they lend them benign or noxious 
 Vapour according to the Designs of Providence. The most 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1734. 87 
 
 eminent and remarkable Comet that ever appeared to the World, 
 is that which appeared to us Anno 1680, whose return is expected 
 Anno 2255. It is supposed by the most learned Astronomers 
 that this very Comet in its Aphelion past through so much Cold 
 & Darkness, that its Atmosphere derived a vast Trail of Vapours, 
 and meeting with this Earth at the beginning of Noah s Flood 
 was the Cause of the same. And with good Reason it is sup 
 posed that this Comet being heat so Hot in its Pherihelion, that 
 in its Ascent from the Sun meeting with this Earth twill cause 
 the great Conflagration. Dr. C. Mather [speaks of Sir Is. New 
 ton s computation of the Heat of this Comet 1680, thus " Its 
 Heat in its Pherihelion was near 2,000 times greater than that of 
 red hot Iron. A Globe of red hot iron of the Dimensions of our 
 Earth (by his computation) would scarce be cool in 50,000 Years. 
 If then this Comet cooled a 100 times as fast as red hot Iron, yet 
 since his heat was 2,000 times greater than that of this Earth he 
 will not be cool in a Million of Years." The Nodes of this 
 Comet being so nigh the Annual Orb of this Earth that it may 
 approach even to the Earth itself. What Horror & Consterna 
 tion will this wicked World then be in, when they shall behold 
 this vast Comet like a baneful torch, blaze & roll along the 
 unmeasurable Aether, bending its course directly to this Earth 
 with a Commission from Heaven to burn it up ! 
 
 on 1733. In his title-page verses, Dr. Ames ventures to 
 predict the advent of one of the scourges of Egypt, viz.: the Locust, and 
 perhaps the "seventeen year" variety, of which occasionally we hear in 
 these days. 
 
 He opens the monthly verses with a savage onslaught upon the capital 
 stock of ancient Grecian mythology, then easily subsides into the muse s 
 arms, while she gently hums in his ears the time-honored, threadbare 
 subject of the Creation, commencing with the elaboration of order out 
 of chaos, and winding up with the usual menu of Soup and Fish, Flesh 
 and Vegetables. The September verses being especially devoted to Carlsbad, 
 Blue Lick, Hunyadi and other medicinal moisture ; then follows October 
 with the fireworks exhibition, and the grand finale is reached when the 
 standing candidate, Man, is introduced, to anticipate the fall of Satan 
 in the combat with St. Michael, by executing a saltatory movement from 
 Paradise, ribs and all, much to the personal discomfort of the writer and 
 many of his associates in this Vale of Tears. 
 
88 ALMANACK FOR 1734. 
 
 The interspersed humor in the weather column is not very plenty in 
 this year s almanack ; a little jingle concerning hay in January, a new 
 reading concerning slander (in March) is neatly put, and a very pessimistic 
 view of the tender passion is inserted under July this year. This latter is 
 the more remarkable, from the fact that the Doctor was evidently about 
 this time preparing himself for the fatal plunge into matrimony with Miss 
 Mary Fisher, and whom he married shortly after. 
 
 The Bssay at the close of this year s almanack possesses much interest, 
 as the author foretells the future destruction of our Solar System. He 
 gives cogent reasons why the Sun should eventually cease to warm us, the 
 order of all things cease, and " universal nature degenerate into Chaos ;" 
 or, perhaps, this terrestrial ball collide with the erratic Comet, and be 
 toasted into nothingness at once. The comet of 1680 which will again 
 meet us a few years hence, in 2255 is the same agent who did Noah s 
 business for him, and closed up all commercial enterprises by the flood ; 
 and which will, (according to the Doctor and his quoted authorities) cause 
 the final conflagration in the year mentioned. The Underwriters will 
 hardly be expected to continue risks after 2254. 
 
 The quotation from Sir Isaac Newton made by Dr. Cotton Mather will 
 be found pleasant winter reading in this connection. 
 
 I should say with Dr. Ames in the conclusion to his essay, that the final 
 round-up would be a very busy season, and quite interesting to a local 
 reporter who might be sufficiently collected to appreciate it. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1734. 
 
 BY NATHANIEL AMES, Jun. 
 
 Student in Physick and Astronomy. 
 
 BOSTON: Printed for the Booksellers and Sold at their Shops, 1734. 
 
 I use no Charms, nor filthy Conjuration 
 But sublime Geometric Demonstration ; 
 But Art its self s a Mystery to Fools. 
 That are devoid of great Mechanic Rules 
 Numbers can reach the bounds of Matter quite, 
 And comprehend all Things but Infinite. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1734. 
 
 89 
 
 Of the EC LIP S E Sttts Tear 1734- 
 Here will be but two Eclipfes this Year 3 and both 
 >jf the Sun. 
 
 I. The Firft will b<? on tbc tad Day of April 
 
 about Sun-Rife, but the Moon c s Parallax will render it 
 ahnoft over before that Time. 
 
 H, The Second will be on the ifth of Offober 
 about half an Hour paft one of the Clock in the After- 
 noonj Scarce viQblc to us. 
 
 The Anatomy of Man s Body, and ^hat 
 part thereof is -reprefented by the i a Signs 
 of the ZodiacL 
 
 V The Head and Foe, 
 
 TL 
 
 Arms and 
 shoulders 
 
 Tie Fctt. 
 
 : oldeRNumbet 
 )yclc of the Sun 
 
 No tes of this Tear, 
 
 P *a 
 
 Dorninicl Lctt-et 
 
 The Planet ^entts is Occidonta} or Evening Star 
 till the >3<3 efWlfurtf*, thence Oriental or ? 
 
 .ning Star co the Ed of the Year* 
 
 NOTE. This is the last appearance of the " Anatomy " in Ames s 
 Almanack. Some improvement may be noted in the features both of 
 the household god, and early wood engraving in New England. 
 
9O ALMANACK FOR 1734. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 On Eden s flowery bank a clod of Earth 
 Neglected lay till GOD S Almighty Breath 
 Gave Light and Beauty to the passive Mould, 
 Whose Reason pee d while yet the mass was Cold 
 And nervous juyce gave vigour to his Joynts, 
 To Act and Do whate er his Will appoints. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 ADAM arise ! a heavenly Vision said ; 
 Go dress yon Charming Garden which I ve made 
 For thy most happy and delightful Seat. 
 Of every Tree thereof most freely eat, 
 Except the Tree amidst the rest which brings 
 The knowledge of all good and Evil Things 
 (That is Good lost and Evil got thereby) 
 Eat not of that least ye most surely Die. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 The Deity withdrew from human Sight 
 
 And scarce the Sun had once refresh d with Light 
 
 All Quarters of the new made Rolling Ball, 
 
 But Man (deceiv d) receiv d his fatal Fall. 
 
 And vilely Eat the sacred Fruit forbidden 
 
 But nothing from GOD S flaming Eye is hidden. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 In Evenings cool when humid Vapours Rise 
 And Sols fair Light forsook the Western Skies 
 GOD S awful Voice was in the Garden heard 
 With shame abash d the guilty Rebel fear d 
 The dreadful Voice and hid among the Trees 
 Wounded with Guilt, a virulent Disease. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 No Balm he had to heal (a) mortal wound 
 No shelter for his guilty Conscience found, 
 All things conspir d to make his ruin sure. 
 Oh ! how could he the Face of GOD endure ! 
 Whose Voice the Air with Comminations broke, 
 A Curse pronounced, and Thundered as he spoke. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 All nature groan d, the Sun his Lustre shrowds 
 In thick ning Storms, in Tempests, and in Clouds. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1734. 91 
 
 Th affrightened Zodiack the Aequator crost 
 
 Sad Signs of Wo appear d that all was lost 
 
 Old CHAOS who was dead, curst Sin revives 
 
 Silenc d CONFUSION now with Fury strives 
 
 DEATH, smelling Food, broke thro the Gates of Hell, 
 
 To Eat the world where he is come to dwell. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 JUSTICE his Sword of Cherubims was drawn, 
 No Ransom yet appear d nothing to pawn 
 To save Man s Soul from GOD S revengeful Stroke 
 Till mov d by Love Immense the Father spoke. 
 (And speaking he made known what lay concealed 
 From Endless Ages not till now reveal d.) 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 O, Son ! thou brightness of my Glory see 
 What Man has got by his Apostisy. 
 He has my Hatred and is pinioned fast 
 To horrid Flames that Ever ! Ever ! Last, 
 But if his Ransom be Atchiev d by Thee, 
 Thereby great Glory shall derive to me. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Now spake the Son : (and stepping from his Throne) 
 
 I seek thy Glory Father as my own. 
 
 These Robes of Light, in which I am arrayed 
 
 I ll leave with Thee, and go and be betrayed, 
 
 And Crucified and Die for Sinner s sake. 
 
 Their Flesh and Blood upon Me I will take 
 
 Then let thy Wrath and Vengeance light on me 
 
 I ll bare the Curse to set the Sinner free. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 With Pity mov d (as Parents to a Child) 
 
 Thus answered the gracious Father mild, 
 
 Thou dwellst with Me in Endless Realms of Light 
 
 Immensely great, (and) ineffably Bright, 
 
 Thrones and Dominions unto Thee are given, 
 
 All Power on Earth and all the Keys of Heaven. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 All knees shall bow at thy subjecting nod 
 And every Tongue confess thee to be GOD. 
 
92 ALMANACK FOR 1734. 
 
 Triumphant Thou th infernal powers annoy, 
 To conquer Hell, and Death it self Destroy, 
 Thy Sacred Blood s of Value Infinite, 
 It is enough to clear the Sinner quite. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Omnipotence commanding every Peer 
 In Heaven s Court attentive round to hear 
 The Covenant proclaim d and Heaven Rung 
 Hosanna ! to their King, all Angels sung 
 And Peace to man on Barth shall henceforth be, 
 Here s Love Immense ! Diffus d in high Degree. 
 
 ( In this Almanack is given " The Time for holding Courts in South 
 Carolina," which is convincing proof that an entente cordiale existed at 
 that time between the colonies of the Massachusetts and South Carolina. 
 An hundred years later however, it was to be a matter of the supremest 
 indifference to either Carolinian or Massachutensian, whether the Courts 
 sat at all, or whether justice was granted each to the other, in either 
 State. Ed.) 
 
 THE Copernican Hypothesis, namely that the Sun is the Cen 
 ter of our system, and that all the Planets (of which the Earth is 
 one) move round him in their several Orbits, at different Periods 
 of time ; and that Day and Night, the various Seasons of the 
 Year, and the seeming motion of the whole Heavens, is caused 
 by the rotation of the Earth on its own Axis : is now by infalli 
 ble methods of Reasoning from Geometrical Principles render d 
 indisputable, and brought even to a Demonstration ; every 
 Objection against it has been fully answered, and no Man of 
 Sense pretends to dispute it. Nevertheless these things are 
 Examined by general Mathematical Principles which are far 
 above the Capacity of the Generality of Men : who only seeing 
 these conclusions without knowing anything of the Methods by 
 which they are Drawn, look upon the whole as meer Conjecture, 
 repugnant to Truth and the Testimony of our Senses. In An 
 swer to the Vulgar Objections, I shall endeavor to prove, ist, 
 that the Sun s standing still (as tis called) and the Earth s mov 
 ing, is not Repugnant to the sacred Scriptures : and 2dly that 
 the bare Testimony of our Senses is not sufficient to inform us 
 of the Truth of this Matter. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1734. 93 
 
 First. It is not Repugnant to Sacred Scriptures ; for they say 
 nothing, Doctrinally about it. It is not a Matter of Faith or 
 Practice; the Knowledge of which is not necessary to Salvation, 
 and therefore not to be determined by the Sacred Writings. What 
 do the Scriptures Principally teach ? not what we are to believe 
 concerning the Copernican System. The Anti Copernicans sup 
 pose, that this Dispute is decided by Joshua (chap. lo.ver. 12) who 
 said in the sight of Israel " Sun, stand thou still upon Gideon, and 
 thou Moon in the Valley of Ajalon" Here, because it is said, Sun 
 stand thou still: they insist on the Letter itself, and argue that 
 the Sun did move, because Joshua had it stand still : Now since 
 they are so for the Letter where it suits them, let em take the 
 whole Sentence literally and w r e shall see if there be not any 
 need of a Figure ; for if the Sun had obey d the very words 
 of Joshua in a literal Sense, it would have scorched this Earth 
 to a cinder in the twinkling of an Eye; for he had it stand 
 upon Gibeon, and not over it. 
 
 Hence it is plain that this is a figurative Expression, spoken 
 according to the modern Acception. The Sun appears to our 
 Eye to move daily and continually, and Joshua 1 s bidding of it 
 stand still, does not prove whether such an appearance be caused 
 by the Rotation of the Earth or no. We are here left freely to 
 the Dictates of Humane Reason, and to suppose this Miracle 
 was caused by the cessation of the Diurnal Rotation of Earth, 
 which was inverted in the miraculous Retrogradation of the 
 shade of the Dial of Ahaz. These Texts that speak of the Sun s 
 Running, Rising and Setting, &c., make nothing against this 
 Hypothesis, they being Expressions adapted to our Capacities ; 
 a way of speaking frequent in Scripture, and proper in common 
 Discourse. 
 
 2. The bare Testimony of our Senses is not sufficient to 
 to inform us of the Truth of this matter. The Sun Moon and 
 Stars are at such a vast Distance, that our Senses without the 
 Assistance of Reason, give us no true Notion about them. To 
 the naked Eye, the ^Ether appears like a solid Arch, the Stars 
 like the Heads of brass Nails, the Sun * * * about as big as 
 a Cheese, but our Reason informs us better. Not only the Sun 
 but all the Stars (at immense and unequal Distances), and those 
 that are never seen but by the help of Glasses, vastly Superior 
 
94 ALMANACK FOR 1734. 
 
 to our Barth for Magnitude, yet seem to move around it in 24 
 Hours, but is it not more agreeable to that direct and straight 
 Method that Nature takes in all her operations to suppose, That 
 the Karth turns round on its own Axis in 24 Hours, which gives 
 the same Appearance as if the Heavens were hurried Round the 
 Earth. 
 
 Tho all things of Earth are changing their absolute Space 
 every Moment, yet they keep their same relative space, and are 
 in a State of Rest in a relative Sense, therefore it is impossible 
 that the Earth should sensibly appear to the Eye to move, but by 
 comparing of it with something that is at Rest, which can t be 
 anything upon the Earth or nigh it, (as the Clouds and Vapors, 
 &c.) for they all move uniformly with it ; but the Heavens and 
 the Stars are fixt, and the rolling of the Earth East, brings the 
 Heavens West, as a Ship under Sail makes the Land seem to 
 move the contrary way from its own Motion. 
 
 Tis impossible we should feel the Earth move, because the 
 Air, (that circumambient Fluid) encompassing the whole Globe, 
 encompasses our Bodies also, and moves as the Earth does which 
 render its motion imperceptible to the sense of feeling. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR, 1734. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Now if the Swamps should catch on lire 
 They d burn the Snow and all the mire. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Let men Obey the L/aws and Women their Husbands, 
 
 MAY. 
 Rulers are men before GOD and Gods before men. 
 
 JUNE. 
 The Flea Catchers are in great hast. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Rich men without Wisdom and learning are called 
 Sheep with Golden Fleeces. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1734. 95 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Old Saturn is got so sullen, he will go no further forwards. 
 
 Where Silly Quacks are most respected, 
 There honest Doctors are neglected. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 Ignorance has the most confidence. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 It is better to have a man without money than 
 money without a man. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Bravery in apparel is nothing worth if the 
 mind be miserable. 
 
 Xotes on 1734. A declaration of Arithmetical and Geometrical 
 principles occupies the Astronomer s mind this year, and he indites the 
 same upon the title page of this annual production, extolling the science 
 and the province of numbers. 
 
 For the theme of the monthly verses, once more the Mosaic theory of 
 the Creation is put under contribution ; the Garden of Eden and the con 
 duct of the two wayward tenants, constitute the topical thought in addition 
 to the central figure, the Serpent, and the accessorial fruit. 
 
 The quaintness of the lines viewed through the glasses of modern 
 thought, creates much interest in the mind of the reader of to-day, and 
 particularly the " break " from the Mosaic account to the new dispensation, 
 and the conversation as between the Father and the Son in reference to 
 the proposed sacrifice on Calvary s mount. 
 
 Under the essay head may be read with enjoyment, the Doctor s theory 
 concerning Joshua s command to the Sun and Moon, and what would have 
 happened had the order been possible of literal fulfillment. 
 
 The interlined humor and wisdom is rather more plenty than in 
 previous years, and the wise saws are pleasantly remodeled. Occasionally 
 the " regular " physician lets drive at the quacks, much as the modern 
 Galen berates his non-collegiate rival. 
 
96 ALMANACK FOR 1735- 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1735 
 
 BY NATHANIEL AMES, Jun. 
 
 Student in Physick & Astronomy. 
 
 BOSTON in New England : 
 Printed for the Booksellers, and Sold at their Shops, 1735. 
 
 The Heighth & Depth, the Length & Breadth 
 
 Of the Corporeal Frame, 
 What Thought can Reach, or who can teach, 
 
 By Numbers that have Name. 
 When we survey these Azure Fields above, 
 We find a Space Eternally to Rove. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Tis Cold my Friends : The dull and tedious Nights 
 
 Old Batchellors and Widowers invites 
 
 To Marry, now in hast Women be 
 
 Fram d with the same Parts of the Mind as we, 
 
 They are the best of Goods or worst of Evils, 
 
 Resembling bright Seraphims or 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 As youthful Lovers wish those Hours away, 
 That are between their Mistresses and they, 
 So many wish for the Auspicious Spring, 
 Whose smiling Birth shall many Blessings bring, 
 When Nature s Face by Sol shall be renewed 
 And Boreas s frigid blast shall be subdued. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 The Winged Travellers, 1 that soar elate 
 With Pleasure gliding through the liquid Air ; 
 Guided by Instinct or some secret Fate 
 Unto their Northern Rendezvous Repair. 
 
 1 Wild-Geese. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1735. 97 
 
 Their Captain (foremost) leads the Feather d throng, 
 And knows what Ports to light at all along. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Now Auster s Breath dissolves the Winters Snow 
 Which on the barren Hills so long has lain, 
 Which makes the Silver murmering Riv lets flow, 
 And Fertilizes every Sunny Plain. 
 The Plants sprought forth, the Grass again is green 
 The Fields will quickly yield a pleasant scene. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Arcadian Muses now inspire the Swains, 
 
 With Songs of Love while on the grassy Plains, 
 
 Their Sheep and Goats do graze, and wanton Lambs 
 
 And Kids, run Frisking round their bleating Dams. 
 
 The Fields (like the Elyzian Fields above) 
 
 Are fill d with Harmony, with Mirth and Love. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Those abject Men whose greatest Talent lies 
 
 In prying into Others Qualities, 
 
 Who strive their neighbours Vertues to conceal, 
 
 And magnify their Faults with Art and Skill, 
 
 Are like the Crow and other Birds of prey, 
 
 Who search out Moorish Ground where Carrions lay. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 ORION 1 King, who in the Winter Reigns 
 And binds the barren Earth with frosty Chains, 
 Brightest of all the Train that Set and Rise 
 With our bright Prince of Day, ascends the Skies, 
 So Drunk with Heat their Stomachs overflow, 
 And vomit Lightnings round the World below. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Those Magazines where Thunder-Makers dwell, 
 
 Under the Ground, in Nature s private Cell, 
 
 Sometimes takes Fire, and Kindle into Flame 
 
 Which rends huge Caves, and arched Vaults in twain 
 
 All things give way to the Expansion great, 
 
 Which makes the trembling Earth s Foundations shake. 
 
 1 The great Dog Star rises with the Sun which makes DOG-DAYS. 
 
98 ALMANACK FOR 1735. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 The Sun grows careful of his lavish d Heat 
 And to the Southern Clime does now Retreat 
 Under the Earth, lengthening the nightly shade, 
 Which makes the Summer s verdant Beauty fade. 
 Autumnal Insects with a mournful Crake, 
 Do chippering strive to Sing, but Discord make. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Immortal Scandals fly on Eagle s Wings, 
 Whilst vertuous Actions die and scarce are Nam d 
 Men that have done most noble, worthy Things 
 For one miss deed perpetually are Blam d 
 Ignoble Souls would Spit their poisonous Gall, 
 Thinking to Raise themselves by other s Fall. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 When Man s grown Ripe he presently decays, 
 All things to fluctuate and nothing stays. 
 Time alters all, this present Year s grown Old, 
 And Winter threatens us with pinching Cold : 
 Our Comfort s past will but increase our Sorrow 
 If we are unprovided for To-morrow. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Dame Tellus lies bereav d of all her Charms, 
 Coldly Embrac d in WINTER S icy Armes. 
 Bound fast with frosty Chains, cover d in Snow 
 Expos d to all tempestuous Winds that Blow : 
 But Sol shall come and Re-ascend his Throne 
 And make his Power to cruel Boreas known. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR, 1735. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Kind Reader, now perhaps you may 
 Have Weather fit to Spend your Hay. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 The falling Snow lights on the Ground 
 Which makes the Earth look White all round 
 Saturn & Mars make bloody Noses when they meet, 
 They are such 111 natur d Fellows. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1735. 99 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Just wak d from Sleep 
 
 The minute Frogs begin to peep. 
 
 At this Time of the Year Namasket River is a Market Place. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Poland for Two Kings 
 in Blood are soaking 
 and are as bad on t 
 as if they d No King. 
 
 Three Things breed Jealousy. 
 A mighty State, a rich Treasure 
 and a fair Wife. 
 
 JUNE. 
 He that is an Enemy to Beauty, is Foe to Nature. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Lyons are known by their Claws, 
 Cocks by their Combs, and Envious Men 
 by their manners. 
 
 AUGUST. * 
 
 Now for a Space expect much Hot Weather and Thunder, and it would 
 not have been Blasphemy if I had said, above or under Ground. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 Hatred is blind as well as Love. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Gun Powder Plot 
 We ha n t forgot. 
 
 Let Thieves beware of Burglary lest we Dissect 
 their Bodies and set up their Bones for Skeletons. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Now warming Pans 
 are better than Fans. 
 
 The Heavens admit but one Sun 
 and High Places but one Commander. 
 
100 ALMANACK FOR 1735- 
 
 Kind READER. 
 
 Be not affronted if I offer you the Opinion of the learned 
 Parts of Mankind, concerning those Stars that Nightly discover 
 themselves to our View & contemplation. Under the general 
 Name of Stars is comprehended all the lustrous Train of the 
 Universe, that shine by their innate Light, and are supposed to 
 be Suns to other systems ; and also the neighboring Worlds of 
 our own System, that revolve about the Sun, the Center of it. 
 Our Karth is above One hundred Million of Miles nearer some 
 of the fixed Stars, at one time of the Year than at another, yet 
 their Parallax is scarce sensible, therefore their distance must 
 be wonderfull. Our best Telescopes do but lessen them, tis 
 impossible they should appear so Lucid to us from the Light of 
 our Sun transmitted to them. They are supposed to be Suns 
 themselves that Govern in a Mundane Space, Comforting, Heat 
 ing, and Enlightening the Planets of their respective Systems, 
 as the Sun does this Earth and the other Planets that belong to 
 our System. These new Stars that sometimes appear and then 
 disappear, Mr. Derham thinks are Planets that belong to some 
 of the Systems of the Fixed Stars ; and that they become visible 
 when they are in that part of their Orbits that is nearest the 
 Earth. Dr. Cheyne observes, as there are Systems that can stand 
 round our System, as many of the second Magnitude as can 
 stand round this first Range of Sphere, and so on so that the 
 infinite Extra mundane Space is beautifully and regularly 
 adorned with Suns, and their revolving Worlds ; and the great 
 ^Etherical Field composes one grand System of Systems. Not 
 having Room to multiply Arguments for the Proof hereof, I 
 shall only add that this new System (as tis call d) gives us a 
 grand and more noble Idea of the Universe than any other ; and 
 is more for the declarative Glory and Honour of GOD ; more 
 worthy the Power and Contrivance of an infinite Creator, who 
 alone Circumscribes the Bounds of Matter, and is Essentially 
 Present through the Immensity of this Space. 
 
 But to come nearer Home. It is the opinion of those great 
 Men who view the Heavens with all their golden Furnature, with 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1735. 101 
 
 no careless supine Negligence, but with a k-ar-K-cl Xic> 
 search into the courses, Distances and Magnitudes of t)ie, "Plaints, 
 and know wherein they differ from the Fixed Stai^- that thc.se 
 Planets are Worlds or places of Habitation, and tho there is no 
 certainty in this their Opinion, yet there is great Probability. 
 That the Planets are Worlds stock d with proper Inhabitants 
 seems to be the consequence of what we know and are certain 
 of. And to reason from what we see and are sure of to what we 
 cannot is no false Logick : For instance, a Sailor sailing in some 
 distant Clime, and should come so nigh the Shore of a foreign 
 Country, as to behold Houses, Barns, fruitfull Fields, &c, tho he 
 saw no Man, yet might he not fairly Conclude that what he saw 
 served to the Use of Man ? and that some Sort of People dwelt 
 there ? And thus in the present Case, by the help of Glasses we 
 get so nigh the Planets, as to know that they are great Globons, 
 Opake Bodies, all of the nature of our Earth, that they have a 
 Periodick Motion about the Sun, which Motion is not in the 
 same Place with that of their Diurnal, but in the broad Path of 
 the Zodiack at an Inclination of 23 deg. 19 min. so that they (as 
 well as our Earth) have the Seasons of Summer, Winter, Spring 
 and Autumn. Our Telescopes also discover their Diurnal motion 
 about their own Axis, which must cause in them a constant 
 succession of Day and Night. Saturn and Jupiter have their 
 Satellites, that minister to them by Night, as our Moon does to 
 this Earth. Mr. Huggins discovered clouds in the Atmosphere 
 of Jupiter, and Mr. Derham (with his long glass) Mountains and 
 Seas in our Moon. Now since those Planets are so well Accom 
 modated for Habitation, why may we not suppose that they are 
 Improved to the best purposes? Since the divine Architect in 
 their Creation has not made em Inferior to our Earth for Beauty 
 and Dignity, and has given them Degrees of Light and Heat in 
 Proportion to their Distance from the Central Fire with Alternate 
 Day and Night, and a beautiful Succession of the Seasons of the 
 Year as they travel through the 12 Signs of the Zodiack as above 
 mentioned, why should we make vast Lifeless and inanimate 
 Desarts of them, by depriving them of their proper inhabitants? 
 
102 ALMANACK FOR 1735- 
 
 Bid the,Gotl -of nature make their Moons in vain? that shine for 
 the ^Advantage only of the Planets to which they respectively 
 belong, and not for ours. What Reason or what Religion obliges 
 us to think that our Earth (so much Inferior to some of the rest 
 for Magnitude) is the only Planet in the Solar System that is 
 Inhabited? 
 
 A query right well put : What and Why ? 
 
 on 1735. The title-page verse leads one to suspect that the 
 Doctor had in mind the irrepressible boy at the church picnic, during 
 the banana season perhaps the first four lines bringing the subject most 
 vividly to our recollection at this period. 
 
 The monthly lines are varied, and more applicable to the various seasons 
 they accompany, than any appearing during the previous two or three 
 years, while the sentiment pervading each is varied, and would indicate a 
 merry mood in some, while the author might be considered somewhat 
 cynical in others. 
 
 In January he starts out with a sociable sort of suggestion, and then drops 
 into cynicism in a manner hardly to be considered proper in a person 
 about to become a conjugal victim during the current year. During Feb 
 ruary he makes some amends however. 
 
 His address to the " Winged Travellers " over March is quaint and wor 
 thy of a student of nature, and the sentiment of the following month is 
 truly poetic, while Arcadia is certainly reached in the " merry month of 
 May." 
 
 In June he becomes quite personal, as also seems apparent in October, 
 something having evidently occurred in his ordinary walks to prompt the 
 satire therein to be discovered. 
 
 In the other months his admiration for the philosophy of nature is 
 manifested, and Geology, Astronomy, Entomology each receive their 
 meed, while curtain falls on sad winter with the usual melancholy music. 
 
 Intermingled among the weather aspects for the year, are found a 
 melange of nonsense, wisdom, politics, history, and domestic economy. 
 
 The allusion to the "Gun-Powder Plot," shows where the author s 
 sympathies tend, and succeeding almanacks rarely omit a reference to 
 this event. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1736. 103 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1736. 
 
 By |latJtcmii?l 
 
 Student in Physick and Astronomy. 
 
 BOSTON, NEW ENGLAND, 
 
 Printed by/. Draper, for the Booksellers, 1736. l 
 Price Four Shillings by the Dozen & Sixpence Single. 
 
 As sev n streani d Nile to whose kind overflow, 
 
 The Aegyptian Plains their yearly Plenty owe, 
 
 Takes its first rise from some small unknown Fountain, 
 
 That bubbles at the Foot of a steep mountain : 
 
 So ho ! Astronomy now mounts a height 
 
 And with its Lustre dazles our dull Sight, 
 
 The root from whence it first began to grow, 
 
 Lay couch d in Principles obscure and low. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 The Muses tremble with a faultering Wing, 
 While Nature s great Catastrophe they sing, 
 For Helicon its self their sacred Throne 
 Must to the Womb of Chaos back return, 
 The Chearful Regions of the Earth and Air, 
 Is fill d with Horror, Darkness, and Despair. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Confusion reigns ! The glorious Prince of Day 
 No longer can his golden Beams display, 
 
 l john Draper, was brother-in-law to Bartholomew Green, Jr., the 
 printer of the previous almanacks, and served his apprenticeship with 
 his father-in-law, Bartholomew -Green, Sr., and at his decease in December, 
 1732, occupied his printing house in Newbury street. He printed the 
 almanacks for the years 1736 to 1763 inclusive. He died November 29, 
 1762. 
 
104 ALMANACK FOR 1736. 
 
 To distant Climes, and frozen Regions warm, 
 
 But this tremendous universal Storm, 
 
 Blows back the vital Vertue of his Light, 
 
 And Darkness veils his Face from mortal Sight. 
 
 The Moon no more as heretofore adorns, 
 
 With Silver borrow d Light, her crescent Horns. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 No more She Rules as Regent of the Night, 
 
 But fills her Orb with Blood instead of Light, 
 
 And Dissolution Reigns Both near and far, 
 
 Through Heav ns wide Circuit round : Bach shining Star 
 
 His Intricate Nocturnal Mazes stops 
 
 And from his Place assign d in Heav n, down drops. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Their Light Extinct, Nature in Darkness ends, 
 Except what Light Hell s horrid Bosom sends, 
 Around the Sky, her baneful Torches come ! 
 To Light dissolving Nature to her Tomb. 
 The Earth with trembling Agonies doth Roll, 
 As tho she d mix her Center with the Poll. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 The Seas do roar and every peaceful Lake, 
 And Wandering Rivers horrid murmurings make, 
 The Rocks explode, and trembling Mountains nod, 
 And Valleys rise at the approaching God 
 From Heav ns high Court, angelick Throngs descend, 
 Myriads this great Solemnity attend. 
 
 JUNE- 
 
 The bold and daring impious Sons of Men 
 Call on the Mountains now to cover them, 
 And screen em from this Hurricane of Wo, 
 Which their incensed Judge begins to Blow 
 Onward in awful Majesty he comes ! 
 Whose Glory far outshines ten Thousand Suns : 
 
 JULY. 
 
 For fleshly Eyes, too, too amazing bright ! 
 That all the World is changed at the Sight, 
 Immediately, not to Transmute again, 
 But are from Mortals, fix d Immortal Men, 
 A rending Sound, from the expanded Skies, 
 Commands the Dead, the sleepy Dead, to Rise. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1736. 105 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Out of their Beds, and instantly to come 
 Before the Judge, and hear their final Doom. 
 Almighty Power the sacred Voice attends, 
 And with stupendious Energy it rends 
 The silent Graves, and every vaulted Tomb 
 Searching each secret Corner in Death s Room. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Brings out the Particles of human Clay 
 Which scatter d in these gloomy Mansions lay, 
 And weaves em up in this mysterious Loome, 
 By far more curious now than in the Womb, 
 All that have liv d and dy d, now live again, 
 So the whole World is burthen d to contain 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 This numerous Throng, Now Languages all kinds, 
 Nations and Kindreds all, from the four Winds 
 Are gather d ; and before the Judge are brought, 
 Whose piercing Eye, discerns each secret Thought, 
 Each Word and Act that every Person wrought 
 In all his life, through every age that s past ; 
 And bids his Angels bind the Wicked fast, 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Both Hand and Feet with Adamantine Chains 
 And send em headlong to eternal Pains. 
 Infernal Fiends drove to their prison fly, 
 With doleful Hissings through the melting Sky. 
 Their Blasphemies now meets a just Reward, 
 Hell s Gates on them Eternally are barr d 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 The Good are crown d with joys that never cease, 
 With Realms of Light ! and unmolested Peace ! 
 In this Tremendous Day where shall I stand ? 
 Give me a Place (O Lord) at thy right Hand ! 
 Where I in safety may thy Power admire ! 
 And see this World and all Things in t Expire. 
 
 The Learned Samuel Lee (with his usual Flight of Expres 
 sion) observes thus : " May not our Admiration be even inflamed 
 at the quick and volable Motion of the little Eels, that swim up 
 
io6 ALMANACK FOR 1736. 
 
 and down in their Sea of a Drop of Vinegar, more than when the 
 Marriners from their Ships view the Tossings and Tumblings 
 of the Whales in the Atlantick Ocean ? " And may I not venture 
 to say, that the Wisdom of God is conspicuous not only in 
 the great and massy Works of Creation, the glorious Stars, that 
 beautify the Heavens and fill the Infinite Spaces with Light ! 
 but also the minute Animalcula, the flying Insect, and groveling 
 Reptile, must bring us to the acknowledgement of a Supreme 
 Being ; since there is so much Counsel and Wisdom discover 
 able in the Formation of their Bodies and in the Continuation of 
 their Species. They are made Compleat and perfect in their 
 Kind, and want no Parts either Convenient or Necessary for 
 them. The Learned have sufficiently exploded the Notion of 
 an Equivocal or spontaneous Generation of Animals, and will 
 not allow the vilest and most contemptible Insect to be gener 
 ated without Parents, Male and Female of the same kind. And 
 that every Animal proceeds from a Pre-existent Animalcula in 
 semine Masculine, and that all the Parts of an Animal did Exist, 
 and its Fluids were in Motion before Generation, and that the 
 Females afford nothing in the Production of their young ones 
 but a proper Nidus where their Parts increase in Magnitude, as 
 they receive Nourishment, is evident both from Reason and 
 Experiments. It is not to be questioned but that the various 
 Worms bred in the Intestines of Man and Beast, are taken into 
 their respective Bodies by Meats and Drinks : The Botts in 
 Horses is a noble Instance of the Truth hereof; for if we Trace 
 this Worm in its Transmutation from a Vermiculus to a flying 
 Insect, we shall find that after it is Ejected from the Bowels of 
 a Horse, it lies in the Excrements, where it receives proper Nu 
 triment, till shifting the Pellicula, it becomes a Flyer, resemb 
 ling a Bee, but with a long Tail, wherewith it fastens its Ova or 
 Nets to the Hair of the Horse s Legs and other Parts, the Horse 
 biting and scratching his Legs with his Teeth tears off the 
 Animalcula contained in the Egg, and with his Meat and Drink 
 swallows them down where they become Worms again. That 
 this well-known Fly proceeds from a Bott, is notorious, many 
 having try d the Experiment. There must be an Ova from the 
 Female, impregnated with an Animalcula from the Male in the 
 production of these Worms. " There is nothing in the Animal 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1736. 107 
 
 Machine, (as Dr. C. Mather observes) but an inconceivable 
 Number of branching and winding Canals, filled with Liquors 
 of different Natures, going a perpetual round, and no more 
 capable of producing the wonderful Fabrick of another Animal, 
 than a Thing is of making itself." They have a Head, Heart, 
 Veins and Arteries, Bones tied together with Tendons, Muscles, 
 inflated with Animal Spirits : which move the same spontane 
 ously ; They continue the same Animals from one Generation 
 to another : their Species do not alter, which is sufficient to per- 
 swade all thinking Persons that all Animals are univocally pro 
 duced. The same might be said of Vegetables, but the con 
 tracted Limits of a single Sheet will not permit ; I shall there 
 fore conclude with the following Corrollary, namely, that the 
 Heads and Clothes of uncleanly People do breed Lice, that 
 Mites are bred in Cheese, and that Worm-Seed breeds as many 
 Worms as it kills is a vulgar Error. 
 
 Some Nurses are so Superstitious That they dare not give 
 their Children Worm-Seed without pounding and sifting it, 
 affirming that every Seed that escapes being bruised in the 
 Mortar will become a live Worm in the Bowels of the Child. 
 But, by-the-by, it is an excellent Medicine for the purpose, and 
 they need not be afraid to use it ; for, if they will prove that it 
 will breed Worms in Children, I can as easily prove that it can 
 breed Children in Women ; and so those unhappy Persons who 
 have had the ill Luck to have Children without Fathers, need 
 not lie under the Imputation of Scandal, if they can produce 
 sufficient Evidence that they have taken Worm-Seed. 
 
 " EACH verdant Plant, each fragrant Herb that grows, 
 
 " The great Jehovah s forming Wisdom shows ; 
 
 " How each bright Stem it s Species will produce, 
 
 " Each Vein, each Fibre has it s proper use ; 
 
 " How the male Plant impregns the softer kind, 
 
 " And their joint Beauties in the Sons we find. 
 
 "Jehovah gave the Sun his piercing Ray, 
 
 To glad dull Mortals, and to rule the Day ; 
 
 To call each secret Seed from Nature s Womb, 
 
 "Mature the Birth, and swell the fragrant Bloom." 
 
io8 ALMANACK FOR 1736. 
 
 on 1736. The general tendency of the muse this year is 
 toward the sublime, and certainly the author could not well be expected 
 to be sublime without singing a/^aw to the rapidly advancing science of 
 astronomy, and extolling the achievements of his age in this particular 
 direction. 
 
 But the monthly verses ! Shade of Michael Wigglesworth, 1 look down 
 upon us and say if your spirit did not prompt the muse who sat at the 
 Doctor s elbow, while he indited this poetical end of all things, this 
 frightful calamity this final " crush, conclude, and quell." 
 
 There can be no manner of doubt but what the muses did " tremble 
 with a faultering wing," and there is a general irrepressible tendency of 
 the present commentator to shiver also and pull the clothes over his head. 
 Pen absolutely refuses its office, and the reader is only desired to read the 
 scroll, formulate his own comments, and at the end only unite with the 
 Doctor and myself in a modest request for a place on the grandstand with 
 a fan, in order to secure an eligible view of the final denouement. 
 
 In the contemplation of such serious subjects as the poem sets forth, 
 the author had no inclination toward either humor, or anything trivial in 
 in its nature, consequently no interjected squibs of any kind are found 
 in the " weather column." 
 
 The essay this year is upon the theory of the development of species* 
 and cannot but prove very interesting to the modern reader, and food for 
 thoiight to those who have seriously considered the theory of spontane 
 ous generation. 
 
 The language used by the Doctor is not burdened with scientific terms, 
 but of a quality suited to the comprehension of his audience, and his illus 
 tration aptly devised for the understanding of all. 
 
 He quotes from the learned Samuel Lee for his premises, and calls in 
 the voluminous Dr. Cotton Mather with an " observation " for his indorse 
 ment : while the corollary is that of the only Doctor Ames, which is self- 
 evident, convincing and not only to the point, but consoling to those 
 unfortunates who may be situated in the manner mentioned in the con 
 cluding lines. 
 
 1 Michael Wigglesworth (circa 1690) was an illustrator of the hell of 
 the Rev. John Calvin. For a sample of the fireworks used see Tyler s 
 History of American Literature. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1737. 109 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1737 
 
 By NATHANIEL AMES. 
 
 BOSTON, NEW ENGLAND: 
 
 Printed byjo/m Draper ; for the Booksellers 1737. 
 Price Six Pence Single ; and Four Shillings per Dozen. 
 
 Year after Year insensibly creeps on, 
 Till our Last Year, and final Hour shall come : 
 Relentless DEATH will no Excuses have 
 But first and last drags all into the Grave 
 There Beauty, Riches, Furniture, and cost, 
 And High Distinctions here on Earth are lost: 
 Ah ! Then, such Things are vain ! Vain as they be 
 We love em, for we all love Vanity. 
 
 The AUTHOR on his FATHER S DEATH. 
 
 HE S Dead ! 
 
 His great Seraphick Genius now is fled, 
 The melancholy news has reached your Ears 
 Doubtless before this little Tract appears. 
 But since his Labours first matur d its Birth, 
 It is but justice here to mourn his Death. 
 I, in his Arms from Evening Dews preserv d, 
 The wandering Glories overhead observ d : 
 Scarce pip d the shell, ere his too fond Desires 
 My Talent in this public way requires. 
 When puzzled, I could unto him repair, 
 Who knew the Heav ns as if he had dwelt there 
 Imbolden d thus, I ventured on the Stage 
 And run the risque of carping Critick s Rage. 
 But now he s gone ! URANIA O, make 
 Me, me thy Son ! For thy Beloved s sake. 
 Bear the Deceas d upon thy Wings, O, Fame, 
 Among th Astronomers give him a Name : 
 
HO ALMANACK FOR 1737- 
 
 For if Pythagoras believ d had been, 
 
 Men might have thought great Newton s soul in him 
 
 But hold : if him I ve praised in what I ve done 
 
 It may be called immodest in a son : 
 
 But Gratitude Extorts from me his due 
 
 And Bnvy owns that what I ve writ is true. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 TIME is a short Parenthesis, 
 
 Placed in between the two Eternities, 
 
 And joins the vast unlimited Abyss, 
 
 (Eternal Space) at its Extremities, 
 
 The Length whereof s but a contracted Span, 
 
 And one small Point includes the Age of Man. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Each winged Moment s measured by the Sun, 
 Whilst round the Earth the glitt ring Monarch rides, 
 His golden Chariot Wheels like Lightning run 
 So Day and Night his constant Course divides 
 Each Hour succedent always presses on, 
 And whilst we Speak the present Moment s gone. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Time s Parent of all Sublumary Things, 
 And gives em Beauty here as well as Birth, 
 Their Glory down to Dissolution brings : 
 And Monster-like devours all she brings forth : 
 They in the Morning bloom, at Noon decay 
 And in the Evening vanish quite away. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Thousands of Victims daily fall by Time, 
 
 A Sacrifice to her voracious Jaws, 
 
 Not only Men, but all the World resign, 
 
 There s no Reprieve allow d by Nature s Laws, 
 
 Inviolable Laws of Destiny 
 
 Ordain that all Things born shall surely die. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 The stately Fabrick of the Universe, 
 Wherein the World s are wonderfully made, 
 Cannot Endure the Test of Time : Alas ! 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1737. in 
 
 They ll be worn out, and all their Beauties fade. 
 From Chaos huge ! all Things sprang up at first, 
 And all must be reduced to pristine Dust. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Time ravishes the tender Virgins young, 
 
 Whose sparkling Eyes ten thousand Charms display, 
 
 And maims their comely Features every one 
 
 And takes their beautious Countenance away : 
 
 For furrow d Face, and wrinkled Brows they ll have, 
 
 And palsy Joints that tremble o re the Grave. 
 
 Oh, Time ! thou dost th Art ficer confound, 
 
 And princely Palaces are spoil d by thee, 
 
 Defac d and Prostrate on the humble Ground 
 
 The ancient, stately, glorious Cities be. 
 
 Thou hast broke down their Walls with cank rous Rust 
 
 And turn d their beauteous Work to mould ring Dust. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Those Heroes who have god-like Actions done, 
 
 Whose Names alone in spite of Time remain, 
 
 Whose Feets in War immortal Honours won, 
 
 Were all at last by this dire Conqeror slain : 
 
 Who drank the Strength that should their Joints supply 
 
 Aged and weak the glorious Champions die. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 The Lyon strong whose roar like Thunder fills 
 With Horror, all the ravenous Brotherhood, 
 Much stronger Time, HIM gradually kills; 
 As easy as the Beasts of feebler Blood : 
 Harmless through Age the royal Monster lies, 
 Contracted in his silent Den, and dies. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 As runs our Glass, Times tantalizing Charms 
 Fly our pursuit, ever deceiving us, 
 For Disappointment hugs us in her Arms, 
 And hop d for Blessings often prove a Curse. 
 Bliss unconfirm d no solid Bliss can be, 
 Since the next Moment all our Joys may flee. 
 
ii2 ALMANACK FOR 1737. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Whether to Learning we our selves apply 
 
 To drive the mists of Ignorance away, 
 
 Or with the Demi-gods for Honour vie, 
 
 Or Wealth, or with the Baits of Pleasure play. 
 
 Death unawares, like an untimely Frost, 
 
 Nips up our Lives, and all our Labour s lost. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Then smite, old Time, thy Rage we now provoke, 
 Since thou to us no cordial Friend hath been, 
 But the last fatal Blow of thy Scythe s stroke, 
 Secures us quite, and Changes the dark Scene, 
 When Thou shalt die, WE from the loathsome Tomb 
 Shall rise, and have Youth in Eternal Bloom. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. - 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 As Cold as Charity. 
 
 FEBRUARY, 
 
 Now Snow, or Rain, or Hail 
 Or else the Planets Fail. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Intestine Jars, and Foreign Wars 
 
 this Month arise 
 
 or Jove my Faith beguiles. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Behold ! The Power of the SUN in the Resurrection of the PLANTS. 
 Consider the Consequence of Excessive or unlawful Pleasure & Beware. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 A Maid so trig d by Art 
 
 That her own self was the least part. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 He that lives too fast, may die too soon. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1737. 113 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Hre you pretend to burn the Pope 
 Secure the Papists with a Rope. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Reader. I don t know 
 
 But my Rain may prove Snow. 
 
 The conchant Bears now suck their Claws, 
 And Sluggards too of foodless Jaws. 
 
 Kind READER : 
 
 You may remember that in the Year 1734, I answered 
 objections against the Copernican Hypothesis; and in the Year 
 1735 I argued the Similitude of the Planets to this Earth, and 
 the Probability of their being inhabited with Creatures in like 
 Manner as this Karth is ; I shall now give you the Astronomy 
 of these Inhabitants, or how things would appear to an Eye in 
 each Planet, according to the Observations of the ingenious Mr. 
 Hnygens, whose Glasses Mr. Derham accounts the best. 
 
 And first to begin with the innermost and nearest the Sun. 
 
 MERCURY is three times nearer that vast Body of Light 
 and Heat than we are ; Hence they see him three times bigger, 
 and feel him nine Times hotter than we do. They may have 
 Venus and the Earth opposite to the Sun, which at such Times 
 shine most gloriously on the Mercurials. 
 
 ? The Inhabitants of VENUS have much the same Face of 
 Things as those in Mercury. The Sun appears by half larger 
 in his Diameter to them than to us, and affords them above twice 
 as much Light and Heat. Our Earth appears at sometimes 
 much larger to them than ever Venus does to us. A Year there 
 is compleated in 7 and a half of our Months. 
 
 cT The next Planet in the Solar System is this Globe of 
 Earth on which we live, and next to that is the Planet MARS 
 in which there are certain Spots, by the constant Returns of 
 which his Days and Nights have been found to be of the same 
 Length with ours ; and but little difference between Summer 
 and Winter. The years there are twice as long as ours. Our 
 Earth appears to them as Venus doth to us, and never above 48 
 deg. distant from the Sun. 
 
ii4 ALMANACK FOR 1737. 
 
 2L The forementioned Planets, Earth & all, are not worth 
 mentioning in comparison of Saturn and JUPITER, with Respect 
 to Magnitude and Plurality of Moons. For the Diameter of 
 Jupiter is above twenty times bigger than that of our Earth, 
 and he has four Satellites that constantly revolve about him, as 
 our Moon does about us ; so that Jupiter is seldom or never 
 without Moonshine Nights. The frequent Conjunctions and 
 Eclipses of these Moons afford a pleasant Sight to the Inhab 
 itants there. He enjoys a perpetual Equinox, hence his Days 
 and Nights are always equal, five Hours each. One of his 
 Years is equal to twelve of ours. 
 
 T? SATURN is above Ten times further distant from the Sun 
 than our Earth, and by consequence Enjoys not above the hun 
 dredth Part of that influence from him that the Earth does. 
 But still he has the advantage of his Five Moons, and the 
 delightful Prospect that the L,uminous Ring about him affords, 
 which by Night appears like a shining Bow to some Parts of his 
 Globe, and in the Morning grows weaker and paler than our 
 Moon in the Day-time. The length of his Days cannot be 
 determined, because his Diurnal Rotation has not been discov 
 ered. But one of his Years is as long as Thirty of ours. They 
 that are inhabitants of Saturn know of no Planet but Jupiter, 
 which appears to them as Venus does to us, never removing 
 above 37 degr. from the Sun. Whereas the Axis of our Earth 
 inclines to the Place of the Ecliptic. 23 Degr. and an half, 
 Saturn s does 31 or more; so that they have a greater Difference 
 between Summer and Winter than we ; upon which account 
 also their Moons decline much from the Path the Sun seams to 
 move in, and the Inhabitants can have a full moon never but 
 just at the Equinoxes, which is twice in thirty of our Years, 
 
 Thus much for the primary Planets, for the Contracted 
 I/imits of a single Sheet will not permit me to give more than 
 a hint upon each. I shall just mention our MOON, and leave the 
 rest of our secondary Planets to the Astronomers of Saturn and 
 fupiter to which they properly belong. 
 
 3 Mr. Derham asserts that there is Mountains, Rivers and 
 Seas in the Moon, and others deny it ; and whether it be so or 
 no, or whether She be inhabited or not I cannot tell ; but if I 
 had the Machine of the little Spaniard who flew thither with 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1737. 115 
 
 his Gauses,* I would go and see: there if I found neither Atmos 
 phere, Rivers, nor Seas, nor any living Animal; I should be 
 sure to find the Earth s Monthly Wane and Increase ; I should 
 see it half, horned and full by turns, and five Times as Luminous 
 as ever I beheld the Moon from the Earth ; I should see the 
 Earth turn upon itself presenting me sometimes with a Pros 
 pect of Europe and Africa, and then of Asia and America. 
 Every twenty-four Hours I should have the Pleasure of viewing 
 all the seas and Continents on Earth, even those that lie near 
 the Poles yet unknown and undiscovered by us. 
 
 Oil I737 - The salutatory title page poem is of the usual 
 sentimental nature ; Dissolution, Death and Vanity being the chief topics 
 considered by the muse. 
 
 On the next page is evidence that the Angel Azrail has received his 
 commands, and that the author s father and preceptor in his astronomical 
 studies, deceased during the preceding year, aged about 59 years. In a 
 poem the author pours forth his soul in mournful rhythm at the sad 
 event. The verse is very creditable, and bears abundant evidence of the 
 talents possessed by the elder Ames. 
 
 The text of the monthly verses is the great "horological enemy" Time, 
 and the general tendency of the lines is in the direction of " Pollok s 
 Course," over which we have many hours and days puzzled in parsing at 
 school. 
 
 What Time does not do, or accomplish, is certainly omitted by the poet, 
 but I greatly " conceit" that the ground is most thoroughly covered, the 
 province of Time being most amply set forth. 
 
 Humour, Wisdom, and Fun appear in homeopathic doses ; as usual to 
 the point direct. Under November we find a couplet concerning the 
 Pope, and his alleged complicity, in the lease of the cellar beneath the 
 Parliament House. What would our early ancestors have done for a 
 " Fourth of July" before that erstwhile memorable day, had it not been 
 for the tenants of that cellar, and their faux 2 pas. 
 
 The Essay is a very simple and practical lecture on the astronomy ot 
 our Solar system. 
 
 1 Possibly, wings. 
 
 2 In this connection pronounced as though spelled fawkes. 
 
n6 ALMANACK FOR 1738. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1738. 
 
 BY NATHANAEI, AMES. 
 
 BOSTON, in NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Printed by John Draper , for the Booksellers 1738. 
 Price Six Pence Single, and Four Shillings per Dozen. 
 
 Had ADAM stood in Innocence till Now, 
 
 And his blest Sons had deign d to hold the Plough 
 
 No L,abour had fatigu d, nor Time had spoil d 
 
 His Youth : but Spring had ever blooming smil d, 
 
 No L/ust for Pelf, nor Heart distressing Pain 
 
 Had seiz d the Miser, nor the rural Swain : 
 
 Nor Vice as now with Vertue ne er had vi d 
 
 And Heaven s Omnipotence is self defy d. 
 
 Nor Lawyers, Priests nor Doctors ne er had been 
 
 If Man had stood against th Assaults of Sin. 
 
 But oh, He fell ! and so accurs d we be 
 
 The World is now oblig d to use all Three. 
 
 When once our Friends do quit the living Shore 
 
 We hear from them no more. 
 Do any curious Minds desire to know 
 
 Where tis they go, 
 
 Or how they fare 
 Let them be pleas d to die 
 
 Only to trie, 
 Or else remain in Ignorance as they were. 
 
 Thus whether they fare ill or well 
 
 Since not allow d to tell. 
 Who d voluntary enter Charon s Boat. 
 So Masonry and Death are both the same 
 
 Tho of a different Name. 
 If Good there is in their Society 
 
 Tis free for those that try ; 
 But like the Grave let not the Living know t. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1738. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Immortal Spir t Existence thou receiv d 
 
 When the ALMIGHTY on thy Substance breath d, 
 
 Which in the dark Inclosure of the Womb, 
 
 Lay hid in Secret till thy Breath was come, 
 
 Thy Mind, a universal Blank, and fair, ~| 
 
 Immensly large, but nothing written there ; 
 
 Soon as the Lab riug Lungs feed on the elastic Air. \ 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 A Tide of Glory visits both the Eyes, 
 Whose usual Orbs contract the sweet Surprise : 
 Which by the Optick Nerve is carried on, 
 For the young Soul to cogitate upon. 
 This Sour, in whom Sensation only dwells, 
 Both Sees and Feels just as his Senses tells. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 His vivifying Vehicle exerts 
 
 To animate his Mass in all its Parts : 
 
 Thus when the Body s touch d, some Nerve receives 
 
 Whatever Stroak the outward Object gives 
 
 Which by the waveing Fluids they contain, } 
 
 Hand on the impulse to the tender Brain, 
 
 The Seat of the immortal Monarch s Reign. ) 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Thus has the Soul a Thousand Roads to bring 
 
 Intelligence from every outward Thing : 
 
 But O ! sometimes they clog d, do all mistake, 
 
 And cheat the Mind in the Reports they make 
 
 As now untill d as Vines the Field adorns, 
 
 But curs d with Weeds, unfruitful Briars and Thorns. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 So Sacred Truth will all our Search elude, 
 
 Till Error is by Reason s Force subdued. 
 
 Thick Fogs of Ignorance obstruct the Mind, 
 
 And baneful Prejudice of every kind, 
 
 Disguise thy Light, ( O, Truth ! ) and strive to keep us blind 
 
 E re we arrive to two or three Years old, 
 
 Our Nurse ten thousand fairy Tales has told. 
 
n8 ALMANACK FOR 1738. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 These first Mistakes leave on us such a Print, 
 
 That Age mature scarce thinks there s nothing in t. 
 
 But few of all the numerous humane Kind, 
 
 But what remain in Youthful Errors blind. 
 
 The glorious Light of Nature s Mysteries ~\ 
 
 Ne er dawns to bless a Multitude of Eyes, 
 
 That roll in Vain. As Children of a Larger Size. ) 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Our Passions Soul like raging Billows roll, 
 Eclipse the Mind and darken all the Soul : 
 Celestial Truths neglected Light disowns, 
 And Heaven-born Reason s Majesty dethrone : 
 To add no more, mistake a Thousand Ways, 
 The unwary Mind into her Snares betrays. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Thus Shipwrack d we, beset on Every Side, 
 Toss d to and fro with the impetuous Tide, 
 Of Error s raging Sea. Can we alone 
 Grope through this dark impenetrable Storm ? 
 How may our Eyes, TRUTH S glorious Light discry, 
 His Path pursue, and gloomy Error fly? 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 His Secret Way through dark Meanders learn, 
 And his fair Mark from foul Disguise discern : 
 Hail ! Alma mater hail ! Learning s Delight ! 
 The Haunt where Muses revel Days and Night. 
 Is truth s eternal Mysteries made known 
 To thee, and to thy Favorite Sons alone ? 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Hast thou the Steep and hard Access found out, 
 To climb with Ease the Heliconian Height ? 
 If so indeed, more thou hast understood 
 Than all thy Fathers did or Ever could. 
 Search the renowned ancient Schools, and then 
 You ll find the Learned err d like other men. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 This World in which such Wisdom is display d, 
 
 Was by unguided, inert, Atoms made, 
 
 As Epicurus and his senseless Followers said. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1738. 
 
 Phylosophy in Aristotle s Schools 
 Taught all his Scholars to be errand Fools : 
 Cartesius, (whom eternal Honours crown) 
 Turn d his adored System upside down. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Did they thus Err that did so much excell ? 
 Then all you vain Philosophers farewell, 
 Let all aspiring Pedants learn this Task, 
 First to unlearn their foolish Errors past. 
 Celestial Dove ! Enlighten thou my Mind, 
 Revoke thy Wrath which doom d me to be blind. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 This First Week in the New Year may afford Great Wind and Storm 
 long and severe. 
 
 Cloudy if not Wet, and Wind with Some Abatement of Cold. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Pretty cold freezing Nights followed with a short storm. 
 Let Travellers be upon their Guard to defend their Noses. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 March begins like March, worse than it holds out. 
 Cloudy dirty drizzly wet Weather with fogs &c. 
 
 APRIIv. 
 
 Great Striving, which shall get the day, 
 Apollo me forbids to say. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Let the wise Merchant, the honest Tradesman, and the careful Farmer, 
 improve their Season. 
 
 This Month may End with Hot Weather. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Perhaps a setled Rain with Thunder. 
 K. GEORGE II. began to Reign also. 
 More Thunder somewhere, as was the Hurricane last Year. 
 
120 ALMANACK FOR 1738. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Thunder, or I wonder. 
 
 Some new Disease gets on the Stage 
 Which here and there begins to rage. 
 
 Wind, if not a Storm perhaps a Frost about this Time. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Hot and looks like Thunder. 
 
 Petty Attorneys and Quack Doctors are like scabbed Sheep among the 
 Flock, one Devours and t other breeds the Rot. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 1? Votes for an Bast Wind and a long Storm. 
 
 Apertio Portarum^ , or opening the Gates of Heaven, which may let 
 down plentiful Rains on Barth before the setting in of Winter. 
 
 Kind READER, 
 
 By what follows I would not have you think that I am a 
 Superstitious Bigot to Judicial Astrology. But so far as Astrol 
 ogy is built on the Effects and Influences of the heavenly Bodies 
 on our earthly Bodies, which Effects and Influences, being 
 observed by us, so far (I think) Astrology has a rational and 
 phylosophical Foundation. This Earth is one of the Planets in 
 the Soler System, and doubtless they all have a mutual Depen 
 dence upon, and Co-operation with one another. 
 
 The different Degrees of Heat and Cold, surprizing Resur 
 rection of the Plants in the Spring, the Beauties of Summer, 
 Fruitfulness of Autumn, and Barrenness of Winter, is the Con 
 sequence of the different Directions, Quantities and Impulses of 
 the Sun s Rays, which fall under a mathematical Calculation. 
 The Full Moon faces the World with so grand and serious a 
 Look, that even Shepherds, and Plowmen, old Women, &c., are 
 not ignorant of its Effects. For the other five Planets, as they 
 are in Respect of us, of less Lustre and Glory, so their Vertues 
 and Influences are not so commonly known, though very great 
 and admirable. No doubt but their Radiations act upon us 
 according to the strictest Laws of Nature though we are ignorant 
 thereof. How their Influence is communicated is uncertain : if 
 
 1 The g $ & $ is called so. (Opposition of Mars and Venus.} 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1738. 121 
 
 by an Effluvia emitted, then the Force of their Percussion (like 
 all other Impulses) is as the Sine of the Angle of Incidence. 
 But we must note the Effect and from thence search for the 
 Cause, and argue not from Reason, but from Sense and sensible 
 Experiments : hence when the Moon is Perige the Tides are 
 increased, but still they will be further increased, if at the same 
 time she be in Conjunction with Saturn or Venus (as well as the 
 Sun). Hence Saturn or Venus in Conjunction with the Moon is 
 not only a Sign, but a Cause of the observed proportionable 
 Augmentation of the Tide. 
 
 Astrology was at first gathered by the Ancients collecting 
 from Histories of the several Nations of the World the most 
 Eminent and notable Changes that hapned therein in Respect of 
 Sects, Empires, Kingdoms, Wars, Famine, Deluges, etc., together 
 with the Changes of Air in Respect of Heat, Cold, Moisture, 
 &c., with the exact Time of such Changes, and the true Pos 
 tures of the Constellation and Planets : as also the Eclipses and 
 Comets preceding the same. Now to pursue such a method I 
 would observe two things : 
 
 I. And First, the Winter past was with us, even to South 
 Carolina, as cold and severe as any in the memory of this Age : 
 and by the Weekly News Letter we were inform d of a remark 
 able Destruction of Fish and Water-Fowl in many Places : 
 Which say Ptolemy, Coley, Lilley, &c. are the Effects of Eclipses 
 in the Watery Triplicity, in the which Trigon the two last (and 
 indeed very remarkable) Eclipses were celebrated. One who 
 published an Almanack last Year for Rhode Island, by what he 
 pick d out of these (or some such like) authors ventured to tell 
 the Destruction of Fish and Fowl, which, as I mentioned before, 
 came to pass. 
 
 II. Secondly. There appeared a small Comet last February 
 (and I think there was but small notice taken of it) it had a 
 direct and swift motion and presently disappeared, It was first 
 seen in the last Face of the Sign Pisces, which is of a watry 
 nature : what Floods and Inundations followed is fresh in the 
 memory of every one. So much for what is past. 
 
 There will be a remarkable Eclipse of the Sun for the Year 
 to come. Mercury is Lord of the Ascendant in the Time of the 
 Eclipse, which portends much pilfering and stealing, if not 
 
122 ALMANACK FOR 1738. 
 
 robbing on the High-way. But I had no need to have recourse 
 to Astrology, for such a prediction is Easily drawn from other 
 Phaenomena. I would not have those who are troubled with 
 the Itch of Stealing, think to excuse themselves by laying the 
 Fault upon Mercury, for a worse than he tempts them to such 
 villanies. The following lines I recommend to them as a mon 
 itor to prevent the use of the Halter. 
 
 You that Defraud or Steal do of the Devil borrow, 
 
 And ere you Pay the Debt, will cost you Grief & Sorrow ; 
 
 He s Surety for his Loan, your Souls they stand as Bail, 
 
 And if of true Repentance you should chance to fail, 
 
 He ll for no formal writ of Scire Facias wait, 
 
 When Death the Summons brings the Surety he will take ; 
 
 And you must pay the Cost in Everlasting Pain, 
 
 And have the Principal eternally remain 
 
 Uncaucell d and unpaid : after a Million Year 
 
 The Debt will be as big as when you first came there : 
 
 You may weep Floods of Tears, and Cheat and Steal no more ; 
 
 You never can Repent unless you do restore : 
 
 For where Men can and won t, Repentance is a Sham, 
 
 One Six-Pence so retain d most certainly will damn. 
 
 1738* We now approach the very jovial period of the 
 Doctor s life, and his almanacks increase in interest from this period to his 
 final decease. Whether he had been held in check heretofore by the pres 
 ence of his father, who might have been an exemplar of the stern morality 
 and rigid discipline of the Puritan days, we know not, but certain it is, that 
 now and hereafter, his writings and selections fully justify all the meed of 
 praise which Professor Tyler has lavished on him. 
 
 No one can fail to thoroughly enjoy the productions of the author s 
 pen, even though introduced through the very humble pages of an alma 
 nack. Neither are any comments absolutely required, to enable the dis 
 criminating reader to thoroughly appreciate every syllable of the wit, 
 wisdom, information and satire which every page contains, and which gives 
 us at this day a more thorough insight to the manners and customs of the 
 people, among whom they circulated a century and more agone. 
 
 In the salutatory rhyme on the title, he ingeniously apologizes for the 
 existence of both Lawyer, Priest, and Doctor, and traces back in well 
 chosen lines their ancestry direct to the Eden affair. 
 
 On the next page he proceeds to touch up the "Ancient and Honorable 
 Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons" according to his humor. These 
 few lines of verse are the first that I have noticed in any publication of 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1738. 123 
 
 the kind, adverting to the institution, which had been but lately introduced 
 to the Colonists, through the offices of Henry Price, who established the 
 first Lodge in New England, in 1733. 
 
 Why the Doctor should have made any allusion of the nature of his 
 poetic squib in this instance, is not apparent. Perhaps a Lodge had been 
 established, or visiting at the rival tavern of Gays ; or perhaps he being 
 advised that the habitat of the fraternity was generally at the congenial 
 inn, felt that his own popular hostelry had been ignored in the founding 
 of altars about the country. However he wrote it, and we can only con 
 jecture why he made such a dismal allusion to an organization, which had 
 its early home at the inns, taverns, and coffee houses in " Merrie England," 
 which some authors have characterized as a "pot-house production," which 
 Us eminent patron Frederick the Great is said to have alluded to as a 
 "great nothing," and which, hailing at an early day from the " Theater 
 Tavern," "The Devil at Temple Bar," " The Red Lion Inn," " The Bunch of 
 Grapes," and a myriad of similar localities, has carried its humanizing in 
 fluence, its charities, its social pleasures, its craft ambitions, its petty 
 backbitings and personal jealousies in the advance guard of civilization. 
 From its fecund womb have issued forth all the varied forms of societies 
 and beneficial associations, which permeate every class of humanity 
 throughout the globe. 
 
 As noted, it has its little human weaknesses and foibles, and none more 
 enjoy the little battles of the outside world against its influence, whether 
 by satire or open attack, than the appreciative craftsman, and none more 
 thoroughly (though quietly) enjoy a "center shot." 
 
 Almost coeval with the establishment of the " Ancient and Honorable 
 Fraternity" in America, the craft became an object of interest for the 
 satirists, and right well did they use their opportunities. The location of 
 the lodges at the taverns and coffee houses made a vulnerable point for 
 those who laughed, and particularly for those that committed their 
 laughter to paper. 
 
 It is quite remarkable that all who have endeavored to trace the 
 genealogy of this time-honored institution have invariably brought up in 
 the " parlor of a profane public house," and all the history anterior to 
 that period is relegated to the speculative testimony which is based on 
 Masonic tradition. 
 
 Joseph Green (b. 1706), a Harvard graduate (1726) and person of humor 
 ous proclivities was resident at Boston, about the time when Masonry 
 assumed definite shape in the Colonies. He employed his pen in various 
 satirical ways, and the occasion of a parade of the Masonic Lodge at 
 Boston, on one St. John s day gave him a theme on which he descanted in 
 very- enjoyable verse, and to the merits of which the most zealous brother 
 cannot be indifferent. 
 
 The poem entitled " An Entertainment for a Winter Evening," contains 
 the following : 
 
124 ALMANACK FOR 1738. 
 
 " Come, goddess, and our ears regale 
 With a diverting Christmas tale. 
 O, come, and in thy verse declare 
 Who are the men, and what they were, 
 And what their names, and what their fame, 
 And what the cause for which they came, 
 To house of God from house of ale, 
 And how the parson told his tale ; 
 How they returned, in manner odd, 
 To house of ale, from house of God." 
 >;< ^ %. >i- % % > 
 
 Then he touches up the chaplain the preacher on the occasion : 
 
 Masons at Church ! Strange auditory ! 
 And yet we have as strange a story, 
 For Saints, as history attests, 
 Have preached to fishes, birds, and beasts. 
 
 ^ * :{j * >;< * jfc 
 
 So good Saint Francis, man of grace, 
 Himself preached to the braying race ; 
 And further, as the story passes, 
 Addressed them thus " My brother asses." 
 
 As the procession moves along, he singles out some of the more promi 
 nent brethren, among whom notably one Pue ; he the Junior Warden 
 perhaps, or some one having immediate charge of the refreshment proper, 
 a Master Adept in his particular calling, evidencing the true worshipper 
 at the shrine of Bacchus, by his brilliant carmine nose. 
 
 " Who s he comes next? Tis Pue by name, 
 Pue by his nose well known to fame ; 
 This, when the generous juice recruits, 
 Around a brighter radiance shoots. 
 So on some promontory s height, 
 For Neptune s sons the signal light 
 Shines fair, and fed by unctuous stream 
 Sends off to sea a livelier beam." 
 
 (The full text of this poem may be found in the Appendix to this 
 volume.) 
 
 The verses this year start out with an Ode to the wondrous Nervous 
 System of the human frame. Further on he alludes to childish errors 
 which by maturer thought should be thrown off, and then continuing in 
 rapturous strain, he glorifies Science and investigation and the grand 
 results to be derived therefrom. In conclusion, a. gloria is sung to Carte- 
 siits, while the disciples and the principles of Epicurus and Aristotle, are 
 dismissed to perdition. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1739. 125 
 
 The Essay follows the weather predictions, and the astronomer pro 
 nounces a mild opinion concerning the alleged truths of Judicial Astrol 
 ogy ; but thoroughly endorses the theory of Natural Astrology, and his 
 belief in the co-operation of the other planets with, and influence upon 
 each other. He quotes occurrences and incidents largely in support of 
 his theory, and cites Ptolemy, Coley, Lilly, as being the authorities from 
 whom some almanack-makers draw their predictions of remarkable prodi 
 gies, etc. 
 
 In conclusion, in reference to a certain Eclipse, when a certain planet 
 is in the ascendant, he draws the line as between Mercury, and Satan, as 
 to the proper cause of the effects to be looked for, and, as might be 
 expected, closes with some humorous verses concerning the last mentioned 
 individual, and his proper children the usurers. 
 
 The humorous interjections are few but of the usual quality; attorneys 
 and quack doctors receive their usual medicine from the Doctor. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1739 
 
 By 
 
 BOSTON in NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Printed by John Draper, for the Booksellers 1739. 
 Price Six Pence Single & Four Shillings per Dozen. 
 
 Tis now maintained each fixed Star s a Sun 
 Equal to our s, and then suppose each one 
 Throughout the spacious UNIVERSE combine, 
 And in one awful Blaze their Lustre join : 
 Tho MAN would sink as Dazled at the Sight 
 For Eyes made but of Flesh too powerful quite 
 Yet all the Light that would hereby be made, 
 Would but resemble their CREATOR S shade. 
 
126 ALMANACK FOR 1739- 
 
 Kind READER, 
 
 The following Poem being somewhat longer than I intended, 
 takes up Part of this Page as well as the Vacancy at the Head 
 of each Monthly Page as usual. 
 
 The famous Thresher, Stephen Duck, invited by a noble Karl 
 to write upon the SUN, refused, because he had read no Authors 
 on that Subject ; I might for the same Reason have done the 
 like ; but that I believe any thing done according to the best of 
 my poor Endeavours, will be more agreeable to the Publick 
 than an entire Blank. 
 
 To my Reader, who is so censorious as to dispute the Legit 
 imacy of my Poems, I say, as they merit no Praise ; so I am 
 satisfy d they will not be claim d or father d by any Body besides 
 my self, either among the living or dead. 
 
 Dedham, October 4, 1738. N. AMES. 
 
 My muse with Grief has dimn d her Virgin Sight, 
 
 And s loth to sing of Phoebus or his Light ; 
 
 To ve sung my Spouse and only Son s Decease 1 
 
 Her Song had been perhaps a finish d Piece, 
 
 Because the Tho ts that roll within her Mind 
 
 Are unto Death & Tragedies inclin d : 
 
 Why droops thy Wing? Uplift thy mournful Head, 
 
 Heaven s Glories View ; leave poreing o re the Dead. 
 
 Father of Light ! From thy bright Essence flows 
 
 Light uncreated, to the Souls of those 
 
 Who in thy Works with awful Reverence pry, 
 
 And truly seek thy Name to glorify ; 
 
 Illumine me, lest my unskilful Pen, 
 
 With vulgar Strains, a lofty Theme prophane. 
 
 K er thou unfurld st thy Glories to create 
 
 New Worlds, and amply them accommodate, 
 
 Thou didst the Broils of Chaos huge compose ; 
 
 From dire Confusion Harmony arose : 
 
 Thy Word and Spirit, accompany d with Might, 
 
 Summon d each roving Particle of Light 
 
 That with the ill joyn d Seeds of all Things lay 
 
 Obscure and W T aste, collecting every Ray, 
 
 To form the grand amazing Globe that rules the Day 
 
 Dr. Ames first wife and son had deceased in 1738. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1739. 127 
 
 Stupendious Lamp ! Thou wert the Persian s God 
 Whose Foot Steps by the Light of Nature trod. 
 Nor we our selves of thee had better known, 
 Had not a Light Superior on us shone. 
 He is a God, said they because tis He 
 Who sees all Objects, and by whom all see. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 His some-resembling Omnipresence fills 
 
 The humble Valleys and aspiring Hills ; 
 
 Nay present through the Spaces infinite, "j 
 
 For His fair Daughter first-born Creature Light, 
 
 Visits vast Worlds unknown beyond the Ken of Sight __) 
 
 The rolling Worlds to Him Obeysance Pay ; 
 
 Who all submit to His Magnetick Sway. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 His Gravity directs em where to role, 
 
 None from their destin d Orbits dare to strole, 
 
 With Glory crown d, superlatively great, 
 
 In midst of all these circling Orbs his Seat. 
 
 Our Earth, obsequious to his great Command, ~) 
 
 Turns or is turn d, whilst his all bounteous Hand, 
 
 Distributes Life, and vital Warmth to Sea and Land. ) 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 The numerous product of Dame Nature s Womb, 
 That wantonly exult in youthful Bloom, 
 Whether they plough the Air, or Walk, or Swim, 
 Their secret Springs of Life originate in him. 
 As he withdraws a little from our Sight, 
 W T hen Capricorn s cold Tropic lengthens Night 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 The Winds disturb d with horrid Murmurs rise, 
 And mix the foamy Billows with the Skies 
 The Earth as Dead, no Fruit nor Comfort yields 
 Wrinkled and fled s the Beauty of the Fields : 
 But when proud Aries ushers in the Spring, 
 And Sol returns to comfort us again ; 
 
 MAY. 
 
 The Earth revives, and cloaths herself with Green, 
 And rich Embroideries on the Meads are seen : 
 
128 ALMANACK FOR 1739- 
 
 His gentle Rays Orions Bands despoil ; 
 And genial Warmth makes jocund Nature smile, 
 Unlocks the Virgin Bosom of the Flowers, 
 And Bread and Wine distil in April showers. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 The wing d Musicians welcome him with Notes, 
 As Orpheus Lyre were tuned in their Throats, 
 So charm d are we their Harmony to hear, 
 That all our very Soul gets in the Ear. 
 When for Repose he yields to shady Night, 
 And in his Ebon Box locks up the Light. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 And Darkness with her sable Mantle covers, 
 Sweet stolen Sports of joyful meeting Lovers. 
 His starry Parliament, those twinkling Fires, 
 That set in Council whilst their Lord retires, 
 Adorn the ample Canopy with Light, 
 And sparkle on the gloomy Brow of Night 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Ere this bright Prince up-lifts his Golden Head, 
 From the soft Pillow of his Sea-Green Bed, 
 Aurora in her blooming Splendor dress d, 
 Comes blushing from her Chamber in the East, 
 Her Rosy Hand the dusky Cloud adorns, 
 That Iris painted Bow she almost scorns. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Enfring d with Gold, and Rich Embroideries laid; 
 Whence ming ling Lights reflect a beautious Shade. 
 All this Refulgent Glory o er his Head 
 Prepar d, against He s pleas d to quit his Bed. 
 His pale Fac d Queen, who wore his Silver-Light 
 And handed down his Glories all the Night ; 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 When he comes forth declares her social dread, 
 And at his glorious Presence hides her Head. 
 The lesser Orbs that Nightly Set and Rise, 
 Yield up their Light when he ascends the Skies. 
 Nor needs their Light, with Glory all his own, 
 Rides through the Heav ns unrival d on his Throne. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1739. 1 29 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Meanwhile his Eye our rolling World surveys, 
 And gilds its Mountains with his golden Rays, 
 Fat ning with Grass and Vines each fruitful Vale 
 To feed the Brute, and chearful Man regale 
 Expells the Horrors of the dreary Night 
 Glad ning the dumpish Soul with beamy Light 
 And courts with beauteous Objects th admiring Sight. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 He cloathes Material Nature with his Rays ; 
 Thus blest our Hemisphere, the whilst he stays, 
 Until the Proud, Ambitious, Envious West, 
 Too eager to enjoy this Princely Guest, 
 Calls him to bed ; where ravish d from our sight, 
 He leaves us to the solemn Frowns of Night. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 This Month from Janus took it s name : 
 A Heathen God of ancient fame. 
 
 Give me this week for Elbow Room to guess in and I ll promise you 
 High Tides, Stormy Winds plenty of Rain or Snow. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Adversity makes a Man Wise. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Dirty Weather, bad for Travellers. 
 
 We listen for a Silken Peace or bloody War. 
 
 Now expect fresh news of Foreign Commotions. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 * 9 5 o- 01. 
 
 At this Convocation the Planets all meet and Vote, Nemine Contra- 
 dicente for Peace among the nations. 
 
 The rattling Cannon echo thro the Woods. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Now lavish Nature in her best Attire 
 Cloathes the gay Spring, the Season of Desire. 
 
130 ALMANACK FOR 1739- 
 
 JUNK. 
 
 Boreal climes are warm d, the frozen Pole 
 Thaws with the Heat of the Celestial Coal. 
 
 TULY. 
 
 Remark, what happens now $ passes by Cor. 61. 
 Signs of N. E. Rain as Infallible as the Pope. 
 DOG DAYS begin & the Dog-star rains his Maladies. 
 Zeal has no Ears, but Slander has a great many. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 A Cloak for matters of Religion is easily found. 
 A Strange Alteration in Affairs ! 
 Without Money, without Credit ! 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Tho the Plotters are rotten 
 The PILOT S not forgotten. 
 
 Now if happens not to Thunder 
 
 Then something else will make you wonder 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 The pregnant Clouds now thicken in the Skie ; 
 Sailors beware, Euroclydon is nigh. 
 A pale Sun and a threadbare Earth. 
 
 Sir Richard Blackmore speaks of the Heathen s being 
 bewildred concerning the first original and beginning of the 
 world as follows, viz : 
 
 The Pagan World to Canaan s Realms unknown 
 Where Knowledge reign d and Light Celestial shone, 
 Lost by Degrees their Parent Adam s name, 
 Forgot their Stock and wonder d whence they came. 
 
 But it seems to me, that if we were not favour d with the 
 Inspired History of Moses, we could not by the bare Dictate of 
 Reason be of the opinion of Aristotle and some other of the 
 Heathen Philosophers, namely, that the World was ab eterno. 
 The Chaldeans who are amongst the most ancient writers next 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1739. 131 
 
 to Moses, give us an account concerning the Beginning of the 
 World, arid tis probable the Tradition of so memorable a Thing 
 was not wholly lost to those ancient ages : and altho they reckon 
 Forty-three Thousand Years from the Beginning of the World to 
 the Time of Alexander, yet this Way of Computation is acknowl 
 edged by Diadorus Siculns and Plutarch to be meant of Lunary 
 Years or Months, which being reduced to Solary Years will fall 
 out to be much about the Time assign d by Moses for the 
 Creation. 
 
 But a fair Probability that the World has not been Eternal is 
 drawn from the Rise and Progress of Arts and Sciences in it. It 
 cannot be imagined that so busy and sagacious a creature as 
 Mankind is, could all of them have lived an Infinity of Ages 
 destitute of those Arts so advantageous for the Comfort and 
 Benefit of human Life. 
 
 Seneca asserts there was not above a Thousand Years since 
 the Beginning of Arts and Sciences to the Time wherein he lived. 
 There is scarce any one of them so ancient, but that the Original 
 and first Inventors of them are Recorded in History. 
 
 Four Thousand Years ago when Man beheld the glorious 
 Phaenomena of the Heavens, the Changes, Vicissitudes, and 
 various Positions of the Planets, 
 
 " Nor saw with how much Art their windings ran 
 Nor where their regular Confusion ended." 
 
 Had they been told that these infinite Varieties might be 
 reduced to Rule and Order, and that in future Ages Men might 
 come to understand the Laws of their Motions, the Nature of 
 their Orbits, their Positions, Appearances, and Distances from us 
 and one another ; that we might come to Predict their Settings, 
 Risings, Stations, Retrogradations, Eclipses, &c ; and that too 
 almost to the greatest Precision we are capable to distinguish or 
 apprehend : they would not have given Credit to such infor 
 mation. 
 
 The Arabian Astronomers measured their Time by Hour 
 Glasses of Water. Thales was the first that could predict an 
 Eclipse ; he lived between five and six hundred Years before the 
 Christian Aera. Telescopes were invented by Zechariah Johji- 
 nades, a Spectacle maker in Middlcboro in Zealand 1590. He 
 
132 ALMANACK FOR 1739- 
 
 presented one of two Glasses to Prince Maurice. Galileo pur 
 sued the Hint, and made several whereby he first discovered four 
 Planets moving constantly round Jupiter from thence usually 
 called his Satellites. 
 
 And thus every one improving on the Observation of his 
 Predecessor, till all the Phaenomena were compleatly gathered, 
 and then applying the Science of Geometry and Numbers to 
 investigate their Orbits, their Distances, the Laws of their 
 motions, their Natures, and their Causes, till now in our Day, 
 Astronomy is brought almost to the highest Pinnacle of per 
 fection. 
 
 IVotes OH I73<9 The Glorious Sun is the burden of the poet s 
 rhyme this year, and the author apologizes for his treatment of the 
 subject by quoting the renowned authority Mr. Stephen Duck. 
 
 Concerning the authenticity of the poems, and the responsibility for 
 them, the Doctor modestly disclaims all merit for them, but boldly 
 announces himself as the sole father thereof. 
 
 In verse he announces the recent decease of his wife and son, and then 
 proceeds with the theme of the poem and monthly verses, which are very 
 creditable and readable. 
 
 The Essay is a model dissertation concerning the age of the world, and 
 the varied opinions on the subject through all periods from Moses down 
 to the " Dedham astronomer;" concluding with a brief sketch of the 
 invention of telescopes, and the development of astronomical art. 
 
 The monthly squibs continue pertinent, amusing, and of maintained 
 interest. The gunpowder plot receives its particular and characteristic- 
 couplet, and Religious matters, a cloak. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1740. 133 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1740 
 
 BY NATHANAEI, AMES. 
 
 BOSTON in NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Printed by John Draper, for the Booksellers, 1740. 
 Price Six Pence single, & Four Shillings per Dozen, 
 
 Thro Worlds unnumber d tho the GOD be known, 
 
 Tis our s to trace him only in our own. 
 
 He who thro vast Immensity can pierce, 
 
 See Worlds on Worlds compose one Universe, 
 
 Observe how System into System runs ? 
 
 W T hat other Planets, and what other Suns ? 
 
 What vary d Being peoples every Star ? 
 
 May tell why Heav n made all things as they are. 
 
 What of Poetry I present the Publick this Year is partly trans- 
 scribed from the works of the learned Alexander Pope, Esq. I 
 use two Lines of my own in July to introduce the four following 
 from Sir Richard Blackmore, being an elegant discription of a 
 Thunder Cloud which we so frequently behold at that Season. 
 
 The following Vision of Blackstorts Revival being a sudden 
 Thought w r hich occur d not many Days before I delivered my 
 Copy to the Press. You may therefore only Expect something 
 that may serve to stimulate the Ideas of the Ingenious to make 
 a more accurate improvement of such a Thought : This Black- 
 ston before the Settlers of the Massachusetts Bay arrived in New 
 England, dwelt in a lonely Cottage, on a neck of Land, from 
 him call d Blackstort s Point, and by the Indians Shawmut, which 
 is since become the Metropolis of New England, and bare the 
 noted name of Boston, 
 
 Dedham, Octob. 2, 1739. N. AMES. 
 
134 ALMANACK FOR 1740. 
 
 A VISION OF BLACKSTON S REVIVAL. 
 
 Last Night our late Chronology I read, 
 Of noted Men that have long since been dead, 
 And weary laid the Book down by my thoughtful Head. 
 Our former Days was all my artless theme, 
 And Blackston stood before me in a Dream ; 
 From his Lethargick Vault I saw him rise, 
 And shake the Dust from off his long-clos d Eyes ; 
 He sought to find his ancient lonely Dome. 
 But Time had chang d the Face of his lov d Home. 
 Then sigh d and said " If ever I liv d here, 
 " Trees were as Men, Now Men as Trees appear ! 
 " Where that most lofty Spire 1 rears up his Head 
 " There stood a Pine, and here an Elm once spread, 
 " Here nought but Owles and Satyrs us d to meet, 
 " Now Men in Coaches rattle through a Street. 
 " Of Houses built magnificent and fine ! 
 " I built the first! they cop)- d not from mine. 
 Behold that Green 2 where yonder Boys do play 
 " The prowling Wolf there nightly lurk d for Prey, 
 " Whose Howl long frighted all Mankind but me, away. 
 " Perhaps I m out ! might not the pious Care 
 " Of some dear Friend my sacred Dust transfer 
 " To native Albion Soil, from whence I came, 
 "Where since I ve slept here I awake again, 
 " And what I now behold some Town of ancient Fame ! 
 " Things alter d so ! Lord, where am I, he cry d ! 
 " No Face I know !" and willing he re-dy d. 
 Then I awoke, and from th instructive Scene, 
 Infer d what might be from what there has been. 
 The tawny Pagans have forsook their Seats 
 From Savage Deserts rise our green Retreats. 
 The shagged Bear lodg d in the Silvan Scenes 
 Most sternly guarded all the purling Streams, 
 From tender Lambs who now enjoy those Floods 
 And fearless ramble through the harmless Woods, 
 As our bright Sun marks out each rolling Year, 
 Great Britain s Glory buds and blossoms here. 
 Ye Gods in Rome what have ye more to do ? 
 Elysium in New England waits for you. 3 
 
 1 South Church. 2 The Common. 
 
 3 Among the very peculiar people which the discovery of the New 
 World induced to emigrate to New England none stand out more promi 
 nently by reason of their peculiarities and opposite characteristics than 
 Mr. William Blackstone, the subject of the Doctor s poetic thoughts, and 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1740. 135 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Behold the Groves that shine with Silver Frost, 
 Their Beauty wither d and their Verdure lost. 
 No grateful Dews descend from Ev ning Skies, 
 Nor Morning Odours from the Flowers arise, 
 No rich Perfumes refresh the fruitful Field, 
 Nor fragrant Herbs their native Incense yield. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Heaven from all Creatures hides the Book of Fate, 
 All but the Page prescribed their present State. 
 From Brutes what Men, from Men what Spirits know, 
 Or who could suffer Being here below ? 
 Thee Lamb thy Riot dooms to bleed to Day, 
 Had he thy Reason, would he Skip and play ? 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Pleased to the last, he crops the flowery Food 
 And licks the Hand just rais d to shed his Blood. 
 Oh, blindness to the Future ! Kindly given 
 That each may fill his Circle mark d by Heaven 
 Who sees with equal Eye, as God of all 
 A Hero perish, or a Sparrow fall . 
 
 Master Thomas Morton the hero of the Maypole of Merry Mount. The 
 former lived at Shawmut, having settled there about 1623, and is accredited 
 as the first settler and founder of the present City of Boston. He lived 
 the life of a recluse ; preferred solitude to society, and having, in common 
 with the majority of the first comers, pronounced religious peculiarities, 
 his theological notions inclined him to solitaire and he played it alone. 
 He left England because " he did not like the Lord-bishops " there, and 
 he isolated himself at Shawmut because he had " no love for the I/ord- 
 brethren in New England." When neighbors and religion began to be 
 obtrusive, and interfered with his comfort, he emigrated to peaceful Rhode 
 Island, and upon the Seekonk river he became the first settler in that 
 Colony and there died about 1675. 
 
 Master Thomas Morton s more social qualities are set forth in the 
 following extract from a paper read before the Western Reserve Historical 
 Society at Cleveland, Ohio, in January, 1887. 
 
 " Two years after the arrival of the first consignment of Puritan emi 
 grants, a ray of cheerfulness appeared about to light up the social sky of 
 New England. In 1622, that jovial limb of the law, Master Thomas Mor 
 ton arrived, and it would have seemed that his advent should have in a 
 measure dispelled the gloom which had pervaded Plymouth society, but 
 
136 ALMANACK FOR 1740. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Horses, (them say st) and Asses, men may try, 
 And ring suspected Vessels e er they buy, 
 But Wives, a random Choice, untry d they take, 
 They dream in Courtship, and in Wedlock wake. 
 Then, nor till then, the Veil s removed away, 
 And all the W T oman glares in open Day. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Hear how the Birds on ev ry bloomy Spray, 
 With joyous Musick wake the dawning Day. 
 The Turf with rural Dainties now is crown d, 
 While opening Blooms diffuse their Sweets around 
 For see ! the gath ring Flocks to shelter tend, 
 And from the Pleiads fruitful Showers descend. 
 
 " I Give and I devise," (old Euclio said 
 
 and sigh d) " My Lands and Tenements to Ned" 
 " Your Money, Sir ? My Money, Sir ! What all ? " 
 " Why if I must (then wept) I give it Paul" 
 " The Manor, Sir ? The Manor ! hold, he cry d," 
 " Not that I cannot part with that" and dy d. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Who trembles not to view the rising Cloud 
 
 When angry Jove plays his Artillery loud? 
 
 What formidable Gloom their Faces wear ! 
 
 How wide their front ! How deep & black their Rear ! 
 
 How do their threat ning Heads each other throng ! 
 
 How slow the crouding Legions move along! 
 
 alas, how often our best intentions bring forth but Hesperian fruit. 
 Thomas undertook a settlement in the neighborhood from which it was 
 his intent that all bilious, sad-countenanced individuals should be forever 
 banished. He succeeded for awhile drove a thriving trade with the 
 natives, bartered them powder and ball, conversation water, and muskets 
 opened a military school in which to teach the Indian idea how to shoot, 
 and endeavored according to his peculiar notion to bring the savage to the 
 highest state of civilization by the shortest possible route. But Brother 
 Morton s school was as much too far advanced as the academy of sadness at 
 Plymouth was too antiquated, to bring about a fellow-feeling between the 
 " salvages " and the new-comers. There arose however, quite providen 
 tially, a man who was equal to the occasion, and who took hold of the 
 subject which subject was Morton in a manner calculated to definitely 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1740. 137 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 The Wife of Bath who was engag d to a fifth before 
 \xtrjourth Husbands Death. 
 
 It pleased the Lord to take my Spouse at last, 
 I tore my Gown, I soil d my Locks with Dust, 
 And beat my Breasts as wretched Widows must. 
 Before my Face my Handkerchief I spread, 
 To hide the Floods of Tears I did not shed. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Now golden Fruits on loaded Branches shine, 
 And grateful Clusters swell with Floods of Wine, 
 But Flowers decay forsaken by the Spring : 
 And Birds now left by Summer cease to sing. 
 The Trees now lade as Autumn-Heat remove, 
 And dying Insects mourn in every Grove. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 What e er the Passion, Knowledge, Fame or Pelf, 
 Not one will change his Neighbor with himself. 
 The Learn d is happy, Nature to Explore ; 
 The Fool is happy, that he knows no more ; 
 The Rich is happy, in the Plenty given ; 
 The Poor contented with the Care of Heaven. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Man feeds the Animal he dooms his Feast, 
 And till he Ends the Being, makes it blest, 
 Which sees no more the Stroke, or feels the Pain, 
 Than favour d Man by touch Aetherial stain. 
 The Creature had his Feast of Life before ; 
 Thou too must perish when thy Feast is o er. 
 
 settle the difficulty. John Endicott, " the Puritan of Puritans," was 
 conveniently at hand, and immediately proceeded through Mr. Morton 
 and his arrangements. Captain Standish assisted also, and despite Mr. 
 Morton s resistance, the banners of those who " were to pour sunshine 
 over New England s rugged hills and scatter flower seeds throughout the 
 soil," were trailed in the dust, the May pole was cast down, the pastimes 
 of Merrie England were abolished, the name of Merry (Ma-re) Mount was 
 obliterated ; salt, for aught we know, was sown on the spot, afterward to 
 be known as Mount Dagon. The sun of merriment and good cheer had 
 set, and jaundice reigned supreme among a people where the whipping 
 post, the stocks and the pillory were considered more congenial diver- 
 
138 ALMANACK FOR 1740. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Nor Fame I slight, nor for her Favours call ; 
 She comes unlook d for, if she comes at all 
 Then teach me, Heav n ! to scorn the guilty Bays. 
 Drive from my Breast that wretched Lust of Praise, 
 Unblemish d let me live, or die unknown, 
 Oh, grant an honest Fame, or grant me none. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 ym 
 
 Sol in Aquarius, now portends 
 That Grandfather Cronos will burn his Shins. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Politicians encrease daily. 
 
 While Lawyers get, the People lose. 
 
 How raving Mad are Men big with Conceit. 
 
 If Love does bide a multitude of Failings 
 It creates a multitude of Jealousies. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 If these be March Winds, tis as bad as January. 
 There s 110 Credit, even for Honesty. 
 Great Expectations frustrated. 
 March, this year, ends like a Lamb. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 This is the morning of the Year 
 The awaken d Roses forth 
 From their Buds do sprout 
 The Whip-poor-wills are come 
 To bid you plant. 
 
 Fine Evenings for Young Virgins to seek their Lovers. 
 Tis a mistake to say 
 (instead of Is) this month you MAY. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Some strange occurrences. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1740. 139 
 
 Now every Plant that drinks the Morning Dew 
 Great Douglass 1 is search d out & known to you. 
 
 Kicks off the Cloaths and lies naked all Night. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 The Man dreams of Pleasure, but finds Pain. 
 
 A good Conscience is a refreshing Cordial. 
 
 Many are the Storms that rage within and without. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Cuckold, thou so ingrateful art ! 
 as not to thank thy Maker. 
 Keep the look-out, a Storm s at Hand. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 The Old Complaint Hard Times. 
 
 Brave F sk thy Dogs the trembling Deer pursues 
 And smells his Footsteps in the tainted Dews. 
 
 * 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Now for the Old Plot, the POPE goes to Pot 
 
 The curst Pope stands in the Way, or I had told you the Day. 
 
 What Heaven decrees, no Prudence can prevent. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Stewed Quaker now is better than Presbyterian. 
 Freckled Shins & ruby Noses before a Fire. 
 
 1 Our ingenious Dr. Douglass, who spends one Day in the Week during 
 the Summer Season, in search of the Plants that grow among us. 
 
 NOTE. WIWJAM DOUGLASS was a native of Scotland, a skilful physi 
 cian, educated in Paris and Leyden. He came to Boston about 1718, and 
 as late as 1721 was the only regularly graduated physician in Boston. 
 He died Oct. 21, 1752, aged 57 years. He led the opposition to Dr. Zabdiel 
 Boylston and his practice of inoculation, was a versatile writer, could 
 calculate eclipses and published an almanack for 1743 and 1744 under the 
 title of Mercnrius Novanglicanus. He had a taste for natural history, 
 was an excellent botanist, and some one has said that " he was always 
 positive, and sometimes accurate." One writer describes him as a " man 
 of extensive reading and varied information, heavily overcast by prodigi 
 ous egotism, and a morose and ugly spirit." He wrote "A Summary, 
 
140 ALMANACK FOR 1740. 
 
 Who before the Great Sir Isaac Newton did behold the Wisdom 
 of the Creator, in that he has bestowed on Matter such a property 
 as that every Particle thereof throughout the Creation, has a 
 Tendency towards every other Particle. And this Gravity of all 
 Bodies is observ d manifestly to decrease in Proportion of the 
 Square of their distance reciprocally ; that is, at twice their Dis 
 tance their Force is but one fourth of what it was at a single 
 Distance, and but a ninth at thrice the Distance, etc. 
 
 What but infinite* Wisdom could contrive that this simple 
 gravitating Power should become the Cement (as twere) of the 
 whole Creation ? On this Account it is that not only a Drop of 
 Water is round, but that the Earth, and all the planetary Worlds, 
 are of a globular Figure, and do not crumble to Pieces like a 
 handful of dry Dust, in their rapid Motions, as they revolve about 
 the Sun, the Center of their respective Orbits. 
 
 The projectile Motion of the Planets would carry them away 
 in infinite Spaces, and they would forever loose the Light and 
 Benefit of their glorious Sun, if they were not detained and 
 bridled by this gravitating Power. The wise Creator has given 
 a projectile Motion to each Planet, Equal to what the Gravity of 
 the same Planet does require, to bring this rectilinear Impulse 
 to such a Curve as describes a Circle, so near as that their Orbits 
 are not very Excentrical. And by this Contrivance in Nature, 
 the Creator makes good his Promise, Gen. 8, 22 : While the Earth 
 
 Historical and Political, of the first planting &c. of the British Settle 
 ments in North America" printed in numbers, the first of which was 
 issued in 1747. 
 
 The town of Douglass, Mass., was named for him, in consideration of 
 his giving to the inhabitants thereof ^"500 (old tenor] for a fund for a free 
 school. He also promised a bell to the center school, and ^"50 per year for 
 seven years for the support of the ministry, but the last two promises were 
 never fulfilled. 
 
 Though continually in some controversy, he was from all accounts a 
 man of much influence as a physician. An essay of his entitled " Practi 
 cal History of a new epidemic, eruptive, miliary Fever, ivhich prevailed in 
 Boston in the years 1735 and 1736," was published in 1736. (This disease 
 was probably what we now know as diphtheria.) This essay was re- 
 published (1825) in the " New England Journal of Medicine and Surgery, 
 with an editorial note that "it has been pronounced by competent judges 
 one of the best works extant upon the subject of which it treats." 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1740. 141 
 
 remaineth, Seed-time and Harvest, and Cold and Heat, and Sum 
 mer and Winter, and Day and Night, shall not cease, 
 
 But I cannot pretend to give my Reader an idea of this 
 Newtonian Philosophy in a single Page, and shall therefore con 
 clude with the following Lines of the Poet concerning this 
 incomparable Man. 
 
 Superiour Beings, when of late they saw 
 
 A mortal Man unfold all Nature s Law, 
 
 Adniir d such Wisdom in an Earthly Shape, 
 
 And shew d a NEWTON as we shew an Ape. 
 
 Could he whose Rules the whirling Comets bind, 
 
 Describe or fix one Movement of the Mind ? 
 
 Who saw the Stars, here rise, and there descend, 
 
 Explain his own Beginning, or his End ? 
 
 Alas, what Wonder ! Man s superiour Part 
 
 Uncheck d may rise, and climb from Art, to Art. 
 
 Notes on 1740. There now appears more variety in the body of 
 the almanack, but the salutatory on the title page is of the same general 
 tendency as that of preceding years. 
 
 The Doctor makes an acknowledgment of the use of other s poetical 
 productions this year, and transcribes largely from Alexander Pope, and 
 his favorite Sir Richard Blackmore. 
 
 A very interesting elaboration of a passing thought from the Doctor s 
 pen entitled a " Vision of BI<ACKSTON S Revival," occupies the opening 
 pages. It is quaint in conception, and extols the glory of Great Britain 
 and the colonies of New England. 
 
 The selections (as noted above) for the head of each monthly page are 
 characteristic and are varied this year by an injection of humorous 
 remarks with which Pope or Blackmore had evidently but little to do 
 note June and August as instances. 
 
 The year concludes with an essay on the discovery of the attraction of 
 gravitation by Newton, adapted to the understanding of the most humble 
 intellect, closing with a poetical offering to the "incomparable philosopher. 
 
 The monthly humor in the weather column still bubbles. Lawyers 
 receive a gentle prodding. The course of true love is hinted at. The 
 local botanist, Dr. Douglass, is immortalized. Good " corn weather " is 
 predicted for July. Private matters in August. An allusion to a now 
 extinct horned animal is noted in September. 1 A local Nimrod is men 
 tioned in October. The " Old Plot " in November, and concluding with 
 " Stewed Quaker " in midwinter. 
 
 : At least the identity is lost as far as the ancient title is concerned. 
 
142 ALMANACK FOR 1741. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1741 
 
 BOSTON in NEW ENGLAND. 
 Printed "by John Draper, for the Booksellers, 1741. 
 
 Time is the effect of Motion, born a Twin, 
 
 And with the World did equally begin ; 
 
 Time like a Stream that hastens from the Shore, 
 
 Flies to an Ocean where tis known no more. 
 
 All must be swallow d in this endless Deep 
 
 And Motion rest in everlasting Sleep. Dryd. Ovid. 
 
 COURTEOUS READER. 
 
 The Verses over each monthly Page I have again this Year 
 transcribed from several ingenious Authors ; but what follows in 
 this Page, and the Essay on the Microscope I offer you as some 
 thing of my own, not borrowed nor stolen : since nothing that I 
 can say will recommend my own Performances to you, I desire 
 you would be pleased to take them as some Men take their Wives, 
 for better or for worse : some Men, I say, for other some there 
 are, who take them for Better and they prove altogether Worse ; 
 but this is a Digression, and if as beautiful, as true, I hope you 
 will forgive your humble Servant, 
 
 N. AMES. 
 
 To the Scoffers at Mr. WHITEFIELD S Preaching. 
 
 If while you hear him, you can mock him too, 
 Attend to me, I ve something here for you ; 
 With hardn d old Caligula prepare 
 To mock the mighty THUNDER of the Air, 
 Prepare an Engine now, (for sure you can, 
 Since Thunder once was mimicked by Man} 
 To show the World your Mind is mighty great 
 And Flash for Flash, and Crack for Crack repeat : 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1741. 143 
 
 Go forth into the Field, but chuse a Day, 
 
 When Heav ns Artillery begins to play, 
 
 As as th embattled Clouds together throng, 
 
 Whose gloomy Terrors, slowly march along ; 
 
 Erect your Standard, cast at them your Byes, 
 
 Stretch forth your Hand, defy em as they rise ; 
 
 And when they all come cent ring o er your Head, 
 
 Then play the Man, Disdain to be afraid ; 
 
 And as the crooked Streams burst from the Cloud, 
 
 Whose Thunder others terrifies aloud, 
 
 Then play your Engine, with sincere disdain, 
 
 And as Heaven Thunders, answer Heav n again 
 Do thus ! and then indeed to you I ll say 
 Come, mighty Hero ck Scoffer, come away ; 
 And hear, and Scoff, for you shall nobly shine, 
 In hardened Impudence, the Victory is thine. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Behold yon Mountains hoary Height 
 Made higher with new Mounts of Snow, 
 Again behold the Winters weight 
 Oppress the lab ring Woods below ; 
 And Streams with Icy Fetters bound 
 Benum d and Cramp d to solid Ground. 
 With well-heap d Logs dissolve the Cold, 
 And feed the genial Heat with Fires ; 
 Produce the Wine that makes us bold, 
 And sprightly Wit and Love inspires : 
 
 Dryd. Nor. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Nobility of Blood 
 
 Is but a glitt ring and fallacious good : 
 
 The Noble Man is he whose noble Mind 
 
 Is fill d with inbred Worth, unborrow d from his Kind. 
 
 The King of Heaven was in a Manger laid 
 
 And took his Earth but from an humble Maid : 
 
 Then what can Birth on mortal Man bestow, 
 
 Since Floods no higher than their Fountains Flow? 
 
 We who for Name and empty Honours strive, 
 
 Our true Nobility from him derive. 
 
144 ALMANACK FOR 1741. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Your Ancestors, who puff your Mind with Pride, 
 
 And vast Estates to mighty Titles ty d 
 
 Did not your Honour, but their own advance ; 
 
 For Vertue comes not by Inheritance : 
 
 If you tralin ate from your Fathers Mind 
 
 What are you else but of a Bastard kind ? 
 
 Do as your great Progenetors have done 
 
 And by your Virtues prove your self their Son. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 In this soft season (let me dare to Sing) 
 
 The World was hatched by Heaven s Imperial King 
 
 In Prime of all the Year, and Holidays of Spring. 
 
 Then did the New Creation first appear, 
 
 Nor other was the Tenor of the Year ; 
 
 When laughing Heav n did the great Birth attend 
 
 And Eastern Winds their Wintry Breath suspend, 
 
 Then Sheep first saw the SUN in open Field, 
 
 And Savage Beasts were sent to stock the Wilds ; 
 
 MAY. 
 
 And golden Stars flew up to light the Skies 
 
 And Man s relentless Race from Strong Quarries rise. 
 
 Nor cou d the tender new Creation bear 
 
 Th excessive Heats or Coldness of the Year ; 
 
 But Chil d by Winter, or by Summer fir d, 
 
 The middle temper of the Spring requir d : 
 
 When Warmth and Moisture did at once abound, 
 
 And Heaven s Indulgence brooded on the Ground. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 To me your Armies losses might be laid 
 Cou d I cure Sickness, or cou d make em Bread. 
 Hard Fate of Heroes, who from Battle come, 
 To fall by Cowards, and their Arts at Home. 
 These may their Princes, and their People guard, 
 If others service you like mine reward. 
 For Who for Victory, or Fame will Strive, 
 To Die like Traytors, or like Slaves to Live ? 
 This the fair Crop, the Victors Harvest brings 
 The common Gratitude of jealous Kings. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1741. 145 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Tis now Tempestuous Storms o erspread the Skies, 
 In Whose dark Bowels in-born Thunder lies ; 
 The Wat ry Vapors numberless conspire 
 To smother and oppress th imprison d Fire ; 
 Which thus collected, gathers greater Force, 
 Breaks out in Flames, and with impetuous course 
 From the Clouds gaping Womb in Lightning flies, 
 Flashes in Ruddy Streaks along the Skies. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Eternity no Parent does admit, 
 
 But on its self did first its self beget, 
 
 A Gulph whose large extent no bounds engage 
 
 A still-beginning never-ending Age. 
 
 ETERNITY that boundless Race, 
 
 Which TIME himself can never run, 
 
 ( Swift as he flies with an unweary Pace ; ) 
 
 Which when ten thousand thousand Years are done, 
 
 Is still the same, and still to be begun. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Since every Man who lives is born to die 
 
 And none can boast sincere felicity, 
 
 With equal Mind what happens let us bear 
 
 Nor joy, nor grieve to much for things beyond our Care. 
 
 L/ike Pilgrims to th appointed Plaqe we tend 
 
 The Worlds an Inn, and Death the Journey s end. 
 
 Ev n KINGS but play, and when their part is done: 
 
 Some other worse or better mount the Throne. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Boreas now designing envious War 
 
 Musters his swift-wing d Legions in the Air 
 
 And now for sure Destruction marches forth 
 
 With the Cold Forces of the Snowy North. 
 
 The verdant Walks their charming Aspect lose 
 
 And Full Ripe Fruit drop from their wither d Boughs ; 
 
 Flowers lose their virgin Blushes now and die, 
 
 Still in the Fields some scattered Beauties ly. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Time sensibly all Things impairs 
 
 Our Fathers have been worse than theirs, 
 
146 ALMANACK FOR 1741. 
 
 And we than ours ; next Age will see 
 
 A Race more Profligate than we. 
 With all the pains we take, have skill enough to be 
 The Wicked when compar d with the more Wicked, 
 Ivook beautiful ; and not to be the worst. 
 
 Stands in some Rank of Praise, 
 
 In these degen rate Days. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Behold how soon the Year is past and gone ! 
 For Time like Streams is ever rolling on. 
 
 The Rose is fragrant, but it fades in Time, 
 The Violet sweet, but quickly past the Prime. 
 White Lillies hang their Heads and soon decay 
 And Whiter Snow in Minutes melts away 
 
 Such and so withering is our blooming Youth. 
 
 To Things immortal Time can do no wrong, 
 And that which never is to Die, forever must be Young. 
 
 AN ESSAY UPON THE MICROSCOPE. 
 
 ARTIFICER go make a Watch, 
 
 In which no seeming Imperfection lurks 
 Whose Wheels with Time exact do onward roll, 
 And one small Spring maintains the Motion of the whole, 
 
 Tis all an Artless homely Botch 
 Compared with the least of Natures Works 
 
 If thro an Optick Glass 
 
 You view a spire of Grass 
 
 That in the Road is trod, 
 With Admiration you may gaze 
 On Veins that branch a thousand ways 
 
 In nice proportion wrought 
 Which truly to th assisted Eyes are brought, 
 That he who is not void of common sense 
 Or fill d with daring Impudence, 
 Must own its Maker truly to be GOD. 
 
 Pray let your Brethren Men 
 
 Use but the Optick Glass again 
 
 Thy rarest Piece to scan. 
 In thy so well contriv d Machine, 
 Those boasted Beauties that are seen 
 After thou st laid the Hammer by, 
 And done thy best to cheat the naked Eye, 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1741. 147 
 
 We view such large unsightly Flaws 
 
 Not inark d by just proportion s Laws 
 
 Which shews thou wert a clumsey Finger d Man. 
 
 Urania s Sons who view the Skie, 
 
 Erect long Tubes to assist the Eye, 
 May we believe th Intelligence they give, 
 
 They tell us many a Star 
 
 That we behold is bigger far 
 Than the small World on which we live, 
 
 These Massy Globes their Maker s Skill display, 
 
 But the Minutest Creatures do their part, 
 The groveling Worm that under Foot is trod 
 
 And smallest Mite proclaim a GOD : 
 And Butterflies as well as they 
 The Feathers on whose painted Wings 
 Out do the Ornaments of KINGS 
 
 And all their costly Workmanship of Art. 
 Behold ! ye Whalers, who go forth, 
 Coasting along the Icy North 
 Under the feeble influence of Day 
 
 Where huge Leviathan does play : 
 Gainst whose Impenetrable Sides the Billows roar 
 Foaming and broke as from some Rocky Shore ; 
 Tell me brave Lads, tell me when you 
 Th unweildy tumblings of that Watery Monarch view ? 
 When all your Darts, and Strength, and Numbers fail 
 When with the sportive glances of his Tail, 
 
 Keen as a Knife he cuts in Twain, 
 
 Or Oars, or Boats, or Men ; 
 
 Do not your Brethren then, 
 
 When any of their Crew are slain, 
 
 Stand off a while and gaze, 
 With Wonder and with vast Amaze 
 This Optick Glass creates a thought in me. 
 As wonderful as what you see : 
 Being not Deceived, nor Mad, nor Frantick, 
 But with my eyes do really view 
 
 Crossing their wide Atlantick 
 Of but a Drop of Vinegar or two. 
 Ten thousand little Fish, and here and there a Whale, 
 
 W T hose bulkey size 
 
 By far out vies 
 
 All other Tribes that therein sail, 
 With more perhaps invisible to sight, 
 Whose numerous Species fall below, 
 
148 ALMANACK FOR 1741. 
 
 What any Glass could ever show : 
 
 Small as the Beams of Light. 
 
 At this amaz d, Oh ! wonderful said I 
 
 Who made the Earth, who rules the Skie, 
 When he his own Idea first survey d. 
 Before his beauteous works were made 
 
 Then forni d the wondrous Plan, 
 And took an Atom for a Space 
 To Minute down the Universe, 
 Both things inert, 
 Things Animate, 
 
 Our Rolling World, and every lofty Sphere, 
 Th/ unerring Hand Divine 
 In Characters, immensely fine, 
 
 Most truly hath Delineated there : 
 
 There all His Works in true Proportion stand. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Earth & Gold strive for Mastery. 
 
 A visible conjunction of Finery & Fraud in some Places. 
 
 Alas! an unlucky opposition coming on, portends a bad time for 
 LOVERS, and many Matches disappointed. 
 
 Snow, or a Mixture, causing Bad Ways, and heavy Traveling ; like some 
 Mediums of Trade. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 The Man s Flush of Money. 
 
 It comes, it goes, it fly s like a Feather. 
 
 Tis a bold Stroke. 
 
 He s cold, but raving makes him Hot. 
 
 Tis too true to make a Jest of 
 
 Laws bear the Name, but Money has the Power. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 A smart Chap ! Stiff for Liberty. 
 
 Fine Times ! He braves it out. Stroke for Stroke. 
 
 The Planets make a great ado, 
 About the Year Forty-two. 
 Strange Innovations ; great Alterations. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1741. 149 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Uncertain Times ! Try before you Trust. 
 Unwelcome News to some conies over. 
 
 The Skie in the Night illuminated by Fires in the Woods. Rain follows 
 after it, and then good Weather for planting. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Hot, tho pleasant Evenings for young Courtiers. 
 
 A great Combustion, about Affairs of Importance in some Places. 
 
 Descending Showers call forth the Greens, 
 
 and wake the rising Flowers. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Mercury has hit on some News from Great Britain very remarkable. 
 Now Showers rise out of every Cloud, and go every way : just so a 
 wandering I/over. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 If Black and White Speak what is Right ; tis scorching Hot. 
 Fortune seldom shews herself noble, but to Minds that are generous 
 and brave. 
 
 Fair and a brisk Wind revives the fainting Lady. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Wicked Men are fearful, and well they may now, for there comes 
 Thunder and hot Weather. 
 
 A good Benefactor appears to relieve the Distressed. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 Now falling Fruits and Berries paint the Ground. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Stand clear, and make way for the Gentlemen of the Bar. 
 Stand by, a Storm is nigh. 
 
 Ladies of Pleasure, improve their Leisure in 
 
 drinking Tea. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 I have nothing to say about the Weather, for the Planets say nothing to 
 me for this whole Week. 
 
 Snow or Rain and Thundering. Planets are concerned in the Hububb. 
 
 Now Fountains open, now impetuous Rain 
 Swells hasty Brooks, and pours upon the Plain. 
 
150 ALMANACK FOR 1741. 
 
 Tis as sure as Barth can make it, This Month ends with falling 
 Weather. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Dark Clouds, thick Air, and all manner of what, about this Time. 
 Tis better to destroy the Wickedness itself, than the Wicked Man. 
 
 Boreas blows, and th Eastern Coasts command, 
 
 While lofty Hills in frozen Armour stand. 
 The Year is Ended, so fare ye well. 
 
 Notes on 1741. The Author continues this year his practice of 
 the previous twelve months, namely, to introduce to his audience some of 
 the best and most appreciated writers of the period. This almanack 
 opens with a selection from Dryden s Ovid for the title page, then follows 
 a characteristic address to the " Courteous Reader," followed by an allo 
 pathic dose " to the Scoffer at Mr. Whitefield s Preaching." 
 
 The monthly verses are excerpted from Dryden s Horace, and others> 
 and the almanack concludes with a poetic " Essay upon the Microscope " 
 by Dr. Ames himself. 
 
 The jokes and gibes among the weather predictions begin to be more 
 numerous, and Fashion, Folly, Cupid, Hymen, Hard Times, Law, Liberty, 
 Politics, Fortune, Wisdom and Astrology, all combined, are treated in the 
 usual sententious and sensible manner. 
 
 It will be noticed during the past few years, that the currency question 
 has been the key-note of several of the Doctor s remarks concerning the 
 " medium of trade," etc. 
 
 There had been from the earliest days, a scarcity of circulating medium 
 in the Colonies. When the trading was mostly with the Indians, a shell 
 currency called peague, pompeague, or wompompeague sometimes sea- 
 want was used to adjust balances ; but this, as the ingenuity of the 
 thrifty New Englander developed " free coinage," every man becoming 
 his own "moneyer" tended to depreciate the value of the clam, the 
 basis of the system, and nothing remained but to originate some other 
 method of finance. 
 
 An emission of bills was made by authority of the Colony, for the 
 redemption of which the Public Faith was pledged said faith being 
 founded on hemp, flax, and other staple products of the soil. These 
 " promises to pay " wore very well for a time, but when they became old, 
 "settling day" came, the treasury was in the usual "shocking" condition, 
 and in 1737 a new issue of currency was made, the conditions of the 
 redemption of which was different from that of the former. To distinguish 
 them apart, the earlier was called " Old Tenor," and the latter " New 
 Tenor," both being continued in circulation. The government being 
 paternal, and supposed to know what was proper for the people, fixed 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1742. 151 
 
 the values of the issues at one of the New for three of the Old; yet 
 the people, the sovereign people, the ancestors of those who sit on 
 modern juries passed them at one to four. 
 
 The inventive genius so budding even at that early day in New Eng 
 land, possibly promoted by the study of " Poor Richard s Art of making 
 Money plenty in every Mart s pocket " the theory being varied to suit the 
 individual idea led to very peculiar and annoying practices. In order to 
 make " change," the various denominations were halved and quartered, 
 and passed in this torn and defaced condition. Later, portions of bills of 
 a lower denomination, were joined to those of a higher, and so re-issued. 
 Then counterfeits were made, chopped up, and attached to other bills, and 
 the confusion became positively embarrassing. The value of the circulat 
 ing medium became so demoralized and uncertain that the Indians would 
 not receive it, and people of evil inclinations, by reason of the condition 
 of things, became honest, because it was no longer remunerative to be 
 otherwise from a currency view of the matter. (See Historical Sketch, 
 p. 46.) 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1742 
 
 By Nathanael Ames. 
 
 BOSTON in NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Printed by JOHN DRAPER for the Booksellers 1742. 
 
 -Nature knows 
 
 No stedfast Station, but or ebbs or flows, 
 Ever in Motion, she destroys her old, 
 And casts new Figures in another Mould, 
 Ev n Times are in perpetual flux and run, 
 Like Rivers from their Fountains rolling on. 
 
 Dry deli s Ovid, 
 
 READER, 
 
 I think it would be a scandal to an Almanack-Maker wholly 
 to pass by in silence the great Conjunction of SATURN and 
 JUPITER, which happens this Year on the 23d of August in 27 
 Deg. 55 Min. and 24 Seconds of the sign Leo. There neither 
 
152 ALMANACK FOR 1742. 
 
 has been, neither will there be another Conjunction of these 
 Planets in this regal Sign this Century : Great Things may 
 therefore be expected from the greatest Persons on Earth, 
 strange Motions of a religious Nature, and as it is in Romes 
 Sign it may affect his Holiness himself : As to New England, 
 I say not ; but would caution my Country-Men as follows, viz : 
 
 You ve heard the doleful Story 
 
 Of th half d n d Place call d Purgatory 
 
 Where guilty Souls must stay 
 Till living Saints by Prayers have purg d their Crimes away. 
 
 New England Men beware 
 If once the D 1 should catch you there 
 
 You d not get out again 
 But stay you must 
 For ever curst 
 For want of Money s a mortal Sin. 
 
 READER, 
 
 What follows is a Dialogue between Ralph, a Freshman at College, and 
 his Brother Will, an ignorant Rustick ; wherein Ralph undertakes to 
 instruct Will in State Affairs. 
 
 Will. Oh Brother Ralph, how do you do ? 
 Ralph. In Health, kind Brother, How do you ? 
 
 Will. The Weathers Cold for Conversashon, 
 Leds zettle the imbril d Nashion, 
 Come, here s zound Zyder, a good Fier, 
 Then gradify my just dezier : 
 For when you dalk of Stade Affairs, 
 It zo delights my Ducky s Bars 
 Tho she wants Oven-Wood, or s a Could 
 She listening forgets to scould, 
 Hey, Wife Keturah ! Faith ! Come in. 
 
 Ralph. Well, Brother Will, I ll thus begin ; 
 Two Bits of Paper from the Plate 
 Ingag d in cruel wars of late, 
 Drest in the Pride of Copper Cuts, 
 Each other charg d with being Cheats. 
 
 Will. Stay pleas d to explain, 
 
 I fain would know whad tis you mean. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1742. 153 
 
 Ralph. The Land-Bank and the Silver Scheme, 
 Was all last Winter s noisy Theme, 
 Till their Debates at length were sent, 
 For Issue to the Parliament. 
 
 Will. The Barlemend ! Whads that ? 
 
 Ralph. O Ignorance ! it is 
 
 The Place where Noble-men resort, 
 And makes the Nation s highest Court. 
 One there was Plaintiff, one Defendant 
 The Parliament soon made an End on t. 
 
 Will. Hah ! I subbose, upon my Troth, 
 
 This Barlemend condemn d em both. 
 
 Ralph. They did, and most severely too, 
 
 Poor Souls, I know not what they l do. 
 
 Will. Hold, Brother Ralph, pray give me leave, 
 I by your Dalk thus much berceive, 
 This Barlemend s a dreadful Thing, 
 As great and bowerful as a King. 
 
 Ralph. The King the Parliament is join d to, 
 
 And they do all things they ve a mind to. 
 
 Will. Bankyers be thankful then ; odds blew ! 
 If the Barlemend can all Things do, 
 Boor Zouls whad wou d you then have done, 
 If thayr great Bower had vurther gone, 
 And bothe your Skeemes, vruidless Brojectors, 
 Bothe Zilver and Land-Bangk Erectors. 
 
 And Bartners all condemned for Asses, 
 Zince whad they say immediate basses 
 With all the Vorce and Bower of Law : 
 Banckyers be mute and stand in awe, 
 Speak bud a crooked Word and vact, 
 I ll persecute you by the Act. 
 
 Ralph. The Reasons that they act upon 
 
 No matter whether right or wrong, 
 For if the Parliament had said, 
 That in each Banker s proper head 
 A Pair of mighty Horns should grow, 
 Tis Law, Ergo, It must be so. 
 
154 ALMANACK FOR 1742. 
 
 Now all my Logick I dare pawn, 
 This Consequence is fairly drawn, 
 He that my Argument denies 
 A sordid Traytor surely dies. 
 For where but one or two dispute, 
 A Goal or Halter ends the Suit, 
 But when to arguing Numbers fall, 
 Then they decide by Cannon-Bail, 
 
 Bankers submit, 
 
 Or the in you all. 
 
 Fare you well, 
 
 RALPH REASON-RIGHT. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Many who see this year come in 
 
 Will never see the like again. 
 
 Hard Seasons, Cold Weather and Short Credit, if any. 
 More Talk, than Work. 
 Over Shoes, and Boots for Money and Wood. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Remark a memorable Battle fought somewhere sometime this month, 
 for Saturn and Mars always make Bloody Noses in Times of War. 
 
 The man s pleased with Fire. 
 
 Now Young I/adies are in danger of making bad matches, or the afore 
 said Trine l deceives me. 
 
 News of Tumults in distant Places, comes round by the Edges. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 More News than true For every one tells his Story but differ greatly. 
 Industry and Plain Dealing portends Prosperity. 
 Advices of some great Exploit. 
 Orion s bands begin to snap. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 More bad Money than good. 
 
 No contentment tho we ve more than we deserve. 
 
 Strive you must, if you would live. 
 
 1 A T? 9 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1742. 155 
 
 He makes you buy, but soon asks for Pay, and then threats to Sue. 
 
 Good and Bad go together. 
 
 Many now feel what they did not expect. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 The Lass trifles with the Beau. 
 
 A Strife hastily begun, but soon ended. 
 
 Many Projections about Publick Affairs to little Purpose. 
 
 A good Day in which expect good News from far. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 The Days are long enough for the Lady s Dress & Tea-Table. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Now Mercury is upon Business, does not like his Orders, 
 goes back to the Gods for new Instructions. 
 A sudden Turn in Affairs of State. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Whatever Sort of Weather we have, will now be durable depend upon t. 
 
 Now be careful how you spend, and what you lend. 
 
 Now Kings themselves engage, and act a wondrous part upon the Stage. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 A Season of no great Action now ; but Vulcan is at work 
 in the Heads of all the Politicians thro out Europe. 
 
 Aeolos strains his Throat for these Blasts. 
 
 Now if a Lawyer should be charg d with a Lie, He would say he had it 
 from his Client. 
 
 A Spell of glorious W T eather, but Boreas will soon commit a Rape on 
 Flora. 
 
 So, so, he has kill d his Patient, Secundum Artetn. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 A great Struggle for Conquest, between two Potent Powers. 
 The old Complaint, never more need of Money than Now. 
 More Dunners than Buyers. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 A Fool turned wanton Ape, 
 Looks like a Beast wrung out of Shape. 
 Souls are breath d & sent from Heaven, 
 But by the Priest are Bodies given. 
 
156 ALMANACK FOR 1742. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 Brave weather for Blacksmiths and Innholders. 
 
 If Zealots now should tread awry 
 From Truth, which should Opinion try 
 They d coin some wondrous heresy. 
 
 Law and Liberty strongly urg d. 
 The Year ends well, so fare you next. 
 
 Strange Doubts arise to my inquiring Mind ! 
 Oh was I but from ponderous Earth Refin d ; 
 . I wou d Attempt on Airy Fancies Wings, 
 Which move by Lightning-tempered, nimble springs 
 To mount the Skies along the Milky-Way, 
 Where numerous Worlds now half discover d lay 
 Remote, not far beyond the Ken of Sight, 
 Scatt ring on us some Fragments of their Light, 
 I d find their Suns amidst the numerous Throng ; 
 And know to which each Planet did belong, 
 The Comets huge Ellipses too I d trace ^ 
 
 As they evagate through the Universe 
 I d follow them and measure all the Space, 
 Which their most great stupendious Orbs contain ; 
 And find the time of their return again 
 Unfold the Portents of their threatening Hair 
 Whether pale Pestilence or whether War 
 I d range the System of the fixed Stars, 
 Old Saturn view, with Jupiter and Mars, 
 And Venus shining Orb visit would I, 
 Nor unobserv d leave nimble Mercury : 
 I d know what Creatures Peopl d these Abodes 
 Or Men more Blest or whether Demy-Gods. 
 After I had these Worlds, and People known ; 
 I d back return, once more to this our own 
 To tell Mankind the Journey I had been, 
 And what amazing wonders I had seen. 
 But oh ! the cumbrous mass of Earth I ve got, 
 Chains down my Soul to one inferior spot. 
 Ignorance contracts my eager longing Sight 
 Intently fixt on yonder Fields of Light, 
 To find some Path that Mighty NEWTON trod, 
 Who on the verge of the Creation stood, 
 And look d beyond the Bounds of Matter quite 
 Whose Soul took all Things in but Infinite. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1742. 157 
 
 The Road from World to World lies quite unknown 
 
 To all Mankind except a few alone 
 
 Whom bright Urania has conducted there, 
 
 Then deign to hear what her great Sons declare : 
 
 " This little ever rolling Star whereon 
 
 " We Mortals creep, the Planets one among, 
 
 " Appear likeyaz^, but less we may conclude, 
 
 " If we \yy Jove s Astronomer were viewed : 
 
 " If Sages there have Observations made, 
 
 " They see us stand or move, Direct or Retrogade ; 
 
 Five Worlds besides our own roll around the Sun 
 
 Whose rays give vital Warmth to every one. 
 
 They ve Days, They ve Nights, alternate Changes sweet ! 
 
 Summer and Winter Seasons, Cold and Heat, 
 
 Good Earth and fruitful Soil, then shall they want 
 
 Some humane or divine Inhabitant? 
 
 Shall Atmospheres furnish their Winds and Rain ? 
 
 And their Sun Shine and Seasons roll in vain ? 
 
 Their Stars by Night, and We among em shine, 
 
 Their Moons to dance along the Ecliptick Line, 
 
 With numerous and great Eclipses too ; 
 
 And what, not one Inhabitant to view ? 
 
 So Dogmatists so Biggots may conclude, 
 
 The Thought is quite irrational and rude : 
 
 Their noblest Uses by themselves enjoy d, 
 
 For more remote are mutually employ d 
 
 To serve each other. Daily they dispense 
 
 On us, and we on them kind Influence : 
 
 Their Trines, their Squares, the great Creator drew, ^ 
 
 To intimate what he intends to do. 
 
 But Oh ! that silly Man the mistick Language knew. ) 
 
 Whilst Man remained iunocent and good, 
 
 The Language of the Stars he understood : 
 
 As BabeVs once after the World was drowned, 
 
 So Sin has now this Language quite confounded, 
 
 Of God and Angel taught, now quite bereft, 
 
 Yet still Mans old Capacity is left ; 
 
 His noble Soul in Darkness hates to stay, 
 
 By Reason aided drives thick Fogs away. 
 
 REASON, like Zephyrs, makes the Heavens clear, 
 
 Errors impervious clouds to disappear, 
 
 The pitchy Skie to shine so blue serene, 
 
 That the old boding Characters are seen. 
 
 Then looks the Mind from whence she lately fell, 
 
 And reads the Stars as first the Children spell ; 
 
158 ALMANACK FOR 1742. 
 
 Thus I predict, and once I lately hit on 
 
 The pleasing NEWS remarkable from Briton; 
 
 Of an Advancement to the sacred Chair 
 
 Of Government an happy Star ? 
 
 The Gov NOUR s 1 bright auspicious Harbinger 
 
 Lig t up his Lamp here in New England Skies, 
 
 Portending Good did daily set and rise. 
 
 Himself a Sun is in the Center plac d, 
 
 And with New-England s Stars His System s graced, 
 
 Then by the Power of His benign Rays, 
 
 Blest be New-England s next succeeding Days. 
 
 OH 1742. Again we open the season with Dryden s Ovid, 
 continuing with a remark on the planetary conjunction of Saturn and 
 Jupiter, which forebodes wonderful things in Continental Europe. As to 
 its effects in New England he saith not, but poetizes concerning a certain 
 financial Purgatory in his usual happy manner. A " Lecture on State 
 Affairs " conveyed by means of a dialogue between a collegian and his 
 rustic brother, is a fair sample of the dialect composition of the period ; 
 carrying with it conviction on the points discussed. 
 
 The conclusion of the almanack is an untitled poem in the Doctors 
 usual style, extolling the Solar system, the wondrous planetary configura 
 tions and their significance. A reference to a personal prognostication 
 made by the astronomer, which haply proved correct, and the usual dox- 
 ology and benediction for New England, closes the year. 
 
 Burlesque presages regarding the effects of Conjunction, Oppositions, 
 Trine, and Quartile, notes on money matters which seem to oppress, 
 lovers troubles, State affairs, economy, a faux pas between Boreas and 
 Flora, a curious couplet about souls and bodies, law and liberty, fill in 
 the weather spaces. 
 
 1 William Shirley, an English lawyer, resident at Boston, succeeded 
 Belcher as Governor in the previous year. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1743. 159 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1743 
 
 By Nathanael Ames. 
 
 BOSTON in NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Printed by John Draper ; for the Booksellers 1743. 
 Price Eight Pence Single, & Six Shillings per Dozen, 
 
 Great Nature s watchful Eye, the Sun 
 At GODS Command ascends the Skies, 
 Wide o er the World with vast Survey, J 
 He bid the wond rous Planet rise, 
 Around his Orb in measur d dance 
 The circling Hours and Months appear, 
 The swift-wing d Minutes lightly move, 
 And mark the Periods of the rolling Year. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Uncomfortable Rain 
 
 A snowy Inundation hides the Plain : 
 
 Bent with the Weight the nodding Woods are seen, 
 
 And one bright Waste hides all the Works of Men : 
 
 The circling Seas alone absorbing all ; 
 
 Drink the dissolving Fleeces as they fall. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 The lovely Queen of silent Shades, 
 
 The Moon in trembling streams of Light 
 Wheels her pale Chariot slowly on 
 
 O er the soft Bosom of the Night : 
 Millions of bright refulgent Worlds, 
 
 Heavens glitt ring Lamps are seen to rise : 
 They as her Virgin Train appear, 
 
 And she the fair Vicegerent of the Skies. 
 
 This line in one edition reads :- 
 
 " Who comb d his beamy Locks with Gold." 
 
l6o ALMANACK FOR 1743- 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Are we depriv d of Will ; 
 
 Must we not wish for fear of wishing 111 ? 
 Receive my Counsel and securely move, 
 Entrust thy Fortune to the Powers above ; 
 Leave them to manage for thee, and to grant 
 What their unerring Wisdom sees thee want. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Curst is the Man, and void of Law and Right, 
 Unworthy Property, unworthy Light, 
 Unfit for publick Rule, or private Care 
 That Wretch, that does unjustly move a War 
 Whose Lust is Murder, and whose horrid Joy 
 To tear his Country, and his Kind destroy. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Now Winters rage abates, now chearful Hours 
 Awake the Spring, and Spring awakes the Flowers. 
 The opening Buds salute the welcome Day, 
 And Earth relenting, feels the genial Ray. 
 The Blossoms blow, the Birds on Bushes sing ; 
 And Nature has accomplished all the Spring. 
 
 JUNE. 
 Now from on high Sol darts his Fires ; 
 
 The glowing Breast to transport Warms ; 
 Life bounds afresh with soft desires, 
 
 And rosy Beauty sweetly charms : 
 His flaming Arrows pierce the Flood, 
 
 And to the bottom bake the Mud. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 The early Fields are now in plight, 
 
 To yield the Harvester Delight : 
 
 The ripened Grain on rising Fields, 
 
 A most delightful Prospect yeilds ; 
 
 In even Ranks the waving Heads appear, 
 
 Bend with the fruitful Load and crown the lusty Year. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 GOD ! The small Ants do thy Protection share, 
 
 By thee advis d to save their Wintry Store ; 
 Their little Commonwealth employs thy Care, 
 
 Too wise to want, too frugal to be poor ; 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1743. 161 
 
 Well may they shame the puzzled Schemes of Man, 
 
 Since from thy Thought divine, they drew the wond rous Plan. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Here I enjoy my private Thoughts ; nor care 
 What rot the Sheep for southern Winds prepare : 
 Survey the neighbouring Fields, and not repine 
 When I behold a larger Crop than mine 
 To see a Beggars Brat in Riches flow, 
 Adds not a Wrinkle to my even Brow. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 The Sun now shoots his milder Ray, 
 And downward drives the falling Day ; 
 Cool Evening now its Beauty rears 
 And blushes in its dewy Tears. 
 The wand ring Flocks no longer Rove, 
 But seek the Covert of the Grove. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Beauty and Strength, and Wit, and Wealth, and Power, 
 
 Have their short flourishing Hour; 
 
 And love to see themselves, and smile, 
 And joy in their Pre eminence awhile ; 
 
 B en so in the same Land, 
 
 Poor Weed, Rich Corn, gay Flowers together stand : 
 Alas ! Death mows down all with an impartial hand. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 But when the angry Surge begins to rage, 
 
 And thro the boundless waste the Tempests roar, 
 
 O Gracious God, do thou their Wrath asswage ; 
 
 And bid the frightning Whirlwinds storm no more. 
 
 Let gentle Pity flow within thy Breast, 
 
 Oh! Chear his melting soul, and give the wearied Sailor rest. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 The Superiors are all Retrograde, so are the Affairs of Many, 
 A Beggar s Brat turns out to be a Mighty Man, and does wondrous 
 Feats. 
 
 Money and Wood are very necessary ; but where shall we have them ? 
 
162 ALMANACK FOR 1743. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 If Men are rul d by the Planets, Oppositions will spring up among all 
 Parties this Month. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Great Strife for a meer Bubble. 
 
 A strange Confusion in some Heads full of Conceit. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 A remarkable Affair happens which causes much speculation among the 
 curious and inquisitive, who love to Talk much and Work little. 
 
 Now may illiterate Pedlars in Divinity take up their Hoes, & go to 
 planting. (See Notes 1743.) 
 
 MAY. 
 
 There will be a vast Quantity of Bread and Wine rain d down not many 
 Days hence. 
 
 The Lady s now appear in all their gay Attire. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 A great Politician comes off harmless by a cunning Artifice, contrary to 
 all Expectation. 
 
 A pretended Patriot turns out a meer Biggot. Vile self is at the Bottom 
 of his plausible Projections. 
 
 Mr. Derham says " that if it Rains Frogs, it may as probably Rain 
 Calves." You may believe it if you please. 
 
 Indian Corn grows by Day, and the Fleas bite by Night. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Make Hay while you may. 
 A strange appearance of many colours. 
 A great noise about -- Nothing. 
 The Truth appears plain by the Liberty of the Press. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 Perhaps a sudden Frost, 
 By which the tender Plants are lost. 
 
 When the Clergy are at the bottom of the Plot, they are wise enough 
 to slip their Necks out of the Collar, and leave the Laity to suffer. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 A sudden Blast blows up a Scheme which has been long a hatching by 
 an old Fox that has more Craft than Honesty. 
 
 A great Struggle between a great Man & little Woman for the Mastery. 
 She gets the Day. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1743. 163 
 
 Venus is mighty loving with Saturn. I don t know what She means 
 by it. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 It is time to think about Snow in the Almanack now r look out for it. 
 POWDER PI^OT must be in. Tho the Pope is burnt, he will be Pope 
 still. 
 
 If it should Rain Gold, what Wars would be among the old Misers. 
 Now an Army of Swine are Slain in a Day. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Horns will sprout in a less Time than Mushrooms. 
 
 My Friend, this Almanack I hope has help d you in your journey : but 
 as tis almost out of Date, pray look out in Time for a new one. 
 
 Lo, the Year is Ended, 
 
 but how have we amended. 
 
 OF COMETS OR BLAZING STARS. 
 
 The Inquiries that have been occasioned by the late Appear 
 ance of a COMET, are so numerous as to determine me to fill up 
 the following vacant Pages with a few Thoughts on that Subject. 
 
 NATURE. The NATURE of these extraordinary Bodies is now 
 confest by the best Philosophers to be the same as that of the 
 Planets, which without doubt differs in nothing Essential from 
 that of the Terraqueous Globe which we inhabit. The}^ are a 
 Composition of the same Materials, subject to the same Law of 
 Gravitation, and howsoever various and surprizing their Phae- 
 nomena have been, they are rationally accounted for by the same 
 Laws of Matter and Motion that appear in all Terrestrial Sub 
 stances. COMETS therefore might have been, in their Turn 
 Planets, furnished with as rich a Variety of the Necessaries and 
 Conveniences of Animal Life ; and these in future Ages may be 
 reduc d to the unhappy Circumstances of these Blazing Stars 
 A doleful Inheritance reserv d, perhaps, for the Punishment of 
 their ancient guilty Inhabitants ! 
 
 CONSTITUTION. Their present CONSTITUTION seems to be 
 of a Central Solid or Plead, surrounded with a large Appendage 
 of dense Vapour, and a Lucid Train of the most subtle Ema 
 nations ; or at least, this is the apparent and most obvious Dis 
 tinction of Parts of a Comet. 
 
164 ALMANACK FOR 1743. 
 
 HEAD. The Head is a very solid, compact and durable Com 
 position, not Inferiour, perhaps to any Metallic Substances, other 
 wise it could not indure such a prodigious Degree of Heat as the 
 celebrated Comet of 1680, It must have conceived in its Approach 
 to the Sun, viz : 2000 Times, at least, greater than red hot Iron. 
 Had the Karth been in such a Scituation it would scarcely have 
 been Cool again in 50,000 Years. 
 
 ATMOSPHERE. The ATMOSPHERE is a vast confused Collec 
 tion of fluctuating Vapours and dense Fumes, probably of most 
 of the superficial Parts that form a regular Planet in a Degree of 
 Dilatation and mutual Repulsion, always proportionate to the 
 Degrees of Heat the Comet sustains. Such was, according to the 
 Rev. Mr. Whistoris Theory the Primitive State of the Karth 
 described by MOSES the Chaos from which these beautiful Pros 
 pects that cover the Surface of the Earth were formed and the 
 State to which they will be reduc d after its Conflagration by its 
 destin d Congress with One of its Fellow Comets. 
 
 TAIL. The TAIL of Comets is one of the rarest and most 
 subtile Expansions in Nature, a Medium very probably 50,000 
 Times rarer than the Air we breath ; yet sufficient to reflect the 
 Rays of the Sun from these void Coelestial Spaces. They seem 
 to have been at first darted every way equally from the Heads ; 
 but are driven back from that Part which is toward the Sun in 
 Parabolic L,ines, as tho there was a mutual Repulsion co-operating 
 between them and the Sun Beams, and in this Scituation they 
 are always observ d. 
 
 The usual Kinds of Comets are divided into, have no other 
 Distinction than what is derived from different Views of this 
 Lucid Train. When that is observ d at right Angles, or any great 
 Angle they are said to be Tailed: Bearded when we see it 
 Obliquely ; and Hairy if the Eye is in the Direction of its Axis. 
 
 MAGNITUDE. The MAGNITUDES of these Bodies are various; 
 but none esteemed less than the Moon, nor any much bigger than 
 Venus or the Earth, i. <?., of a Globe of about 8,000 Miles in 
 Diameter ; and it is remarkable that those are the least that come 
 nearest to the Sun ; least perhaps they should give too great a 
 Disturbance to the Neighboring Planets of that Luminary. 
 
 APPEARANCE. Their APPEARANCE is always made in the 
 Hemisphere round the Sun, and never till they have descended 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1743. 
 
 165 
 
 below the Orbit of Jupiter (which shows them to be inferiour in 
 Magnitude to the superiour Planets, since they are equally capable 
 of reflecting Light) and their Tails do not arise till they are 
 warm with a Degree of Heat, almost equal to that of the Planet 
 Mars ; which is about 2~5ths of what we enjoy. 
 
 MOTION. Their MOTION is performed like that of the Planets 
 Elliptical Orbits round the Sun ; but they are very Excentrical 
 and placed in all manner of Directions. 
 
 NUMBER. The NUMBER of those which have been particu 
 larly observ d, for at least these 400 Years last past do not exceed 
 25, and of these the Astronomy of Four seems to be perfected, 
 which I shall abbreviate in the following Articles, viz : The Year 
 when they last appeared : Times of their Revolution in Years : 
 Time when they are next expected : Mean Distances from the 
 Sun in Millions of English Miles: Excentricities, least and 
 greatest Distances therefrom in the same : Proportion of their 
 least and greatest Distances : Degree of lyight and Heat compared 
 with the Earttis, at their mean Distances : Proportion of their 
 least and greatest Degrees of Light and Heat at their Perihelions 
 and Aphelions : Their mean Velocities pr. Hour in Miles : Days 
 in which they would fall to the Sun, if their Projectile Velocities 
 were stopt. 
 
 COMETS. 
 
 I 
 
 II 
 
 III 
 
 IV 
 
 Appearance 
 
 1682 
 
 1718 
 
 1661 
 
 1680 
 
 Periods 
 
 75 half 
 
 81 
 
 I2Q 
 
 K>7S 
 
 Expected. 
 
 17^8 
 
 I7QQ 
 
 I7QO 
 
 22^^ 
 
 Mean Distance 
 
 IAZ.S 
 
 15^4 
 
 2O2=; 
 
 cfioo 
 
 Eccentricity 
 
 IA.IO 
 
 I4.Q6 
 
 1084 
 
 C CQQ C 
 
 Least Distance .. . 
 
 48 
 
 1.8 
 
 41 
 
 c 
 
 Greatest 
 
 2Q6A 
 
 ^106 
 
 4066 
 
 11200 5 
 
 Proportion 
 
 1:60 
 
 1:80 
 
 i : 100 
 
 i : 20000 
 
 Light & Heat 
 
 I ^24 
 
 I ^S7 
 
 i 625 
 
 I 6642 
 
 Prop Great ) 
 
 
 
 
 
 Least Dist . .. / 
 
 3600.1 
 
 6400.1 
 
 10000: i 
 
 400000000: 1 
 
 Hor. Velocity 
 
 13000 
 
 12500 
 
 QOO 
 
 6000 
 
 Tim. of Discent 
 
 AOOO 
 
 5000 
 
 8000 
 
 37000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 66 ALMANACK FOR 1743. 
 
 The foregoing Articles are not compleated for the Comet 
 which appeared February last, but thus much seems to have 
 been ascertained, viz : Its Node V5 8 deg. 15 min. Inclination 68 
 deg. 14 min. Place of its Perihelion ttl 7 deg. 33 min. Least 
 Distance from the Sun about 20,000,000 Miles. Least Distance 
 from the Earth about 62,000,000 ; and has a Period probably of 
 70 or 80 Years. 
 
 The EFFECTS of these Revolving Bodies may be very Extra 
 ordinary, viz : by inducing great Tempests, Hiirricanes, Inunda 
 tions, Alterations of Rivers, and the Channels of Seas, and 
 lastly Deluges and Conflagrations on the Planetary Bodies, all 
 which, in different Circumstances, they seem naturally capable 
 of: but their ordinary effects, are more Salutary, viz : to recruit 
 the wasting Light and Heat of the Sun ; to supply the Expence 
 of the Fluids of the Planets, and to vivify and impregnate their 
 Atmospheres with that SPIRIT which is the Support and Food of 
 Animal Life, for which, and for other Reasons, they may be 
 justly stiled, The General PHYSICIANS of the UNIVERSE. 
 
 on 1743. The salutatory is of the "Fire Worshipper" variety 
 the central orb the blessed Sun, receives the astronomers oblations, as 
 is quite proper, then we pass directly on to the poetical captions of the 
 months. Under January a well conceived verse describing a January 
 thaw, which with all its inconveniences and disagreeable features is plainly 
 implied. The new moon is worshipped under February with most 
 fulsome praise, then we drop down to terrestrial things and imbibe some 
 good advice on the subject of will, and how to dispose of our fortune. 
 
 In April some of the Doctor s private affairs seem to have occupied the 
 Muse, probably the sentiment herein set forth is born of the action at law 
 concerning his rights in cetain landed property, which was in Court 
 about this period. (See " Tavern Sign " incident, p. 24.) As the season 
 advances we again revert to the natural order of things, and enjoy the 
 advent of summer with its concomitants of grain and fruits. 
 
 Later we moralize, the parable of the Ants and their example for the 
 government and individuals is made pointed enough for the meanest 
 capacity ; and in September, the Contentment of the happy husbandman 
 is versified, though not without some evident personality in the latter 
 lines. 
 
 With the dying year we assume the sentimental, and muse upon Death 
 in November, and a " Northeaster " for the December finale. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1743. 167 
 
 The essay is of more than ordinary interest, as it contemplates the 
 Nature, Constitution and Utility of Comets, and cites twenty-five of these 
 appearances prior to 1743, a11 f which ideas conveyed are vastly interest 
 ing at even this late day, particularly the Doctor s resume of the subject in 
 his usual inimitable style. 
 
 The weather column this year is full of evidence of the Doctor s being 
 but human, and possibly afflicted with poor digestion, as his knife appears 
 to have two edges and its cutting is in all directions, as a perusal of the 
 squibs will make plain. 
 
 November rejuvenates that same old " Plot," while "Horns" are men 
 tioned in the last month in a peculiar manner. 
 
 Among the Doctor s papers have recently been found some characteristic 
 correspondence, showing the general tendency of religious ideas, and the 
 latitude given to debate on scriptural conundrums. The copies of the 
 letters themselves which follow, will not only amuse and instruct, but will 
 illustrate the Doctor s aptness in discussing the subjects placed before 
 him. 
 
 The small matter which kindled the great fire having made its appear 
 ance in the Almanack for this year, the documents properly have their 
 place here. 
 
 The copies (made by Dr. Ames himself) are entitled : 
 
 A I V ETTER IN ANSWER TO MELATIAH MARTIN OF CONNECTICUT, 
 A NEW IvIGHT. 
 
 An answer to a letter Sent from Conecticut to Nathll Ames ye almanack 
 maker In Dedham, occationed by s d Ames putting those words Into his 
 almanack at ye latter end of the month Aprill 1743, (now may Illitterate 
 pedlars in divinity take up there hoes & go to planting) the letter con 
 taining y e following queries : 
 
 istly what it was nimrod hunted, 
 
 2 d ly what nebuchadnezzer Image in y e plain of Dural w r as a figure of, 
 and what it Represented. 
 
 3 d ly what that abomination was that made Desolate, & what was y e 
 holy place mentioned Mathew 24 th :i 5 th . 
 
 4-thly & i st ly, who were y e Daughters of a Certain Drunken whoreish 
 woman ye mother of harlotts, 2 d ly, how does y e affair stand with you 
 about bastardy, & 3 d ly, whether you are not under doubts as to y e number 
 of her name being upon you. 
 
 5 th ly, who was y e man of Sin. 
 
 6thiy ; w ho were ye unlearned spoken of in 2<1 of Peter 3^ : i6th, 
 
 7thly whether ye Beast Saint John saw rise out of ye sea as in Revela 
 tion 1 3th : ist, was animal or metaphoricall & what it represented. 
 
1 68 ALMANACK FOR 1743. 
 
 & firstly, what was y e mark of y e beast, 2 d ly, have not you got his 
 name, 3<lly, and his mark Likwise. 
 
 gthly and lastly who were those merchants & are there any such now 
 a days as are mentioned in Revelations &c. 
 Dated Conecticut Aprill ye 3oth 1743. 
 
 Signed, MELATIAH MARTIN. 
 
 THE ANSWER. 
 
 Melatiah Martin, tho I am as Intimatly acquainted with ye Stars as 
 you are with your Hoggs, & have spent whole weeks in casting of figures 
 & drawing planatary Schems up garrit, yet for ye Soal of me I Cant find 
 out whether your man, maid, witch or whore, as is y e Case of y e famous 
 Joan of arc ; however I can prove by your name according as in Neh: 3^ , 
 7 th (?) you r a man, especialy if y e hebrew originall be consulted, of which 
 I am a perfect master, & at y e same time it is Evident Even without y e use 
 of Spectacles it was a woman wrote ye letter you have signed ; Conse 
 quently I shall take you as an hermophradite & address you as Such. 
 
 Your it Query is what it was nimrod hunted. In ye first place I 
 answer Neg!y, not owls nor asses, so that you would be in no danger were 
 nimrod now alive & hunting with full Carreer. In ye 2^ place, affirma 
 tively, he hunted men & drove them to as Great Dispair as Ever D - 1 
 did any of his new proselites ; and as to there Just wright thus to hunt 
 mankind, it stands upon y e same foundation ; that is to say, no foundation 
 at all, for ye Divine being never gave nimrod a wright to Enslave men s 
 bodyes, nor D - 1 a wright to scare men out of their Sences. 
 
 Your 2 d Query is what nebuchadnezzers Image on y e plain of Durall 
 was a figure of, & what it Represented. Now m r - Hermopdte W e read 
 that that same Image was made of Gold, its heighth Considerable, and its 
 Breadth, or as y e hebrew word real) - Signifies, its Depth, in proportion, 
 & as I am a parfect anatomist & know y e Construction of the humane 
 body to a nicety, I asure you ye proportions are Exactly ye same as in a 
 well set man, that is to say as one to ten ; well, as it was of y e humane 
 Shape & made of Gold, Consequently it Represented a man of well pro 
 portion body, seeking to fill his pockits with money. You may observe 
 in y e Same Story ye people worshiped this Idol, & Looked upon it as a 
 god ; never Idol looked so Glorious as that Idol. Whose person this Idol 
 represented, you might have seen upon Boston Common on a Certain 
 Sabbath Day some time agoe, beging for money under a pretence for 
 orphans &c. 
 
 Your 3<i Query is, what that abomination was that made Dessolate, & 
 what was ye holy place mentioned mathew 24 : 15. Now mr Hermopdte 
 you must know from me who have read all Expositers ancient & modern, 
 that ye abomination of Dessolation signifies y e Roman Legions, who 
 Carried Eagles on there Standards of which Daniel speaks Chapt 9 verse 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1743. 169 
 
 27 ; & ye holy place signifies ye whole land of Judea, as is Evident from 
 ye ancient Septuagint translation, i Sam: 12: 8, where ye same Greek 
 word is made use of as in y e aforesaid text, nevertheless I beg leave to 
 dissent from all interpreters both ancient & modern, in ye Explanation 
 of that text, for as we have much new light at present in y e world, I would 
 Explaine ye passage thus, ye holy place I look upon to be new England ; 
 ye abomination which makes Dessolate, is a pack of Vegerant Illeterate 
 Idle fellows, who as they have been lifted up by ye Common people, as the 
 Eagles were upon ye Standards in ye Roman Camps, are like to lay waste 
 our land & bring us to as utter Distruction as did ye Romans ye Jews. 
 
 Your 4th. Query is three fold I st who were y e Daughters of a Certain 
 Drunken Whorish woman ye mother of harlotts ; 2 d ly how y e afair stands 
 as to myself about bastardy, & 3 d ly whether I am not under Doubts as to 
 ye number of her name being upon me. I shall now change my Stile & 
 Instead of mr Hermopdte I shall address you in the Stile of Mrs. Her- 
 mophradite, for it is Evident to a Demonstration you have got upon y e affair 
 of Conjunction, an affair which of late seems to be very pleasing both to 
 Brother and sister, holy as they are. Now mr s - Hermop dte as to y e daugters 
 of this said Drunken Whorish woman, I assure you she never had a 
 Daughter in ye world ; for by dint of anatomicall knowledge I am per 
 suaded tis next to an Impossibility, but then you will object & say tis 
 said that this said drunken whorish woman was y e mother of harlotts. 
 There now I beg leave to give you a little Instruction, I am such a perfect 
 addept that I know, never did any nation except the English translate 
 that word portion, harlotts, they universally theopians (sic) arabians 
 & no body know who translated it adultry or whoredoms ; or as good old 
 Chauser calls it, harlitreeve. Upon ye whole then, it is certain y e Drunken 
 whorish woman never had a Daughter, y e Ruining Sins of Drunkeness & 
 whoreing prevented it, of which I as an anatomist am well sensible & can 
 give y e physical reason for. Consequently if y e 2 d part of your Query 
 falls to ye Ground so that I cannot possibly be one of her bastards, it only 
 remains that I prove myself Destitute of y e number of her name. Now 
 you know her number was 666, a number that can never agree with me, 
 for I was born in y e year 1710, as y e Grany will swear before Justice hall 
 of Boston any day of ye week Except Sunday, at which time she is very 
 scruplus : 
 
 Your 5th Query is, who was ye man of Sin. I answer it Cannot possibly 
 be you because you are an Hermop dte as has been already proved, So you 
 can go to bed & be Easy ; & as to what hindered his appearance, it was 
 this, he was a Jackalanthorn & ye World was then so full of Eminent new 
 lights, there was no room for him to play his pranks. In as you mr s 
 hermopdte live in ye woods, did you never observe a Large forest of oaks 
 prevent ye growth of a worthless thornbush ? 
 
 Your 6th Query is, who were ye unlearned spoken of in 2& of Peter 
 3 d : 1 6th : We Creticks in the Learned Languages do not care to take up 
 
i yo ALMANACK FOR 1743. 
 
 with translations without Consulting the originall ; now mr s hermopdte I 
 assure you the Greek word amathesis properly signifies unteachable and 
 has a refferance not to simple honest Country people that are willing to 
 be taught, but to your proud self conceited new light folk that have as 
 much brass on there forehead, & leachery in there britches, as they have 
 emtiness in there sculls. 
 
 Your 7th Query is whether ye beast Saint John saw rise out of y e Sea 
 as in Revelations 13 : i st > was animall or metaphoricall. I answer, if you 
 Consult ye Context you will find that this said Sea beast had 7 heads & 10 
 horns. Now to find out what s d Sea beast was, let us Just keep our Eys 
 towards his uper parts, for I arn quite sick of your lower part debautcheries, 
 
 they will not bear mentioning. Now if y e 7 heads were W d, T 1, 
 
 D 1, Cros 11, Whee Ik, Bl ss, and Bew IP, an admirable 
 
 number of heads with as much brains in them as you shall finde in an 
 Essex Calf; now for ye 10 horns, there (is) Prockter & Bounds, Wardell & 
 thatcher, Denison & Shepard, Cook & Kindrick, and oh, wonderful torn 
 bell, y e latter of whome is an horn Exalted above that of his Bretheren for 
 his more aboundant Labours in Rogurey. 
 
 We go on to your 8th Query about the aforesd Beast, dreadfull as he is, 
 where again your Query is three fold Enough to plague y e paticence of 
 Jobe, however as I am a patern of patience, I answer as to y e marke of 
 y e beast. It is what your blacksmiths call a brand, & a very usefull brand 
 Indeed, so that beasts may not stray away from y e proper place where 
 they ought to be at work, &c this brand is said to be in ye forehead, that 
 is useall among mankind, and allwas in humane affairs signifies Guilt ; 
 this brand is said to be in ye hand, that evermore signifies Cheating, now 
 look out Sharp & if you do not meet with many such a beast at this Day, 
 tis for want of Eys in your Scull. I have before proved mySelf destitute 
 of ye number of his name & that I have no Concernment in it. You ask 
 me Indeed whether I have not his mark. I answer, in y e heavens astron 
 omers have Discribed 12 Beasts, of which I will give you a Vewe upon my 
 Celestiall Globe at any time, for I am a Very Complisant Gentleman ; but 
 I assure you my figure is not to be found among any one of them. The 
 Great Dificulty then lyes here, that ye Sea beast had ye Various parts of a 
 bear, a Leopard & a Lion ; how then can you pick me out of such a mess 
 medley? Every body knows that I am of an Intirely Different temper from 
 those animals, having nothing fierce in my disposition, nor ever designing 
 any hurt to mankind, I am Sure my Almanacks an unspeakable benefit 
 to mankind are a full proof of this. 
 
 Your 9th &_ Last Query is, who those merchants were, & whether there 
 are any such now a Days as are mentioned in Revelations. To this I reply ? 
 they were a pack of Vegarants who lived upon ye Whoredoms of the Pope 
 
 1 Whitfield, Tennant, Davenport, Croswell, Wheelock, Bliss and Bewill 
 (? Buell.) 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1744. 171 
 
 of room, and at this day if you desire to see one of them you may finde him 
 in Sam 11 Thacher. Thus, good melatiah martin, I have answered your 
 Queres, & tho I have shewed myself some what more of a man of learn 
 ing than I have commonly appeared to be in my almanacks, yet I assure 
 you I am Doctr Ames a Physician, Lawyer, Astronomer, Astrologer, & if 
 that is not sufficient Nath" Ames, the Conjurier. 
 Dedham June ye ist 1743. 
 
 A true Copy Exam d p r Isaac Bickerstaff Esq r 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1744. 
 
 By Nathanael Ames. 
 
 BOSTON in NEW ENGLAND: 
 
 Printed by JOHN DRAPER, for the Booksellers, 1744. Price Nine Pence 
 Single, & Six Shillings per Dozen. 
 
 This little Book serves well to help you date 
 And settle many petty worldly Things, 
 
 Think on the Day writ in the Book of Fate, 
 Which your own final Dissolution brings. 
 
 Millions have dy d the Year that s past and gone, 
 
 And Millions more must in the Year to come. 
 
 Courteous Reader. 
 
 You have often heard of the Advantages, Temporal and 
 Spiritual that arise from Temperance ; And if you take Notice 
 of that divine Poem, writ by the best of English Poets, i. e. 
 MILTON S Paradise Lost, after Adam s Vision of Diseases, a 
 dreadful Scene ! The Angel tells him that Abstinence was the 
 sole Method of Escape from the ruinous Assault of those Dis 
 eases, and of obtaining long Life. 
 
 Then believe me if I tell you, that if you would enjoy Health, 
 and stand a good Chance for long L/ife, you ought to abstain 
 
172 ALMANACK FOR 1744. 
 
 from Morning-Drams. How many youthful Athletick Constitu 
 tions have been ruin d forever, and the narrow Span of humane 
 Life, contracted by two thirds of its breadth by unreasonable 
 Tipling in the Forenoon; indeed there are some Iron Constitutions 
 that can stand the Force of their own Hxtravigances, but how 
 many wear out their Constitutions before they arrive to 30 Years 
 of Age, and die as it were of old Age in the very Prime of Life. 
 He that can gain a Habit of abstaining from strong Drink in the 
 Forenoon, is in but little Danger of being Drunk in the After 
 noon. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Our Yesterday s To-morrow now is gone 
 And still a new To-morrow does come on ; 
 We by To-morrow s draw up all our Store 
 Till the exhausted Well can yeild no more. 
 To-morrow I will live the Fool does say, 
 To-day its self too late ; the Wise liv d Yesterday 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 If it be right what an Apostle said, 
 
 Or all be true which in the Bible s read, 
 
 If all your Wealth unto the Poor were turn d, 
 
 And your own tender Bodies too were burn d, 
 
 Such vast Oblations never cou d atone 
 
 For lack of single Charity alone : 
 
 What think you then who have such Doctrine started 
 
 That all the World but you are unconverted. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 The Days that s past were happy golden Times, 
 When Men were sentenc d only for their Crimes, 
 For Lying, Stealing, Whoring, Swearing, Drinking ; 
 But Men are damii d at Noon-Day now for Thinking, 
 At their Tribunal they l not deign to save 
 One Soul that thinks not just as they would have. 
 
 APRIIy. 
 
 To be Good is to be Happy ; Angels 
 Are happier than Men, because they er better. 
 Guilt is the Source of Sorrow ; tis the Fiend, 
 Th avenging Fiend, that follows us behind 
 
(?) Illusions. 
 
 ALMANACK FOR 1744. 173 
 
 With Whips and Stings ; the Bless d know none of this, 
 
 But rest in everlasting Peace of Mind, 
 
 And find the height of all their Heav n in Goodness. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 The tender Twig shoots upward to the Skies, 
 And on the Faith of the new Sun relies. 
 The swerving Vines on the tall Elms prevail, 
 Unhurt by southern Sho rs, or northern Hail ; 
 They spread their Gems the genial Warmth to share, 
 And boldly trust their Buds in open Air. 
 
 Dryd. Virg. 
 JUNE. 
 
 All are not right who think themselves are true ; 
 
 If an Opinion of one s Self would do, 
 
 Then Turks are right in Faith and Practice too. 
 
 Tho Conscience be a Judge, he s oft unjust, 
 
 Brib d by ten thousand secret springs of Lust, 
 
 Then farewell all rash Sentences of Man, 
 
 For GOD s eternal Word alone shall stand. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 A Mighty Giant lately slain, 
 
 An awful Monster from his Brain, 
 
 Leap d forth, new-born, but in full strength, 
 
 With fir y Tongue, of wondrous length, 
 
 Who talks to all, but never hears, 
 
 Because tis said he has no Ears. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Thus David s Lyre did SauVs wild Rage controul, 
 And tune the harsh Disorders of his Soul ; 
 His Sheep would scorn their Food to hear his Lay, 
 And savage Beasts stood by, as tame as they. 
 Rivers whose Waves roll d down aloud before 
 Mute as their Fish, would listen tow rds the Shore. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Delights, those beautiful Illupians, 1 play 
 Around us ; and when grasp d they glide away : 
 They shew themselves, but will not with us dwell ; 
 But, like hot Gleams, approaching Storms foretell. 
 Pure unmix d Pleasures on us never flow d, 
 But stream like watry Sun-Beams thro a Cloud. 
 
 BLACKMORE. 
 
174 ALMANACK FOR 1744. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 A Cloth of Gold extreamly fine, 
 Wrought by no Hand but the Divine ; 
 Sometimes it lays upon my Chair, 
 The same as holy Angels wear, , 
 Made chiefly for the Use of Man 
 Sometime before the World began. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Shall mortal Man with Chalk and streightened Lane "| 
 Mark out a Path for sovereign Grace divine, 
 To walk on Sinner s Hearts, and then confine, 
 What s Uncontrolled, and oftentimes displays, 
 Its Power on Man ten thousand secret Ways. 
 GOD s Ways are Infinite, above the Rules 
 Prescrib d by empty narrow hearted fools. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Happy the Man ! Alone thrice happy he, 
 Who can thro gross Effects their Causes see : 
 Whose Courage from the Deeps of Knowledge springs ; 
 Nor vainly fears inevitable things : 
 But does his Walks of Vertue calmly go 
 Thro all the Alarms of Death and Hell below. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Now if Roses should Blow, 
 
 They d make as strange a show as a Crown in a Poets Pocket. 
 
 The winter spends, what the summer lends. 
 
 Then drink to your Friends 
 
 And lie close to your Wives : 
 
 For Warming Pans suit better than Fans. 
 
 Cold Weather ! but tis January. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 The Planet Saturn informs me of Snow and Cold Weather in the 
 Winter Season : 
 
 Now for it, behold it comes with a Witness ! 
 
 A Hero now appears, does wondrous Things in Fight : and God-like 
 Honour wins. 
 
 Rain or Snow in great Measure. 
 
 Perhaps there may now be some Considerable Event. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1744. 175 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Very dirty wet miry bad travelling except for the Geese overhead. 
 Great Combustions among ambitious Worldlings. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Alas the Hopes of early Spring, 
 Sometimes revive then Sink again ! 
 
 Unlucky Mistakes, a fine Scheme breaks. 
 
 News from the Planets, and News from England, some good, some 
 bad. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 A remarkable Display of Humane Courage. 
 Strife & Debate hurt a State. 
 Now the World looks gay, both Night and Day. 
 
 Malicious Spies are prying into the Actions of a great Man, who is 
 not prepar d for such Inspections. 
 
 JUNE. 
 A Strife for Peace. 
 
 Take Care, the Sign is coming into the Neck : a dangerous Place for 
 Rogues & Thieves. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Courage with Conduct performs wondrous Exploits. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Jack & Tom Tar make a noise about War, 
 which they end with a Jar. 
 
 Nimble Merciiry and violent Mars are making 
 Mixtures in the Elements over our Heads. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Now beware of sudden Colds. 
 
 A Rumour of some great Affair turns out to nothing. 
 
 More Money ! is still the cry. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Flora expires with Cold Morning Sweats. 
 
 Many remarkable Accidents fall out about this Time, (/ -lilD < 
 
 The Rain comes down, and the Clouds touch the Ground. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 Now lay in for Winter. 
 
 5 POWDER PLOT. 
 
176 ALMANACK FOR 1744. 
 
 Now Saturn changes Signs which portends Changes in the Air, and 
 many important Changes on Earth. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 About these days Bxpect impetuous Rains to fill up the Chinks and 
 then Winter to set in closely. 
 
 Now you may bear a Cloak over your Coat. 
 
 Roasted Shins if exposed in the Market, would be as plenty as Neck- 
 Beef. 
 
 A strange story, that few believe, 
 
 He s as free to give, as you to receive. 
 
 What have you done ? 
 The Year is gone. 
 
 I knew an Astrologer, that many Years ago predicted that in 
 the year 1742 there would be a great Stir of a Religious Nature 
 in this Land, and great Disputes and Divisions among the Min 
 isters of Religion. And as his Predictions are fulfill d to a 
 Tittle, let me add that as those Religious Topicks began to be 
 the general Theme of Discourse, about the Time of the Great 
 Conjunction of Saturn and/upiter in Leo, a Religious Sign : So 
 upon the same Foundation. Sects, Controversies & Divisions 
 shall continue till about the year 1762, at which Time New Eng 
 land may expect remarkable Things, but of another Nature. 
 But as I began this Page with Religion, so I shall go on with a 
 few Lines from the Spectator (Vol. 3, p. 129) concerning Mistaken 
 Devotion. 
 
 "THERE is not a more melancholy Object, than a Man who 
 has his Head turn d with a Religious Enthusiasm. A Person 
 that is Crazed, tho with Pride or Malice, is a Sight very morti 
 fying to Humane Nature ; but when the Distemper arises from 
 any indiscreet Fervours of Devotion, or too intense an Applica 
 tion of the Mind to its mistaken duties, it deserves our Compassion 
 in a more particular Manner. We may however learn this 
 Lesson from it, that since Devotion itself (which one would be 
 apt to think could not be too warm) may disorder the Mind, 
 unless its Heats are temper d with Caution and Prudence, we 
 should be particularly careful to keep our Reason as cool as 
 possible, and to guard ourselves in all Parts of Life, against the 
 Influence of Passion, Imagination and Constitution." 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1744. 177 
 
 "DEVOTION when it does not lie under the Check of Reason, 
 is very apt to degenerate into Enthusiasm." 
 
 " When the Mind finds herself very much inflamed with her 
 Devotions, she is too much inclined to think they are not of her 
 own kindling, but blown up by something Divine within her. If 
 she indulges this Thought too far, and humours the growing 
 Passion, she at last flings herself into imaginary Raptures and 
 Extasies ; and when once she fancies herself under the Influence 
 of a Divine Impulse, it is no wonder if she slights humane Ordi 
 nances, and refuses to comply with any establish d Form of 
 Religion, as thinking herself directed by a much superiour Guide." 
 Sped. vol. j, p. 129. 
 
 I have determined to fill this Page with the following Lines, 
 which I have attempted in blank Verse, as follows : 
 
 Glory to the Father of endless Ages, 
 
 From endless long Eternity thou wer t 
 
 Though in thyself unchangeable and fixt : 
 
 At thy Command unwearied Revolutions, 
 
 Roll thro thy Worlds, and tumble up and down : 
 
 The toss d and fickle mortal Sons of Change. 
 
 Thou uncreated Self existent Being 
 
 From whom all Species drew their first beginning. 
 
 Of thy Divinity Each Creature shares : 
 
 Then from all Creatures may Immortal Praises 
 
 Ascend like clouds of Incense round thy Throne. 
 
 Ye vocal Elements in Songs of Praise 
 
 Respire your Thanks to him alone who made you, 
 
 And whose right Hand with ease commands & weilds you. 
 
 You wide expanded Firmament bow down 
 
 And touch the brims of this low Globe of Earth 
 
 In token of your deep profound Humility. 
 
 You glorious SUN whose Robes are fring d with Gold, 
 
 The Train of which borne by the Moon and Stars, 
 
 Trail on the Earth and kiss its humble Floor, 
 
 In your Devotion to the Source of Light. 
 
 But thou of Humane Race, and favour d more 
 
 Than Angels w r ere, who fell from GOD like thee, 
 
 For Bounties shower d on thy ungrateful Head, 
 
 Repay st th Omnipotent with vile Neglects, 
 
 Contempts, Affronts, and horrid Blasphemies. 
 
 
178 ALMANACK FOR 1744. 
 
 O, them eternal Word, incarnate JKSUS, 
 
 At whose mysterious Birth the Angels waited 
 
 To sing thy Praise, and publish Peace to Men, 
 
 When the eternal Eye beholds thy merits, 
 
 It drops down Love and Mercy on the Earth 
 
 Glad that the Sons of Adam yet survive 
 
 The flaming Vengeance, waiting to devour em. 
 
 Now let the Tempests of impetuous Winds 
 
 With Thunder, Rain, or Hail disturb the Air ; 
 
 Or gaping Earthquakes menacing Destruction, 
 
 Rock all our tottering Buildings to and fro 
 
 Now may th Arch-Angel sound that grand Alarm, 
 
 When universal nature must expire, 
 
 And to the Womb of Chaos back return. 
 
 In thy unbounded Love, there s sure Protection 
 
 Amid the Wrack of falling Elements, 
 
 Whose very \Veight shall crush the Earth to pieces. 
 
 OH 1744. The Almanack comes to us this year modestly 
 setting forth its advantages on the first page ; and on the second page 
 may be found a practical sensible temperance address, in which the 
 seductive morning glory is decried and properly too as the prime 
 cause of many a ruined constitution and life. 
 
 The monthly offerings are certainly the Doctor s children for none 
 can dispute this fact after reading the verses which still have a tincture 
 of the old complaint. February and March and some of the succeeding 
 months are thus characterized. Our old friend Sir Richard Blackmore 
 drops in a verse in September and the year is closed about in the usual 
 manner. 
 
 At the close of the "weather predictions" and phenomena of the planets 
 we find announced a verification of an Astrological forecast for the year 
 1742, with a prognostication by Dr. Ames of similar troubles for the suc 
 ceeding twenty years. 
 
 A specimen of blank verse of a devotional nature, from our author s 
 pen closes the volume for 1744. 
 
 The humorous squibs plentifully strewn through the volume, are 
 better tempered than those of the previous years. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1745. 179 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1745. 
 
 By Nathanael Ames. 
 
 BOSTON in NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Printed by JOHN DRAPER, for the Booksellers, 1745. 
 Price Nine Pence Single, & Six Shillings per Dozen. 
 
 -My Soul admire ! 
 
 That boiling Ocean of unfuel d Fire, 
 
 The glorious SUN, on whose imperial State 
 
 A Train of Worlds for Life and Motion wait : 
 
 Prodigious Source ! that e er since Time begun 
 
 Has wasting still and undiminish d run ; 
 
 That far and wide does genial Streams dispense 
 
 Bright Emblem of his own Creator s Influence ! 
 
 Swift Streams that almost leave the Thought behind, 
 
 Almost out-fly the Sallies of the Mind ! 
 
 Courteous READER, 
 
 This Almanack which I here present you with for the Year 
 1745, compleats the series of 20 Years, wherein I have annually 
 without intermission, served you this Way. In all this Time I 
 have carefully compared my Calculations with Observation, and 
 endeavoured to correct my Mistakes; and with Regard to my 
 Judgment of the Weather, I have only this to say, namely, that 
 I have endeavoured. to observe what Aspects of the Planet affect 
 the Country most, & have the Advantage of this same 20 Years 
 Experience ; but after all, the Weather is uncertain even to a 
 Proverb As fickle as the Wind, or as uncertain as the Weather. 
 I have receiv d Letters from several of my Readers from time to 
 time, some desiring that I would in my next Year s Almanack, 
 insert the Planet s Places at large ; some that I would publish a 
 Description of the publick Roads, &c., and some that I would set 
 
i8o ALMANACK FOR 1745. 
 
 down in my Almanack the Holy Days observed by the Church 
 of England, but I must return em all this Answer, namely, That 
 so long as I am confin d to the contracted limits of a single 
 Sheet, I cannot oblige them. 
 
 Reader, Your free Acceptance of my Labours for so many 
 Years past, may encourage me to go on in this Way to serve you 
 for Time to come. 
 
 Dedham, Octo. 6, 1744. N. AMES. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 The Aspects this Month are generally good, save an Opposition of 
 Saturn and Venus, and that may throw some Difficulties on the Affairs of 
 Matrimony, and some unhappy Matches may be contracted this Month. 
 The Constitution of the Air may a little incline to peripneumonick and 
 pleuritick Fevers, Coughs, Asthmas, and Disorders of the Lungs. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Could all our Care elude the gloomy Grave, 
 Which claims no less the fearful than the Brave 
 For lust of Fame, I should not vainly dare 
 In fighting Fields, nor urge thy Soul to War : 
 But since, alas ! ignoble Age must come, 
 Disease, and Death s inexorable Doom : 
 The Life which others pay, let us bestow 
 And give to Fame what we to Nature owe. 
 
 P. Horn. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 The Aspects this Month are violent and extraordinary, portending 
 burning of Houses, violent Deaths by unlucky Accidents, Feuds, Riots, 
 Affrays and bloody Noses ; the Thoughts of Peace among the Nations are 
 banished, and all Parties put on an angry look; but Mars and Venus, and 
 Jupiter and Mercury have a friendly Correspondence ; hence I conclude 
 that I/overs and Flatterers keep their Countenances. 
 
 APRIIv. 
 
 The most considerable Configuration among the Planets this Month, is 
 the Opposition of the Sun and Jupiter, which portends Debates among 
 the Clergy upon some nice Points in Divinity ; but no good can come of 
 Oppositions, ergo. The Matter is left in the dark. The Constitution of 
 the Air at this Time inclines to nervous slow Fevers and vernal Inter- 
 mitants and Stagnation of the Blood. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1745. l8l 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Now oft the LORD of Nature in the Air, 
 Hangs Evening Clouds his sable Canvas, where 
 His Pencil dip d in heav nly Colours, made 
 Of intercepted Beams, mix d with the Shade 
 Of temper d JEther, and refracted Light, 
 Paints his fair Rainbow, charming to the Sight. 
 
 Blac. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 There is a Conjunction of the Sun and Venus, and of Venus and Mer 
 cury, which does not relate to Men or Matters of high Consequence ; but 
 amongst Women, it signifies Tattling and Tea-table Wars and Railery one 
 against another, and if Women s Tongues were any ways slanderous, they 
 might hurt the Characters of each other as much this Month as any in the 
 Year. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 The renown d Etnmller says the Plague is an exalted Pitch of Malignity 
 compatable with any Disease whatsoever : there has been a Degree of 
 Malignity attending some Instances of the Canker or Throat Distemper, 
 not much short of the epidemical Plague in London : Calomel agrees with 
 the Theory and Experience confirms its usefulness ; but tis not fit that 
 Asses should lick Honey, nor Fools use Calomel or Mercurius Dulcis. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 England is govern d by Mars, Spain by Jupiter : This same Mars and 
 Jupiter meet this Month in the Sign Scorpio ; but as Mars is essentially 
 dignified in his own House, so his Steel, will I hope cut down the Priest- 
 Craft of Spain and France both ; except he is betrayed by Saturn and 
 Mercury, who meet in the very Equinox, in Opposition to the Ascendant 
 of England: A Circumstance very remarkable. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 The Sun and Saturn meet in Libra this Month ; the First Time of their 
 meeting in this Sign since the Year 1717. As bloody Fluxes increased 
 when they met in Virgo the Years past ; so if Autumnal Intermitants do 
 not increase upon their meeting in Libra, the two Years to come, I shall 
 be as thankful as a Physician can be for Health at any Time. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Look round how Providence bestows alike, 
 Sun-shine and Rain to bless the fruitful Year, 
 On different Nations, all of different Faiths ; 
 And (tho 1 by several Names and Titles worshiped) 
 Heaven takes the various Tribute of their Praise, 
 Since all agree to own, at least to mean, 
 One best, one greatest, only Lord of all. 
 
182 ALMANACK FOR 1745. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 The peaceful Sun and Jupiter are joined this Month, and would bless 
 the whole World with their benign Influence, but a violent Quartile of 
 Saturn and Mars follows ; where there are Campaigns there will be a 
 bloody Battle. If our Indians in League hold their Integrity, now let 
 them have the Credit of it in Balance of their former Accounts. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 And as five Zones th setherial Regions bind, 
 Five correspodent are to Earth assign d : 
 The Sun with Rays directly darting down, 
 Fires all beneath ; and fries the middle Zone : 
 The two beneath the distant Poles complain 
 Of endless Winter and perpetual Rain ; 
 Betwixt th Extreams, two happier Climates hold 
 The Temper that partakes of Hot and Cold. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Now gagg d with Ice, the Waves no longer roar, 
 But with stiff Arms, embrace the silent Shore. 
 
 Now Virgins will own 
 Tis hard lying alone, 
 
 Such Weather as this. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 A proud Fop meets with a sad Fall. 
 
 The Sun shines clear for several Days together, 
 
 And who can deny but that s good Weather. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 A comical story now is told : 
 
 Which makes some laugh while others Scold. 
 
 Brave Tydings if they be true 
 
 Of Success obtained, after much ado. 
 
 APRII,. 
 
 Now the chearful Sun shines gloriously, and calls for the Plants that 
 stand at the Door of Life. 
 
 What noble Acts atchiev d on Europe s Shore ? 
 Briton s glad Ships, come waft the Tydings o er. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1745. 183 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Ladies appear in all their gay attire. 
 
 Now nature paints her colours. 
 
 Now the Bee sits on the Bloom, extracting Liquid Sweets. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Now Two that had been Foes do kindly meet : 
 And each the other sincerely greet. 
 
 JULY. 
 So much Finery, so much Poverty. 
 
 Jove with awful sound, 
 
 Rolls the big Thunder o er the vast Profound. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Something windy but a Spell of good Hay Weather unless the good 
 Mr. fupiter and my Lady Venus deceive me again, as they did last Year 
 about the Frosts keeping off. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Fire & Smoke in many Places, both on Land and Sea. 
 An old Knave is now said is become an honest man. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 A warm Debate, on Things of State. 
 
 A Sight about these Days appear : 
 Such has not been this many a Year. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Money & Food, Cloaths & Fire : 
 
 Are Things which many do most desire. 
 
 Example is a Living Law, whose sway 
 Men more than all the written Law obey. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 Now make Preparation for an unwelcome Guest. 
 
 An Honest Man may take a Knave s Advice, 
 But Idiot s only will be couzen d twice. 
 
 A Shower of soft & fleecy Rain, 
 Falls to new cloathe the Earth again. 
 
184 ALMANACK FOR 1745. 
 
 We conjecture many strange Things concerning the Planets; 
 but there are many strange Things, which are Fact and not 
 Conjecture, to be found in this Planet on which we live. 
 
 And First, Of FOUNTAINS and SPRINGS : There is a 
 famous Fountain near Grenoble in France, which appears as if 
 covered with Flames, and boileth up in great Bubbles, and yet 
 it is never Hot Near the City of Mons is a Spring which makes 
 Silver look exactly like Gold : [ We have Knaves that would be 
 glad to use such Water .] In a large Lake near to St. Omers are 
 floating Islands which are inhabited. In the Desarts of Padolia 
 in Poland is a Lake whose Waters by the Heat of the Sun con 
 dense into solid Salt. Near Giiadalaxara, in New Castile, is a 
 Lake which never fails to send forth dreadful Howlings before 
 a storm In Hungary there are Waters of such a corroding 
 nature that they will consume a Horse-Shoe in 24 Hours. Near 
 Esperies, in Upper Hungary, are two deadly Fountains, whose 
 Water sends forth such an infectious Steam that it kills either 
 Beast or Bird approaching the same ; for preventing of which 
 they are walled round and kept covered. In Wales is a Spring 
 which ebbs and flows contrary to the Sea. In Scotland is a 
 Spring which ebbs and flows with the Sea. There s another 
 Spring in Scotland which never freezes all over till the Month 
 of February ; and after that Time, one Night s Frost will do it. 
 Near Wiggen in Lancashire, in England, is a famous Well, 
 which being emptied, there breaks out a sulphureous Vapour, 
 which makes the Water bubble up as if it boyled; and a candle 
 being put thereto, it instantly takes Fire and Burns like Brandy : 
 During a Calm the Flame will continue a whole Day ; and by 
 its Heat they can boyl Eggs, Meat, &c. and yet the Water it self 
 is Cold. A River in England loseth itself under-Ground, and 
 ariseth again at some considerable Distance. And in Dedham, 
 where I now live, There is a Pond that holds its Water the 
 dryest Summer ; but is dry the wetest Winter that comes. 
 
 Secondly, OF MOUNTAINS : Who can describe the Wonders 
 of Mount sEtna and Vesuvius ; the Floods of Fire they some 
 times cast forth ! - - There is a Mountain nigh to Rhode, in 
 Guinne, which burns when it Rains. In Iceland there is a ter 
 rible Volcano, which tho cover d with Snow, vomits Fire and 
 sulphureous Matter in great Abundance ; and sometimes with 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1745. 185 
 
 terrible roaring like the loudest Claps of Thunder. But to con 
 clude, At Bridgewater, in N. E. the Place of my Nativity, there 
 is a large Rock of several Tuns weight, which was some Years 
 ago at a considerable Distance from the Shoar of a large Pond : 
 but has gradually travelled many Rods up to the Banks of the 
 Shoar, and has left a plain visible Track in the Sands behind. 
 
 A brief CHRONOLOGY of remarkable Events. 
 
 Years since. 
 
 And first of all, since this our World began 5695 
 
 Since it was drowned for the Sins of Man 4038 
 
 Since noble Hector fell with ancient Troy 2936 
 
 Since Sampson did himself, and Foes destroy 2816 
 
 Since Homer liv d, for Poets never die 2594 
 
 Since Daniel wrote his wonderous Prophesie 2227 
 
 Since ancient London was by Ludd uprear d 2852 
 
 Since Rome was built which all the World rever d 2443 
 
 Since JESUS CHRIST at Bethlehem was born 1745 
 
 Since Crucify d with cruelty and scorn 1712 
 
 Since England first the Christian Faith receiv d 1581 
 
 Since Constantine the great in CHRIST believ d 1434 
 
 Since the destructive Ball by Guns were hurl d 365 
 
 Since first the Use of PRINTING bless d the World 317 
 
 Since our Forefathers ventur d o er the Sea, ^ 
 
 And planted first old Plymouth Colony, J 
 
 Since White 1 was born, the first that e er had Birth, "I 
 
 Of English Blood on this Neiu England Earth. / " 
 
 Since Harvard did the College first provide, ) Jo6 
 
 Where great Apollo s learned Sons reside, > 
 
 Since Narraganset Fort was bravely fir d ; \ 
 
 Where many a Captain nobly expir d. 
 
 Since Philip first his cruel war begun 1 
 
 Which made our English Blood like Rivers run. > 
 
 Since the vast Comet whose flaming Tail reach d high, \ 6 
 
 And brandished his Tresses in the Sky. / 
 
 Since fair Bostonia fed the crackling Flame, > 
 
 And Phcenix-\\k.e, new from her Ashes came. / 
 
 Since the grand Congress of th superior Stars, ) 
 
 When Saturn joined at once withy^z^ and Mars. ) 
 
 Peregrine White, the first white child born in New England. 
 
1 86 ALMANACK FOR 1745. 
 
 Since our New England Hero Lovell 1 dy d, \ 2Q 
 
 Whilst Victory lay bleeding by his side. J 
 
 Since th Barth receiv d a most tremendous shock, ) n 
 
 Which made us tremble, and our Houses rock, ) 
 
 Since Britain s Patience would no more sustain, 
 
 The great Abuses of affronting Spain. 
 
 Since the long Winter of prodigious Frost, ") 
 
 By which much Sheep and Cattle too were lost. J 
 
 Since in our Skies there blaz d an awful Star, \ 
 
 Presaging Earthquake and a general War. / 
 
 OH 1745. The Almanack this year commences with the 
 usual front page salute, the glorious Sun rises promptly. In the address 
 to the Courteous READER, the Doctor announces the completion of his 
 twentieth annual Almanack, and to inquirers gives his reasons why he 
 cannot add to its present contents other information demanded by his 
 patrons. 
 
 The Muse does not indulge much in poetry this month. Sir Richard 
 Blackmore, and one or two others are drawn upon for a verse each for the 
 monthly pages, while in the intervening months the Doctor indulges 
 himself in astrological predictions on Matrimony and Medicine -Con 
 flagrations and Canker. Tattling and Tea table wars. Priest craft and 
 Poverty. Campaigns and Calomel Fluxes and Folly, and all the various 
 troubles which could possibly agitate any community. 
 
 The Essay considers peculiarities of Fountains and Springs in various 
 parts of the Earth, which is of much attractiveness, as also is the paragraph 
 on Mountains. 
 
 The Almanack contains this year for the first time a " Chronology of 
 remarkable events," such as were common in similar English publications 
 of the period. The items would not be particularly interesting further 
 than the history detailed were it not for the fact that the Doctor has 
 ingeniously woven them into very acceptable rhyme. 
 
 The weather column contains characteristic spice. 
 
 1 Capt. John Lovewell, slain by the Indians in the present township of 
 Fryeburg, Maine, May 8, 1725. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1746. 187 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1746. 
 
 By Nathanael Ames. 
 
 BOSTON in NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Printed by JOHN DRAPER, for the Booksellers, 1746. 
 Price Nine Pence Single <2f Six Shillings per Dozen. 
 
 -Nor think I can foretel 
 
 Those Secrets that the Stars do not reveal : 
 One asks how soon Panthea may be won, 
 And longs to feel the Marriage Fetters on : 
 Others convinc d by melancholy Proof 
 Inquire when courteous Fates will strike em off. 
 Some by what Means they may redress the Wrong, 
 When Fathers the Possession keep too long : 
 And some would know the issue of their Cause, 
 And whether Gold can sodder up its Flaws. 
 
 Courteous Reader, 
 
 With much Difficulty I present you with another Almanack 
 for the Year 1746. I may say the Year past has been truly 
 Annus tenebrosus with me. I have been violently assaulted ; 
 my Enemies in a private Way endeavour to blacken my Name 
 and Reputation, and would have as many as they have Opportu 
 nity to converse with, entertain the same little idle Ideas of me 
 as they have form d in their own groveling Minds : They would 
 have caused Urania to have quitted her friendly Visits, in Con 
 sequence of which you would have had no Almanack of mine 
 this Year ; but the Reproach and Scandal of the Base instamps 
 the Character of Glory, and leaves on the Head of him they 
 smite a Monument of Worth and Honour. Oh the folly ! that 
 Men should be ready almost to murther one another for a few 
 Acres of the Surface of this Earth, when the whole Earth itself 
 
1 88 ALMANACK FOR 1746. 
 
 is but a Point in comparison of the other Worlds that do actually 
 rowl about the Sun, who is their Sun as well as our s. I have 
 seen a Hillock, as large for the swarming Inhabitants of Aunts 
 who dwell about it, as the City of London is for Men ; and is it 
 not matter of Diversion to stand by and see a couple of sturdy 
 Pismires of Distinction, fight even to blood for one of the Pebbles 
 of which their Mole hill is composed. N. Ames. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Want is a bitter and a hateful Good, 
 
 Because its Vertues are not understood ; 
 
 If we from Wealth to Poverty descend, 
 
 Want gives to know the Flatt rer from the Friend. 
 Want is the scorn of every empty Fool, 
 And Wit in Rags is turn d to ridicule. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 May uncorrupted Law decide 
 Each weighty Cause that now is try d ; 
 But some who make the Law their Rule 
 Would bend it like a Leaden Tool : 
 But he that throws his Compass by 
 To sail by Meteors in the Skie, 
 May chance to get in woful plight, 
 By following Ignus Fatuus Light. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 O Shame to Men ! Devil with Devil damn d, 
 
 Firm Concord holds. Men only disagree, 
 
 Of Creatures rational, tho under hope 
 
 Of Heavenly Grace ; and God proclaiming Peace, 
 
 Yet live in Hatred, Enmity and Strife 
 
 Among themselves, and levy cruel W T ar. Milt. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 -The Trumpet s terribly from far, 
 
 With rattling Clangor rouze the sleepy War : 
 The Soldier s Shouts succeeds the Brazen sounds, 
 And Heav n from Pole to Pole the Noise resounds 
 The Sun starts back, to see the Fields display 
 Their rival Lustre and terrestial Day. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1746. 189 
 
 MAY. 
 
 The Sun & Mars are in tf this Month, which is commonly attended 
 with the burning of Houses : Some of the Days in this pleasant Month 
 look big with Misfortune to many Persons, & whilst some are really hurt, 
 others suffer greatly by the Terrors of their Imagination ; for if the Q) and 
 other Planets influence Men s Brains, why should they not influence their 
 
 Actions. 
 
 JUNK. 
 
 And that by certain Signs we may presage 
 
 Of Heats and Rains, and Winds impetuous Rage : 
 
 The Sov reign of the Heav ns has set on high, 
 
 Sure Signs to mark the Changes of the Skie, 
 
 When southern Blasts should cease, & when the Swain 
 
 Shou d near their Folds his feeding Flock restain. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 For e er the rising Winds begin to roar, 
 
 The working Seas advance to wash the Shoar ; 
 
 Sott whispers run along the leafy Woods, 
 
 And Mountains whistle to the murm ring Floods. 
 
 Wet Weather seldom hurts the most unwise, 
 
 So plain the signs, such Prophets are the Skies. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 Now, Sirius from on high, 
 
 With pestilential Heat infests the Sky, 
 The rising Vapours choak the wholesome Air, 
 And blasts of noisome Wind corrupt the Year. 
 The Effluvia keen, on nervous Moisture feeds, 
 Ingenders Death, and dark Destruction breeds. 
 
 vSEPTEMBER. 
 
 Good Sun expected, Evil unforeseen, 
 Appear by turns, as Fortune shifts the Scene : 
 Some rais d aloft, come tumbling down amain, 
 Then fall so hard, they bound and rise again ; 
 For fickle Fortune s favour, and her spight, 
 Roll with alternate Waves, like Day and Night. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 The Cow looks up, and from a/ar can find 
 The Change of Heav n, and snuffs it in the Wind. 
 The nightly Virgin, while her Wheel she plies, 
 Forsees the Storms impending in the Skies, 
 When spark ling Lamps their sputt ring Light advance 
 And in the Sockets oily Bubbles dance. 
 
190 ALMANACK FOR 1746. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 If Sol arise unwilling to his Race, 
 Clouds on his Brow, and Spots upon his Face ; 
 Or if thro Mists he shoots his sullen Beams, 
 Frugal of Light, in loose and stragling Streams, 
 Suspect a drisly Day when southern Rain, 
 Fatal to Fruits, and Flocks and promis d Gain. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 The Power of Love, 
 
 In Earth, in Seas, and Air and Heav n above, 
 
 Rules unresisted with an awful Nod, 
 
 By daily Miracles declar d a God : 
 
 He blinds the Wise, gives Bye-sight to the Blind 
 
 And moulds and stamps a-new the Lover s Mind. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Some Gentlemen of Leisure 
 
 exhaust their Treasure 
 
 in too much Pleasure. 
 Tho the Weather s freezing Cold 
 The hardy Soldier s brave and bold. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 A great Strife, to save a Life. 
 
 How happy are they 
 Who ve not been led astray. 
 Many quake for fear 
 Conscious of some Danger near. 
 
 What vile Projects are now a hatching by wicked Men at Home & 
 Abroad. 
 
 Some Talk of Peace. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 You ll believe me if I say, 
 
 The Winter begins to break away. 
 A mighty Flood of purple Blood 
 From Traitor s Hearts proceed, 
 Which almost swells the Conscious Tweed. 
 Money flys about, and how many fly after it. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1746. 191 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 A sturdy strong Lubber proves a shameful Coward. 
 Tydings from afar, both good and bad ; 
 Some mourn & weep, while some are glad. 
 Cold Boreas now his cruel Rage lays by 
 And gentle Zephyrs fan the chearful Skie. 
 
 Wars and Fears still fill our Ears. 
 
 The Winter s past, the Winds and Tempests fly 
 The Sun adorns the Field, and brightens all the Sky. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 The Oath of Abjuration continues still in Fashion. 
 
 The Lord Reluctant sends disastrous Times 
 To purge the guilty Nations of their Crimes. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Now make your Hay, whilst you may. 
 
 The French have once more brought up the old Fashion 
 Of Gallows s and Scaffolds in the English Nation. 
 Love seldom haunts the Breast where Learning lies. 
 And Venus sets, e re Mercury can rise. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Hot catching Weather tho none but Hay-makers and Brick-makers 
 need complain. 
 
 Now the Generous may expect an ample Reward. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 How soon there s made, a Turn in Trade ! 
 Trifles many do pursue, 
 Having nothing else in View. 
 This Month affords a mighty Storm 
 Which may do the Sailor harm. 
 See how the cruel Frost has nipt, 
 The Flowers that were a long while kept. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Nothing will do for Madam s Living 
 But Turkeys, Geese and Fowls and such like picking. 
 Now something strange may bring about a happy Change. 
 
192 ALMANACK FOR 1746. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Powder-Plot is not forgot : 
 Twill be observ d by many a Sot. 
 A mighty Struggle, as tho for Life, 
 How to keep, and please a Wife. 
 It can t but be expected, 
 That what s been long neglected 
 Will now be rejected. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 The Moon teaches us the right Way, 
 From the Knees to the Legs, not the contrary. 
 The Weather now is very Cold 
 Which makes some very apt to Scold, 
 And if they should fall out and Fight, 
 The Lawyers may get something by t. 
 The Miser and the Sot 
 Together have got, 
 To drink a Pot. 
 
 UPON THE I7TH DAY OF JUNE, 1745. THE DAY THAT LOUISBOURG WAS 
 REDUCED TO THE OBEDIENCE OF THE CROWN OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 Bright Hesperus, the Harbinger of Day, 
 Smil d gently down on Shirley s prosperous Sway, 
 The crowding Years roll d swiftly on to view 
 The glorious Adlions He was born to do : 
 Time urg d their speed till this important Day ; 
 But now Dame Nature seems to ask a stay. 
 The Prince of Light rode in his burning Car, 
 To see the Overtures of Peace and War, 
 Around the World ; and bade his Charioteer, 
 (Who marks the Periods of each Month and Year) 
 Rein in his Steeds, and rest upon high Noon 
 To view our Victory at Cape-Breton. 
 
 THE PERSECUTOR S HELJy. BY AN UNKNOWN HAND. 
 
 A miserable Hell, 
 
 The execrable Persecutor finds, 
 
 No Spirit howls among the Shades below, 
 
 More damn d, more fierce, nor more a Fiend than he 
 
 Aloud he Heav n, and Holiness blasphemes, 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1746. 193 
 
 While all his Enmity to Good appears, 
 
 His Enmity to Good ; once falsely call d 
 
 Religious Warmth, and charitable Zeal. 
 
 On high beyond th unpassable Abyss, 
 
 To aggravate his righteous Doom he views, 
 
 The blissful Realms, and there th I t, 
 
 The visionary, the deluded Saint 
 
 By him so often hated, wrong d, and scorn d, 
 
 So often curs d, and damn d, and banish d thence, 
 
 He sees him there possest of all that Heav n, 
 
 Those Glories, those immortal Joys, which he 
 
 The Orthodox, unerring Catholick, 
 
 With all his Charity, and burning Zeal 
 
 Against Enthusiasm poor Soul has lost. 
 
 A DIALOGUE BETWEEN A SCHOLAR AND A CLOWN. 
 
 Clown. Sir, Altho I don t know what Clasp you are in, I understand 
 you are a Scholard, I wou d therefore pop a plain Question to you, and 
 shall be glad of your Dissolution as soon as I have done ? 
 
 Scho. In mercy then I hope you will not have done this forty Years, 
 but trusting (thro the strength of a good Constitution) that your Question 
 will not kill me right out of hand I ll venture to hear it, so please to Name 
 it Sir. 
 
 Clown. Why my Neighbour Vulcan put his Son out to Coledge to 
 learn to be a Minister, he was an honest Lad, and us d to speak the Truth, 
 but now he tells me the World turns round, and that the Sun and Stars 
 stand stock still in the Skies : He says too that all the Scolards and Minis 
 ters believe that the World turns round, for my part I think the Ministers 
 ought to be turn d out of their Pulpits if they maintain such wicked 
 Doctrines ; but the Question is this, Whether you don t read conjuring 
 Books at Coledge that bewitches you into such an Opinion ? 
 
 Sch. Our Capacities are enlarg d by our Education at Colledge to see 
 the Reasonableness of such an Opinion, which you can t do for want of our 
 Advantages. 
 
 Cl. I can tell you that a Cow is roundest when she is licking her ; 
 
 that a Goose hast most Feathers on her back when the Gander is on her ; 
 but you, to go a peg higher in your Pretences to Knowledge, tell us the 
 World turns round, and because we han t Learning to conspute with you, 
 you wou d have us believe all you say is true ? 
 
 Sch. It is demonstrably true from the Eclipses of the Satelities of 
 Jupiter, that Light is not instantaneous, but propogated by a progressive 
 Motion, and is 7 min. and 5 sec. coming from the Sun to this Earth, and 
 if the fixed Stars were not as much farther from the Earth, than the Sun, 
 
194 ALMANACK FOR 1746. 
 
 as 7 Years is more than 7 inin. and 5 sec. we could discern their Parallaxes, 
 which we can t do ; & if the fixed Stars move round the Earth in 24 Hours, 
 their Distance from the Earth is but the semi-Diameter of that Circle they 
 describe in 24 Hours ; and it is unlikely that they themselves should move 
 a Space in 24 Hours that their Light could not accomplish in 42 Years, & 
 move as fast too as the Light of the Sun in coming to the Earth in 7 min. 
 & 5 sec. 
 
 OSl 1746. The Doctor has evidently crept into some favor 
 as an Astrologer, and the opening verse on title page would seem to indi 
 cate that his services had been demanded by a portion of his constituents 
 to forecast the future for them in various ways. 
 
 To the courteous reader a few lines are dedicated to cover an allusion 
 to his private affairs which seem to go badly as the author s remarks imply, 
 and the same trouble appears to drag as wearily through the courts as it 
 does through a part of the monthly verses, a portion of which are 
 attributed to Milton, who appears to sympathize with the Doctor s legal 
 difficulties. 
 
 " Grim visag d War " now shows " his wrinkled front." The French 
 and Indian complication busies the Colonies, while " Charlie over the 
 Water" keeps the home government busy on the Scottish border, and the 
 April verses sound the " rattling clangor." 
 
 At the conclusion Shirley s victory at the reduction of Louisbourg is 
 celebrated in verse, and an " Unknown Hand " administers an introduction 
 to the "Persecutor s Hell" all of which is germane to the general 
 tendency of the author s thoughts. 
 
 A characteristic dialogue between a Scholar and a Clown drops the 
 curtain on the dying year. 
 
 The " squibs " are as usual interesting, and savor of the times and the 
 writer. Local, personal, political, and war matters, both at home and 
 abroad, furnish the themes for the satirist and the marks to be shot at. 
 The fate of " Prince Charlie s " friends is made apparent under March and 
 July, and the " Powder Plot " gives occasion for by-drinking in November 
 as formerly. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1747. 195 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR i 747 
 
 By Nathanael Ames. 
 
 BOSTON in NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Printed by JOHN DRAPER for the BOOKSELLERS. 
 
 1747. 
 
 Above Five Thousand Times the glorious Sun ~| 
 His Annual Circuit round the skies has run 
 Since this our World and all things in t begun. 
 Strange Revolutions in the Time have been : 
 Strange Things indeed has the last Century seen, 
 King Charles dethron d, surprizing Cromwell Reign 
 A second Charles the Regal Scepter gain : 
 Hanover s House established on the Throne, 
 The nation that illustrious offspring own, 
 The last Year saw a grand rebellious Rout, 
 And glorious WII,IJAM root those Rebels out. 
 The Year to come shall wondrous Things behold, 
 But what ? to me the Stars have not foretold : 
 
 The Eclipses of the Moon this Year are both remarkable, 
 the last of which, according to Astrological Rules, portends 
 Storms and Tempests, and losses by Sea, and diseases that hurt 
 Old People most. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 The Plants that are to rise the Year to come 
 In Embrio lie enclos d in Tellus Womb ; 
 Unmov d as yet by the prolifick Sun, 
 Lake Nature s-Seed before the World began. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Mid-Summer s Beauties deck th Ecliptick Road, 
 Where Ph&bus rides in Glory like a god : 
 
196 ALMANACK FOR 1747- 
 
 He s been awhile to bless the distant South, 
 And now is back returning to the North. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Sol rarifys the Blood of Man and Beast, 
 Whereby their conick Arteries are prest : 
 And where the Blood s in flam d by being pent, 
 L/et vene-Sec"lion give sufficient Vent. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Great Men have most to fear, and least to gain, 
 Which fills their mighty Minds with anxious Pain : 
 The Farmer in his Cot enjoys more Bliss, 
 With s little Children climbing for a Kiss. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 My Lady MA Y doth now inspire 
 Mirth and Youth and warm Desire. 
 Woods and Groves are of her dressing ; 
 Hill and Dale do boast her Blessing. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Some praise at Morning, what they blame at Night ; 
 But always think the last Opinion right : 
 Whilst their weak Heads, like Towns unfortify d, 
 Twixt Sense and Nonsense daily change their Side. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Tis now the Shepherds shun the noon Day heat, 
 And lowing Herds to murmuring Brooks retreat : 
 And sultry Syrius burns the thirsty Plains, 
 And Choler in each Constitution reigns. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Sol join d with Syrius wonderously prevails, 
 And from the Earth her central Fire exhales ; 
 Sulphur and Nitre mix in various Forms, 
 Flash from the Skies, and fall in Thunder Storms. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Sol through the Southern Signs now takes his Way, 
 And what he adds to Night steals from each Day : 
 As He declines, to close the Pores begin, 
 And shut a Thousand hot Diseases in. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1747. 197 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Cold Nights advance the Summer Heats decay 
 And all her verdant Beauties fade away. 
 The Birds with all their pleasing Notes are gone, 
 And Nature mourns the Absence of the Sun. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Those hardy Plants that still remain alive 
 Look cold and shrunk like man at ninety-five 
 Boreas like Death, has strip d em of their Charms, 
 And hugs em mortal in his frozen arms. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Each verdant Plant that grew the Summer past, 
 In morning frosty sweats expir d at last. 
 The Snow like winding-Sheets fall from the Skies, 
 And nature all like Death in Ruin lies. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Many Things are frozen. 
 
 All things are cold, the young Ladies excepted. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 The Farmer now s resolv d he will not freeze 
 
 While he has Pipes, Tobacco, Fire, with good Bread & Cheese. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 A great Fight but no Blood-shed, 
 
 A foul Sunday and a fair Monday. 
 
 And now out the Frogs peep 
 
 Which forebodes that Alewives will be cheap. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 NOW T there may be something pleasing to the Eye, as there has been 
 to the Ear. 
 
 From low Estate a Man is great. 
 
 A Look that s cross and a tongue that raves, spoils a Beauty. 
 
 Expect to hear of damage done by Fire, and other unlucky Accidents 
 in the wide World. 
 
198 ALMANACK FOR 1747. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 The Beggar in liis Rags, 
 Is better than a miser with his Bags. 
 How pleasant now the air ! 
 How gay the Flower there ! 
 How fond the Lady fair. 
 A Matter of Difficulty, is now made easy. 
 
 JUNE- 
 
 A Scene as dark as night 
 In the End turns out bright. 
 Pleasure, with Concern, you may discern in many Faces now. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Breezes which refresh the Ladies fair 
 Who in the Evening walk to take the Air. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 The Devourer of Fruit unripe now, must expect to pay dearly for 
 it by nd by. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Sol to the Southward hasts away 
 
 And Winter draws nearer ev ry Day. 
 All Nature appears to vote for Thunder and Winds 
 Now prepare, for Winter s near. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Many unlucky Accidents. 
 A memorable Battle fought Even Now ! 
 How much ado about Trifles, while greater Matters are neglected. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 The Dame that s old 
 Now feels the cold, 
 Which makes her scold. 
 
 Whilst we are frozen up in the dead of winter, the Cape of Good Hope 
 rejoices in the highth of Summer. 
 
 AN ESSAY ON CONJURATION & WITCHCRAFT. 
 
 Conjuration, according to BAILEY S Definition of the Word, 
 signify s a personal dealing with the Devil, to know any Secret, 
 or compass any Design. Many Persons in their Study of Nature 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1747. IQ9 
 
 have div d so far above the Apprehension of the Vulgar, that 
 they have been believed to be Necromancers, Magicians, &c. 
 But the Mistake lays in the People s Ignorance, and not in the 
 other s Studies. That human Creatures should have actual 
 Society and Communion with spiritual Daemons is a strange 
 Thing. All Men are gaping after Novelties. Our Mathematical 
 Demonstrations please us not so much because our Discoveries 
 are certain, as because they are new. What we know, we slight; 
 and are fond of believing Articles that are most beyond all 
 Belief. They, among the Heathen, who made too good a Use of 
 their Reason, to be deceived themselves, were admitted into the 
 Number of holy Sorcerers, as they were called, and make a gain 
 ful Market of the Credulity of their Fellow-Creatures. Some 
 Writings father d upon Cornelius Agryppa, affirm, that if you 
 call upon Prince Satan by some of his Titles of Honour, in cer 
 tain liesure Hours, he ll appear to you with 
 
 " Flaming Eyes and Face as black as Soot, 
 A Pair of mighty Horns and Cloven Foot." 
 
 But we are not to believe such Reports, unless the Evidence 
 of the Truth of the Fact be equal to the Strangeness of the 
 Thing. If there be an old Woman in a Parish 1 prodigious ugly, 
 her Eyes hollow and red, her Face shrivel d up, that goes double, 
 and her Voice trembles, she is a Witch forsooth : but the hand 
 some young Girls are never suspected: as tho Satan took a 
 Delight in the Dry Sticks of Humane Nature, and would select 
 the most neglected Creature in the humane Species to be his 
 Privy- Counsellor. 
 
 VICTORY IMPIvOR D FOR SUCCESS AGAINST THE FRENCH IN AMERICA. 
 
 Hail, VICTORY ! thy Aid we still implore, 
 Thy Britain conquers ; send her Thunder o er : 
 We only for her moving Castles wait ; 
 But they, alas ! have been detain d by Fate. 
 Great Britain" 1 s Forests float upon the Floods, 
 And dreadful Lions dwell within those Woods : 
 Awake their sleeping Fury, make em roar, 
 And all the Beasts on Canadensis Shore 
 
 1 Humourist. 
 
2oo ALMANACK FOR 1747. 
 
 Shall fear, and all their Native Rage forsake, 
 
 And Trembling seize those Coasts, ev n to Quebeck. 
 
 When late round Louisbourg s strong Walls we made 
 
 By Land and Sea, a terrible Blockade. 
 
 The arduous Trumpet, Instrument of Fame 
 
 And thund ring Cannon, call d upon thy Name : 
 
 The silly French their fond Devotion paid 
 
 To old dry Bones, which Priests have holy made : 
 
 Our bursting Bombs, in Tracts of Fire and Smoke, 
 
 The Skies ascend, and thy kind Aid invoke ; 
 
 Lo, th Earth groan d with many a gaping Wound, 
 
 Whilst the Air trembl d at the awful Sound : 
 
 Jove saw his Thunder mimick d here below 
 
 Whilst there strong Walls repuls d each threat ning Blow 
 
 And ere the dreadful Hurricane blew o er 
 
 He took the Scales in his eternal Store, 
 
 Prepar d to weigh the Fate of W 7 arring Kings : 
 
 And now the great decisive Period brings : 
 
 The Gods attend, th important Case is try d, 
 
 And the Disputants put one in each Side ; 
 
 When, lo, the Beam in Equilibrio stands, 
 
 Till Victory turn d the Scale with her own Hands. 
 
 The Gods for France in high resentment cry d, 
 
 Victory unfairly join d on our Side 
 
 Proud of thy special Favours heretofore 
 
 Like Beggars once indulg d, we ask for more. 
 
 Thou know st which Way the ridged Plates incline \ 
 
 If on our Side, give one propitious Sign 
 
 And, lo, Ten Thousand bold Americans will join, j 
 
 With chearful Hearts to Extirpate a Race 
 
 Of superstitious Papists false and Base. 
 
 Octob. 1 8, 1746. 
 
 OH 1747* The muse recounts the glories of the previous 
 five thousand years in short-hand, and particularly sounds the triumphant 
 changes in the home government of the preceding hundred years; 
 rejoicing over the discomfiture of the Scottish rebellion, with an especial 
 allusion to William, Duke of Cumberland, who fought the decisive battle 
 of Culloden near Inverness, April 16,1746, and predicting future " won 
 drous things " to come to pass. 
 
 The monthly jingles savor of Arcadia and natural phenomena, and the 
 " Essay on Conjuration and Witchcraft" in the physician s happy manner 
 is a short and excellent specimen of humorous reading. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1748. 201 
 
 An heroic Poem to Victory in supplication for the success of the 
 British arms, and the extirpation of the Gauls from America, very appro 
 priately forms the valedictory for this busy year, while the merry morsels 
 in the meteorological notes continue as readable as beforetime. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1748 
 
 By NATHANAEL AMES. 
 
 BOSTON in NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Printed by J. DRAPER ; for the BOOKSELLERS. 
 Price Sixteen Pence Single, & Ten Shillings per Dozen. 
 
 Ten Thousand Suns, prodigious Globes of Light, 
 At once in broad Dimensions strike our Sight ; 
 Millions behind in the remoter Skies 
 Appear but Spangles to our wearied Eyes ; 
 And when our wearied Eyes want further Strength, 
 To pierce the Void s immeasureable Length, 
 Our vigorous tow ring Thoughts still further fly, 
 And still remoter flaming Worlds descry. 
 
 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW. 
 
 To Day Marts dress d in Gold and Silver bright : 
 Wrapt in a Shrowd before To morrow Night. 
 To-day he s feeding on delicious Food ; 
 To-morrow dead ; unable to do good. 
 To-day he s nice and scorns to feed on Crumbs : 
 To-morrow he s himself a Dish for Worms. 
 To-day he s grand, majestick, all Delight ; 
 Gastful and pale, before To-morrow Night. 
 True, as the Scriptures say, MAN S LIFE A SPAN. 
 The present Moment is the LIFE q/~MAN. 
 
202 ALMANACK FOR 1748. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Nectorian Cyder now, with Pork and Beef, 
 Gives many an aching Stomach great Relief; 
 And he that hasn t these, nor Money in his Purse, 
 His Case is bad, and s likely to be worse. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Philosopher, What Art japans the Bow? 
 
 What Looms prepare and weave the fleecy snow? 
 
 In what tight Mills the icy Balls are ground ? 
 
 Why small or larger made? Why white and round ? 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 The Winds, while yet unfledg d in Woods they lie 
 In Whispers first their tender Voices try, 
 Then issue on the Main with bell wing Rage, 
 And Storms to trembling Mariners presage. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Consuming Winter s gone, the Earth hath lost 
 Her snow-white Robes, and now no more the Frost 
 Candies the Grass, or casts an icy Cream 
 Upon the silver Lake and chrystal Stream. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 MAY like Arabia breathes, her Morning Flowers 
 New-sweetened with Dew of Twilight Showers, 
 Smells like the /Vztf?;//.r-Nest, when she her Waine 
 Of Age repairs, and sows herself again. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Purchasing Riches with our Time and Care, 
 We lose our Freedom in a gilded Snare, 
 In vain our Fields and Flocks increase our Store, 
 If our abundance makes us wish for more. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Now wild Ingredients are together cramm d 
 
 And into cloudy Cannons closely ramm d; 
 
 At whose dread Roar fierce Balls and Fires are hurled, 
 
 Omens of that that must calcine the World. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1748. 203 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 The mellow Pears and Apples fall apace, 
 
 The Mellon ripens on the creeping Vine, 
 
 A Virgin Blush now paints the Rare-ripe s Face, 
 
 With the rich Load the burthen d Limbs decline. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Now the ccelestial Ballance weighs the Light, 
 Giving an equal Length to Day and Night ; 
 And the clear Air keeps a Divided Seat, 
 Affording sometimes Cold, and sometimes Heat. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Heaven s Candidates go cloath d with foul Disguise, 
 And Heaven s Reports are damn d for senceless lies : 
 Tremendous Mysteries are (so Hell prevails) 
 Lampoon d for Jargon and fantastic Tales. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Oh ! why did Heaven leave Man so weak Defence 
 
 To trust frail Reason with the Rule of Sense ? 
 
 Tis overpois d and kick d up in the Air, 
 
 While Sense weighs down the Scale, and keeps it there. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 The Trees to wear their leavy Hatts forbear, 
 In Reverence to old Winter s silver Hair ; 
 From Capricorn s cold Tropick Soi y looks pale, 
 And Boreas beats the naked Earth with Hail. 
 
 INTERLINED \VISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Wood burns now quicker than it grows. 
 
 A Crafty Piece of Mischief discovered. 
 
 A Bad State, an empty Purse, and no Credit, Food or Cloaths. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Magna quartile Saturn & Jupiter continues a long while with sextile 
 fupiter & Venus. 
 
 Europe has conceiv d and is big with Propositions of Peace, but alas ! 
 they prove Abortive to the great Disappointment of some Politicians. 
 
204 ALMANACK FOR 1748. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Mischief to be done by the Indian Crew, and many unlucky Accidents. 
 
 To War and Arm ! is yet th alarm. 
 
 Keep a strict lookout, the Enemy s about. 
 
 Take care of your Buildings. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 A bouncing, imperious Hussy falls to the Ground without Pity. 
 A Mixture of Strange Advices. 
 
 Boreas begins six months exhile, 
 
 And Infant-Spring begins to smile. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Shear not your Sheep till this cold storm is past. 
 A fine Projection afoot. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 It is a Thing that s indisputable, 
 Women, like winds, are very mutuable. 
 
 Bxtream cold and violent Snow Storms near the Straits of Magellan 
 & Cape Horn. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Many Schemes afoot but Self Intrest spoils all. 
 A bloody Fight may happen in the Night. 
 
 Some signs of Rain, if they fail, a Drought follows. So, or not, many 
 will complain. 
 
 Your Spirits to refresh : take the Morning Air youl find it best. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 If you neglect your Hay now, you may have a bad Season for it 
 by nd by. 
 
 Sailors, look out sharp ! 
 
 Beware of eating too much raw Fruit and catching Sudden Colds. 
 
 Some are burden d with Paper Money, while others are groaning for 
 want of it. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 The Demand for Things unnecessary, how much greater than for those 
 we can t do without ! 
 
 Rum, Sugar, Tobacco, Tea, Lemmons & Limes, 
 
 How excessively used, these later Times. 
 The Husbandman rejoices in gathering the Fruits of his Labour. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1748. 205 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Many lose more in a Day, than others gain in a Year. 
 The Stone-Walls yet remain firm, which can t be stumbled over by all 
 the Power, Riches, Intreagues or Policy of France, to it s great Vexation. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 If you can get no more ; 
 
 besure, lay in your Winter Store. 
 More sleeping than working. 
 More quake for cold than fear of an Enemy. 
 Tydings come round about of Things unexpected. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 The Geese and Turkeys fall a sacrifice in great numbers. 
 Now every hoary-headed Twig 
 Doth wear a snowy Perriwig. 
 Another Year now is gone ; 
 But ah ! how little have we done ! 
 
 NOTE. On the margins of the Almanack in my possession are the 
 following memoranda for 1748: (Ed.} 
 
 In the Winter 1747-8 fell Thirty two Snows. 
 
 Jan. 6. South Winds & Rain and Sharp Thunder & Lightning. 
 
 March 3oth. Frogs Croak. 3ist, Peep. 
 
 March 2ist. a Robin Sang. 
 
 24th. Blue Bird Sang, 
 the 27th. Spring Bird Sang. 
 April i9th. Sett out 120 Appel-Trees. 
 
 28th. Was the Annual Fast. 
 
 May 1 7th. in ye Morning was a Frost but did not much hurt. 
 June i st. after a very dry time a Shower of Rain. 
 
 2ist. in ye afternoon began to hay. 
 
 Aug. 7th. left the Meeting House to go to Relieve ye Inhabitants of 
 Petersham from ye Indians : went as far as Brookefield and 
 then Return ^ Home. 
 
 loth & nth. Each Morning was a hard Frost in low Land. 
 September 28th. went & see M r Blunt ordain d over the Separates. 
 October. The last week in this Month my Chimneys were Built by Ben 
 jamin Barney. 
 
206 ALMANACK FOR 1748. 
 
 The very Position of the Planetary Circles shews, that this 
 Earth is of the same Sort with the Rest of the Planets of this 
 System that revolve about our Sun. The Times they spend in 
 their Revolution about the Sun is in a fix d certain Proportion 
 to their Distances from the Sun. If we could be assur d of but 
 one Comet, what it was that is the Cause of that strange Appear 
 ance, Should we not make that a Standard to judge of all others 
 by? Since then we are so well acquainted with one of these 
 Planets, ( viz. The Earth on which we live,) may we not judge 
 of the rest by this one ? Tis an Argument of no small Weight 
 that is fetch d from Relation and Likeness ; and to Reason from 
 what we see, and are sure of, to what we cannot, is no false 
 Logick. This Earth appears to them a Star, as they do to us : 
 They are like this Earth solid round Bodies ; and have no Light 
 but what they receive from the Sun : They have Days and 
 Nights, which is discovered by their Rotation upon their own 
 axis like this Earth : They have their Revolution of Years 
 like this Earth: Jupiter has, like this Earth, an Atmosphere, 
 Clouds and Vapours, which are discovered by the help of 
 Telescopes. As Saturn and Jupiter are at a far greater Distance 
 from the Sun than this Earth, How much more of the Sun s 
 Light have they reflected to them by Moons than we have? 
 Saturn has Five Moons ; Jupiter Four : This is no imaginary 
 Thing; We are able before-hand to calculate the Eclipses of 
 some of these Moons with as great Exactness as our own. They 
 revolve about their respective Planets, as our Moon revolves 
 about this Earth: The First of Jupiter s Moons revolves about 
 him in i Day, 18 Hours, 28 Minutes, 36 Seconds; the Second 
 spends 3 Days, 13 Hours, 13 Min, 52 Sec. in going round him ; 
 the Third Moon, 7 days, 3 Hours, 59 Min. 40 Sec. ; the Fourth 
 Moon, 1 6 Days, 18 Hours, 5 Min. 6 Sec. : The innermost of 
 Saturn s Moons moves round him in i Day, 21 Hours, 18 Min. 
 31 Sec. ; the Second in 2 Days, 17 Hours, 41 Min. 27 Sec. ; the 
 Third in 4 Days, 13 Hours, 47 Min. 16 Sec. ; the Fourth in 15 
 Days, 22 Hours, 41 Min. n Sec. ; the Fifth in 79 Days, 7 Hours, 
 53 Min. 57 Sec. ; This Computation is made as we measure 
 Time by our Days and Hours. Besides these Moons Saturn 
 has a wonderful Ring, that surrounds his Globe at some Distance, 
 of which the Poet says, 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1748. 207 
 
 How richly s this grave Wanderer drest, 
 
 With an illustrious Ring, above the rest. 
 
 Around it roles, makes all its Parts appear, 
 
 Yet lies obscur d in Light for half the Year. 
 
 What different Office it at once can play, 
 
 Both make the Night, and make the Dav ? 
 
 Its circling Pace can Life retrieve, 
 
 And make the dying Fluids live. 
 
 See how its various Phases, Use and End, 
 
 At once delight the wond ring natives, & be-friend ! 
 
 And rich Philosophy and charming Views create. 
 
 Now should we allow the Planets nothing but vast Desarts, 
 lifeless and inanimate Stocks and Stones, and deprive them of 
 those Creatures that more plainly speak their Divine Architect, 
 we should sink them below this Earth in Beauty and Dignity. 
 A Thing that no Reason will permit. As our Earth was not 
 made only to twinkle on them ; so the} 7 were made for nobler 
 Ends than just to shine on us. No doubt but a departed Soul 
 in its Journey to Heaven may say of these Planetary Worlds, 
 
 I see what natives these toss d Islands bare, 
 Natives as different as their Climates are : 
 Their Studies, Pleasures and Employs I see, 
 How much more happy and more Pure than we ? 
 More Heavenly they; more fit and glad to raise, 
 By Love and Service, their Creator s Praise. 
 
 Oil 1748, Again the time-honored ode to the Sun, not 
 only our Sun but " more ii a million," receive the homage of the Muse on 
 the first page. On the second follows an explanation of " the difference 
 between today and tomorrow ;" after which follows the monthly rhymes, 
 partaking largely of the "crazy quilt" feature. Bacchus, Philosophy, 
 Boreas, Neptune, Arabia, Croesus, Calvinism, Pomona, all figure in the 
 poet s teeming brain, and their various attributes committed to the care of 
 each monthly page. 
 
 Whether, under October, the Doctor proposes a tilt with the " Fra 
 ternity," I m not able to say, but the inability of the Masonic student to fit 
 the verse to anything else, might reasonably imagine that " he means us" 
 
 A lesson in practical Astronomy constitutes the subject of the annual 
 essay, with a considerable portion devoted to a disquisition on the satel 
 lites of Jupiter and Saturn. 
 
 Momus occupies his usual seat, and is clothed with the customary cap 
 
208 ALMANACK FOR 1749. 
 
 and bells. The wars in Europe are alluded to the Indians are mentioned 
 as likely to be troublesome and woman lovely woman is adverted to 
 after the set manner. Health rules are prescribed for the summer months. 
 The money market discussed, and the rage for foreign productions 
 remarked, foreshadowing the events leading up to the quarrel with the 
 mother country. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1749 
 
 By 
 
 BOSTON in NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Printed by JDu Draper, for the Booksellers. 
 Price Eighteen Pence Single, & Twelve Shillings a Dozen. 
 
 No Hero s Ghosts, with Garments roll d in Blood, 
 Majestick stalk ; the golden Age s renew d : 
 No hollow Drums in Flanders beat ; the Breath 
 Of brazen Trumpets ring no Peels of Death. 
 The milder Stars their peaceful Beams affords 
 And sounding Hammer beats the wounding Sword. 
 To Plow-Shears now ; Mars must to Ceres yield, 
 And exhil d PEACE returns, and takes the Field. 
 
 READER, I would beg leave to answer the Rumour of my 
 not making an Almanack this Year, by transcribing a few Lines 
 from Mr. POPE S Poem, entitled, The Temple of Fame. 
 
 " The flying Rumours gather d as they roll d, 
 " Scarce any Tale was sooner heard than told : 
 " And all who told it, added something new ; 
 " And all who heard it, made Enlargements too, 
 " In ev ry Ear it spread ; on every Tongue it grew : 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1749. 209 
 
 " Thus flying East and West, and North and South, 
 " News travel d with Encrease from Mouth to Mouth. 
 
 " When thus ripe Lyes are to Perfection sprung, 
 
 " Full grown and fit to grace a mortal Tongue ; 
 
 " Thro thousand Vents impatient forth they flow, 
 
 " And rush in Millions on the World below. 
 
 " Fame sits aloft, and points them out their Course, 
 
 " Their Date determines, and prescribes their Force : 
 
 " Some to Remain, and some to perish soon, 
 
 " Or wane and wax alternate like the Moon. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 In genial Winter Swains enjoy their Store, 
 Forget their Hardships, and recruit for more, 
 The Farmer to full Bowls invites his Friends, 
 And what he got with Pain, with Pleasure spends. 
 
 Dryd. Virgil. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Pale Fear does Things so like a Witch, 
 Tis hard t unriddle which is which, 
 That makes Men in the Dark see Visions, 
 And hug themselves with Apparitions : 
 And when their Eyes discover least, 
 Discern the subtlest Object best. 
 
 Hndibras. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 As Orion s Bands dissolve, the Farmer now 
 With wounding Steel gives Earth a furrow d Brow, 
 And as he tugs the peaceful Plow along, 
 Sweetens his Labour with some Rural Song. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Now fruitful Show rs abound, and pearly Rains 
 Descend in Silence, to refresh the Plains, 
 And swell the Roots of Plants ; the Buds put forth 
 And Infant-Spring lies strug ling at the Birth. 
 
 "V And In 
 BelK 1 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Belu. 1 the Beauties of UK- flo\v ry Spring! 
 Hark ! how the Birds among the Branches sing ! 
 From Heav n each Night Nectarian Dews descend, 
 And some Delight does every Sense befriend. 
 
210 ALMANACK FOR 1749. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 The Indian Corn sprung up begins to grow, 
 And Husbandmen whet up their Scythes to mow : 
 The Country Maids with Sauce to Market come, 
 And carry Loads of tatter d Money Home. 
 
 JUI/Y. 
 
 The Sun with sultry Syrius now doth rise, 
 Andfave s red Light ning flashes from the Skies; 
 The angry Gods Heaven s Armoury open flings, 
 And whizzing Bolts ride forth on burning Wings. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Strange Fires enkindle in the Nervous Cell, 
 Where all the Springs of Sense and Motion dwell : 
 There hidden Deaths, and strange Destructions breed 
 And slow convulsive Spasms thence proceed. 
 
 SEPTEMBER- 
 
 Now Nature s strange corroding Fires begin 
 To parch and fry the tender Parts within ; 
 You bright Appollcfs learned Sons display 
 Your skill to drive these torturing Deaths away. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 The trembling Trees from green to yellow turn, 
 Their Summer-Dress by cruel Frost is torn : 
 They r left to stand uncloath d each Winter Day 
 And slow Consumption steels their Life away. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 The vegitable Life expires with Pain ; 
 
 In hopes to live another Life again, 
 
 Their Faith in future vernal Doom they prize 
 
 Dead Plants in Nature s Resurrection rise. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 The Earth does in her annual Orbit roll 
 And now is sheer d toward the Artick Pole : 
 As though afraid of yonder sloping Sun. 
 Time s Page is full : The Aged YEAR is done. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1749- 211 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Many remarkable unlucky Accidents happen about this Time. 
 If there was less debating and more acting twould be better. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 The Decision of some great Affair is now at Hand. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 A man without Work, Money or Credit stands but a poor Chance. 
 Now pleasant drying Days 
 Which settle the dirty miry Ways. 
 
 APRII,. 
 
 The famous Trine of Saturn and Jupiter this month makes me think 
 that PEACE will be concluded. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 A better Season for Grass than last Year, and for Hemp and Flax, a bad 
 Year for Thieves. 
 
 Some Materials about this Time are hatch d for the Clergy to debate 
 on. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 The News flies on the Wings of Fame. 
 A great Bustle about a Trifle. 
 
 JUIvY. 
 
 The Clouds their watery Buckets fill, but 
 Where they will be emptied I cannot tell, 
 Nor no man else since Adam fell. 
 
 The Earth is parch d with Heat : 
 Man s Veins are burnt with Choler ; 
 Some slow Fevers first, 
 and Bloody Fluxes follow. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Make Hay while you may 
 
 For a mighty Storm is coining on. 
 
 Wou d you keep well this Month, beware 
 of cold raw Fruits, and Evening Air. 
 
212 ALMANACK FOR 1749. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Now some are Loosers, some Gainers 
 Now comes a lucky Day for Hunters. 
 
 Some luckless Undertaking is now afoot and many complaints among 
 Children. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 The Planets portend Things great & remarkable, lofty Winds and a 
 Storm that continues. 
 
 The Heavens then smile, but for a short while, 
 Then muffle up in Clouds again. 
 He that lives by Fraud is in Danger of dying a Knave. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Q (Quartile) Mars Mercury. 
 
 Q] (Quartile) Saturn Mars. 
 
 Q (Conjunction] Saturn Mercury These aspects 
 
 Shew violent Winds & in Winter Storms of driving Snow, mischiefs by 
 the Indians, if no Peace, and among us Feuds, Quarrels, Bloody Noses, 
 broken Pates, if not Necks. 
 
 If there was less debating, and more acting t would be better Times. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 I/adies, take Heed, lay down your Fans, 
 And, handle well your Warming Pans. 
 
 This cold uncomfortable Weather, 
 Makes Jack and Jill lie close together. 
 
 The Lawyer s Tongues they never freeze, 
 If warm d with honest Client s fees. 
 
 Some feed on Beef, and some on Beans 
 
 Some scorch their Throat, and some their Shins. 
 
 READER, 
 
 In the two last Pages of my Almanack for the Year past I 
 told you how the Planets were accommodated for inhabitants ; 
 and that they are actually inhabited ; that rational Creatures 
 there sing the Praises of their Creator, who has bestowed his 
 Goodness on them in as bountiful & magnificent a manner as on 
 us, is a Tho t that all judicious Men concur with : But then such 
 Tho ts as these naturally arise in our Minds, How do the People 
 there look? Have they such Bodies as we? Do their Faces, 
 Eyes, &c. look like ours? To which I would say, tis highly 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1749. 213 
 
 probable; that their Bodies are not very dissimilar to ours : For 
 the eredl Posture of MAN (as l Dr. C. Mather observes) the Os 
 sublime, how commodious for a rational Creature, who must have 
 Dominion over those which are not so, and must invent & 
 practice Things useful and curious : By this Posture Man has the 
 use of his Hands, which as Galen observes, are Organa Sapienti 
 Animali conve nientia ; and his Eyes, which as they have the glo 
 rious Hemisphere of the Heavens above him, so they have the 
 Horizon of 3 Miles on a perfect Globe about them, when they 
 are 6 Feet high, and by the Refraction of the Atmosphere they 
 have much more than so: The Eye, the Ear, the Tongue, the 
 Hands the Feet, where could they be more commodiously placed 
 than in Man. These planetary Worlds (like our World) are 
 liable to be delug d or burnt up by the Approach of a Comet, not 
 exempt from the grand Catastrophe of Nature, therefore tis 
 probable their inhabitants are liable to Misfortunes, to Wars, 
 Afflictions, Poverty, and the like, as well as we. In our Bodies 
 there is one Conjugation of the Nerves, which is branched into 
 the Ball, the Muscles and the Glands of the Eye ; to the Ear, to 
 the Jaws, the Gums and the Teeth ; to the Muscles of the Lips, 
 to the Tonsils, the Palate, the Tongue, and the Parts of the 
 Mouth, to the Prcecordia too ; and lastly, to the Muscles of the 
 Face, and very particularly those of the Cheeks. Hence tis that 
 a gustable Thing, seen or smelt, excites the Appetite and affects 
 the Glands, and Parts of the Mouth : A shameful Thing, seen or 
 heard, affects the Cheeks : If the Fancy be pleased, the Prcecordia 
 affected, and the Muscles of the Mouth and the Face are put into 
 the Motion of Laughter. When Sadness is caused, it exerts 
 itself upon the Prcscordia, and the Glands of the Eyes emit their 
 Tears. Hence also the torvous look, produced by Anger and 
 Hatred ; and a gay Countenance accompanies Love, Hope, and 
 Joy. To be afraid of Danger, to be angry with an Enemy, to 
 love that which is agreable, these are dispositions of Mind that 
 must be supposed to be found in all rational Creatures thro out 
 the Universe ; whose condition is subject to change, and whose 
 Natures can suffer Misfortune. No doubt then but the Planeta- 
 rians have these necessary Passions of the Mind ; and since the 
 
 1 Christ. Philos. p. 223. 
 
214 ALMANACK FOR 1749. 
 
 Face for the Reasons above mentioned is the Index oi all the 
 Passions; the Criterion of a Friend, and the Certainty of an 
 Knemy is better discovered by the Make of the Countenance 
 than by the Utterance of Words. And these Planetarians can 
 never be premonished of the evil Purposes of an Enemy without 
 the Benefit of such an Index as I have above described ; there 
 fore no doubt when they are pleased they put on a gay Look as 
 we do, and a fierce angry Countenance when they are affronted ; 
 and, had we Commerce with em, had we the little Spaniards 
 Ganses, 1 to carry us to Jupiter, one of the portly tall inhabitants 
 of that great World would excite our Respect ; but if he was 
 angry he wou d make an hundred & fifty of the pigmy inhabit 
 ants of our small World tremble at his Looks. 
 
 OH 1749. The advent of white-robed Peace is hailed in the 
 salutatory verse, and an extract from Alexander Pope s " Temple of Fame " 
 stifles the rumor that Dr. Ames would not appear with his Almanack this 
 year. 
 
 Virgil and Hudibras open the monthly offerings, and from thence the 
 muse drops down to more practical lines on husbandry, astronomy and 
 meteorology. Ceres and Sirius receive their modicum of attention and 
 gradually Jack Frost appears to close the season. 
 
 For the essay, we have some reflections on Man, and speculations as to 
 how the inhabitants of the other Planets might appear. Doctor Cotton 
 Mather, the volumnious, is called in to testify and enlarge upon his 
 thorough approval of the very eligible location of the Eyes, Bars, Tongue, 
 etc., in the human body, all of which appears to be quite gratifying to our 
 Author, who concludes with a desire for the ganzas of the Spanish 
 virtuoso, with which he might visit the various planets and study the 
 comparative anatomy of their supposed inhabitants. 
 
 The jester pays his accostomed compliments to all as usual; clergy, 
 laity, lawyer, client, are touched up by the jocose astronomer, and good 
 advice and weather wisdom are judiciously mingled, to make a most 
 pleasant and digestible melange. 
 
 Under the month of June, in the verse at the head, is an illusion to the 
 condition of the circulating medium, referred to in the historical chapter 
 in the introduction to this work. 
 
 1 A kind of wild goose, by a flock of which a virtuoso was fabled to be 
 carried to the lunar world. Webster s Dictionary. Johnson. Hudibras. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1750. 215 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1750, 
 
 By Nathanael Ames. 
 
 BOSTON, in NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Printed by J. DRAPER, for the BOOKSELLERS. 
 Price is. 6 Single & 12s. per Dozen. 
 
 To Systems numberless, remote and far, 
 
 Our Sun is seen but as a fixed Star : 
 
 Their Suns to us but lucid Points appear, 
 
 Whose full-orbed Glories blaze to World s more near. 
 
 Systems of Worlds are rang d from Pole to Pole : 
 
 GOD made and shed his Glory on the whole. 
 
 These rolling Worlds obey his powerful nod. 
 
 How grand the Universe ! How worthy of the GOD. 
 
 On a Judgment of Court obtain d after a long Law -Suit. 
 DEUS, nobis haec Otia, fecit. 
 
 Four Times the Sun has in cold Pisces been, 
 
 The rising Pleiads have four Autumns seen, 
 
 Since I have stood th opposing Lawyer s Tongue 
 
 Who puzzl d Right, and Justify d the Wrong, 
 
 An honest Cause by dint of Law, niaintain d, 
 
 And Virgil like the Mantuan Lands have gain d : 
 
 When Strife belch d forth her foul discordant Sound, 
 
 The Voice of Orphczus charming Lyre was drown d, 
 
 The muses from their usual Haunts retir d, 
 
 And left their barren Votary uninspir d : 
 
 Ye Goddesses of Verse, Appolld s Quire, 
 
 The Prodigal return d : once more inspire, 
 
 Ye sweet Infusers of diviner Strains, 
 
 With rich Ideas croud his minting Brains, 
 
 Cease Strife : all but the Nightingale be mute, 
 
 Whilst I contend with her upon the Lute. 
 
2l6 ALMANACK FOR 1750. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 From yonder Lakes the Breath of Winter blows : 
 Nature lies bleach d and bury d up in Snows : 
 Vast Stores of Nitre from the frigid Zone, 
 Wedge up the rolling Floods as firm as Stone. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Sot s Steeds at last have reach d the scaly Star, 
 That ends the crooked Circle of the Year : 
 To Aries next they mount that heavenly Sign, 
 Whence Phcebns went when first lie measur d TIME. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 The fleecy Ram conjoins th approaching Sun 
 While melting Snows in purling Riv lets run, 
 And waking Philomel begins to sing, 
 Her warbling Sonnets to the wanton Spring. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 The Clouds that treasur d up the Winter Rain, 
 Remit to Barth their humid Store again, 
 Their melting Bosom s drop in balmy Showers 
 The very Quintessence of vernal Flowers. 
 
 The Bye delighted with the blooming Trees, 
 The Nostrils feasted with each o drous Breeze : 
 The feather d Tribe, that wanton on the Wing, 
 Entrance the list ning Bar, the whilst they sing. 
 
 JUNK. 
 
 Sol joins the Crad, whose Claws with fervour fry 
 The verdent Herb, the Barth inflam d and dry, 
 As with a Fever longs for cooling Rain 
 Drinks heartily, and longs to drink again. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Through the boreal Crab Soi, took his Way, 
 And with the fiery Lyon makes a stay ; 
 There with the furious Dog-Star he doth meet, 
 Which adds a burning Fervour to his heat. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1750. 217 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 The Virgin lends her Bosom to aswage 
 
 And pacify Sol s burning furious Rage. 
 
 They embrace, and down to Thetis Bed descend : 
 
 Cool nights arise, and all the World befriend. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 The terrifying Heat of Sol now fails, 
 Whilst he delib rates with his heav nly Scales 
 His more impartial Justice to display, 
 Weighs out in equal Parts the Night and Day. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 The SUN withdraws, and aged grows the Year, 
 No wing d musicians charm th attentive Ear : 
 Approaching Winter now begins his Threats, 
 And Flora dies with morning frosty Sweats. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 We cannot justly on bright Venus lay 
 Those am rous Tho ts by which we re led astray 
 She only prompts to such propentions, and 
 Her Syren charms our Prudence may withstand. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Soi, in the Winter Solstice doth array 
 (Instead of Green) the Earth in Silver grey, 
 And all the Beauty of the wrinkled Fields 
 To the keen Blast of cruel Boreas yields. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 A Silver Currency as unlikely as a Crown in a Poet s Pocket. 
 
 Some Liberty, but Oh ! Where s Property ? 
 
 Now some Lady is honour d. 
 
 Strange Disagreements even among old Friends. 
 
218 ALMANACK FOR 1750. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Now freezing cold 
 
 Which makes old Maids to fret and scold. 
 
 That sort of Weather that now happens will continue a long while. 
 I leave the good weather to come between and now predict another 
 storm and a smart one too. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Expiring Winter shakes his threat ning Rod. 
 
 Winds from the frozen Lake 
 
 Makes frighten d Men, & starving Cattle quake. 
 
 Dirty travelling. Boots very convenient. 
 
 cP "b 0) ^- n ill-portending Omen 
 
 To mushroom Gentlemen. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 An honest Mind, with Diligence and Frugality may be Easy, in hard 
 Times. 
 
 Nature presents the long*d for Spring to birth. 
 French Fashions still in vogue. 
 Joan s back, must have a Sack. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 The Lady s Dress, tho fine and gay 
 don t come up to charming May. 
 
 Many Projections to little or no Purpose, but tending to Discord. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 A disturbed air, at length rain, 
 
 Which makes some Country-men and Frolickers Complain. 
 
 Pleasant Evenings for Ladies. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Our Province defended by some of its Friends, 
 and perhaps Old Tenor comes to an end. 
 
 A Scheme just started for the Benefit of a great Number. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1750. 2 19 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 The Stars about this Time portend something unusual. 
 A love to Self, and worldly Pelf is still prevailing. 
 * High Winds that blow the Trees o erthrow. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 An unexpected Turn of Times. 
 
 This Year there s rais d both Wheat and Flax 
 At or near New-Halifax. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 Butter and Cheese, as much as you please. 
 
 If no Money conies in we know what to trust to 
 And what we can t well do, we must do. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 The Plot of November 
 We ever remember. 
 
 The Sun now and then casts a Smile on his old Friend the North, but 
 Night soon checks him for t. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 I should predict good Weather this Week, but there s so many Courts, 
 the Lawyers may raise a Storm, but may be soon over. 
 The Year ends with falling Weather. Vale. 
 
 AMES 1750. 
 
 JUNE the 1 8th Day 1749, that remarkable hot Day, the Heli- 
 ocentrick Place of Mars in his Orbit is found to be 9 Signs, 6 
 Deg. 30 M. The Earth s Hel. Orbit Place 9 S. 7 D. 30 M. The 
 Place of the Moon in her Orbit at our Noon 8 S. 29 D. i M. 
 The Earth s Aphelion 9 S. 6 D. 57 M. The Distance of the 
 Aphelion of Mars from the vernal Equinox 5 S. o D. 48 M. 
 the Moon s Perigeon n S. o D. 21 M. But that my Reader may 
 
220 
 
 ALMANACK FOR I75O. 
 
 see with his Eyes the remarkable Situation of our Earth, and 
 her Attendant Moon, and the Planet Mars on that Day, I shall 
 here insert the following 
 
 DIAGRAM. 
 
 ^lanaiion of the foregoing DIAGRAM. 
 
 Let the Curve A : : C. D represent the Ellipsis in which the 
 center of the Earth revolves about the Sun, CD that Focus in the 
 Ellipsis where the Sun is placed, the Line ^ : D the greater 
 Axis of the Earth s Orbit, the other Line A. C. the lesser Axis. 
 The other Curve E F G H. represents the Ellipsis in which 
 Mars in like Manner revolves about the Sun. F. H. the greater 
 Axis of his Orbit, (which Line you see crosses the greater Axis 
 of the Earth s Orbit at the Center of the Sun) E G. the lesser 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1750. 221 
 
 Axis. The Aphelion of the Earth and Heliocentrick Place are 
 near the same Point, viz : about V3 6, where the Character of 
 the Earth is placed thus Q : an Eye at the Sun would behold 
 the Earth, the Moon and Mars all in Conjunction : Now since 
 the Sun is at 3 the Earth at Q, and Mars at cT ; it is evident 
 that Mars must be in the middle of his Regress, and appears to 
 us on Earth to be in cP to the Sun ; but if Mars had been at 
 @, he would have been in the middle of his Progress, and would 
 have appeared to an Inhabitant of the Earth to be in cf with 
 the Sun, the Moon likewise at 3, is between Mars and the 
 Earth. It appears by this Scheme that on the Account of Mars s 
 being in Opposition to the Sun at cf , he is an entire Diameter of 
 the Orbis Magnus nearer the Earth at that Time than if he had 
 been in cf with the Sun at 69 ; not only so, but by Reason the 
 Aphelion of these Planets fall in such parts of their Orbits as 
 to make the nearest approach of their Orbits at those Points 
 where Mars and the Earth happened to be on that Day, On 
 this account I say, Mars never was nearer the Earth, nor 
 can he possibly be nearer the Earth than he was the i8th 
 of June last, and the Moon at that point of Time Step d (?) in 
 between them ; and as Astrologers phrase it, handed down the 
 Influence of that burning Planet to the Earth. The famous 
 Kepler hath made it evident, that the Planet s Course about the 
 Sun is not Circular but Elliptical, and the Sun does not possess 
 the Center of the Ellipsis but one of the Foci : and the Planets 
 as they are carried along their Orbits by the Rays drawn from 
 them to the Sun, describe Areas exactly proportional to the 
 Time they spend in their Revolution : This Sir Isaac Newton has 
 demonstrated from the Laws of Nature. 
 
 The subjoined poem was found among the papers of Dr. Ames written 
 on the same sheet which contained the copy for the above calculations, 
 and was doubtless crowded out this year : 
 
 Should Christ lay by his Father s glitt ring Rays, 
 Which shine eternal with a Glorious Blaze, 
 And in the Forme of a poore Humble Man, 
 Once more vouchsafe upon this World to stand, 
 Would Man fall down obsequious and Adore ? 
 Or would he treat him as he did before ? 
 
222 ALMANACK FOR 1750. 
 
 Would he the eternal Son of God abuse 
 
 And shed his Blood as did the cruel Jews ? 
 
 Say, Concience ! lo, I heare ye say not I, 
 
 But then I fain would ask the Reason why. 
 
 Are you more favour d by the Great Creator 
 
 To have a nobler and more generous Nature ? 
 
 Can you Discern betwixt what s Good and Bad 
 
 With just ye same advantages they had? 
 
 Have you no favourite Passions of your own 
 
 That set and terrorize on Reason s Throne ? 
 
 Can you be blamed and not the least resent 
 
 Or may you let a little fury vent ? 
 
 This is the Rule, the only Rule to know 
 
 Wheather you are such Miscreants or no. 
 
 If you thro Pride or Hatred do (?) wrong 
 
 The meanest Saint yt does to Him belong 
 
 Had you been present at yt tragick Scene 
 
 You there a bloody actor would have been 
 
 Would done assault God s favourite Son most high 
 
 If yt his Awfull Deity stood by 
 
 Pouring his Glories on your Mortal Eye. 
 
 on 1750. The works of the Grand Architect are extolled 
 this year in the person of the daily Sun, the Universe, and the rolling 
 World, lines to which appear on the title page. Next succeeding this 
 offering Laus Deowe are advised that the Doctor has at last won his 
 case in court, and in the fulness of his heart he properly exclaims " Deus 
 nobis, haec otia fecit ;" takes down from the shelf his lyre, attunes his 
 soul to the joyful theme, allowing his inner self to gush forth to the Seven 
 Stars in astronomical verse, to testify his most satisfactory satisfaction at 
 the great victory. 
 
 At the head of each monthly page the jubilating astronomer poetically 
 toasts each zodiacal sign in connection with Phoebus Philomel & Co, A 
 Mr. Parker contributes a very tasteful verse for November. 
 
 The essay is also of an astronomical character entirely, and displays 
 much knowledge of the subject, and in a very acceptable manner. 
 
 Hilaritas pervades the weather column. Hard times appear to pervade 
 the Colony the Currency question is to the front, and " Old Tenor " (that 
 very peculiar emission of the Colonial treasury) appears to be a nuisance. 
 Fashions, females and frolickers, are noticed, with Guy Fawkes again a 
 prominent feature in November. 
 
 NOTE. In the year 1750 Roger Sherman of Connecticut, one of the 
 Signers of the Declaration of Independence, began the publication of an 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1750. 223 
 
 Almanack, which he continued several years, patterning the same largely 
 after Dr. Ames. His opening address is as follows : 
 
 To the READER. 
 
 I have for several Years past for my own Amusement, spent some of my 
 leisure Hours in the Study of the Mathematicks, not with any intent to 
 appear in publick ; But at the Desire of many of my Friends and Acquaint 
 ance, I have been induced to calculate and publish the following ALMANACK 
 for the Year 1750. I have put in Every Thing that I thought would be 
 useful, that could be contained in such contracted Limits : I have taken 
 much Care to perform the Calculations truly, not having the help of any 
 Ephemeris : And I would desire the Reader not to condemn it, if it should 
 in some things differ from other Authors, until Observations have deter 
 mined which is in the wrong. I need say nothing by way of Explanation 
 of the following Pages, they being placed in the same Order that has been 
 for many Years practised by the ingenious and celebrated DR. AMES, with 
 which you are well acquainted. 1 If this shall find Acceptance perhaps it 
 may encourage me to serve my Country this Way for Time to come. 
 
 R. SHERMAN. 
 
 New Mi If or d, August /, 1749. 
 
 The monthly poetic captions are on the Creation, and Roger does up 
 the subject much the same as the authors of Oratorios, and others who 
 have written on the theme. 
 
 Cimmerian darkness, wet weather, wild disorder ; then, glorious 
 Canopy, race between Night and Day, with Night a good second in the 
 contest. Then Soiv makes his entrance, with the customary allusions by 
 the author to nuptial garments, warm times, purling streams, green grass 
 and other concomitants of the simile. Then some casual remarks concern 
 ing Phcebiis and Tellus ; Queen of Night with planetary Chorus ; after 
 which enter " the God-like creature Man," with robe of Innocence, manly 
 Virtues, serene Locks, divine Temper : then the Rib performance followed 
 by the much abused Eve, who with Adam sits about luxuriously on the 
 green sward, until their curiosity is aroused by the neighborly Snake in 
 the historical manner, then the denouement, eviction, and December is 
 reached. 
 
 Sherman in common with many others, corresponded with Dr. Ames 
 on the subject of Eclipses, and the motions of the Planets, Calculations, 
 etc. The allusions above, and the following letter will be evidence of the 
 confidence and estimation which the Doctor enjoyed among his fellow 
 citizens and co-laborers. 
 
 Italics by Editor. 
 
224 
 
 ALMANACK FOR 1750. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1751. 225 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1751 
 
 By Nathaniel Ames. 
 
 BOSTON in NEW ENGLAND: 
 
 Printed by J. DRAPER, for the BOOKSELLERS. 
 Price Twelve Shillings old Tenor per Dozen, i8d. O. T. Single. 
 
 Perceiv st them not the Process of the Year, 
 How the four Seasons in four Forms appear : 
 Spring first, like Infancy, shoots out her Head, 
 With milky Juice requiring to be fed ; 
 Proceeding onward whence the Year began, 
 The Summer grows adult, and ripens into Man : 
 Atitumn succeeds a sober tepid Age, 
 Not froze with Fear, nor boiling into Rage : 
 Last Winter sweeps along with tardy Pace, 
 Sour is his Front, and furrow d is his Face. 
 
 COURTEOUS RKADKR, 
 
 THE Verses at the Head of each Monthly Page were written 
 at my Desire, and presented to me by a young Gentleman, then 
 at the Age of twelve Years. 
 
 The most remarkable Advice this Year from the Stars is 
 the famous Oppositions of the superior Planets Saturn and 
 Jupiter, which happens three Times this Year, the like cannot 
 happen oftener than once in twenty Years : These Aspects por 
 tend Discord and Difference amongst Persons of the highest 
 Rank and Quality ; and threatens the European Nations with a 
 Quarrel : But what may affedl North America most is, it is quite 
 
226 ALMANACK FOR 1751. 
 
 probable that there will be an open Rupture between the Gov- 
 ernours of New-England and the Princes of Terra Canadensis .* 
 I don t make such Predictions, but only speak what the Spirit 
 and Genius of ancient Astrology dictates on these Occasions : 
 I can bring no modern Author to support this Opinion, because 
 those Men that write fashionably at this Day condemn the whole 
 Art, and all who pretend to it : But be it remembred that tis 
 but a few Men that govern in the Kingdom of Learning as well 
 as in that of Policy, the Multitude, like empty Pitchers, are 
 lugg d by the Bars any Way that Custom leads : Whilst Astrology 
 was caress d by Princes and great Philosophers, and the Pro 
 fessors of it honoured and esteemed by great Men, the Tongues 
 and Pens of all the fashionable Wits in the World were employed 
 to defend the Credit of the Art ; but now the Table is turn d, 
 they speak and write against it, the Multitude follow : Truth 
 generally lies in a Medium between the Extremes : Whilst these 
 prevailing Opinions roll round in an eternal Circle from one 
 Extream to another; the Nodes in this Circle that cross the 
 Zodiack of Truth, are the only Points for the unprejudiced, that 
 is, the only wise amongst Men to calculate by, and tell at any 
 Time how far Truth is eclipsed by the Interposition of Error : 
 The Path of Truth is a streight Line ; but Men will vary from 
 that Line in more Degrees than the Inclination of the Moon s 
 Orbit varies from the Ecliptick : We can calculate the Wandrings 
 of that fickle Planet ; but the Errors of Mankind, or even his 
 own who can understand ? 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 If fraught with Snow the gath ring Clouds impend, 
 
 Hov ring in Air the fleecy Flakes descend 
 
 Smooth as th unruffled Surface of the Sea : 
 
 But if the furious Winds with Hail agree, 
 
 The furious Winds the batter d Casements crack, 
 
 I/evel the hoary Gro\ r e, the tot ring Buildings rack. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Now hoary Winter shivers o er the Plains, 
 
 And binds the frozen Floods in adamantine Chains ; 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1751. 227 
 
 Th advancing Sun by his prolific Ray 
 
 Warms the cold Air, and drives the Damps away ; 
 
 A gen ral Thaw ensues, the Waters rore, 
 
 Break their cold Bands, and lash the sounding Shore. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 The trembling Sailor views with anxious Eyes 
 The gloomy Storm slow-sailing up the Skies, 
 Hoarse Whirlwinds thunder o er the distant Deep, 
 And the white foaming Waves majestick sweep, 
 Up to the Skies the shat red Ship is tost, 
 Then down the bottomless Abyss is lost. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Ill Clouds array d now Heav n indulgent low rs, 
 
 The fat ned Fields confess the frequent Show rs, 
 
 Till at the Close of the declining Day, 
 
 The setting Sun directs his level Ray, 
 
 While flying Iris draws the painted Bow, 
 
 And in the dropping Cloud the blended Colours glow. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 The fragrant Fields are cloth d in rich Array, 
 The Groves rejoice, and all the World is gay, 
 While tuneful Birds their various Anthems sing, 
 And with their Notes the vocal Forests ring ; 
 The painted Blossoms charm th admiring Byes, 
 And send their grateful Odours to the Skies. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 The murm ring Thunder at a Distance rolls, 
 And vivid Lightnings burn about the Poles. 
 O er the high Arch the flaming Torrents play, 
 And tarn the Darkness to the Blaze of Day. 
 Heav n s everlasting Pillars gronn aloud, 
 And the hoarse Thunder rattles thro the Cloud. 
 
 JUI/V. 
 
 The Flocks, retiring from the burning Heat, 
 Seek the cool Covert of a green Retreat, 
 The silver Stream invites the thirsty Swain, 
 While sultry Syrius fires the glowing Plain ; 
 The parcht Earth cracks, the Oxen low for Food, 
 And Phcebiis rages o er the sapless Wood. 
 
228 ALMANACK FOR 1751, 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Bear me to some cool Arbour s pleasing Shade, 
 
 By curling Vines and lofty Poplars made, 
 
 Or, in the Covert of some lonely Grove, 
 
 Fan d by refreshing Zephyr s may I rove, 
 
 Where some still Stream it s silver Current pours 
 
 Thro mossy Banks adorn d with various Flow rs. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 While Ceres pours the Joys of Plenty round, 
 The bearded Harvest whitens o er the Ground, 
 The tumid Grape bears down the slender Vine, 
 And ev ry thick ning Cluster swells with Wine, 
 With various Fruits the loaded Orchards blush, 
 And the gay Berry blazes on the Bush. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Sulphureous Flames th unwary Bees assail, 
 And spite of all their little Arts prevail ; 
 Fam d Architects all perish in the Dome, 
 Who rear d by Rules exact the curious Comb ; 
 Statesmen and Gen rals undistinguish d lie, 
 And Monarchs and their Slaves promiscuous die. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 The silver Current murmur d thro the Grove, 
 Sacred to Flora and the Queen of Love ; 
 But am rous Hymen seiz d the blooming Maid, 
 The Flow rs all dropt, the Verdure all decay d. 
 The silver Current stiffened as it roll d, 
 And all the Forest shiver d with the Cold. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Distant Apollo with his slanting Ray 
 
 Makes a faint Effort to produce the Day, 
 
 To the short Days the long long Nights succeed ; 
 
 While twinkling Stars the chrystal Vault o erspread ; 
 
 And the fair Moon rules o er the dusky Night, 
 
 The hoary Vale reflects the silver Light. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1751. 229 
 
 fetiltfc4lfctife^^ 
 
 Advertisement. 
 
 are to signify to all Persons that travel 
 the great Post- Road South- West from Boston, 
 That I keep a House of Publick Entertainment 
 Eleven Miles from Boston, at the Sign of the SUN. 
 If they want Refreshment, and see Cause to be my 
 Guests, they shall be well entertained at a reasonable 
 Rate, 
 
 N. Ames. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 But little Money, Work or Credit makes difficult Times. 
 Contention often ends in Confusion and much Mischief. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Strange Stories told but how few turn out true. 
 
 APRIL. 
 Crazy Bodies in their Noddies feel a storm approaching. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Still many Schemes afoot but to little or no effect. 
 
 There is a Generation of men who are valiant to fight with a Man 
 behind his Back. Experientia docet. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Whilst many try to mend. 
 The People discommend. 
 
 Let those in our Frontiers take care this Month for the Tribe of Dan 
 under the influence of Saturn will be much inclin d to do mischief. 
 
 How many are lull d asleep 
 
 While they a good look-out should keep. 
 
230 ALMANACK FOR 1751. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 For want of Resolution great Promises are broken. 
 Old Complaints yet continue. 
 
 SEPTEMBKR. 
 
 Many increase their Troubles by indulging their selfish Principles and 
 vicious Habits. 
 
 Better Men better Times. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Now be saving and you need not fear starving. 
 Many Reports about Things that never come to pass. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 More bad News than good. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 You d better stir abroad than sit still and freeze. 
 Now at the Exit of this Year. 
 The heavy Clouds let drop a Tear. 
 
 AMES, 1751. 
 
 The Earth, self-ballanced on her Center hangs, and by her 
 obsequious Motion upon her Axis fetches the agreeable Vicissi 
 tude of Day and Night from that stupendious Globe of Light 
 and Heat, the SUN. When Night erects his shadowy Cone in 
 our Hemisphere, as the Splendor of Day diminishes, and the 
 Tide of Light begins to ebb from our wearied Eyes, what an 
 occular Demonstration of the Immensity of the Creators works 
 presents itself to our Sight by the innumerable Lamps of Heaven 
 that shine gloriously in the Vaux-Hall of the Universe. Night 
 gives us a view of those associate Worlds that belong to the 
 same System with this Earth, and by the help of Glasses we 
 discover their attendant Moons that are invisible to the naked 
 Eye : Night also calls forth that numberless Host of fixed Stars 
 that were hid in Light all the Day long : their want of Parallax 
 demonstrate their immense Distance and that their Light is 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1751. 231 
 
 innate and not borrowed. The Galaxy in the Evenings in 
 February and August presents itself to full View: and that 
 white broad Path that encompasses the whole Heavens, by Tel 
 escopes has been discovered to consist of an innumerable cluster 
 of fixed Stars different in Situation and Magnitude, whose con 
 fused Light we behold : Tis supposed that these Stars are Suus 
 to other systems as far distant from each other as we are 
 from them, that to nine Parts in ten of the Space between us 
 and the fixed Stars, our Sun appears as a Star does to us in a 
 clear Night: doubtless these Suns appear as large in their 
 respective Systems as our Sun does in this, and are the noble 
 Apparatus s of Light and Heat to each Planet that revolves 
 about them : and that each of these Planets are impregnate with 
 Gravity, and stock d w r ith rational Inhabitants who are furnished 
 with everything necessary for their Conservation. How does 
 such a Thought enlarge and stretch our Ideas of the Works of 
 GOD ? What but infinite Wisdom could contrive and what but 
 Omnipotency make so grand a Fabrick as the Universe ! Here s 
 Employment for the Angels ! Here s Space sufficient to stretch 
 their Wings on Errands of Kindness from an indulgent Creator 
 to the Individuals amongst his creatures. 
 
 OH I75X. The Seasons this year are the topic for considera 
 tion in the opening chorus on first page, and the address to the reader 
 rehearses the stellar aspects and their probable effects upon European 
 nations and the Colonies of North America as viewed in astrological 
 circles. The former spirit and genius of the art is related and its decay 
 noted, together with the governing reasons therefor. 
 
 The monthly verses are announced " to have been written at the desire 
 of Dr. Ames, and presented to him by a young gentleman then at the age 
 of twelve years," the effort being quite creditable to the youthful Apollo, 
 and it is to be regretted that we have not his name. 
 
 Boys were certainly quite precocious in the early days, and none need 
 wonder at the Doctor compiling an Almanack in his i6th year, when a 
 genius like the poet of this year s production was developed at an earlier 
 age twenty-five years later. New England certainly has much to be proud 
 of both in ancient and modern scholars and scientists. 
 
 The Doctor this year makes a new business departure, and boldly 
 announces himself as a tavern-keeper " Eleven Miles from Boston, at the 
 
232 ALMANACK FOR 
 
 Sign of the Sun," through an advertising medium of unquestioned large 
 circulation. 
 
 The essay is a lecture on the beauties of the night, describing the won 
 ders to be seen in the heavens, through the medium of the telescope 
 which lays bare to our view the myriads of stars which compose the 
 " milky way." After an elaboration of his ideas on this vast subject, the 
 Doctor concludes, congratulating the Angels that there is yet space 
 enough unoccupied for them to stretch their wings on errands of love and 
 kindness. 
 
 The astronomer and inn-keeper is briefly humorous this year, but he 
 has yet the inclination to give a parting salute to his assailant at law> 
 and still warn the outlying settlements against the probable incursions of 
 the Indians. " Hard Times " still exist, Old Tenor still the ruling spirit, 
 and is this year noted in the price line of the Almanack to qualify the 
 cost. 
 
 I append the following marginal notes found in this Almanack : 
 
 January yth was a Tedious Storm of Snow & an Excessive high wind. 
 
 It was the first snow we had deep enough to Sled on. 
 February 2oth. Blue Bird sang. 
 25th. A Lark sang. 
 26th. Frogs Peep d. 
 27th. Robins sang. 
 March nth. Aaron Martin was Drowned found March ye 26th in Colo 
 
 Marcy s Mill Pond. 
 2 1 st. Was a Publick Fast. 
 April 2oth. Breaks came up. 
 
 29th. Poplars leav d. 
 May 6th. Mare Folded. 
 
 Octo. 2oth-2yth hard Thunder and Lightening. 
 November was a very warm Pleasant month. 
 December was in generrall a cold Tite month. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1752. 233 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1752. 
 
 By Nathaniel Ames. 
 
 BOSTON, in NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Printed by JOHN DRAPER, for the Booksellers. 
 Price 12 s. Old Tenor, per Dozen, and 18 d. single. 
 
 Of all the Plagues by which Mankind are curst 
 
 A Throat that s never satisfy d s the worst. 
 
 " What Almanack-Maker preach : Thou view the Pole, 
 
 "We will indulge the Pleasures of the Bowl." 
 
 Go on vain Fool, if L,ust thy Will can bribe 
 
 To scorn the Rules that Reason does prescribe ; 
 
 All Nature s Stores cannot thy Thirst aswage, 
 
 Thou Prodigal of lyife ! thou st inortgag d thy old Age, 
 
 Thy Health will fail, thy Joys will end in Sorrow, 
 
 To live a Beast To-Day, thou lt die a Fool To-Morrow. 
 
 Courteous Reader, 
 
 With the Year 1740 all the Ephemerides of the Planets Places 
 then extant expired; and however cheap and contemptible a 
 Thing an Almanack may seem to be, it annually costs me much 
 Time and hard study to prepare one for you ; and your chearful 
 Acceptance of my Labours, for these Twenty-seven Years past, 
 has encouraged me more to continue in this your Service than 
 the Reward I receive for it. 
 
 The Affairs of my House are of a publick Nature, and there 
 fore I hope may be mentioned here without Offence to my Reader: 
 The Sign I advertised last Year by Reasons of some little Disap 
 pointments, is not put up, but the Thing intended to be signified 
 by it is to be had according to said Advertisement. And I beg 
 L,eave further to add, that if any with a View of Gain to them 
 selves, or Advantage to their Friends, have reported Things of 
 my House in contradiction to the aforesaid Advertisement, I 
 
234 ALMANACK FOR 1752. 
 
 would only have those whom they would influence consider, that 
 where the Narrator is not honest, is not an Eye or Ear Witness, 
 can t trace his story to the original, has it only by Hear-say, 
 a thousand such Witnesses are not sufficient to hang a Dog: 
 & I hope no Gentleman that travels the Road will have his 
 Mind bias d against m}^ House by such idle Reports. N. Ames. 
 
 N. B. When this Almanack was sent to the Press, I had no 
 certain Account of the Act of Parliament for reducing the Year to 
 New Stile. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Of all the Views, the first and chief Request 
 
 Of each, is to be richer than the rest : 
 
 And yet no Doubts the poor Man s Draught controul, 
 
 He dreads no Poison in his homely Bowl : 
 
 Then fear the deadl} Drug when Gems divine 
 
 Enchase the Cup, and sparkle in the Wine. Dryd.Juv. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 At lowest Ebb of Fortune when you lay 
 Contented, then how happy was the Day : 
 But Oh ! the Curse of aiming to be great ! 
 Dazled with Hopes we cannot see the Cheat. 
 When wild Ambition in the Heart we find, 
 Farewell Content and Quiet of the Mind. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Tis strange how some Men s Tempers suit, 
 
 Like Bawd and Brandy with Dispute, 
 
 That for their own Opinions stand fast 
 
 Only to have them claw d and canvast ; 
 
 And when disputes are wearied out, 
 
 Tis Int rest still resolves the Doubt. HUD. 
 
 APRIIv. 
 
 All Faiths are to their own Believers just, 
 
 For none believe because they will, but must : 
 
 By Education most have been misled, 
 
 So they believe because they were so bred : 
 
 The Priest continues what the Nurse began, 
 
 And thus the Child imposes on the Man.. Dryd. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1752. 235 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Thus then to Man the Voice of Nature spake, 
 
 " Go, from the Creatures thy Instructions take, 
 
 " Learn from the Birds what Food the Thickets yield, 
 
 " Learn from the Beasts the Physick of the Field, 
 
 " Thy Arts of Building from the Bee receive, 
 
 " Learn of the Mole to Plow the Worm to weave. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 How happy is the harmless Country-Maid, 
 Who rich by Nature scorns superfluous Aid ! 
 Whose modest Cloaths no wanton Eyes invite, 
 But like her soul Preserves the native White. 
 No Care but Love can discompose her Breast, 
 Love of all Cares the sweetest and the best ! 
 
 JUIyY. 
 
 Content is Wealth, the Riches of the Mind, 
 And happy he who can that Treasure find ! 
 But the base Miser starves amidst his Store 
 Broods on his Gold ; and griping still at more 
 Sits sadly pining and believes he s poor. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Look round our World; behold the Chain of Love, 
 
 Combining all below and all above : 
 
 See plastick Nature working to this End, 
 
 The single Atoms each to other tend, 
 
 Attract, attracted to, the next in Place, 
 
 Form d and impell d it s Neighbor to embrace. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 My Son with those never consent to go, 
 
 Who all their Greatness to their Meanness owe ; 
 
 * When Vice prevails, and impious Men bear sway, 
 
 Rather than be as meanly great as they, 
 
 Contented live and die without a Name, 
 
 Till GOD S decisive Day reveals thy Fame. 
 
 * This line from Addison s Cato. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Tis equal if our Fortunes should augment, 
 And stretch themselves to the same vast Extent 
 With our Desires ; or those Desires abate, 
 Shrink and contract themselves to fit our State : 
 
236 ALMANACK FOR 1752. 
 
 We to our selves may all our wishes grant, 
 For nothing coveting we nothing want. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 When Empire in its Childhood first appears, 
 
 A watchful Fate o ersees its tender Years ; 
 
 Till grown more strong, it thrusts and stretches out, 
 
 And elbows all the Kingdoms round about; 
 
 Then down the Precipice of Time it goes, 
 
 And sinks in Minutes which in Ages rose. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 All Nature is but Art, unknown to thee, 
 
 All Chance, Direction which thou can st not see, 
 
 All Discord, Harmony not understood, 
 
 All partial Evil, universal Good : 
 
 And spight of Pride, in erring Reason s spight, 
 
 One Truth is clear ; whatever Is, is right. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Now comes pinching close times. 
 
 If you would thrive, first contrive, & then strive. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Aeolus opens his Caves Mouth, and jarring Winds their airy Forces 
 muster. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Many unlucky Accidents happen, perhaps some Buildings destroyed 
 by Fire. 
 
 Put a stop to Pride, Idleness and Luxury, then should we find the 
 Times grow better: but not before. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Observe it you may, that Cunning Men are not always honest : trust 
 them as you have try d them. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 More Recreation than Trade & Business. 
 
 Much outside Grandure in gay Apparel, but an empty Purse, and 
 selfish Minds within. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1752. 237 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 The Days Shorten space, therefore improve them well. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 A Strife about Trifles, while Matters of Importance are slightily pass d 
 over. 
 
 The South & North Winds strive the North prevails. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 The Stars and sputtering Lamps proclaim 
 The near approach of Snow or Rain. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Bad Times, Dull Drink, and clouded Minds : Make heavy, listless, idle 
 Bodies. 
 
 Such Tydings come, as are pleasing to some. 
 This Year. Errors excepted makes a good End. 
 
 AMES, 1752. 
 
 Altho I have gained many established Truths from repeated 
 Observations and Experiments in the practice of Medicine, I 
 cannot pretend to communicate any new Discovery to the 
 Learned, since all I could say, if I had (instead of two Pages) a 
 Folio to fill, is contained in the real History of Nature, as given 
 by a Sydenham and a Cheyne in their excellent Writings. But 
 for the sake of those who know not the Laws of Nature, and are 
 unacquainted with the Operation of her Hands, I shall fill these 
 two Pages with a Word : First, to those of my Readers who are 
 athletick, healthy and strong : secondly, to those who are 
 valetudinary, infirm, sickly, and of weak Constitutions. 
 
 To the athletick, healthy, and strong : Your Bodies, like a well 
 regulated Clock, are a wonderful Machine consisting of an infinite 
 Variety of branching and winding Canals, thro whose cylindrical 
 and conick Tubes the Blood, a Fluid whose compounding Parts 
 are of different Densities, by the Momentum of the Heart, like 
 the main Spring of a Watch, is perpetually propel d forward in 
 an unwearied Circulation : and the Glands, those excretory 
 Ducts by which Nature drains her Superfluities from the Com 
 mon Mass, are so situated and circumstanced that all the Fluids, 
 
238 ALMANACK FOR 1752. 
 
 and no more, which Nature would have secerned, are drawn off: 
 In this your Health consists : for in any Animal where the 
 secretations are regular, the Health is sound and good. But, alas ! 
 there are Alterations which your Senses are imperceptible of, 
 with Regard to the Air you breathe in, the Meat and Drink you 
 take to support you, the Sleep to refresh you, or that Watchful 
 ness your bodily Exercise require, or those Passions or Pertur 
 bations of Mind that arise from external Things : from each of 
 these Quarters your Health may be instantly attacked, and that 
 wonderful Machine that with an even Hand, according to the 
 L,aws of Nature carried on a due Circulation and Secretion of 
 all the Juices may be so altered as to throw out those Balsams 
 of Life that ought to be retained, or to retain those parts of the 
 Blood that are worn out with Circulation, and ought to be flung 
 out as Excrements, & whilst the Machine is clog d and loaded 
 with these Obstructions, the thinking Thing cries out with 
 excrutiating Pains. On each of the above-mentioned Heads, 
 called Non-naturals, Physicians have wrote largely. 
 
 I shall just caution you against some Dangers that may arise 
 from one of those Quarters, viz : Eating & Drinking : the 
 Antediluvians had not learn d the Art of Intemperance, therefore 
 the}^ attained to the Age of 900 Years, the poisonous Exhalations 
 of the Air were expel d by the Perspiration of their own healthful 
 Bodies : but when they came to overload their Machine with 
 animal Food, their 900 Years dwindled away to Three score and 
 ten : but if with their Meat Men would be contented with such 
 Drink as Nature requires to dilute their Food, and wash away 
 the Crudities that arise by their Cramming, they might gener 
 ally attain the extent of that abreviated Span of Life that is 
 allotted for the present Age of Man : Strong Waters were for 
 merly used only by the Direction of Physicians : but now 
 Mechanicks and low-liv d Labourers drink RUM like Fountain- 
 Water, and they can infinitely better endure it than the idle, 
 unactive, and sedentary Part of Mankind : but DEATH is in the 
 bottom of the Cup of every one. Does the great Doctor Cheyne 
 lie when he says that neither Laudanum nor Arsenick will kill 
 more certainly, altho more quickly ? You may feel High-spirited 
 while your Blood boils into Sulphur and Flame : So you might 
 walk (for the present safely) if the Sands of the Earth were 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1752. 239 
 
 Gun-Powder, till the Spark came : but what could secure you 
 in the Time of the Explosion ? 
 
 Secondly, to the valetudinary, infirm and sickly. Your 
 Bodies were made in the same perfect and compleat Manner 
 with others : and whether your present Infirmities are the Effect 
 of your own Mistakes, or Hereditary from your Ancestors, is 
 worth your Consideration : with Regard to the Method of Cure, 
 Where the Disease prevails and Nature gives out, tis in vain to 
 try to raise the Dead, but exercise Abstinence, proper Evacua 
 tions, with Time and Patience will cure most Diseases, or make 
 them tolerable : Those Patients whose Cases are chronick, who 
 will not be govern d in their Diet, must not expect lasting Bene 
 fit from Physick. But to know what Exercises, and what Eva 
 cuations you must use in your several Cases; from what you 
 must abstain, what you may eat and drink, how long you must 
 continue in such Courses, consult your Physicians : and if you 
 would have the best Physician s Advice on such an important 
 Subject, read Dr. Cheyne s Essay upon Health and Long Life, 
 and the English Malady. 
 
 N. AMES. 
 
 >otes OH 1752. This year the Almanack opens with a very 
 peculiar poetical effort from our tavern-keeper-astronomer. The sentiment 
 would indicate a very, very conscientious Bardolph, or else an Ordinary 
 where the exciseman s visits were not particularly necessary. Such very 
 injudicious remarks indulged in at this period of civilization, would 
 ruin the prospects of the general government, if not the retailer of 
 spirits, and materially reduce the monthly surplus in the Treasury. It is 
 hardly probable that the Doctor kept a temperance house. 
 
 On the following page, it is to be noted that the slanderer was abroad 
 in the land, and that even the tavern at Dedham was not exempt from his 
 baneful influence. The Doctor apologises for the non-appearance of the 
 " Sign of the Sun " announced last year, and deprecates the custom of 
 condemnation on hearsay testimony. 
 
 This year 1752 was noted for the adoption by the British Parliament, 
 of the Gregorian Calendar, but Ames Almanack did not make the change, 
 as he " had no certain Account of the Act * :;: for reducing the Year 
 to New Stile." 
 
 The Act mentioned was in substance thus : 
 
 According to an Act of Parliament passed in the 24th year of the 
 Reign of George II and in the year 1751, the Old Style ceases with the 
 close of the 2d day of September 1752, and eleven succeeding days are 
 
240 ALMANACK FOR 1752. 
 
 dropped from the Calendar, and the following day, which otherwise 
 would be Thursday the 3d, becomes Thursday the I4th of September 
 the month September 1752, containing therefore but nineteen (19) days. 
 
 This year some of the verses at the head of each monthly page are again 
 extracted from Dryden, and Butler, whose Juvenal and Hudibras are 
 partly laid under contribution, while the Doctor drops in a few lines to 
 connect up his moralizing with their sentiment, making a couplet with a 
 line from Addison, while the author of the " Essay on Man " has the vale 
 dictory for the year. 
 
 The essay for 1752 is a very readable lecture on Medicine and Health, 
 fraught with wisdom concerning the proper observance of the rules of 
 nature, by which one might attain the age of goo years, which, unhappily, 
 is reduced by injudicious " cramming" to a paltry " three score and ten." 
 
 The humor in the usual place is not as extensive as common, yet what 
 ^here is of that characteristic as well as wisdom, is of the usual attractive 
 and amusing quality. 
 
 In the course of the past few years, allusions deprecating a currency 
 known as " Old Tenor " have been made, and for the better understanding 
 of the shrinkage of the value of this currency, we quote the various prices 
 of almanacks during the period of Ames publication. 
 
 His Almanack consisted of but one sheet of paper folded to make 
 sixteen (16) pages, and was not increased from this size, from its inception 
 in 1725 until the year 1759, when it was increased by the addition of a half 
 sheet making the pages twenty-four (24). The prices of the earlier issues 
 are not noted. 
 
 1737 to 1742. Sixpence single and Four shillings per dozen. 
 1743. Eight " " " Six 
 
 1744 to 1747. Nine " " " Six 
 
 1748 Sixteen pence single and Ten shillings per dozen. 1749 to 1758 
 Eighteen pence single and Twelve shillings per dozen, Old Tenor. At 
 this period, " Old Tenor" appears to have reached its highest point, as in 
 this latter year " Spanish Milled Dollars pass for Six shillings Lawful 
 Money and Forty-five shillings Old Tenor, in Massachusetts Bay." 
 
 The restoration of specie payments probably occurred shortly after, as 
 in 1759 with increased size of book the price was reduced, and remained 
 at about same figure until the commencement of the Revolutionary 
 period. The prices are quoted. 
 
 1759 Five coppers single and Two pistareens per dozen. 
 
 1760 ist Edition Seven " " " Three shillings " " 
 
 2d " Five " " " Two pistareens " " 
 
 1761 to 1763 Six " " " half a dollar 
 
 1764 " 1765 Seven " " Three shillings four pence) 
 
 per dozen. / 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1753. 241 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1753. 
 
 By NA THAN1EL AMES. 
 
 BOSTON; NEW ENGLAND : Printed by J. DRAPER 
 
 for the BOOKSELLERS. 
 Price 12 s. per Dozen, and / d. single, Old Tenor. 
 
 What Blessings LORD thy Bounty gives, 
 
 Let me not cast away : 
 For GOD is paid when Man receives 
 
 To enjoy is to obey. 
 Yet not to Earth s contracted Span 
 
 Thy Goodness let me bound ; 
 Or think Thee Lord alone of Man, 
 
 When thousand Worlds are round. 
 
 Besides the Kclipses of the Sun and Moon this Year, there 
 will be a curious Phoenomena, which, tho observed by modern 
 Astronomers, has not been mentioned by our New England 
 Almanack makers ; I mean a Transit of the Planet Mercury over 
 the Body of the Sun. On Sunday May 6, the Sun will rise with 
 Mercury making a black Spot in his Body, and as will be 7 h. 
 46 m. passing over the Sun, his going off will be seen by us 
 according to the following Calculation, 
 
 Middle of the Eclipse, 53 min. before Sun-rise. 
 
 The Sun riseth - - 4 h. 46 min. 
 
 Central Egress or End -- 7 h. 46 min. Morning: so that 
 will be seen on the s Disk for 3 h. after the riseth. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Now all amidst the Rigours of the Year, 
 In the wild Depth of Winter, while without 
 The ceaseless Winds blow Ice, be my Retreat 
 A rural shelter d solitary Scene ; 
 Where ruddy Fire, and beaming Tapers join, 
 To chear the Gloom. 
 
242 ALMANACK FOR 1753- 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Dread Winter spreads his latest Glooms, 
 
 And reigns tremendous o er the conquer d Year. 
 
 How dead the vegetable Kingdom lies ! 
 
 How dumb the tuneful ! Horror wide extends 
 
 His melancholy Empire, Here fond Man ! 
 
 Behold thy pictur d Life ; pass some few Years, 
 
 Thy flow ring Spring, thy Summer s ardent Strength, 
 
 Thy sober Autumn fading into Age, 
 
 And pale concluding Winter comes at last, 
 
 And shuts the Scene. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Borrow part of Winter for thy Corn ; 
 
 And early with thy Team the Glebe in Furrows turn ? 
 
 That while the Turf lies open, and unbound, 
 
 Succeeding Suns may bake the mellow Ground : 
 
 But if the Soil be barren, only scar 
 
 The Surface, and but lightly print the Share. Dryd. Virg. 
 
 APRIIy. 
 
 -The penetrative Sun 
 
 His Force deep-darting to the dark Retreat 
 Of Vegetation, sets the steaming Power 
 At large, to wander o er the vernant Earth. 
 From the moist Meadow to the wither d Hill 
 Led by the Breeze, the vivid Verdure runs 
 And swells, and deepens, to the cherish d Eye. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 At once array d 
 
 In all the Colours of the flushing Year, 
 
 By Nature s swift and secret working Hand, 
 
 The Garden glows and fills the lib ral Air 
 
 With lavish Fragrance ; while the promis d Fruit 
 
 Lies yet a little Embrio, unperceiv d 
 
 Within its crimson Folds. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Full swell the Woods, there every Music wakes, 
 Mixt in wild Concert, with the Warbling Brooks 
 Increas d, the distant Bleatings of the Hills, 
 The hollow Lows responsive from the Vale. 
 Can Man forbear to join the general Smile 
 Of Nature ? can fierce Passions vex his Breast, 
 While every Gale is Peace, and every Grove is melody. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1753. 243 
 
 JULY. 
 
 -All 
 
 From Pole to Pole is undistinguished Blaze. 
 
 Hot ascending Steams, 
 
 And keen Reflection pain. The Mower sinking heaps 
 O er him the humid Hay, with flowers perfum d, 
 And scarce a chirping Grass hopper is heard 
 Through the dumb Mead. Distressful Nature pants. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Whate er the Wintry Frost 
 
 Nitrous prepar d ; the various blossom d Spring, 
 Put in white, promise forth ; the Summer Suns 
 Concocted strong, rush boundless now to view, 
 Full perfect all. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 -Let us tread the Maze 
 
 Of Autumn unconfin d ; and taste, reviv d 
 The Breath of Orchard, big with bending Fruit, 
 Obedient to the Breeze, and beating Way 
 From the deep-loaded Bough, a mellow Shower 
 Incessant melts away. The Juicy Pear, 
 The downy Peach, the shining Plumb. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Some Cyders have, by Art or Age, unlearn d 
 Their genuine Relish, & of sundry Vines Assum d the Flavour. 
 
 A German oft has swill d his Throat and sworn, 
 
 Deluded, that Imperial Rhine bestow d 
 The generous Rummer, w hilst the Owner pleas d 
 Laughs only at his Guests thus entertain d 
 With foreign Vintage from his Cyder-Cask. 
 
 Sped. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 See Winter comes, to rule the vary d Year, 
 Sullen and sad with all his rising Train, 
 Vapours, and Clouds, and Storms 
 Hang o er the farthest Verge of Heaven, The Sun 
 Scarce spreads o er Ether the dejected Day. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Descending to the long dark Night, 
 
 Wide shading all, the prostrate World resigns. 
 
244 ALMANACK FOR 1753. 
 
 Nor is the Night unwish d ; while vital Heat, 
 Ivight, L/ife, and Joy, the dubious Day forsake. 
 
 The cherish d Fields 
 Put on their Winter Robes of purest White. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 The last Year s Almanack now being dead yet speaketh. 
 Now Jack Frost enters many a Cellar by Night, Vi et armis, and is not 
 guilty of Burglary tho he does much Mischief. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Many Accidents hurtful to Mankind happen about these Days. 
 The burthen d Elements declare a mighty Storm is near. 
 An expectation of great Changes ere long. 
 
 MARCH. 
 Heavy Travelling and difficult Sailing. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 If all Men would endeavour to be Honest : How happy would the 
 Times be ! 
 
 By Conduct good and wise 
 
 a sinking People soon may rise. 
 Peaceable Negotiations are yet going on. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Politicians, Projectors, Directors, 
 Dictators and Detractors, 
 How many there be ? 
 But how fruitless are most, 
 You may easily see. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Altho the Season s extreamly Hot, 
 Old Tenor cannot be forgot. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 If you would do Business to purpose, improve the Morning. 
 The Indian Corn now grows amain : 
 The Farmer s pleas d with hopes of Gain. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1753- 
 
 245 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 Two potent Parties long contending, are now reconcil d. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Those that are Husbands good, 
 
 Should now get in their Cyder, Grain & Wood. 
 
 An honest Friend is good Company, but a good Conscience is the best 
 Guest. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 All complain the Times are bad, but how few try to make them better. 
 The Idol SEi,F, is yet ador d too much. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 The Cold searches every Crevice. 
 
 Another Year the Sun its Course has ran 
 Have we improv d Days well since it began ? 
 
 Since the Characters in the Almanack are not understood by 
 many of my young Readers, I shall set down the Names and 
 Characters of them, viz.: 
 
 7 PLANETS. 
 
 5 ASPECTS. 
 
 12 SIGNS. 
 
 T? Saturn. 
 
 cf Conjunction. 
 
 T Aries. 
 
 ^ Libra. 
 
 21 Jupiter. 
 
 * Sextile. 
 
 b Taurus. 
 
 HP Scorpio. 
 
 c? Mars. 
 < Sol or the Sun. 
 
 D Quartile. 
 
 K Gemini. 
 Cancer. 
 
 7$ Sagitarius. 
 V3 Capricorn us. 
 
 9 Venus. 
 
 A Trine. 
 
 Q. Leo. 
 
 K Aquarius. 
 
 Mercury. 
 
 cP Opposition. 
 
 m Virgo. 
 
 X Pisces. 
 
 3 the Moon. 
 
 Earth. 
 
 Drag. Head. ^Drag. Tail. 
 
 When the Moon is Apoge, she is furthest from the Earth; 
 when Perige the nearest to the Earth. 
 
246 ALMANACK FOR 1753. 
 
 RKADKR, 
 
 Something that s great and sweet I ve dar d to join, 
 
 With these dull Labours which are only mine : 
 
 I mean those far unequal d, 1 sublime Lays, 
 
 For which a Tompsorfs Muse deserves the Praise. 
 
 Since I to serve you in this Way began 
 
 Slow Saturn has one Period almost ran. 
 
 And Years and Months and Days must now no more 
 
 Commence upon the Times they did before : 
 
 But I the Reason of this Change explore. 
 
 Since this is the Second Year corrected to Solar Time, and 
 the general Date of all Europe ; and almost all the Almanack- 
 Writers for the last Year in their several Performances gave 
 some Account of this Matter : I should have only conform d to 
 the Act of Parliament without saying any Thing further : But 
 for the sake of many that take my Almanack, and have not 
 seen or heard what has been said by others, I shall attempt to 
 give them the Reasons of this Alteration briefly as I can. The 
 main Intention in striking off the Eleven Days between the 2d 
 and i4th of September A. D. 1752, is to produce an Uniformity 
 in the Computation of Time throughout the Christian part of 
 the World : The Reasons given by the Government at Home for 
 this Alteration in the Preamble of their Act of Parliament, are 
 as follows, viz: 
 
 1. Whereas the (Julian) Year began on the 25th Day of March 
 differ d from the Legal Method of Computation in Scotland, 
 and from the Usage of other Nation, which occasion d frequent 
 Mistakes in the Date of Deeds and other Writings, &c. 
 
 2. That the Spring Equinox at the Council of Nice in the 
 Year of our lyord 325, happened on the 2ist Day of March, now 
 happens on the Qth or loth of the same Month, and the error is 
 still increasing : and if not remedied, would in Process of Time, 
 occasion the several Equinoxes, and Solstices to fall at very 
 different Times in the civil Year from what they formerly did, 
 which might tend to mislead Persons Ignorant of the said Alter 
 ation. 
 
 3. That other Nations of Europe have received and estab 
 lished a Method of correcting the Calendar, so as the Equinoxes 
 
 1 The Verses over each Monthly Page, 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1753. 247 
 
 and Solstices may fall on the same nominal Days on which they 
 happened at the said Council. 
 
 4. That Uniformity in this Matter will be of Conveniency 
 to Merchants and other Persons corresponding with other 
 Nations and Countries. 
 
 For these Reasons among others, 
 
 It is enacted, That the Year henceforward shall begin on the 
 first Day of January : That every Fourth Hundred Year is to 
 consist of 366 Days, as is usual in the Bissextile or L,eap Year ; 
 but all other whole Hundred Years of 365 Days only : the Years 
 between which whole Hundreds to be common and Bissextile as 
 formerly. 
 
 Julius Caesar with the Assistance of a famous Egyptian Mathe 
 matician was the Contriver of the Form of the Year according 
 to Old Stile which consisted of the Astronomical Quantity of 
 365 Days and 6 Hours : so that every 4th Year one compleat 
 Day was added. The Account of Time has each Year run a 
 head of Time by the Sun n min. 5 sec. i8th 33 fourths : or 44 
 min. 21 sec. i4th 12 fourths, every 4 Years: and consequently 4 d. 
 i h. 55 min. 3 sec. 40 thirds in 400 Years : And so from the Council 
 of Nice when the Calender was setled in the Year 325, to the 
 Year 1752 being 1427 Years, the Time by Account is forward of 
 that by the Sun 10 d. 23 h. 43 m. Therefore u Days was left 
 out of September as before mentioned, which makes the Equi 
 noxes and Solstices to fall on the same nominal Days on which 
 they happen d at the said Council of Nice. 
 
 We are not to forget our Birth-Days : Nor does this Act of 
 Parliament anticipate the Payment of Debts, &c. : Therefore I 
 have in the 4th Column of this Almanack given you the Days of 
 the Months according to Old Stile. And as my last Year s 
 Almanack was carried out 1 1 Days too long, this Year begins 
 the 2ist Day of December Old Stile which must evermore be 
 accounted the first Day of January. 
 
 on 1753.- -The " Doctor Watts " style of hymn embellishes 
 the title page of this year, which Dr. Ames styles the " Gregorian," out of 
 compliment to the New Style now in vogue through all the British king 
 dom. 
 
 Thompson, the man who sang about " gentle Spring," (a season now 
 
248 ALMANACK FOR 1754. 
 
 but little known,) and our old friend Dryden contribute each a portion for 
 the introduction of the first three months, while Addison is largely drawn 
 upon for the balance of thje captions. Even with no acknowledgment, the 
 lines at the head of October month, with their humorously satirical allu 
 sion, would generally be allowed as Spectatorial. 
 
 For the benefit of young readers, a short lesson in astronomy sets out 
 the representative characters of the Planets, Aspects and Signs of the 
 Zodiac. 
 
 The lecture this year is upon the Gregorian Calendar, with the reasons 
 stated for the change from old to new " stile." The doctor enlarges upon 
 previous calculations, and finally, having made his year 1752 too long by 
 eleven days, he atones for the act by asking his readers to drop the last 
 eleven days of 1752, and begin the year 1753 on the 2Ist December: hence 
 his remark in the weather column under January " The last year s alma 
 nack now being dead, yet speaketh," an adaptation of the Latin motto on 
 Patridge s English Almanack published long after his death Etiam 
 mortuus, loquitur. 
 
 The humorous drops still savor of the continued bias of the Author ; 
 " Old Tenor " still holds foremost place, with Hard Times a close follower. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1754. 
 
 By Nathaniel Ames. 
 
 BOSTON, NEW-ENGLAND : 
 
 Printed by J. DRAPER, for the BooKSEWvERS. 
 Price 12 s. per Dozen, and 18 d. Single, Old Tenor. 
 
 Those Stars that twinkling Lustre send 
 
 Are Suns, and rolling Worlds those Suns attend, 
 
 For Heaven s eternal King, 
 
 Who bid this Universe from Nothing spring, 
 Did at his Word bid num rous Worlds appear, 
 And rising Worlds the all-powerful Word did hear. 
 The Stars shall drop, the Sun shall lose his Flame, 
 But Thou, O, God, forever shine the same. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1754. 249 
 
 READER, 
 
 I have this Year collected the Poetry for the Almanack from 
 several Authors : what typographical Errors escape I hope you 
 will correct with your Pen. I have flll d the two last Pages with 
 an Essay on Regimen. I don t pretend to direct the Learned 
 The Rich and Voluptuous will scorn my Direction, and sneer or 
 rail at any that would reclaim them, but since this Sheet enters 
 the solitary Dwellings of the Poor & Illiterate, where the studied 
 Ingenuity of the Learned Writer never comes, if these brief 
 Hints do good, it will rejoice the Heart of 
 
 your humble Servant, 
 
 Nath. Ames. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Pride, where Wit fails, steps in to our Defence, 
 And fills up all the mighty Void of Sense, 
 If once right Reason drives that Cloud away, 
 Truth breaks upon us with resistless Day. 
 Trust not your self, but your defects to know, 
 Make use of ev ry Friend, and ev ry Foe. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 To the Unmarried Ladies. 
 
 Choose him who bears an honest Mind, 
 
 If he has common Sense, 
 And is to moral Good inclin d, 
 
 With common Faults dispense. 
 By Friends are often wrong Conjectures made, 
 But your own Reason best your Cause will plead. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Forbear t insist you must 
 
 A Jointure very great, 
 For whom you with your Person trust, 
 
 Trust him with your Estate. 
 If Fortune frowns thence comes the Bone of Strife, 
 
 Betrays Distrust and parts the Man and Wife. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 The breath of Spring dissolves the Mountain s Snow, 
 Which trickling down, with murm ring Music flow. 
 
250 ALMANACK FOR 1754. 
 
 Th approaching Sun darts forth his chearful Rays, 
 And vocal Woods resound with warbling Lays. 
 The sportive Lambs skip o er the verdant Plain 
 And joyful Birds their tuneful Voices strain. 
 
 All Nature laughs, the Groves are fresh and fair, 
 The Sun s mild Lustre warms the vital Air, 
 Whilst southern Climes his sable Absence mourn 
 We feel with Joy the youthful Spring s Return. 
 The blooming Trees their grateful Fragrance yield, 
 And od rous Flow rs paint the smiling Field. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 When the gay Sun first breaks the Shades of Night, 
 And strikes the distant Eastern Hills with Light, 
 Colour returns, the Plains their Liv ry wear, 
 And a bright Verdure cloaths the smiling Year ; 
 The bloomy Flow rs with op ning Beauties glow, 
 And grazing Flocks their milky Fleeces show. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 When to the Western Main the Sun descends, 
 To other Lands a rising Day he lends ; 
 The spreading Dawn another Shepherd spies, 
 The wakeful Flocks from their warm Folds arise 
 Refresh d the Peasant seeks his early Toil, 
 And bids the Plough correct the fallow Soil. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 See how the Skies with gath ring Darkness low r, 
 The Branches rustle with the threaten d shower ; 
 With sudden Blasts the Forest murmurs loud, 
 Indented Lightnings cleave the sable Cloud. 
 Thunder on Thunder breaks, the Tempest roars 
 And Heav n discharges all its watry Stores. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 The Apples now on loaded Branches shine, 
 Whose grateful Juice vie s with the generous Wine. 
 Leave Rum for Sots ; and with a modest Sneer, 
 Let Farmers boast the Virtues of their Beer ; 
 Their Barley hous d, the Year s with Plenty crowned ^ 
 The falling Fruits and Berries paint the Ground ; > 
 And lavish Nature laughs & strows her stores around. ) 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1754. 251 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 The Sun grows low, the Summer Heats decay, 
 And all her Pride and Beauty fades away : 
 The cold Boreal chilling Rain returns, 
 Stript of her fading Pride all Nature mourns; 
 The Trees no more their wonted Verdure boast, 
 But weep in dewy Tears, their Beauty lost. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Some few by Temp rance taught, approaching slow 
 
 To distant Fate by easy Journeys go 
 
 Gently they lay them down ; as ev ning Sheep 
 
 On their own woolly Fleece s softly sleep 
 
 Still quitting Ground by unperceiv d decay, 
 
 And steal themselves from Life, and melt away. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 While we in Sleep s Embraces waste the Night, 
 The Climes oppos d enjoy Meridian Light : 
 And when those Lands the busy Sun forsakes, 
 With us again the rosy Morning wakes. 
 In lazy Sleep the Night rolls swift away, 
 And neither Clime laments his absent Ray. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 I tell you for this Winter if you leave your Cellar expos d to Jack Frost 
 your Sauce will be froze, & Potatoes all lost. 
 
 If you have Coal or Wood you l find a fire very good. 
 Venus & Mars smile on each other, touch & take. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 As oft as we do good, we offer Sacrifice. 
 
 Tell me thy Manners and I ll tell thy Fortune. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Huge Cakes of Ice come sweeping down the Rivers, & all their Banks 
 oreflow. 
 
 Opportunity rideth Post. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Age may be allowed to gaze at Beauty s Blossom But Youth must climb 
 the Tree and enjoy the Fruit. 
 
252 ALMANACK FOR 1754. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 (a) * c? (b) A D T? (*) cP* fc <7 
 
 These Aspects threaten buildings with Fire, and many violent unlucky 
 Accidents to Men. 
 
 A riotous Disposition prevails in bad Men. 
 
 This pleasant Season vertuous Minds placed in beautiful Bodies are 
 very acceptable. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Brisk Gales fill the Sails. 
 
 Now some are moaping with Disappointment in the Affairs of Love. 
 
 JULY. 
 A merry Meeting and kind Greeting of Friends. 
 
 Phcebus in Thetis Lap lays down his Head, 
 & Sheets of Lightning dress their Bed. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Dreams like notorious Liars are generally false, but may speak truth 
 now and then. 
 
 Be on your guard, for the Gates of Death are open Night & Day. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Get in your Salt Hay whilst you can. 
 
 Dainty Food and delicate Fare is the Mother of Diseases. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Much Meat, much Malady. 
 Finery and Poverty go together. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 More die by Gluttony, than perish by the Sword. 
 
 Now some light Heads and sharp Wits invent smooth Lies, to the 
 prejudice of honest Men. 
 
 The Herd that Graze, the barren Fields, complain and shrink and 
 shiver with the beating Rain. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 There is no sufficient Recompense for an unjust Slander. 
 All things are chil d with cold ; but Love and Zeal are Warm. 
 It is hard for him that will not Labour, to excel in Wealth or 
 Knowledge. 
 
 (a) Sextile Sun and Mars. (b) Trine Sun and Saturn. (c) Oppo 
 sition Saturn and Mars. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1754. 253 
 
 An ESS A Y upon Regimen. 
 
 It is true as a Poet says 
 
 A Law Eternal does decree, 
 
 That all Things born shall Mortal be : 
 
 Yet the Birds, Beasts and Fishes, if not devoured by one 
 another or murdered by Man, commonly go on in a State of 
 Health to the Period of Life. Man ! the last and most noble of 
 all GOD S visible Works ! what innumerable Diseases (besides a 
 strange Pestilence 1 with foul Ulcusculosa) prey on thy infant 
 Posterity ! How soon is thy Youth forced to struggle with 
 inflammatory Fevers of all Kinds ! If from the Age of thirty-five 
 to forty Years we escape melting into Death with a Consumption, 
 or swiming to the Grave in a Dropsy ; Our Bowels are tortur d 
 with cholick Pangs, our Joynts rack t with Gouts and Rheuma 
 tisms, our Beauty spoil d with Erysipelas s, the Strength of our 
 Muscles broken down, and their springy Fibres torne asunder 
 with Imposthumes, Gangrenes, and Mortifications? Is it not 
 enough for mortal Man to be born, to live his appointed Time, 
 and die at last ! Why, does the Author of our Beings delight in 
 our Misery ! GOD forbid that we should attribute the Cruelty of 
 a Tyrant, to Infinite Goodness : No, no, the monstrous and 
 extream Tortures which many labour under, are the growth of 
 their own Madness and Folly, who through Laziness rust for 
 want of Exercise, or for the sake of a little sensual Pleasure 
 cram their poor passive Machines with more Meats and Drinks, 
 than they can easily digest : Our Bodies require only a determi 
 nate Quantity of suitable Matter to supply the Expences of Liv 
 ing, and Nature in her secret Distribution of the circulating 
 Fluid requires, those Compressions, Extensions and other Kinds 
 of Motions necessary to separate the several Humours, and cast 
 them into their proper Channels, to retain the Balsamick and 
 throw off the redundant excrementitious Particles of the Blood. 
 
 A Body found by Inheritance with this determinate Quantity 
 of suitable Matter and these Motions and Exercises which Nature 
 requires, (tho liable to Death by innumerable Accidents) will 
 not be subject to the Insults of the common Tribe of Distempers, 
 under the Influence of which some Persons groan all their Days, 
 
 1 The Throat Distemper. 
 
254 ALMANACK FOR 1754. 
 
 as tho their Lives were a Purgatory to Expiate for Crimes com 
 mitted in some other State. Says an ingenious Author, "When 
 I behold a fashionable Table set out in its Magnificence, I fancy 
 I see Gouts and Dropsies, Fevers and Lethargies, with other 
 innumerable Distempers lying in Ambuscade among the Dishes" 
 
 THE Divine Artificer, with infinite Skill, made the Body of 
 Man, a Machine at first capable of endless Duration ; but the 
 living Principle in this Machine, which actuates and governs the 
 divinely contrived, and infinite Number of it s perfectly finished 
 Organs, suffered the Admittance of o. forbidden, (if not an hetro- 
 geneous Substance) which broke the divine Harmony, and in a 
 certain determinate Number of Years rendered this Machine 
 unfit for this self-motive, self-active Principle, to act harmoniously 
 upon. In the Anti-diluvian Days these Organs would perform 
 their intended Uses, for the Space of Nine Hundred Years : But 
 since that Fluid, ( i. e. the Blood, ) which was created and con 
 trived to preserve the due Plight and tonical Vertue of these 
 Organs, is made of animal Substances, the divine 1 Warranty 
 runs but for threescore Years and ten or fourscore. Though the 
 foregoing Hints cannot be sufficiently illustrated in the con 
 tracted Limits of this Page, they will afford the following 
 Corrolaries, 
 
 i. That those Men who have their Palates solicited with 
 Variety of delightful Tastes, as with Cordials, Drams, Bitters, 
 high relished Sauces with their Food, &c. have false Appetites 
 created. 2. That these false Appetites being bribed betray 
 their Trusts and admit of Excess. 3. That these Excesses con 
 tain in Embrio the first Seeds of those rebellious Distempers 
 which spring in a terrible manner, and cut down Millions before 
 they have liv d out half their Days. 4. Those Persons whose 
 male Regimen have produc d Diseases, ought not to expect Cure 
 from Physicians without reforming their ill Conduct. To con 
 clude, All distill d fermented Spirits contain a deleterious Quality, 
 they destroy the Appetite and Digestion, they spoil the Blood 
 and Nerves, and bring the Persons that use them into a languid 
 dispirited State ; and will as assuredly kill at last as any other 
 slow Poison. 
 
 1 Psalm 90. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1755. 255 
 
 Oil 1754. Borrowed plumage ornaments the almanack this 
 year ; the author stating that he has drawn upon several writers for this 
 purpose the selections being both instructive and calculated to please 
 the great mass of his readers. 
 
 The Doctor s profession asserts itself in the Essay ; and he contributes 
 a most practical dissertation upon Regimen, which, if " more thoroughly 
 adopted," as the Author remarks, to the " Poor and Illiterate, " the pres 
 ence of many syllabled words therein would argue a more advanced state 
 of learning among the aforesaid impoverished and uncultivated, than 
 would be supposed to exist among the classes to which the essays were 
 generally addressed. 
 
 The Doctor in his " weather column," however, makes amends, by in 
 serting much of a more readily understood character, in the usual merry 
 stvle. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1755. 
 
 By Nathaniel Ames, 
 
 BOSTON; NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Printed by J. DRAPER, for the Booksellers. 
 Price 12 shillings per Dozen & 18 pence Single, Old Tenor. 
 
 Whether the tall Inhabitants of Jove, 
 
 And kindred Worlds that round one Center move, 
 
 With as are in a fallen State, or no ? 
 
 Or sin and pray, as we poor Mortals do, 
 
 Are Mysteries too great for us, (as yet) to know, 
 
 Doubtless these Strangers altogether join 
 
 To laud one Author, infinite, divine. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Keep Friendship warm, dear Antidote of Strife, 
 The sweet Beguiler of the Ills of Life. 
 
256 ALMANACK FOR 1755- 
 
 Friendship, by Name, is courted and caress d, 
 But banish d far from each pretending Breast : 
 In her due Room, a Net of Vermin lies. 
 And selfish, sordid Furies tyrannize. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 " Let there be Light," GOD said ; and lo, 
 The nimble Beams the Fiat heard, 
 Sprang from the Womb of ancient Night, 
 And chearful Light it s smiling Visage rear d, 
 On purple Wings it upward flew, 
 And by his Order fix d on high ; 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Around it s darting Glories threw, 
 
 And stain d the Curtains of the Sky : 
 
 Whither it paints the blushing East 
 
 With rosy Streaks, or gilds the West : 
 
 Not undiscern d by Him the heav nly Ray, 
 
 He saw that it was good, and blest the infant Day. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Within the Chambers of the Globe there spy 
 
 The Beds where sleeping Vegetables lie, 
 
 Till the glad Summons of a genial Ray 
 
 Unbind the Glebe, and call them out to Day. 
 
 The gentle Heats and soft repeated Rains, 
 
 Make the green Blood to dance within their Veins. 
 
 To meet the Sun, see ! youthful Spring appear, 
 The laughing Fields, new Flowers and Verdure wear, 
 The warb ling Birds now loftly hover round, 
 While silver Fountains murmur to their Sound, 
 Joy spreads the Heart ; and with a general Song 
 Spring issues out, and leads the jolly Months along. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Now the Carnation, and the bashful Rose, 
 Their Virgin-blushes to the Morn disclose : 
 Now the chaste Lilly rises to the Light, 
 Unveils her snowy Breast, and charms the Sight : 
 And Arbours are with twining Greens array d, 
 T oblige complaining Lovers with their Shade. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1755. 257 
 
 JULY. 
 
 The Disk of Phoebus, when he climbs on high, 
 
 Appears at first but as a blood-shot Eye ; 
 
 And when his Chariot downwards drives to Bed, 
 
 His Ball is with the same Suffusion red ; 
 
 But mounted high in his meridian Race, 
 
 All bright he shines, and with a better grace. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Dreams are but Interludes which Fancy makes : 
 When Monarch REASON sleeps, this Mimic wakes ; 
 Compounds a Medley of disjointed Things, 
 A Mob of Coblers, and a Court of Kings : 
 Light Fumes are merry, grosser Fumes are sad, 
 Both are the reasonable SOUL run mad ; 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 And many monstrous Forms in Sleep we see, 
 That never were, nor are, nor e er can be. 
 Sometimes forgotten Things, long cast behind, 
 Rush forward in the Brain, and come to Mind : 
 The Nurses Legends are for Truths receiv d, 
 And the Man dreams but what the Boy believ d. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Seek not to know To-morrow s Doom ; 
 That is not our s which is to come ! 
 The present Moment s all our Store, 
 The next should Heav n allow 
 Then this will be no more : 
 So all our Life is but one Instant Now. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Religion s foreign, and is treated so ; 
 
 No sooner condescends th ./Etherial Dame 
 
 To visit some dark Town with vital Flame ; 
 
 But straitway all around contrive 
 
 To hoot the heav nly Guest, and drive 
 
 Her Home unto the Land from whence she came. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Who ere presuni d, till FRANKLIN led the Way, 
 To climb the amazing Highth of Heaven, 
 And rob the Sky of it s tremendous Thunder ; 
 
258 ALMANACK FOR 1755. 
 
 And leave the Clouds, with Winds and Tempests fraught, 
 But Breath enough to shake the trembling Trees, 
 And rock the Birds that pirch upon their Boughs. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 How easy they are who are freest of care. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 The Times are bad because Men s Minds are so. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Innocence is not always a Security from Punishment. 
 
 Happy would be the Times if all would strive to mend their Lives. 
 
 APRII V . 
 
 Many complain of bad Times, but take no care to become better 
 Themselves. 
 
 A good Day to some, but ill for others. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 A sudden Combustion after a long Calm. 
 Some unexpected Change 
 
 D T? ? A 21 
 
 for the Best. 
 
 JUNE. 
 The Fire of Contention destroys the publick Good. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 A sudden Disappointment stops the Progress of a grand Tyrant. 
 Good Projections without Resolution and Action, will produce no good 
 Effects. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 What s spent profusely, might pay all public Charges. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 An idle Man is a Burden to himself, to his Family, and to the Publick. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1755- 259 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 An honest Friend is a good Companion. 
 A selfish Spirit ruins the Interest of the Publick. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 A great Sign of some remarkable Occurrence in War or Love, about 
 this Time. 
 
 The Planet Saturn changes Signs ; the Sky changes Winds, and many 
 Men change their Minds. 
 
 Now remarkable Weather in some sort, and many strange Accidents. 
 
 The Essay on Regimen continued. 
 Of AIR. 
 
 The AIR which fills our raptur d Breasts with Joy, supports 
 all Natures Sons with Life, without whose Energy the Blood of 
 Man and Beast would soon become a drossy Tide, and all the 
 Efforts of the active Heart, would be unable to propell the pur 
 ple Currant thro its secret mazy Channels. Sometimes the 
 Planets dart their influence down ; or from the Earth s wide 
 Womb strange Plagues arise and contaminate the ^Etherial 
 Tracts of Air, which stains the blue Serenity of Heaven with 
 Death in various Shapes. 
 
 Breathe not the Air of Cities, where breathless Winds imbibe 
 Effluvia from the Sick and Dying, from the Dead, from Docks 
 and Dunghills ; where Thousands of Lungs with Exhalations 
 foul, sate the Air with strange Corruption, and make that vital 
 Element a nauseous Mass, enough to spoil and corrode that weak 
 and tender Organ thro whose flexible Tubes the putrid Salts of 
 all obscene corrupt offensive Things are carried to the Blood. 
 
 You who would breathe in pure balsamic Air, see yon Blue- 
 Hill invites you ; where western Gales from Dedham Plains with 
 sweet ambrosial Breezes fan the undulating Skie and chase 
 those Mists which cloud his lofty summit ; and see bewildered l 
 Charles River in State slowly move thro the Town, and well 
 deserves her notice in the Charter. 
 
 1 Bewildered, because in Dedham the Flood parts, and contrary to 
 the common Course of Nature, a considerable Branch runs from Charles 
 River and joins with Neponsit River. 
 
260 ALMANACK FOR 1755- 
 
 DIET. 
 
 The Food which from the briny Ocean is taken, and made 
 hard with the Sun and Salt, or the vetran Ox, so smoak d and 
 dried that Wood is scarcely more rebellious, yet this the arthletic 
 labouring Man with hungry Meal devours ; his assimilating 
 Powers are so amazing strong that they subtilize the stub 
 born Mass to Chyle, which nature labours into Blood : But 
 those whose Fibres are unstrung, the infirm and delicate, 
 those pale and bloated up with Sloth, those new in Life, 
 and those who bear the Weight of many Years ; to keep your 
 Bodies free of Pain, of Woes the Mind, reject all luscious Food ; 
 the oily Aliments which the stal d and cram d afford, will injure 
 your languid Stomachs, your elastic Tubes are not sufficiently 
 brac d and the Machinery of Nature (in you) is not strong 
 enough to grind such viscous Fluids fit for solid Health ; but 
 rather chuse Meat that is young and such as gain their Food 
 with Exercise from Grass, from Grain, from flowery Herbs ; 
 that drink the Sun and Dews from Mountain s Sides, or fertile 
 Vales : When first the Flowers and grateful Herbs, that deck 
 the Spring with tender Blade and sprouting Life, rise from their 
 nitrous Beds, these give the best Repast, a sweet Refection, 
 their balmy Quintessences restore from Languishments, which 
 all the long, long ! Winter Nights opprest. 
 
 EXERCISE. 
 
 The Law of Nature so ordains, Toil, and be Strong : The 
 Husbandman who manures the Glebe, and toils in Dust and 
 Rain; his Habit is steel d with Labour; his Nerves grow 
 firm and strong ; thro midnight Fogs he walks unhurt, nor fears 
 Rheumatic Pains or Coughs from Eastern Blasts. Oh ! happy 
 would it be for many Sons of Luxury, if they no Bread might 
 eat but what they earn d by Labour. When Winter chills the 
 Blood and binds the Veins, your Health more Labour then 
 demands. How Sweet the balmy Dew of Sleep descends on the 
 labouring Man : He wastes the blank of Night in deep Oblivion ; 
 but if his Memory retains what roving Fancy coin d, the little 
 Cupids court his Company by Night, and happy Dreams increase 
 the Tranquility of his Mind, and he awakes as lively as the 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1755- 26l 
 
 Morning : But with the unactive Sluggard it is not so ; his flacid 
 Nerves are unstrung, his Nature sinks, his Meals oppress, his 
 Sleep is frantic with pale Spectres, coin d in his delirious Brains ; 
 and monstrous Painting shocks his Soul all Night. 
 
 Twas Toil that taught the Romans how to conquer ; they 
 from the Fields went to the Senate-House ; and from the Plough 
 they led their Regions on to War, by Toil thro every Clime 
 they gain d the Victory. Then you of firmest Clay, New 
 England s hardiest Sons, let Agriculture exercise your Limbs. 
 You with the Spirit of the Romans, conquer d Louisbourg : 
 Manure this Land which your Fore-fathers planted with Hercu 
 lean Labour and at a vast Expence. When Dust & Sweat 
 besmears the Skin, thro whose small Pores a constant Stream 
 pervades then plunge into the Flood, or in the Cistern bathe 
 Your Nerves thus tempered as with treble Steel, no chronick 
 Languors can assault your Breast, nor Fever s rapid Flames 
 scorch up your Blood; besides twill keep you clean, and Nasti- 
 ness is Poverty indeed : Youth has no Grace with Filth, 
 and Charms with Dirt are loathsome. But you whose 
 Health is fled, whose Strength is prostrate, whose feeble Limbs 
 the Toil of Exercise can t bear, nor in the tepid Flood dare 
 plunge : You, Friction with the Brush may use ; such Irritation 
 on the porous Skin may move those Bars which Perspiration 
 feels, and make the Wheels of Life (which lag) move easier 
 along. 
 
 1755. The almanack this year tends largely towards poetry 
 and hygiene. The general character of the monthly verses does not differ 
 much in sentiment from the earlier productions of the author. He still 
 continues his profound admiration for the wonderful processes of Nature, 
 and his lines are a veritable melange of moralizing, devotion, description, 
 advice, and admiration ; concluding with a gloria to the philosopher 
 Franklin, and his remarkable attainments. 
 
 His essay on Regimen, divided into chapters on Air, Diet, and Exercise 
 are well intended for the consideration of his auditors, and his wit and 
 humor combines as usual, terse sayings concerning economy and reform, 
 which now appear to occupy prominent positions in the public mind. 
 
262 ALMANACK FOR 1756. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1756. 
 
 By NATHANIEL AMES. 
 
 BOSTON, N. E., Printed by J. DRAPER for the Booksellers. 
 
 " Presence of Mind, and Courage in Distress 
 " Are more than Armies to procure Success. 
 " True Courage dwells not in a troubled Flood 
 " Of mounting Spirits and fermenting Blood ; 
 " L/odg d in the Soul with Virtue over-rul d, 
 " Inflam d by Reason, and by Reason cool d ; 
 " In Hours of Peace content to be unknown, 
 " And only in the Field of Battle shown." 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Th Alarm s beat, the Foe approacheth nigh, 
 The Noise and Shout of Soldiers pierce the Skie, 
 The Drum s and Trumpet s Sound awake the Day, 
 Come WiNSiyOW ! with your Mirmydons away ; 
 Your Soldiers are like their great Leaders true : 
 Success and Victory bound to follow you. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 For brave Men force Dame Fortune to bestow 
 
 Her Gifts on them, whether she will or no : 
 
 You ve heard the Pagan s fearful warlike Yell ; 
 
 Their Claron sound as from the Jaws of Hell. 
 
 This frightned BRADDOCK S Soldiers from their Master, 
 
 And wrought alas ! that shameful sad Disaster ; 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Which wou d to Heav n, might never more be nani d, 
 As twas thro France * and Canada proclaimed. 
 O may that Day ! that fatal Day be ras d, 
 Nor in Times Calender be ever plac d ; 
 July the ninth, let never more be nam d, 
 Which Britain s bleeding Glory thus has stain d. 
 
 1 It was published in France about the Time it happened. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1756. 263 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Fate fix d the Doom of that illustrious Train 
 
 Of noble Heroes, most ignobly slain ; 
 
 Their valiant Souls through many a gaping Wound 
 
 L,eft their rich Carcases to strow the Ground ; 
 
 Th affright ned Field a dreadful Carnage swept 
 
 From skulking Foes who under Covert crept : 
 
 MAY. 
 
 So fares the Trav ler amongst the Brakes, 
 Nigh some foul Den of deadly guileful Snakes, 
 From his stung Heel the baneful Venum deep 
 Into his Marrow and scorch d Entrails creep, 
 He turns, and lo his skulking Foe he spies 
 When all s too late, for seeing Him he dies. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Thus Shirley too by savage Hands did fall, 
 
 His Blood for Blood incessantly does call : 
 
 For this Defeat which thus our Honour soils 
 
 And their short Joy which triumph d in our Spoils, 
 
 May our just Sword a plentious Harvest reap, 
 
 And Canada one endless Fast Day keep. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Shou d Sols fierce Beams the stragling Streams exhale, 
 That glide along the fam d Monongahale^ ; 
 May Indian Hearts their purple Stores let go, 
 And make that Flood its frightned Banks o erflow : 
 Times rolling Wheel a Revolution brings, 
 And shifting Scenes attend all human Things. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 The Canons of Eternal Date decree 
 
 This foul Defeat shall full revenged be ; 
 
 For whilst I write, the Western Post come s by, 
 
 My Muse collects the Rumours as they flie, 
 
 I just have heard how the proud Gallic Pow rs, 
 
 Prostrate themselves before the leaden Show rs ; 
 
 1 The River nigh to which the Battle was fought. 
 
264 ALMANACK FOR 1756. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Which our Cromelians with just Rage possest 
 Aim d sure and fatal at each bleeding Breast : 
 How like the Leaves the dying Frenchmen fall 
 And with the rest their haughty General : 
 Grief chills my Veins, my Joy is almost lost, 
 To think what Blood this Victory has cost. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 A hearty Tear each mournful Face bedews, 
 Trees shed their Leaves, Streams murmur at the News 
 To hear how TITCOMB, and brave WII^IAMS dy d, 
 " Whilst Victory lay bleeding by their Side : 
 Their Warlike Deeds, their lasting Names shall save 
 From the Oblivion of a Tyrant Grave. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Behold our Camp! from Fear, from Vice refin d, 
 Not of the Filth, but Flower of human Kind ! 
 Mother s their Sons, Wives lend their Husbands there 
 Brethren, ye have our Hearts, our Purse, our Prayer. 
 The happy Bard who in Heroic Song 
 Shall paint your tedious Marches all along ; 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Tell whom you slew, what wonders you have done, 
 How you have fought, and God-like Honor won, 
 With heav nly Lawrels of eternal Fame, 
 Reports the Merits of each worthy Name ; 
 And justly tell what Praises are your due, 
 Shall gain himself immortal Honor too. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 What s now projected, ought not to be neglected. 
 
 Chuse thy Wife rather for her Wit and Modesty, than for her Wealth & 
 Beauty. 
 
 He that can t feel the cold now, is certainly benumb d. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 The Ambition of great Men, impoverishes and destroys a Nation. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1756. 265 
 
 When adverse Planets scowl, and press th etherial Plains : 
 The secret touch by Man s confess d in his disturbed Brains. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Now Celsus has to do, with Quinseys, Pleurisies and Cholicks too. 
 The falling Snow and Rain, mix d with the Mire, 
 now makes the Travelers meagre Horses tire. 
 
 Many Remarkables happen about this Time. 
 A strange Affair, which makes some People stare ! 
 News, more strange than true. 
 
 More is lost by Imprudence, than can be re-gain d by Contrivance. 
 Cold eastern Gales, and Sun obstructing Clouds, keep back the approach 
 of Spring. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 A mighty Stir to no purpose. 
 
 A great many remarkable violent Accidents. 
 
 Now where there s War they fall to Blows. 
 
 JUNE- 
 
 Now Agues chill, and melancholy Care, 
 
 possess some weakned Minds with black Dispair. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Now the bite of a Rattle-Snake is bad, but the Envy of a bad Nei bour 
 is worse. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 If it Rains not now great signs fail. 
 
 A prospect of a plentiful Year in some Places, in others Desolation, by 
 War & Drougt. 
 
 Unwholesome Gales, contagious Auster blows. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Now Rain, or else, a Frost, 
 or else, alas ! my Guess is lost. 
 
 Excess of Drink, burns up Beauty, hastens Age, makes a man a Beast, a 
 strong Man weak, and a wise Man a Fool. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Strange ! now the Planets do excite 
 Contending Foes t engage in Fight. 
 Some strange Events happen very unexpectedly. 
 
266 ALMANACK FOR 1756. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Now many an aching Bone prognosticates that Winter s coming on. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Pain s our Inheritance ; Pleasure is lent to a Man upon hard Usury. 
 Now Sol in Capricorn appoints 
 Fierce Rheumatism to rack the Joynts. 
 
 An Account of the several Provinces in North- America. 
 
 This Continent was first discovered by Christopher Columbus, 
 a Genoese, A.D. 1492, in the Spanish Service; and is called America 
 from Americus Vespucius, a Florentine Merchant, employ d by 
 the Portugese, A.D. 1499, about the same Time the Cabbots were 
 imployed by the English, and Veruzani by the French, in Voyages 
 to this new World : The British Empire in North-America 
 extends it s self about 1600 Miles Sea-Coast, from Nova-Scotia, 
 South Westward to Georgia, including 13 Provinces, Colonies, 
 or distinct Governments, subject to the Crown of Great Britain; 
 each of which I shall just mention : And, 
 
 i. Of Nova Scotia : At the Conclusion of Queen Ann s War, 
 1713, at the Treaty of Utrecht, Nova-Scotia was ceded to Great- 
 Britain, there were two or three Thousand French at that Time, 
 who were suffered to continue on the L,ands they had settled, 
 and undoubtedly became the Subjects of Great- Britain: They 
 call themselves Neutrals^ but are Rebels and Traytors, assisting 
 the French and Indians at all Opportunities, to murder & cut our 
 Throats : They are increased to 7 or 8000 : The brave Monckton 
 & Winslow, with an Arm} 7 , chiefly from New England, in remov 
 ing those perfidious Neighbours, 1 have brightned the first of our 
 Expeditions against the French this Year, with Success. Some 
 say, that Nova Scotia for Healthiness of Climate, and Richness 
 of soil, exceed the other Governments. Its produce is Hemp, 
 Flax, Timber, Coals, Furs and Skins, and contains the most 
 profitable Fisheries in the World; there are 5000 Inhabitants; 
 it s present Governor is his Excellency Charles Lawrence, Esq; 
 
 1 This refers to the banishment of the Acadians in 1755. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1756. 267 
 
 2. New-Hampshire is the next Government on the Continent, 
 which with the Massachusetts, Rhode-Island and Connecticut, bear 
 the general Appellation of New-England. This Government 
 produces Masts for the Royal Navy, and Lumber of all sorts ; 
 contains 30,000 Inhabitants ; It s present Governor is his Excel 
 lency Benning Wentworth, Ksq ; 
 
 3. We come now to the Massachusetts-Bay; This Province 
 may be said to give Peace to Europe ; since for Cape Breton the 
 French yielded all their Conquests in Flanders. Boston is the 
 Metropolis of North-America : The Air clear and healthy ; the 
 soil in some Parts very good, producing Rye, Oats, Barley and 
 Indian Corn, in great Plenty, excellent Pasture Land, and plenty 
 of Provisions. Our Cod-Fish we Trade off to Spain, Portugal, 
 Italy, &c. Our Whale-Fishery and Ship Building is great &c. 
 &c. &c. The Number of our Inhabitants is computed at 
 220,000, Our Governor is his Excellency William Shirley, Esq; 
 
 4. Rhode-Island is the next in Course ; a small Colony, New 
 port in Rhode- Is land is the Capital Town, Providence is the next 
 considerable Town, and increases very fast in Trade, in Building, 
 and in Inhabitants. Their Air and Soil differ not much from 
 the Massachusetts, and contains about 35,000 Inhabitants; their 
 Governor this Year is the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq ; 
 
 5. In our Course a little to the Westward, lies Connecticut 
 Colony, a good Air, a rich Soil, greatly abounding in all sorts of 
 Provisions, many fine Towns along the Sea-Coast, and on the 
 River, which bears the Name of their Colony. They are a 
 religious, virtuous People, and have greatly distinguished them 
 selves in the present Expedition against Crown Point ; their 
 Number of Inhabitants 100,000, and Governor this Year, is the 
 Hon. Thomas Fitch, Esq ; 
 
 6. The next Government is New-York ; the City of New- 
 York is their Capital ; and is said to contain 5000 Houses, they 
 abound in all Sorts of Provisions, which they export, and in 
 Return bring the best Madeira, which by the better sort is drank 
 freely in the City ; the Number of their Inhabitants is set at 
 100,000, and their present Governor is His Excellency Sir Charles 
 Hardy, Knight. 
 
 7. The next Government is New-Jersey ; a level Country, 
 and Plenty of Provisions; not much Foreign Trade. Many good 
 
268 ALMANACK FOR 1756. 
 
 Towns, and contains about 60,000 Inhabitants ; their present 
 Governor is His Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Ksq ; 
 
 8. Pennsylvania ; the most populous of all the Governments 
 in North America ; Philadelphia is the capital and finest City on 
 the Continent ; their Houses are well built, their Streets regular; 
 their Town Hotise elegant : Their Market abounds with every 
 Thing, they tolerate all Religions, and trade to all Parts, and 
 have 250,000 Inhabitants, their Governor is the Hon. Robert 
 Hunter Morris, Esq ; 
 
 9. The next Colony is Maryland : A fruitful Soil, they raise 
 Wheat, Indian Corn, and Tobacco in plenty, Cattle and Hogs. 
 The Transports from Tyburn, plague them worse than Rattle 
 snakes, who are Natives of the Country; they have 85,000 
 Inhabitants ; their present Governor is the Hon. Horatio Sharpe, 
 Esq; 
 
 10. Virginia is next ; named by Sir Walter Raleigh, after 
 the Virgin Queen Elizabeth ; tis the most ancient Settlement : 
 
 Williamsburg is the Capital Town, Lat. 37. Deg. N. not so cold ; 
 the People live in ease and plenty : Tobacco is their chief Com 
 modity, w r hich brings a great Revenue to the Crown. Virginia 
 has 1 80 Miles Sea Coast; & its now well known our disputed 
 Claim with the French, extends back in the Country unbounded, 
 and is wonderfully supplied with fine navigable Rivers ; contains 
 85,000 Inhabitants, their present Governor is the Hon. Robert 
 Dimviddie, Esq ; 
 
 11. North-Carolina; Lat. 35 Deg. N. is fruitful in Rice, 
 Indian Corn, Tobacco, Pitch, Tar, Deer skins, Fur, Wax, Tallow, 
 &c. Hot in Summer, and not very cold in Winter ; their Cattle 
 and Hogs are fed and fatted by indulgent Nature, without 
 Expence to the Farmer : Their chief Places are Cape Fare and 
 Edentown ; their Number of Inhabitants 45,000, their present 
 Governor is the Hon. Arthur Dobbs, Esq ; 
 
 12. South- Carolina ; in 32 Deg. N. Lat. has the same Produce 
 as North-Carolina; they have little Winter, and have all the 
 Conveniences of Life; also fine Rivers and good Harbours; 
 Charlestown is their Capital : Number of Inhabitants about 
 30,000, their present Governor is His Excellency William Little 
 ton, Esq ; 
 
 13. Georgia, the last and Frontier Colony against the 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1756. 269 
 
 Spaniards, lies in Lat. 29 or 30 Deg. is very hot and not so rich a 
 Soil as the other Colonies : they abouud in Mulberry Trees, the 
 Silk-Worm s proper Food, and some Silk has been made there. 
 Georgia contains 6000 Inhabitants, arid the Hon. John Reynolds, 
 Ksq ; is their present Governor. 
 
 Upon the whole, The southern Colonies live with the least 
 Labour ; but the Northern Colonies are most Healthy ; and the 
 Breed and Disposition of the New-England People, are the most 
 stout and warlike, and deserve the Preference in Military Affairs. 
 
 OH 1756. The patriotism and military ardor of the Author 
 no where shines forth to any better advantage than in his verses the 
 present year. Seventeen hundred and fifty-five, it will be remembered 
 was a bloody period for the frontier colonists. The French with their 
 Indian allies were making desperate efforts to cut off the advancing strides 
 of British colonization, by the establishment of a chain of outposts or 
 forts, between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi Valley. 
 
 This war embraced the fateful Braddock campaign, and heralded the 
 advent of a Washington. The Doctor s lines are full of spirit, and each 
 syllable is impued with not only patriotic fire and loyalty, but also with 
 an implacable belief in the lex talionis of the old dispensation. 
 
 He embalms in his poetic strains the memories of almost forgotten 
 heroes Winslow, Shirley, Titcomb, Williams execrates the French and 
 Canada, and with a pen dipped in gall, bemoans the employment of mer 
 cenary savages, as allies in a combat between Christian nations. 
 
 A very interesting geographical description " of the several Provinces 
 in North America " concludes this year s pamphlet, and will possess con 
 siderable attraction for the reader ; conveying to his mind forcibly and 
 briefly the condition of the colonies at that period, and from which 
 sprang this great Nation of Republics. 
 
 NOTE. The compiler inserts the following, with an extract from a 
 contemporary almanack, as being of possible interest in connection with 
 Dr. Ames production. 
 
 In the last paragraph of the geographical description, it will be 
 observed that Dr. Ames takes occasion to comment upon the comparative 
 military efficiency of the two sections of the now American Union, by 
 which it would seem that there were opinions upon this subject even at 
 that early period. 
 
 Mr. C. MORE, in his Almanack 1757, published at New York, makes use 
 of the entire article written by Dr. Ames (and here printed,) concerning 
 the " Provinces in North America," but forbears any allusion to the 
 " Preference in Military Affairs." Mr. More does, however, amplify the 
 
270 ALMANACK FOR 1756. 
 
 subject in the manner following, and also touches up several matters con 
 nected with the " French and Indian War," which bear evidence that the 
 " Army " and the " Government," had some critics equally as watchful as 
 any who supervised the " War between the States." 
 
 " Besides these 13 Colonies, the English are in the rightful Possession of 
 Newfoundland, but there are but few Settlements on it, and those chiefly 
 for carrying on the Cod-Fishery ; which is great. 
 
 These 13 Colonies form an Extent on the Sea-Coast of near 1800 Miles, 
 but no where reaching 300 Miles back ; whilst the French surround us as 
 it were in a Bow, from Cape Breton, at the Mouth of St. Lawrence River, 
 to the Mouth of the Mississippi, forming a Chain of about 3000 miles. 
 The French have continually been encroaching on the Lands claimed by 
 the English on this Continent; and in the Year 1754, the Government of 
 Virginia being too sensible of it, sent Col. Washington to treat with them 
 about their Encroachments on the Ohio ; but the then French Command 
 ant M. St. Pierre, told him he knew it must come to Blows, and he did not 
 care how soon. A while after Col. Washington was sent with an armed 
 Force, to fortify a Place since called Fort Du Quesnc, on the Ohio River, in 
 order to dispossess the French ; but he was set upon by the French and 
 Indians the 3d Day of July 1754, entirely defeated, and his Cannon all lost. 
 
 This seemed to awaken the Court of Great Britain, who early the next 
 Spring, sent over General Braddock, with a Body of Forces and Artillery 
 sufficient to dislodge the French : They arrived at Virginia on the ist of 
 March, 1755. The same Spring Orders were given for raising Forces for 
 an Expedition against Crown-point, to consist of upwards of 2000 Provin 
 cials, under the Command of Gen.Jo/mson. And the two Regiments of 
 Shirley and Pepper rell were to be completed, in order to make an Attempt 
 at the same Time on Niagara. The first of these Orders were given in 
 Connecticut the first of January, and by the beginning of May the chief of 
 the Men were raised. Gen. Braddock sent for Gen. Shirley to meet him 
 at Annapolis in Maryland, the beginning of April, but after waiting there 
 9 Days for him in vain, he set out on his Way to the Frontiers ; and G. S. 
 not coming till some Days after, was obliged to follow him a considerable 
 Distance : By these Delays, and a continued Series of others as unaccount 
 able, Gen. Braddock could not proceed till the Beginning of July, when, 
 on the Qth Day being got within 13 miles of the Fort Du Quesne, he was 
 suddenly attack d by the French in Ambush, when he was entirely 
 defeated, his Cannon taken, upwards of 600 of his Men and Officers killed, 
 and himself mortally wounded, so that he died two Days after : In this 
 Battle G. S. lost a Son. Gen. S. was to have attack d Niagara at the same 
 Time, but he had not got so far on the way as Albany then : The Provincial 
 Forces were also to have been against Croivn-point, but these last contin 
 ued loitering near Albany till Sickness, Idleness and Dissatisfaction 
 increased much among them. On the first Day of September, they how 
 ever got to the Banks of Lake Sacrament, now called Lake George, where 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1756. 271 
 
 after lying eight Days, they were attacked by the French General Baron 
 Dieskau, with a body of Regulars, Canadians and Indians, (as if to chide 
 them for their long Delays.) However, here they happened to catch a 
 Tartar; for the English once more resumed their natural Disposition, and 
 not only bravely repulsed the Enemy, but entirely routed them, taking 
 their General Prisoner, and killing upward of 700 Men, being great Part of 
 their Army : And M. St. Pierre, who defeated G. Braddock the gth vt July, 
 having travell d above 900 miles by Land and Water, to assist the Baron 
 Dieskau, lost his Life in this Engagement. But the English delaying to 
 follow their Blow, the scattered Remains of the French escaped, and got 
 safe back. The Noise of this Attack alarm d the whole Country, and 
 several Thousands poured in to their Assistance ; and it is conjectured had 
 they followed their Stroke, while the French were under their Panic, 
 Crown-point must in all Probability have fell into our Hands, if not all 
 Canada. But a Cry of Want of Provisions was pleaded in Excuse; tho 
 they had had all the Summer to provide them in ; and whose Fault it was, 
 that they were not provided, tho worthy the Enquiry of the respective 
 Legislatures, is hard at his Time to say; 
 
 Gen. S., arrived at Osivego the i8th August, in order to go against 
 Niagara ; but waiting till the 2yth of Sept. it was then found out to be 
 too late for Action that Season ; Whereupon a new and larger Fortification 
 was set about at Oswego, and all the Army ordered into Winter-Quarters. 
 
 This Winter a grand Congress was held at New York, and a Plan of 
 Operations agreed upon : In pursuance of which a numerous Army was 
 provided by the several Colonies concerned, to be commanded by Gen. 
 Winslow, who had so expeditiously taken the French Fort Beausejour 
 in Nova-Scotia, as mentioned under the Description of that Place ; and 
 Gen. S. upon whom the chief Command in America devolved on the Death 
 of Gen. Braddock, provided a great number of Battoes and Battoemen, 
 to carry Provision and Stores to Oswego ; as also Carpenters and Smiths, 
 to build a Naval Force on the Lake Ontario, in order to defend that Place 
 and assist in the Attack of Niagara. Great Quantity of Provisions and 
 warlike Stores were accordingly carried and lodged there ; two or three 
 stout Vessels of War built, and other Preparations made ; but no more 
 Men sent there than about 1000 of the King s Forces, under Lieut. Col. 
 Mercer, and 300 of the Jersey Troops, under the worthy Col. Schuyler. 
 In the Spring we had frequent Alarms of the French taking the Fort at 
 Oswego, but all false. 
 
 June*], 1756, Col. Webb arrived at New-York, and the i6th following 
 arrived Gen. Abercrombie, with two more Regiments of Soldiers, and 
 Lord Loudoun, being appointed Generallissimo, daily expected : As Gen. 
 Abercrombie took Place of Gen. .S. the latter thereupon left Albany: 
 The 2$djuiy the Lord Loudoun arrived at N. York: and three Days after 
 embarked for Albany : The Beginning of Sept. continual Advices came 
 of Oswego s being attacked and taken by a large Body of French and 
 
272 ALMANACK FOR 1756. 
 
 Indians ; but so various, that nothing certain could be depended on for 
 some Time : At last Scouts being sent out, the Fort was found demolished, 
 and every Thing carried off; and the Beginning of October, several Letters 
 were found from the English Prisoners at Montreal, dated Aug. 30, 1756, 
 giving Intelligence that the Garrison of Oswego were made Prisoners of 
 War to the French, the i/jih of Aug. with the Loss only of Col. Mercer, 
 and 13 others. 
 
 At this Time the English had 5 Ships of Force built at Oswego, all well 
 rigged, with Cannon on board, which all fell into the Hands of the French, 
 and a Year s Provision for more than 2000 Men, besides Arms and Ammu 
 nition, the most agreeable Things the French could have. And thus fell 
 Oswego ; but whether by Cowardice or Treachery, no one can yet deter 
 mine. 
 
 Every sensible Person knows the River St. Lawrence is hardly ever 
 navigable till the beginning of May, and that the Freshes in the Spring 
 in the River Ohio, will very much retard the French from coming up that 
 River till the End of April ; and the great Length of both those Rivers 
 must always hinder the French from relieving their Settlements from 
 France till some time in May : And we all know, that the Baron Dieskau, 
 who attacked Gen. Johnson the 8th of Sept. left Old France the End of 
 April only. From whence it must appear that if Gen. 6". had proceeded 
 to attack Niagara in May, and Gen. Braddock to attack Fort Du Quesne at 
 the same Time, as they might have done, had they acted with, as much as 
 they made Use of the Word Expedition, in all Probability 1000 Men would 
 have been more effectual than all the Force they afterwards could produce ; 
 The same Instant if the Provincials had gone against Crown-Point, the 
 French had there by all Accounts not more than 500 Men to oppose that 
 Way ; and as Gen. Winslow at the same Time attack d and took Fort 
 Beausejour ; it is plain, the Success was scarce doubtful; But by the 
 unhappy, if not unaccountable Delays, all those Advantages have been 
 lost, and the French have now attack d us four Times on our own Ground, 
 whilst we have only made a Bluster, and never attempted or even marched 
 on to their Lands at any Place, except at Beausejour aforesaid. 
 
 One would have thought, that the English seeing the fatal Consequence 
 of such Delays in 1755, and having all Winter before them to provide in, 
 would be early enough the next Year : But alas ! the French have had 
 Time to come from Old France : (for they had had their Force broke the 
 Year before) march 3 or 400 Miles, land Cannon, attack and take Oswego, 
 and get back to Crown-Point ready to receive us, before we have began to 
 march : What fatal Legarthy this ! and how consistent with our Boasting, 
 is nor for me to say : Tho some have objected that there is a great Differ 
 ence between talking and doing : This is allowed ; but cannot we undergo 
 the same Difficulties, and do as well as the French ? or are we only to talk, 
 and they to do ? O tell it not in Quebeck, publish it not in the Streets of 
 Montreal, lest the Daughters of the popish Nunneries rejoice, and the 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1756. 273 
 
 free-born Sons of Britain, be had in Derision by the Slaves of haiighty 
 Louis. Oh! China! thou hast enervated old Britain s Sons with thy per 
 nicious Drug Tea ; and by diluting our Hearts, made us become like thy 
 own Race of effeminate Asiaticks. 
 
 Were there room here something should be added of the additional 
 great and fatal Loss of Minorca, by the inglorious Conduct of Admiral 
 Byng ; but whether that, with the Loss of Oswego, is owing to Treachery 
 or not, Time only must discover. The following Sentiments of the In 
 habitants of the City of Bristol, in an Address to our most gracious Sover 
 eign, the Qth of September, 1756, upon this Occasion, is thought worthy 
 the Regard of every Englishman, viz. 
 
 4 There is nothing so reasonable, or so just, as the desire universally 
 expressed by the nation, that a clear and full account may be obtained, of 
 the immense supplies given by their representatives in, and raised upon 
 the people, since the last sessions of parliament. The motives on which, 
 and the ends for which, those vast sums, in our present circumstances 
 especially, were so readily voted, and so chearfully paid, were sufficiently 
 divulged, and therefore the manner in which they have been applied, 
 ought to be no secret. The Arcana Imperil are well suited to despotick 
 governments, but are inconsistent with, and dangerous to, the liberties of 
 a free people. Besides it is no way reconcileable to the nature of our 
 constitution, which is founded on reason and equity, the liberty of the 
 subjects persons, and the security of their properties. they add, we have 
 attempted nothing." 
 
 Humor and wisdom this year are but sparsely distributed in the alman 
 ack ; the author being more intent upon patriotism, war, aggrandizement 
 of the British nation, and the downfall of the sons of St. Louis. 
 
274 ALMANACK FOR 1757- 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1757 
 
 By NATHANIEL AMES. 
 
 BOSTON ; NEW ENGLAND : Printed by 
 J. DRAPER, for the BooKSEU^ERS. 
 
 MINORCA S gone ! OSWEGO too is lost ! 
 Review the Cause ; or BRITAIN pays the Cost : 
 These sad Events have silenced my Muse, 
 The Prince of Day* eclipses at the News, 
 And Comett soon will blaze along the Skie, 
 Portending (sure) some dire Event is nigh ; 
 I dare not speak ! May Shame and Blushes tell, 
 What we ve not done, and what hath us befell ! 
 
 *See the Eclipse in the next Page. (An Annular Eclipse of the Sun.) 
 t The N. B. (A COMET expected the latter End of this Year or the 
 Beginning of the Year 1758.) 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Few People know it; yet dear SIR, tis true 
 Men should have somewhat evermore to do. 
 Hard Labor s tedious Every one must own, 
 But surely better such by far than none. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 The perfect Drone, the quite Impertinent, 
 Whose Life at nothing aims, but to be spent 
 Such Heaven visits for some mighty 111 ; 
 Tis sure the hardest Labour to sit still. 
 Hence that unhappy Tribe who Nought pursue 
 Who sin for want of something else to do. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Sir JOHN is bless d, with Riches, Honour, Love ; 
 And to be bless d, indeed, needs only move ; 
 For want of this, with Pain he lives away, 
 A Lump of hardly animated Clay. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1757. 275 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Dull till his double Bottle does him right ; 
 He s easy, just at Twelve o Clock at Night: 
 Thus for one sparkling Hour alone he s blest ; 
 Whilst Spleen and Head-ach seize on all the rest. 
 
 What Numbers Sloth with gloomy Humours fills, 
 Racking their Brains with visionary Ills? 
 Hence what loud Outcries, and well-meaning Rage, 
 What endless Quarrels at the present Age ! 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 How many Blame ! How often may we hear, 
 
 " Such Vice ! Well, sure, the last Day must be near!" 
 
 T avoid such, wild, imaginary Pains, 
 
 The sad Creation of distemper d Brains. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Dispatch, dear Friend ! move, labour, sweat, run, fly 
 Do aught but think the Day of Judgment nigh, 
 There are, who ve lost all Relish for Delight ; 
 With them no earthly Thing is ever right. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 T expect to alter to their Taste were vain ; 
 
 For who can mend so fast, as they complain ? 
 
 Whate er you do, shall be a Crime with such ; 
 
 One while you ve lost your Tongue, then talk too much. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Thus shall you meet their waspish Censure still ; 
 As Hedge-Hogs prick you, go which Side you will. 
 Oh! pity these, whene er you see them swell ! 
 Folks call them cross Poor Men ! they are not well. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 How many such, in Indolence grown old, 
 With Vigour ne er do any Thing but scold ? 
 Whose Spirits only from ill Humour get ; 
 Ivike Wines that die, unless upon the Fret. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Weary d of flouncing to himself alone, 
 ACERBUS keeps a Man to fret upon ; 
 
276 ALMANACK FOR 1757. 
 
 The Fellow s nothing in the Earth to do 
 But to sit quiet and be scolded to ; 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Pishes and Oaths, whene er the Master s sour d, 
 All largely on the Scape-goat Slave are pour d. 
 This drains his Rage : and tho to JOHN so rough, 
 Abroad you d think him Complaisant enough. 
 
 As for myself whom Poverty prevents, 
 
 From being angry at so great Expence ; 
 
 Who, should I ever be inclin d to rage, 
 
 For want of Slaves, War with myself must wage. 
 
 Must rail, and hear, chastizing be chastiz d, 
 
 Be both the Tyrant, and the Tyranniz d : 
 
 I choose to Labour, rather than to fret ; 
 
 What s Rage in some, in me goes off in Sweat, 
 
 If times are ill, and Things seem never worse ; 
 
 Men, Manners to reclaim, I, take my Horse : 
 
 One Mile reforms em ; or if ought remain 
 
 Unpurg d tis but to ride as far again. 
 
 Thus on myself in Toils I spend my Rage 
 
 I pay the Fine, and that absolves the Age. 
 
 Sometimes, still more, to interrupt my Ease 
 
 I take my Pen, and write such Things as these ; 
 
 Which tho all other Merit be deny d, 
 
 Shew my Devotion still to be employ d : 
 
 Add too ; tho writing be itself a curse, 
 
 Yet some Distempers are a Cure for worse. 
 
 And since mid st Indolence, Spleen will prevail, 
 
 Since who do nothing else, are sure to rail. 
 
 Men should be suffered thus to play the Fool 
 
 To keep from hurt, as Children go to School, 
 
 You should not pine in spite of Nature ? True ; 
 
 Yet sure tis greater trouble if you do ; 
 
 And, if tis I/abouring only, Men profess, 
 
 Who writes the hardest, writes with most Success. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Brethren ! You ve lost the Roman Spirit. 
 What ! be like Sheep, drove into Canada. 
 What s to be done, do it speedily, if you would succeed. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1757. 277 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Courage without Conduct is like a fiery Blast, soon extinguished. 
 Now the Heavens discharge their watery Stores in great Abundance. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Preparations for further Campaigns on both Sides of the Water. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 A Man of true Courage, disdains a base Action. 
 
 Some seek Places of Profit, more than their Country s Good ; so great 
 is the Power of Self Love ! 
 
 The Nations now in Anger rise, 
 
 to prosecute an Hnterprize. 
 
 There s now Abroad a pleasant Air, 
 
 but Minds within perplex d with anxious Care. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Cowardice, Covetousness and Treachery destroy the best concerted 
 Schemes. 
 
 If Rain comes not now, I know not when it will. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 A strange Bustle about a Trifle. 
 
 That which enriches some may impoverish many. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 What Contention, what Confusion, for a little more of the Earth ! 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Within these Northern Climes, 
 are very trying Times. 
 Strange Amusements. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Every one that wishes for better Times should strive to be better 
 Himself. 
 
 Desire without Endeavour is disappointment. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Now look for violent Accidents, and Mischief done by the Enemy. 
 A Man that does nothing but saunter about, to tell what he has seen or 
 heard, is a Burden to Himself, his Neighbour and the Publick. 
 
278 ALMANACK FOR 1757- 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 More Schemes projected by the Fire Side than can be good ; but much 
 like the Winds and Weather, how variable ? how unsettled ? 
 
 How fast the Year has run ! 
 
 but who is better now than when it first begun ? 
 
 Orthodox Astronomy, (if I may so speak) asserts that our 
 Earth is a primary Planet, which with five others revolves about 
 the Sun ; and that the fix d stars are Suns to other Systems of 
 Worlds. When we consider the Laws, and (Economy of Nature, 
 the Analogy, and flagrant relation between these Worlds in 
 each material System, and the intelligent Creatures that inhabit 
 them ; these Things might afford Matter of curious Speculation 
 to some of my Readers, but I here present them with a Section 
 transcribed from Dr. Cheyne s practical Essay on the Regimen 
 of DIET, which may be of real Use, and I hope will not be 
 unacceptable. 
 
 " I think (says that great Man) the natural Order and Pro 
 gression in Regimen for those who are ordain d to, or for those 
 whose Vocation and Occupation is sedentary & studious, who 
 by the Order of Providence and Situation of Life, have been 
 signatur d to intellectual Professions, and for all those who 
 would cultivate and maintain clear Heads and quick Senses to 
 the last, is from their Birth, till Fifteen, to persevere in a grad 
 ually increasing temperate Diet, without fermented Liquors : 
 From Fifteen to Fifty, to be only temperate in animal Foods 
 and fermented Liquors: After Fifty to give up animal Food 
 Suppers, and fermented Liquors : After Sixty to give up all 
 animal Food ; & then every Ten Years after, to lessen about 
 the Quarter of the Quantity of their vegetable Food : And thus 
 gradually descend out of Life as they ascended into it. And 
 that all Persons subject to inflammatory Distemper, Gouts, 
 Erisipelas, hot Scurvies, Leprosies, Asthmas, Jaundices, 
 Cholicks, nervous Lowlinesses, violent Head-achs, Haemor 
 rhages and Haemorrhoids, Anasarcas, Ruptures, or white 
 Swellings, tho otherwise strong, hearty, hale and of a seeming 
 sound Constitution, ought to give up all Meat Suppers, and all 
 fermented Liquors; And the Children of all Fathers (for 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1757- 279 
 
 Mothers are not here to be minded) who have died before 
 Thirty-Five of any natural Distemper whatever, and all Children 
 begot of Fathers after Sixty, ought to live without Meat Suppers, 
 or fermented Liquors ; And that all Persons whatever, whatever 
 Age they be of or of whatever Nature their Complaints and 
 Disorders may be, if upon repeated small Phlebotomies, and 
 without transient Accidents, ( as Colds, Damps, Blasts and 
 Bruises) they constantly observe their Blood sizy, viscous and 
 glutinous, ought directly to be put on a low Diet, either on 
 Milk, Seeds and Vegetables only, or at least of one, without 
 Meat Suppers and fermented Liquors : And this Regimen, 
 with proper attenuant, alterative and sweetning Medicines, 
 ( which in the Nature of Things, ought to be of the mild, pon 
 derous and mineral Tribe) to be continued till at least the 
 Size & Glew be broken and dissolved, else they can never expect 
 uniform and continued Health : For such a Regimen and such 
 Medicines, must do this in Time; else nothing in Nature 
 possibly can." 
 
 Oil 1757* The muse tolls a very sad note on the muffled 
 bell, and in dolorous verse mourns the departing glories and possessions 
 of Albion and for which the present eclipse is alluded to as the o er- 
 shadowing cause of all these varied ills, and dire disasters. 
 
 Laziness and Labor are compared in the monthly verses, and the 
 crabbed, quarrelsome, fault-finding disposition analysed, and scarified. 
 In conclusion the Doctor apologizes for his cacoethes scribendi, in a 
 characteristic manner. 
 
 His essay departs again from the study of the stars, and in lieu thereof 
 he presents an extract from " Dr. Cheyne s : * regimen of Diet." 
 
 The weather column contains many pointed allusions to the late mili 
 tary disasters, and satirical remarks on the responsibility of certain indi 
 viduals indirectly put. 
 
280 ALMANACK FOR 1728. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1758. 
 By Nathaniel Ames. 
 
 BOSTON; NEW ENGLAND : 
 Printed by J. DRAPER, for the Booksellers. 
 
 The Starry Parliament, whose twinkling Byes, 
 
 With mystic Characters imboss the Skies, 
 
 And sparkle on the Brow of shady Night ; 
 
 Heav n s high Expanse with their portent ous Light 
 
 Is fill d ; and glorious Blazes play 
 
 In Knots of Light along the Milky-Way. 
 
 Vast Worlds of Light in feeble Orbits glow ; 
 
 Their Space immense must needs ordain it so : 
 
 Worlds without Number worthy of their GOD ! 
 
 And of bright Seraphims perhaps th Abode. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Content with Poverty, niy Soul I arm ; 
 
 A Virtue, tho in Rags, will keep me warm : 
 
 Whose Fortune is not fitted to his Will, 
 
 Too great, or little, is uneasy still. 
 
 Our Shoes and Fortunes sure are much allay d, 
 
 We limp in Strait, and stumble in the Wide. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Sure there is none but fears a future State ; 
 
 And when the most Obdurate swear, they do not ; 
 
 Their trembling Hearts bely their boasting Tongues. 
 
 Divines but peep on undiscover d Worlds, 
 
 And draw the distant Landskip as they please : 
 
 But who has e er return d from those bright Regions, 
 
 To tell their Manners ; and relate their Laws ? 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 With smooth Looks and many a gentle Word 
 
 The first Fair she beguil d her easy Lord : 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1758. 281 
 
 Too blind with Love and Beauty to beware, 
 
 He fell, unthinking, in the fatal Snare ; 
 
 Nor could believe that such a heav nly Face 
 
 Had bargain d with the Devil to damn her wretched Race. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 GOD grant a Hero with an even Soul, 
 A steady Temper which no Cares controul. 
 The Wise and Active conquer Difficulties, 
 By daring to attempt them : Sloth and Folly 
 Shiver and shrink at sight of Toil and Hazard 
 And make th Impossibility they fear. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 The peaceful Peasant to the War is press d ; 
 The Fields lie fallow in inglorious Rest ; 
 The gloomy Throngs look terrible from far, 
 Disclosing, show the horrid Face of War : 
 The thick Battalions move in dreadful Form, 
 As low ring Clouds advance before a Storm. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 THE Powers militant 
 
 That stand for in mighty Quadrate join 
 
 Of Union irresistable, move on 
 In Silence their bright Legions, to the Sound 
 Of instrumental Harmony, that breathes 
 Heroick Ardour to advent rous Deeds. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 AND now, 
 
 " Twixt Host and Host, but narrow Space is left, 
 " A dreadful Interval! and Front to Front 
 " Presented, stand in terrible Array 
 
 " Of hideous Length dire is the Noise 
 
 "Of Conflict 
 
 AUGUST, 
 
 The Storm let loose ; red Lightning s downward hurl d, 
 
 And thundering Peals alarm th affrighten d World : 
 
 At once the Hills, that to the Clouds aspire, 
 
 Are wash d with furious Rains, and scorch d with Fire ; 
 
 Til the fierce Hurricane is heard no more, 
 
 And Nature smiles as gayly as before. 
 
282 ALMANACK FOR 1758. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Some Men can smile, and murther whilst they smile, 
 And cry Content to that which grieves their Hearts, 
 And wet their Cheeks with artificial Tears. 
 Who dares think one Thing, and another tell, 
 My Soul detests him as the Gates of Hell. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 We of our Foes shall great Advantage have 
 
 If none command our Armies but the brave : 
 
 On Valour s Side the Odds of Combate lye ; 
 
 The Brave live glorious, or lamented die : 
 
 The Wretch who trembles in the Field of Fame 
 
 Meets Death, or worse than Death, eternal Shame. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Fierce Boreas with his Offspring issues forth 
 T invade the frozen Waggons of the North ; 
 But when the Wings of wanton Zephyr flie, 
 To puff away the Clouds, and purge the Sky, 
 Serenely whilst he blows, the Vapours driv n 
 Discover Heav n to Earth, and Earth to Heav n. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 The Sun from far peeps with a sickly Face, 
 Too weak the Clouds and misty Fogs to chace ; 
 From Locks uncomb d, and from the frozen Beard 
 Long Iceicles depend, and crackling Sounds are heard ; 
 Mean Time perpetual Sleet and driving Snow 
 Obscure the Skies, and hang on Herds below. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 An unexpected Change cP T? cT This Opposition portends much Mis 
 chief of a sudden and violent Nature. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 If you fall into Misfortunes, creep thro those Bushes which have the 
 least Briars. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1758. 283 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Tis Virtue only makes our Bliss below ; 
 And all our Knowledge is our selves to know. 
 Learning makes a good Man better, but a bad Man worse. 
 
 Britain ! O let us give one dire Blow ; 
 
 Before you let your injur d Hands go. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Now you that crawl out for Health beware 
 
 Of the present Wind s moist Air. 
 Expectation waits to know, 
 Whether the Mountain bears a Mouse or no. 
 Industry and Frugality makes a poor Man rich. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 A Union of Council, and Affection, in the common Cause, will produce 
 good Effects, but Discord and Disaffection, ends in Disappointment. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 They who have Nothing to trouble them, will, Themselves, be a Trouble 
 to Others. 
 
 Let us awake, 
 Our All s at Stake. 
 
 JUIvY. 
 
 Ye Ladies, Why in such a Bloom ? 
 
 When you cannot tell your Country s Doom. 
 
 He can t speak well, who always Talks. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 The verdant Field with purple Gore is stain d all o er. 
 Changes of many Sorts in divers Parts of the Earth. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 A mighty Combustion 
 Which tends to Confusion. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 An unlucky Season. 
 
 After a Bustle in the Air, 
 The Weather s very calm and fair. 
 
 There are three faithful Friends : an old Wife, an old Dog, and ready 
 Cash. 
 
284 ALMANACK FOR 1758. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Were Things done twice, Many would be wise. 
 A Man out of Favour, 
 Is slighted by a Neighbour. 
 
 Some Fools make Feasts, for wise Men to eat. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 An honest Farmer, now at ease, 
 
 Regales himself with Cyder, Bread & Cheese. 
 
 A THOUGHT upon the past, present, and future State of 
 NORTH AMERICA. 
 
 America is a subject which daily becomes more and more 
 interesting : I shall therefore fill these Pages with a Word upon 
 its Past, Present and Future State. 
 
 I. First of its Past State : Time has cast a Shade upon this 
 Scene. Since the Creation innumerable Accidents have hap 
 pened here, the bare mention of which would create Wonder and 
 Surprize ; but they are all lost in Oblivion : The ignorant Natives 
 for Want of Letters have forgot their Stock ; and know not from 
 whence they came, or how, or when they arrived here, or what 
 has happened since : Who can tell what wonderful Changes 
 have happen d by the mighty Operations of Nature, such as 
 Deluges, Vulcanoes, Earthquakes, &c.! Or whether great tracts 
 of I/and were not absorbed into those vast Lakes or Inland Seas 
 which occupy so much Space to the West of us. But to leave 
 the Natural, and come to the Political State : We know how the 
 French have erecled a Line of Forts from the Ohio to Nova Scotia, 
 including all the inestimable Country to the West of us, into 
 their exorbitant Claim. This, with infinite Justice, the English 
 resented, & in this Cause our Blood has been spill d : Which 
 brings to our Consideration, 
 
 II. Secondly, The Present State of NORTH AMERICA. A 
 Writer upon this present Time says, " The Parts of North 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1758. 285 
 
 America which may be claimed by Great Britain or France are 
 of as much Worth as either Kingdom. That fertile Country to 
 the West of the Appalachian Mountains (a String of 8 or 900 
 Miles in Length,) between Canada and the Mississippi, is of 
 larger Extent than all France, Germany and Poland ; and all 
 well provided with Rivers, a very fine wholesome Air, a rich 
 Soil, capable of producing Food and Physick, and all Things 
 necessary for the Conveniency and Delight of Life : In fine, 
 the Garden of the World!" -Time was we might have been 
 possess d of it : At this Time two mighty Kings contend for this 
 inestimable Prize : Their respective Claims are to be measured 
 by the Length of their Swords. The Poet says, The Gods and 
 Opportunity ride Post ; that you must take her by the Forelock 
 being Bald Behind. Have we not too fondly depended upon our 
 Numbers ? Sir Francis Bacon says, The Wolf careth not how 
 many the Sheep be :" But Numbers well spirited, with the 
 Blessing of Heaven will do Wonders, when by military Skill and 
 Discipline, the Commanders can actuate (as by one Soul) the 
 most numerous bodies of arm d People : Our Numbers will not 
 avail till the Colonies are united ; for whilst divided, the strength 
 of the Inhabitants is broken like the petty Kingdoms in Africa. 
 If we do not join Heart and Hand in the common Cause 
 against our exulting Foes, but fall to disputing among ourselves, 
 it may really happen as the Governour of Pennsylvania told his 
 Assembly, " We shall have no Priviledge to dispute about, nor 
 
 Country to dispute in." 
 
 III. Thirdly, of the Future State of NORTH AMERICA 
 Here we find a vast Stock of proper Materials for the Art and 
 Ingenuity of Man to work upon : Treasures of immense Worth ; 
 conceal d from the poor ignorant aboriginal Natives ! The 
 Curious have observ d, that the Progress of Humane Literature 
 ( like the Sun ) is from the East to the West ; thus has it 
 travelled thro Asia and Europe, and now is arrived at the Eastern 
 
286 ALMANACK FOR 1758. 
 
 Shore of America, As the Ccelestial Light of the Gospel 
 was directed here by the Finger of G O D , it will doubtless, 
 finally drive the long ! long ! Night of Heathenish Darkness 
 from America : So Arts and Sciences will change the Face of 
 Nature in their Tour from Hence over the Appalachian Mount 
 ains to the Western Ocean ; and as they march thro the vast 
 Desert, the Residence of Wild Beasts will be broken up, and 
 their obscene Howl cease for ever ; Instead of which the Stones 
 and Trees will dance together at the Music of Orpheus, the 
 Rocks will disclose their hidden Gems, and the inestimable 
 Treasures of Gold & Silver be broken up. Huge Mountains of 
 Iron Ore are already discovered ; and vast Stores are reserved 
 for future Generations : This Metal more useful than Gold and 
 Silver, will imploy Millions of Hands, not only to form the 
 martial Sword, and peaceful Share, alternately ; but an Infinity 
 of Utensils improved in the Exercise of Art, and Handicraft 
 amongst Men. Nature thro all her Works has stamp d Author 
 ity on this Law, namely, " That all fit Matter shall be improved 
 to its best Purposes." Shall not then those vast Quarries, that 
 teem with mechanic Stone, those for Structure be piled into 
 great Cities, and those for Sculpture into Statues to perpetuate 
 the Honor of renowned Heroes ; even those who shall NOW 
 
 save their Country. O ! Ye unborn Inhabitants of America ! 
 
 Should this Page escape its destin d Conflagration at the Year s 
 Hnd, and these Alphabetical Letters remain legible, when your 
 Byes behold the Sun after he has rolled the Seasons round for 
 two or three Centuries more, you will know that in Anno Dom 
 ini 1758, we dream d of your Times. 
 
 NATH. AMES. 
 
 on 1758. Again the year is ushered in with a poetic salute 
 to the " Starry Parliament," always a foremost thought in the Doctor s 
 mind. Then follow the captions of each month, with all the variety of 
 ideas which our Author has at command. 
 
 Poverty and Contentment a glance at Futurity Love and Beauty 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1758. 287 
 
 with the usual ungallant slap at the daughters of Eve, on account of that 
 unfortunate ancestress having in an unguarded moment stopped to con 
 verse with that confounded snake. Sloth and Activity, with an indirect 
 allusion to the paucity of properly constructed Heroes to add renown to 
 the British arms and influence. Conscription, neglected fields, and " grim 
 visag d War," the crash of Conflict Thunder and Lightning, a side 
 long glance at "the Unpopular King" with his convenient forms of Deceit 
 Bravery and Cowardice, Boreas and his ice-cart, with the seasonable 
 finale of snow and slush. 
 
 But the essay in this Almanack bears the palm, and should any one 
 doubt the power of the Doctor to forecast the future, or if they should 
 have any misgivings as to his thorough Americanism, his patriotism, his 
 loyalty to his king, and his faith in the future of this country ; he need but 
 carefully read the " Thoughts upon the past, present and future state of 
 North America," to be thoroughly and at once disabused of that idea. 
 
 The first part of his " Thought " treats of Natural changes in the past; 
 the second the present political condition of affairs, and the struggle of 
 Briton and Gaul for temporal power ; while the third, and to us the most 
 interesting portion of his reflections, treats of the future. A prog 
 nostication remarkable in the annals of predictions as being almost 
 unique, and evincing beyond dispute that Doctor Ames was far in advance 
 of any of his compeers, in his appreciation of the possibilities of America 
 in the developement of its resources. 
 
 For ages the "spirit of prophecy" has been reputed to dwell with cer 
 tain individuals of certain nations : Persons who had had the peculiar 
 felicity of being cauled into the world with a peculiar veil over their faces ; 
 or who by supreme circumspection and calculation on the part of their 
 ancestors, rejoiced in the proud and mysterious distinction of being the 
 seventh son or daughter, of a seventh son or daughter. These particu 
 larly were reputed to have foreknowledge of future events, and among 
 the credulous were eagerly sought, for information of " lucky numbers," 
 stolen goods, etc., as ever were the astrologers and other mystagogues of 
 a darker age. 
 
 Among the ancient celebrities said to possess these most valuable 
 faculties : was i, Merlin (A. D. 425-471) surnamed Ambrosius, who by his 
 mother s account "was conceived by the compression of a fantastical 
 spiritual creature, without a body," and probably from this fact could see 
 things better than the average mortal. His remarkable birth is almost 
 unique, but his prophecies are fitted to almost every important event in 
 British history for hundreds of years. 
 
 Another was Michael Nostradamus of St. Remy in France, who came 
 into the world in the orthodox manner about 1503 ; the only peculiarity 
 noted concerning his ancestry was that his grandparents were " skilfull in 
 Mathematick and Physick." Michael became " Physitian in Ordinary to 
 Henry the II. and Charles the IX. Kings of France," and combining the 
 
288 ALMANACK FOR 1758. 
 
 then very necessary adjunct of astrology, he put in his odd hours, when 
 not engaged in "leeching" the royal body, in performing the same office 
 for the subject s purse. He also has left behind some very fitting stanzas 
 of mysterious import. 
 
 One more familiar to modern readers, and who even the past year has 
 been quoted quite prominently, is that " dear, delightful, Old Mother 
 Shipton" a dame of the Mother Hubbard variety, who shed brilliancy on 
 the age in which she lived, beaming first from a small village in Yorkshire, 
 where her putative father was in business as a "Jack Pudding." When 
 his repute became established, he was commissioned " Necromancer " by 
 an admiring constituency. She also was said to have been begotten in 
 the Merlin fashion, by the " Phantasm of Apollo" or some wanton " Airial 
 Daemon" Hence she could perform remarkable forecasts in a similar 
 manner to Dr. Merlin. 
 
 Following these were prophets of lesser repute, among whom Nixon, 
 the Cheshire prophet, Joanna Southcott, and others. 
 
 All of these artists possessed a copiousness of language which was 
 peculiarly adapted for prophetical allusion, and from which those of future 
 generations who were interested could pick out what suited the case, and 
 go to bed with the comforting satisfaction that " it was foretold hundreds 
 of years agone." 
 
 The foregoing may not be absolutely relevant to the matter in hand, 
 but is merely adverted to as showing that the imagination of those of a 
 latter day, had much to do with translating the mysterious language of 
 these charlatans into information or prescience of any sort. 
 
 In America we have never had any person of any rank in society, who 
 by peculiarity of birth, cast of countenance, or by reason of ancestry, was 
 justly reputed with the " sublime art of forecasting the future." The 
 only one who may claim any such distinction, as far as the future of this 
 country has in a meagre way been predicted, is the author of these Alma 
 nacks Dr. Nathaniel Ames. 
 
 One could not expect much in the way of a prognostication of this 
 character on the single leaf of an almanack, which, in its entirety, sold for 
 the small sum of " Five Coppers." Yet here it is, clad not in the volumin 
 ous language of a mystagogue, but in plain Old Testament English, setting 
 forth in a general way what most of us know has already come to pass. 
 The period of opulence has arrived sooner than he predicted, but in 
 detail, each item alluded to has more than been fulfilled. 
 
 I only regret that his printer had not added an extra sheet that more 
 of the Doctor s wisdom concerning our political and commercial future 
 might have been set down, 
 
 We possibly could have learned his opinion as to how long men who 
 were " born free and equal " would remain in that condition ; also whether 
 their condition being changed, they w r ould be eligible to sit on juries, or 
 enjoy the blissful conditions entailed on our great and growing country 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1759. 289 
 
 by the generous use of universal suffrage : and whether within one hundred 
 and fifty years it would be considered not how the country should be gov 
 erned but who should govern it. 
 
 (Gracious ! I have almost got my kite " out of sight," and have drifted 
 entirely away from the book.) 
 
 The " squibs " this year betray a patriotic anxiety for the advancement 
 of the country, and the glory of the British arms. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1759. 
 
 By NATHANIEL AMES. 
 
 BOSTON: Printed and Sold by 
 DRAPER, GREEN & RUSSELL, & FLEET. 
 
 Price Two Pistareens per Dozen, and Five Coppers Single. 
 
 Dire Wars and mutual Rage are surely come, 
 
 E re any Comet blaz d the threatned Doom ! 
 
 Kingdoms and States impatiently attend, 
 
 The great Events now verging to an End ; 
 
 When three Times more the Sun has chear d the Spring, 
 
 A new important ^ra will begin : 
 
 From which young Date and settled State of Things 
 
 A Train of strange Events and Wonder springs. 
 
 1 The appearance of this triumvirate of printers on the almanack this 
 year, was, according to The History of Printing in America, occasioned 
 by a dispute between the printers and booksellers, in substance as fol 
 lows : "John Draper and his predecessor Bartholomew Green, had always 
 purchased the copy of that Almanac, and printed it on their own account ; 
 but they had supplied the booksellers, in sheets, by the hundred, the 
 thousand, or any quantity wanted. About the year 1759, this Almanac 
 was enlarged from sixteen pages on a foolscap sheet to three half sheets. 
 Draper formed a connection with Green & Russell and T. & J. Fleet, in 
 its publication. A half sheet was printed at each of their printing houses ; 
 and they were not disposed to supply booksellers as formerly. 
 
2QO ALMANACK FOR I75Q. 
 
 KIND READER, 
 
 I here present you with my Thirty-fourth ALMANACK pub 
 lished. Although a Perhaps, with Justice, might always be 
 added to what I say of the Weather ; yet I have collected the 
 best Rules that Experience has taught me in that Affair, from 
 the Aspects, and Configurations of the Planets : I am therefore 
 constantly obliged to trace the rambling Moon, and wandering 
 Planets, in all their intricate Paths, which costs me much Labour 
 and hard study. The Poetry this Year I have from the Inspir 
 ation of the Muses : I hope they will not blush to own it. 
 What looks like Prophecy in the outward Page, I grounded on 
 the great Conjunction of Saturn and fepiter, which is to happen 
 Anno Domini, 1762, in Aries, a Cardinal Equinoctial Sign. 
 Astrologers for a long Time past have fixed their Eyes on that 
 Point of Time as big with new and remarkable Events, if the 
 Learned are not always free from Superstition, I hope an Alman 
 ack-Maker does not talk out of Character to mention such 
 Things. I have carefully put the Courts of the several Govern 
 ments on the respective Days, agreeable to and compared with 
 the Laws ; I have procured also the several Stages on the Roads 
 from Boston to New- York, &c. from those who have often trav 
 elled them, which may be depended upon to be exact, as they 
 have been taken down lately, and not from the Roads published 
 these many Years past in other Almanacks. 
 
 The Tables of Interest at 5 per Cent, suitable to Rhode Island 
 and Connecticut, and of 6 per Cent, for Massachusetts Bay, as 
 also the Value of Coins, I hope will not be unserviceable. 
 Reader, I have added half a sheet to the Almanack this Year, 
 which I hope will be to your Satisfaction. 
 
 Dedham, Sept. 15, 1758. N. AMES. 
 
 The following Lines are a Description, not a Prediction of an 
 
 Earthquake : 
 
 In deepest Caves are Beds of Sulphre made, 
 And in a secret fearful Ambush laid ; 
 When God s avenging Hand shall touch the Train, 
 Some warn d devoted City quick is slain. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1759- 29 1 
 
 The Earth convuls d, her Jaws are open d wide 
 Churches and all their lofty Spires subside, 
 To Nature s Womb they sink with dreadful Throws, 
 And on poor screaming Souls the Chasms close. 
 
 How wond rous, Lord, thy mighty Works appear 
 Thro all the Seasons of the rolling Year ! 
 Thy glorious Name is equally exprest, 
 In the fair Spring \ with gay Confusion drest ; 
 And the warm Summer, when the flashing Cloud 
 And breaking Thunders speak the GOD aloud : 
 Autumrfs ripe Fruits, the lab ring Swain s Delight, 
 Paint out thy Goodness to the ravish d Sight ; 
 What daring Mortal can His Cold withstand, 
 Or guide His Tempests with a steady Hand? 
 When o er the Earth the fleecy Snow He sends 
 The fleecy Snow His sov reign Voice attends : 
 Thus thro the World, thy mighty Pow r is known, 
 And Savage Nations a CREATOR own. 
 
 Ten thousand Wonders open to my View, 
 Shine forth at once ; Sieges and Storms appear, 
 And Wars and Conquests fill th important Year, 
 Rivers of Blood I see, and Hills of Slain, 
 An Iliad rising out of one Campaign ! 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 A Bloody Conflict casts a purple Stain 
 
 On yonder Lake, that bears our Sovereign s Name, 
 
 A noble Band who stood the first Attack 
 
 Firm as a Rock, nor thought of turning back : 
 
 Oh had their Bodies, like their Hearts, been Steel, 
 
 Or could the Force of whizzing Balls repel, 
 
 They might have liv d ! But gloriously they fell. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 In future Days, when Nations smile again, 
 And banish d PEACE from Heav n returns to Men 
 As Rusticus with Innocence and Toil 
 Brings to the new uncultivated Soil 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1 759. 
 
 He ll start amaz d ! mixing a Tear with Groans, 
 To see his Plow-share turn up Human Bones ! 
 Grey-headed Sires the Myst ry will explain, 
 Who mark d the Place where lay the many slain. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Had we wak d early from an idle Dream 
 
 On yonder smooth OHIO S winding Stream, 
 
 Our Cities might have stood, and Structures shone, 
 
 Magnificently built with curious Stone, 
 
 With all the Stores of Nature there possest, 
 
 And vast Conveniences for Man and Beast. 
 
 APRII,. 
 
 Now chearful Mariners unfurl their Sails, 
 To pleasant Suns, to stead} , gentle Gales, 
 Which speed their Course along the Wat ry Way, 
 And richly all the Merchant s Cares repay ; 
 The Treasures of the East and West explor d 
 Are now in vast Repositories stor d. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 The tuneful Choir welcome with Joy and Mirth 
 The Anniversary of Nature s Birth ; 
 Native Perfumes are blended with their Song, 
 And Gentle Gales the Transport waft along : 
 Bach Sense some Pleasure to the Soul does bring ; 
 And brilliant Plains and Valleys laugh and sing. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Meridian Suns dart down their fervid Rays : 
 The glowing Firmament does almost blaze ; 
 Till from the West the gentle Zephyr springs, 
 To fan the fainting World with breezy Wings, 
 And sweep the Chambers of the Atmosphere, 
 And purge (from Dregs to Life adverse) the Air. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 His ripen d Grain w r ith Joy the FARMKR sees ! 
 The bearded Billows rustle with the Breeze ; 
 The loaded Blades in leaning Posture stand ; 
 And silently invite the Reaper s Hand : 
 For this Reward he cultivates the Soil ; 
 This long expedted Day crowns all his Toil. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1759- 293 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Behold the Clouds ! a kind of Ocean spread 
 Along th Aerial Spaces over Head ! 
 
 What Power and Skill supports their pond rous Weight, 
 Or keeps them hov ring in a buoyant State ! 
 Nor do these pendent Lakes at once descend ; 
 But fall in gentle drops, which all befriend. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 After the Summer-Fruit s cooling Repast, 
 (Kind Heav ns Indulgencies forever last.) 
 Autumn s rich Stores in next Succession come ; 
 The Grape, th Apple, the downy Peach and Plumb : 
 Nature s Demands these charming Dainties suit ; 
 Refresh the Healthy, and th Infirm recruit. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 The Power that weilds the Ocean s mighty Weight, 
 The Element has bounded by the Shore ; 
 Or its proud Waves with swelling Billows great 
 Would deluge Continents and Kingdom s o er : 
 Since it s alternate Flowings are confin d, 
 To many noble Ends, they serve Mankind. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 The Orchard now of all it s Fruit bereft ; 
 
 Nor Leaves, nor Blossoms on the Trees are left ! 
 
 They stand like Logs, fix d in the frozen Ground, 
 
 While driving Snows their lifeless Trunks surround : 
 
 And yet e er long without our Help or Aid, 
 
 They l be with Leaves, Blossoms and Fruit array d. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Tho now the ground affords a Prospect mean. 
 Tis Nature s rich Resource, a Magazine 
 By which all Nations yearly are supply d, 
 Its verdant Stores for Man and Beast provide : 
 Dealt freely out to Generations past, 
 Undrain d, will still to Generations last. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 May Heaven preserve the Soldiers, us, and all ; 
 from Poisons, Plagues and Poxes, great and small. 
 
2Q4 ALMANACK FOR 1759. 
 
 Fling by your Wheels, and Sleighs & Sleds provide ; 
 Boys fix their Skaits, and nimbly they slide. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Projections for a finishing Stroke. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 March conies in like a Lyon, this Year ; for Boreas a searching Blast 
 does blow, which chills the Air, and shakes poor Mortals, here below. 
 
 Wet underfoot, and over Shoes in Dirt. 
 
 Now the fierce North \Vind, with his airey Forces rears up th Atlantick 
 to a foaming Fury. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 K s Court Houses now are Combustible. 
 
 The Verdure of the Fields will soon a charming Prospe<5l yield. 
 
 Now many a fair Prospect is crush d by Disappointment. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 These ticklish Times make many Minds uneasy, without becoming 
 Bankrupts. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 What human Blood is shed a Sacrifice, for Spots of Earth, which never 
 an Ambitious Minds suffice. 
 
 The Fate of War, How precarious ! how distressing ! 
 
 JULY. 
 
 A selfish Man is envious, and hurts his Friend, secretly, by Guile & 
 Deceit. 
 
 A mighty Stir ! for what ? 
 
 Why that which never can be got. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Some talk of calling home PEACE from a long Exile. 
 
 The News of which follows, and crosses the wide Atlantick. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 How many have been slain, 
 And strew d upon the Plain, 
 Since last Campaign ! 
 A cruel Frost! By which the tenderest Plants are lost. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 The Apple Juice without Abuse is best for Use. 
 
 There may be a private Triumvirate form d to promote Injustice. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1759. 
 
 295 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Many Heads at work, and Hands employed, to accommodate Affairs. 
 Something remarkable in the Winds, and Weather ; and many unlucky 
 violent Accidents, in several parts of the Earth, besides this. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Strife & Contention upon a new Invention. 
 
 Now many Castles in the Air are built, whose Makers go to Fools 
 Paradise, described by MII/TON. 
 
 The Solar Syfteih. 
 
 Fixed 
 
 xplanation of,th<*> above Syftem-i "-in tlie 
 wing the Month of December. ;~ 
 
 Ai tUe Writing tHis, it was not determined whe&er the 
 . would ajejr or no: 
 
 EXPLANATION of the SYSTEM (in the Front Page.) 
 
 This Figure represents the true System of the Universe, 
 which being understood, will exalt our Ideas and excite our 
 highest Admiration of the magnificent Works of God. 
 
 The Sun being placed in the Centre with the several Planets 
 revolving about Him in their natural order. All allow that the 
 
296 ALMANACK FOR 1759. 
 
 Earth is one of the Planets in the Solar System, and Curiosity 
 will excite us to look after the Situation of that Planet which we 
 know is inhabited. You see then, that this Earth is the third 
 Planet from the Sun in this System, and its Orbit is situate 
 between the Orbit of Mars and Venus ; and the Earth revolves 
 about the Sun in that Circle you see there described, in the 
 Space of one Year ; in performing which it turns East on its own 
 Axis 365 Times and almost a quarter more. As the Earth 
 revolves about the Sun in his Orbit, the Power of Attraction 
 carries the Moon revolving about the Earth in her Orbit ; and 
 this Analogy, consonant to the known Laws of Matter and 
 Motion, runs through the Planetary System. 
 
 A Planetary Year is the Revolution of the Planet about the 
 Sun, and is performed in Times, in Square Proportion to the 
 Cubes of their Distances. Those who gain no other Ideas of the 
 heavenly Spaces, and the glorious Bodies therein contained, but 
 what is derived to them by the bear Sight of the Eye, would do 
 well to consider, That wherever the Spectator resides he will 
 still be in the Centre of his own View ; for in an indefinite Space, 
 where there is nothing to bound our Prospect, all Objects that 
 are at a great Distance from us, though they be at immense 
 Distances from one another, yet if they appear in the same right 
 lyine which passes through the Eye, will be seen at the same 
 Point of Space : And all Bodies will appear equally remote, 
 when their Distances from us become so great that the Eye can 
 not estimate or judge of them ; and consequently, the Spectator 
 will look upon them all as placed in the Surface of a Sphere 
 which has the Eye for its Centre, and whose Surface is at an 
 immense Distance, in which Surface all the Heavenly Bodies 
 will seem to perform their Motions. In whatever Place, there 
 fore, the Spectator resides, whether it be in the Earth, or any of 
 the Planets, or Sun, or even in a Fixed Star, that Place will be 
 look d upon by its Inhabitants as the Middle Point of the 
 Universe, aud the Center of the World, since it is the Center of 
 that Spherical Surface in which all distant Bodies seem to be 
 placed. 
 
 When we view this wonderful Fabric of the Universe, and 
 the Beauty of the Stars, in a supine Manner, throw aside our 
 Reason, aud form our Opinions of them, by the Dictates of our 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1759- 297 
 
 Senses, despising the Report of Men of GeniuSj Learning and 
 Leisure, who by the help of Glasses, bring these distant Objects 
 vastly nearer to the Eye : I say, under these Circumstances, we 
 are apt to conclude, that the Sun, Moon and Stars, were made 
 only to decorate and serve this Earth, that they perform their 
 slavish Journey round it every 24 Hours ; that this Spot, or 
 Earth, which we dwell upon, only is inhabited ; and that we 
 ourselves are the only intelligent Creatures that possess the 
 Universe. Pride becomes such ignorance ! But all those who 
 by a serious Enquiry have gained a true (tho 5 not an adequate, 
 comprehensive) Notion of the Universe, look upon such an 
 Opinion with the same Contempt that we do on a poor Maniac, 
 who sits in his Hovel on a Wisp of Straw, and fancies himself 
 a Monarch, and that all the Persons about him are his Subjects. 
 
 The other Planets are like this Earth in Situation and Cir 
 cumstances, 1 having Summer and Winter, Day and Night, Land 
 and Sea ; We have but one Moon ; and how many and great are 
 the Advantages of it to the World? But some of the other 
 Planets have a Plurality of Moons, that as a bright retinue attend 
 them wherever they go. I have proved that an Eye placed in 
 any of the Planets would have much the same Prospect that we 
 have. Shall then, their Heavens be stretch d forth like a Cur 
 tain, and their North over the empty Place, and no Eye to behold 
 it ! Is the Divine Bounty and Goodness there, only bestowed on 
 Stocks and Stones, and other inanimate Creatures ! Do far the 
 most Noble and Magnificent Parts of the Creation, return no 
 Praise and Gratitude to their Creator ! Monstrous Absurdity. 
 
 The foregoing Figure also represents the Path of the remark 
 able Comet expected this Year. 
 
 Comets or Blazing Stars, are a sort or kind of Planets; They 
 may be stiled Planets, because they revolve about the same Sun 
 the Planets do ; they are made of the same Materials, and are 
 subject to the same Law of Gravitation which the Planets are ; 
 but their Orbits are exceeding Excentrical, on which account 
 they ascend a great Height above the System of the Planets ; 
 and spend almost all their Time in the remote cold Regions of 
 
 1 See Mr. Huygerfs Celestial Worlds discovered, and Mr. Derham s 
 Astro. Theologia. 
 
298 ALMANACK FOR 1759. 
 
 the Universe, at vast Distances both from the Planets, and from 
 one another. As they descend to the Sun they approach so near 
 as to be intensely hot ; which uneven Heats and Colds render 
 them unfit for Habitation. By lessening the Velocity of the 
 projectile Motion of this Earth, and the other Planets, they 
 would descend to and ascend from the Sun, in Orbits excentrical 
 like the Comets. Thus easy is it for the great Governour of 
 these Worlds to change the Course of Nature, and reduce them 
 to the unhappy Circumstances of these Blazing Stars. A dole 
 ful Inheritance, reserv d perhaps for the Punishment of their 
 ancient guilty Inhabitants ! 
 
 But beyond the utmost Wanderings of these Comets is the 
 infinite Expansum, occupied by the Fixed Stars; which with 
 the greatest Reason and Probability are judged to be Suns 
 as large as ours ; which enlighten, warm and cherish their 
 respective Systems of Worlds that revolve about them ; and it is 
 only their amazing Distance which makes them appear so small. 
 This I have endeavoured to represent by those Stars without the 
 Orbit of Satur?i ; and those Circles about them are to shew the 
 Orbits of their revolving Planets. Lo ! these are Part of His 
 Ways ! But when we view the Heavens with our Glasses, we 
 discover many more Stars than our naked Eye can reach ; and 
 when we view them with better and better Instruments, we dis 
 cover more and more of these Starry Globes ; and after all, per 
 haps we cannot see the thousandth Part of what the Heavens 
 contain. 
 
 Of the Cause of Sickness in the Camp, and the Method to prevent 
 
 the same. 
 
 As a great Number of Men of late Years have been called 
 into the War for the Defence of our Country, and altho many 
 have fallen in Battle, yet I believe more have died of Sickness in 
 the Camp. An Enquiry into the Reason why the Camp often 
 becomes extremely sickly, and to point out some Salutary 
 Methods to prevent the same, I hope will not be unacceptable at 
 this Time. I may venture to assert, that a proper Choice of 
 those Materials of which we take daily and in great Quantities, 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1759- 299 
 
 for the Nourishment and Support of our Lives, relates more to 
 our Health and Comfort; and has more Power to prevent Dis 
 eases, than those Medicines which we take but seldom, and in 
 small Quantities, have to remove Diseases after we are attack d 
 by them. The best Beef and Pork tend to decay and corrupt, 
 and such Substances used in Diet (that is in an undue Propor 
 tion, without being balanced with Farinacious 1 Substances, 
 Fruits and Herbage) naturally produce Acrimony in the Blood, 
 and daily dispose it to a state of Putrefaction. I have forgot the 
 Number of Days Doct. Arburthnot asserts, that a Meat Diet 
 without Bread, and only Water for Drink, will certainly produce 
 a Fever in ; but he is very particular, and the Time he sets is 
 short. If Water, which is simple and innocent, cannot withstand 
 the Alkaline 2 State of Blood, which such a Diet produces; 
 spirituous Liquors substituted in the stead of Water, will pro 
 duce these bad Effects in a much shorter Time. 
 
 If the common Soldiers have as good and wholesome Meat 
 dealt out to them as the Officers have, yet the Privates have not 
 the same Antidotes, which qualifies their Meat and makes it 
 wholsome, as Wine, Cyder, Lemmons, Vegetable Seeds, Roots, 
 &c, neither are they kept so clean, nor enjoy quite so good an 
 Air, therefore they are more sickly. 
 
 Some Persons are of such firm Constitutions that their vital 
 Force is able to subdue all the sapid Substances they feed upon. 
 But in all Persons who commit Error on this Hand in their Diet, 
 who have not such vital Force, the Alkaline Salts from such 
 a Diet, will not be sufficiently attenuated, and they will retain 
 their original Qualities, which ever tends to Putrefaction ; which 
 will be discovered by producing a stinking Breath, rotten, 
 corroded Gums ; high colour d foetid Urine ; black, blue and 
 brown Spots ; Eruptions on the Skin ; Fevers ; foul Tongue ; 
 bilious and bloody Dysenteries, and other atrocious Distempers. 
 
 But methinks I hear my Countrymen loudly object, and say, 
 " Why should such Charges be made against Beef and Pork, a 
 Soldier s Diet? We liv d on such Fare all our Days, before we 
 came into the Camp, and were healthy ; why should that which 
 
 1 Mealy. 2 Corrosive prodticing Putrefaction : Sour or Acid Substances 
 are of a contrary Nature. 
 
300 ALMANACK FOR 1759. 
 
 never hurt us before, be so dangerous to us now?" To which I 
 Answer, Persons who live in single Families, besides a good Air, 
 have the Advantages of Cookery and Cleanliness, and with their 
 Meat have much of the farinacious or mealy Kind of Substances 
 to feed on, and various acescent vegetable Sauces, Apples and 
 sub-acid Fruits, Vinous Drinks, Cyder at least, if not Wine ; all 
 these are a continual Antidote and keep the Acid and Alkaline 
 Salts well balanc d, in which Circumstance Health consists. But 
 when Men come to encamp in any Army, their own foul Cloaths, 
 the corrupt Air they Breath in, the rank putrescent Qualities of 
 the Meat they feed on, besides which, their Summum Bonum 
 Rum, being dealt out freely ; and all this without any Wine, 
 Ivemmons, Cyder, Apples, or Acescent Substance, to make a 
 Balance between the Acid and Alkaline Salts of the Blood, it is 
 not to be wondered, why so many are Sick and Die under these 
 Circumstances ; it is a meer Miracle that any, with these Errors, 
 escape Death. The Roman Soldiers mixed Vinegar with their 
 Water and found it healthy. If the Use of Vegetable and Acid 
 Things will cure the Alkaline State of the Blood, then what will 
 cure will prevent. I would therefore advise every Soldier, First, 
 to keep Clean, that the foul, rancid Matter lodged in his Cloaths 
 by Sweat and Perspiration, may be done away by frequent 
 Ablution. Secondly, if no Sauce can be had with their Meat, 
 but what comes from the mealy Kind of Vegetable Substances, 
 let it be so managed by Cookery as to prevent the use of Meat 
 more than once a Day. Thirdly, if Cyder or Vinegar can be 
 procur d, use it freely : But if neither of them can be had, every 
 Man at an easy lay, may procure Sweet Spirits Nitre, or even 
 Cramberries eaten raw, sufficient to Acidulate his common Drink, 
 and make a sort of artificial Cyder, which will be found very 
 serviceable. He that faces his Enemy in Defence of his Country, 
 and falls in Battle, lies in the Bed of Honour : But as the Fool 
 dies, so dies he that sits in the Camp and dies thro bad Regimen, 
 and neglects, or disregards the only Means of his Preservation. 
 
 If some such Method, as I have hinted at, were prescribed by 
 Physicians, commanded by the Officers, and heartily observed 
 and practiced by the common Soldiers, some lyives might be 
 saved, and many made more able and effective to answer the 
 Purposes they are imployed about. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1759- 
 
 301 
 
 OH I759 " Grim visag d war" is announced in the open 
 ing verses, and in common with the Astrologic prophet, the Doctor pre 
 dicts the advent of the Comet of 1762, to be " big with Fate," and "por 
 tentous of events." The Almanack is increased in size this year to 
 twenty-four (24) pages, including more information pro bono publico. 
 
 The muse continues her extravagances and in varied form. An Earth 
 quake is described ; the Seasons and their attributes discussed ; Wars and 
 Conquests opened to the vision ; the marine combat on Lake George 
 recorded ; and then follows a forecast of the future, with the plow-share 
 doing the work of the bayonet ; a wail concerning lost opportunities in 
 the Ohio country ; then a return to the beauties of agriculture, and the 
 joys of rustic life, with the accompaniment of the praises of Ceres and 
 Pomona. 
 
 The Essay is a description of " the Solar System" embellished with a 
 rude wood-cut showing the relative positions of the planets, the Sun, and 
 the course of Comets. The language of the Doctor and his deductions 
 always make these articles readable. 
 
 The increased size of the almanack enables the author to give some 
 very well-timed and useful advice to the army, and rules concerning the 
 prevention of sickness in camp. 
 
 The injected sayings and aphorisms, both witty and wise are about of 
 the usual quality and interest. 
 
302 
 
 ALMANACK FOR 1760. 
 
 An Aftronomical DIARY, 
 OR, AN 
 
 K 
 
 For the Year of our Lord CHRIST 
 
 Containing, 
 TheSnh a and 
 &Moort s rifing 
 and letting, ^ 
 Eclipfes, * 
 Time of. High. 
 \Vatcr, Lu- 
 rjitionj, Af- 
 peftv- -Cpurts 
 Spring. Tides, 
 Jadgrhentof 
 the Weather 
 
 Feafts a 
 Faftsofthe 
 Church of 
 
 GeoerJ 
 Meetfrigs- 
 Roads,- 
 
 &. 
 
 Being BISSEXTILE or LEAP-YEAR 
 Calculated for the Meridian of BOSTON, NEW- 
 Latitude 42 Degrees 25 Minutes North. 
 
 The Year of the Reign of King GEORGE the Second 
 begins the Twenty-fecond Day of June. 
 
 NATHANIEL-AME 
 
 MARS .like a, wild Infernal Fury folks, 
 And marks his Steps in Blood whereVe he walks ; 
 But Feace wpuld frpm her Native Heav n defcehd, 
 And Olive -Bra n(ihs- to the -Nation lend.. 
 
 n 
 
 S Q ^ T Otfi 
 
 6o)<3 by Jo^N-DftAm, in, Cdrnhill" ; 
 )ijNeWbiary-Sirftet : r^i^ V* &R us 
 fc dl^4.,-lnr rtiT^nt nd THOMAS & 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1760. 303 
 
 Courteous Reader, 
 
 Thro the Kindness of Heaven in preserving my Life another 
 Year, and your free Acceptance of my Labours for so long past, 
 I am enabled and encouraged to present you with this my 7^/iirty- 
 fifth Almanack, which is for the Year 1760. By the Addition of 
 Half a Sheet I have Room to insert more ; and have therefore 
 taken the Planets Places from the great Column in this Alman 
 ack, and made an Ephemeris in a Page by itself, and set the 
 Days observ d by the Church of England in each monthly Page 
 according to the Church Calender: And as by inlarging this 
 Performance I aim to gratify all who are pleased to purchase one 
 of my Almanacks, I have remembred the friendly Sect of Men 
 called Quakers, by inserting their General-Meetings. I have 
 continued the Table of Interest ; the Weight and Value of Gold, 
 &c. And have made an Addition to the Account of the several 
 Stages and Roads, and have taken Notice of the Names and 
 Distances where the Persons that kept Entertainment have been 
 changed the Year past. But besides these all Things, Reader, 
 you expect that I should tell you something from the Stars. 
 I tell you that they are at a great Distance from us, we know but 
 little with certainty about them ; but if you would have my 
 Astronomical Creed, it is in a Word, That the Stars, which are 
 so innumerable, were not all created at one and the same Time ; 
 that our Sun, and the Stars only that compose the Copernican 
 System, were created when this Earth was ; and that they were 
 formed from the Chaos or Matter of some whole System that 
 run thro its Period, and was in a dissoluted State : and that 
 (except the five Planets which, with this Earth, compose our 
 own System) all the Stars that you behold with your naked Eye, 
 or that you can see with the Assistance of Glasses, are so many 
 Suns to whole Systems of Worlds, Worlds no doubt suited to all 
 Natures, Tastes, and Tempers, aud every Class of Beings ! and 
 that the meritorious Part of the Creation, who pass their proba 
 tion State with the Supreme Applause will be received into some 
 of the happy Worlds, where they will possess perfect Joy : Where 
 all the Errors of this World will be amended, and whatever exists 
 there, analogous to this present State, will be in infinite Per 
 fection. 
 
 Dedham, Sept. 28^. 1759. N. Ames. 
 
304 ALMANACK FOR 1760. 
 
 Empires conceiv d awhile in Embryo lay 
 
 They sprout and grow and branching spread away 
 
 Till lopp d by Time their aged Trunks decay. 
 
 The Book of Fate contain all earthly Things 
 
 The State of Kingdoms, and their Race of Kings : 
 
 Th advent rous Muse these. brazen Leaves unfold, 
 
 And future Days as present now behold, 
 
 Where Powwou s Huts in deep Prostration lies 
 
 Temples to GOD with lofty Spires arise : 
 
 On Murder bent where savage Pagans met 
 
 Majestic Halls of public Justice set ; 
 
 Impenetrable Shade keeps off the Day 
 
 Safe haunts for all the ravenous Beasts of Prey 
 
 Where stately Domes adorn the ample Square 
 
 There sapient Senators inrob d repair ; 
 
 And splendid Courts magnificently shine 
 
 With scepter d Heads of GEORGE S Royal Line. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 In Vulgar Minds false Maxims are receiv d, 
 Laid up for Truth and sacredly believ d ; 
 And thus in Law, Estates cannot ascend, 
 For Gold like Lead does ever downward tend. 
 Nature abhors a Vacuum too, they say. 
 Nature abhors such Fools, as well she may ; 
 For if Space was with Plenitude oppress d, 
 Nothing could move, all Things would ever rest. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 The steady Horse his drunken Rider feels, 
 And veers transverse to prop him as he reels ; 
 Who takes the Bowl too freely at a Feast, 
 We say in scorn, he makes himself a Beast : 
 Beasts take no more than Nature s craving needs ; 
 Man only surfeits Nature when he feeds. 
 The Steed would tell (could you him understand) 
 His erring Mate, " you make yourself a Man." 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 All Second Causes from the First proceed, 
 
 So no Event can happen undecreed. 
 
 Eternal Wisdom all Things has design d, 
 
 And Heav n and Earth and Hell are firmly join d 
 
 By one vast Chain, whose Links connected be, 
 
 Thro Time revolving to Eternity. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1760. 305 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 " The World s a Scene of Changes, and to be 
 " Constant, in Nature were Inconstancy, 
 " For twere to break the Laws herself has made ; 
 " Our Substances themselves do fleet and fade ; 
 " The most fix d Being still does move and fly, 
 " Swift as the Wings of Time tis measur d by. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 The L/ife renewing Heat each Flower meets, 
 Expands its Leaves, and gives forth all its sweets ; 
 Touch d by the kindly Warmth, the Roses blow, 
 And liquid Pearls amidst their Fragrance glow ; 
 The velvet Lillies milder Scents exhale, 
 And give their Odours to the passing Gale. 
 
 JUNK. 
 
 Swift through the Fields the Peasant takes his Way, 
 And pleas d resumes the Labour of the Day ; 
 The feather d Choir renew their artless Lay, 
 Wing thro the Air, or warble on the Spray; 
 These are thy Works, O great Creator ! these 
 Thy Power effects ; Heaven, Earth & Air, & Seas 
 Are Thine. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Young Fool ! for Pleasure sells his little Wits, 
 To suck Damnation from a Strumpet s lips ; 
 How silly is the Wretch to trust the Lass, 
 That robs him of his Nose before his Face ; 
 And tis the Nature of the nasty Wench, 
 To borrow English Coin, but pay in French. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Custom for Liberty is still mistook, 
 And Virtue for the Fashion is forsook : 
 Deluded Age, confin d in Custom s Chain, 
 
 Reflect and soon your Liberty regain ; 
 
 That once regained, this maxim will protect, 
 Let each Man act as Conscience shall direct. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Ye idle Fair, who spend the fleeting Hours 
 
 In Trifles, Dressing, Scandal and Amours ; 
 
 Whose Tempers to the Fashion subject most, 
 Are for a fashionable Trifle cross d ; 
 
306 ALMANACK FOR 1760. 
 
 Who in your formal Visits take Delight, 
 Seem fond of one ye hate, to be polite. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Meer Slaves to Fashion, and Extremes of Taste, 
 With Hat compleatly cock d, and Coat well lac d ; 
 Whether your qualities are good or ill, 
 They Judge your Merit by your Taylor s Bill ; 
 Concluding he to Wit has no Pretence, 
 Whose lasting Serge was bought at small Bxpence. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 The happy Men that first possest this Earth, 
 Spent their dear Hours in endless Rounds of Mirth ; 
 They claim d no Titles from Descent or Blood, 
 But that which made them Noble made them Good ; 
 Envy was not, none thought themselves opprest, 
 For every one what most he lik d, possest. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 No snarling Words from daunken Fits ensu d, 
 Acorns and Strawberries were all their Food ; 
 From painful Cares of Luxury they fled, 
 And on the wholesome Herbs of Nature fed ; 
 Possest of inward Peace they eat their fill, 
 And drank the Christal of the murm ring Rill. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Now o er the Fire we muse 
 
 Of what we ve got, and what we have to lose. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 A strange Event ! 
 
 Which makes some to repent. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 What s this we hear ! 
 
 Sure we have Reason to dread & fear. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Must we for Peace with dear-bought Conquests part, 
 Conquests that cost us many a bleeding Heart ! 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1760. 
 
 307 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 News from afar, 
 Which ends the War (perhaps) 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 This is a Time for Joy & Mirth 
 When we consider our Saviour s Birth ! 
 
 ACCOUNT of the present ROYAL FAMILY. 
 
 GEORGE II. King of Great-Britain, France and Ireland, 
 &c. His living Issue, by his late Queen Caroline, are, i Princess 
 Amelia; 2 Prince William, Duke of Cumberland; 3 Princess 
 
 Mary. The Princess Dowager of Wales, Augusta, of Saxe 
 
 Gotha, born 3Oth of November 1719, married 8th of May 1736, 
 to Frederick, late Prince of Wales. Their living Issue are, 
 i Princess Augusta ; 2 GEORGE Prince of Wales ; 3 Edward 
 Augustus , 4 William-Henry ; 5 Henry-Frederick ; 6 Louisa- 
 Ann ; 7 Frederick-William ; 8 Caroline Matilda. 
 
 A TABLE of the Weight 
 
 and Value of Gold. 
 
 Coins. 
 
 dwt. Gr. 
 
 Old 
 
 Tenor. 
 
 
 Lawful 
 
 Money. 
 
 Guinea 
 
 5 j 9 
 
 10 
 
 IOS. 
 
 0</. 
 
 i 
 
 8f. 
 
 <*/. 
 
 
 Half Ditto 
 
 2 ! 16 
 
 c; 
 
 r 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 I 
 
 O 
 
 w 
 
 
 
 
 
 Moidore 
 
 6 i 22 
 
 l-z 
 
 IO 
 
 o 
 
 I 
 
 16 
 
 o 
 
 Half Ditto 
 
 3lII 
 
 o 
 6 
 
 I c; 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 18 
 
 o 
 
 4 Pistole Piece 
 
 17 8 
 
 33 
 
 o 
 00 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 8 
 
 o 
 
 Half Ditto - -- 
 
 8 ! 16 
 
 16 
 
 IO 
 
 o 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 o 
 
 Pistole 
 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 
 o 
 
 I 
 
 r 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 Half Ditto 
 
 . 
 
 2 
 
 4. 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 o 
 
 II 
 
 o 
 
 Double Johannes. _ 
 
 18 
 
 T^ 
 
 IO 
 
 36 
 
 OO 
 
 o 
 
 4 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 Single Ditto 
 
 9 
 
 5 
 
 18 
 
 OO 
 
 o 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 o 
 
 
 Half Ditto 
 
 A 
 
 14- 
 
 Q 
 
 OO 
 
 o 
 
 I 
 
 
 o 
 
 Quarter Ditto 
 
 T 1 
 2 
 
 f 
 
 7 
 
 4 
 
 IO 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 o 
 
 Value of Gold. Old Tenor. 
 
 i Ounce of Gold is . 38 oo o 
 
 i Pennyweight of Ditto is._ i 18 o 
 i Grain of Ditto is o i 7 
 
 Lawful Money. 
 
 S 14 
 
 5 i 
 
 O O 2 
 
308 ALMANACK FOR 1760. 
 
 Value of Silver. Old Tenor, 
 
 i Ounce of Silver is . 2 10 o 
 
 Lawful Money. 
 . o 68 
 o 04 
 
 i Pennyweight of Ditto is _ o 26 
 
 i Grain of Ditto is o o ij- 
 
 Spanish mill d Dollars pass for Six Shillings Lawful Money 
 and Forty-five Shillings Old Tenor, in Massachusetts Bay. 
 
 LIST of all the Crowned Heads in Europe, and the Names of 
 their respective Royal Cities or Metropolis of each Kingdom. 
 
 GEORGE II. King of Great Britain, &c. ..London. 
 
 Francis Stephen, Emperor of Germany | 
 
 Empress Maria Theresa, Queen of Hungary. ) " 
 
 Lewis, XV. King of France Paris. 
 
 Carlos III. King of Spain Madrid. 
 
 Joseph, King of Portugal Lisbon, 
 
 Frederick, King of Denmark Copenhagen, 
 
 Adolphus Frederick, King of Sweden Stockholm. 
 
 Augustus, King of Poland Warsaw. 
 
 Charles Frederick, King of Prussia Berlin- 
 
 Elizabeth, Empress of Russia Petersburg. 
 
 King Stanislaus, Duke of Lorrain and Barr 
 
 Charles Emanuel, King of Sardinia Turin. 
 
 Osman, Sultan of Turkey Constantinople, 
 
 Besides a Number of Princes, Dukes, &c., who 
 govern Republicks, Provinces, &c. 
 
 AMES, 1760. 
 
 On the Reduction of QUEBEC, Sept. 18, 1759, by General 
 WOLFE and the brave Troops under his Command &c. 
 
 Important is the Cause. All British Hearts 
 Twixt Hope and Fear expect the Grand Event : 
 The Seed of Jacob send their Souls to Heav n 
 In fervent Prayers : The Lord of Hosts attends, 
 Attends the Cries of wrestling Jacob s Sons : 
 And Heav n designs Success. The winged Hosts 
 Quick at th Almighty s Nod, bend round his Throne, 
 Ready to hear his Will, nor less dispos d 
 To execute his great Commands on Earth. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1760. 309 
 
 " Behold on yonder Earth, the British Troops, 
 " True to their GOD, and valiant for their King, 
 " Compell d to Arms by Gallic Perjury, 
 " Led forth by WOLFE, the generous and the brave : 
 " Oppress d AMERICA their Succour claims ; 
 " CANADA to demolish is the Plan ; 
 " Under th auspicious Smiles of Heav n the Plan 
 " Was laid, and hitherto Success has gain d ; 
 " But yet the grand decisive Scene remains 
 " To be attempted ; and Success therein 
 " Cannot be gain d by Power merely human : 
 " Why should the sadden d British Troops withdraw 
 " With Victory lialf-gain d, and glad the Hearts 
 " Of haughty Papal Power : And so at last 
 " A Conquest lose for want of Man for Man ? 
 " Better that I with my peculiar Aid 
 " Cause the few Heroes Multitudes to Chace, 
 " So that the Conqu ror s and the Conquer d both 
 " May see niy Hand, and own a Power Divine. 
 
 He said : And all th Angelick Souls benign 
 Their Approbation smil d, and humbly bow d. 
 
 " Then Wing your Course to Earth " th ETERNAL said, 
 
 " Nor loiter by the Way ; haste to the Help 
 
 " Of English Troops : But those of Gaul confound! 
 
 " The English Hearts, now bold, still bolder make, 
 
 " Bid them dismiss their Fears, and trust in God, 
 
 " Whose is the Cause, and whose to give Success. 
 
 " Into the Mind of WOLFE, Heroic Man ! 
 
 " A Ray of Wisdom dart, more than Human, 
 
 " That he with Skill Divine may lay the Plan 
 
 " To gain the Conquest o re his numerous Foes ; 
 
 " And his fir d Breast with ten-fold Ardor fire, 
 
 " To lead the Van, and crush the Rebel Throng. 
 
 " And then bid Fear and Darkness fill the Souls, 
 
 " The Savage Souls, of proud Canadian Bands ; 
 
 " What Valour still remains let be ill-tim d, 
 
 " Let ill-tim d Confidence their Ruin bring. 
 These great Commands sink deep in every Breast 
 Of the attending Spirits round the Throne ; 
 They spread their Wings with Pleasure to obey, 
 And thro the trackless Path of Liquid Air, 
 Pursue their rapid Course, nor miss their Way : 
 Not otherwise than flaming Balls of Fire, 
 Bursting from Clouds with hoarse tremendous Roar 
 Stream swiftly down, and shake the trembling Ground. 
 
3io ALMANACK FOR 1760. 
 
 Malignant Spirits which frequent the Air, 
 And croud these Lower Regions, full of Spite, 
 Observe these bright Ambassadors from Heav n, 
 Guess their Design, and wish to stop their Course : 
 But (Thanks to Heav n) their Malice is confin d. 
 They only shew that they belong to Hell. 
 Heav ns Messengers fly thro the wakeful Camps, 
 And spread their Influence thro the Breasts of all 
 Who give Commands, and who Commands obey; 
 Add Wisdom to the Wise, Strength to the Strong, 
 Zeal to the Zealous, Courage to the Brave, 
 And so enliven all ; but yet, as bidden, 
 Mainly attend to WOLFE, the noble CHIEF. 
 Greaten his Soul, (his Soul was great before,) 
 Extend his Views, before extended far, 
 And warm his manly Soul with fresh Desire 
 To gain the long wish d Viclory : At once 
 To add new Conquests to the British Arms, 
 New Territories to the British Crown, 
 And venge the Wrongs done to her peaceful Sons : 
 He meditates great Things ; all Possibles 
 Ope to his Mind : He knows what can be done, 
 And burns to execute the deep-laid Scheme, 
 Tho conscious of the Danger to himself. 
 
 Himself he views a Point, when in compare 
 With that great CAUSE in which he is engag d, 
 He s Hero, Patriot, Politician, All : 
 These drink up all his Soul, he has no Self. 
 
 And now the great decisive Morning dawns 
 When proud QUEBEC must fall ; and WOLFE immortal, 
 Borne on the Wings of Fame, quit this dull Earth, 
 To dwell in Realms above. All British Hearts 
 Grow warm, their Blood beats high in every Vein, 
 The noble Chief gives forth his wise Commands, 
 They re all Attention, and with dauntless Hearts 
 March forth to meet the Foe in hidious Fight. 
 The Armies now advance in dread Array, 
 The glitt ring Shields give and return the Blaze ; 
 Serenely WOLFE leads on his trusty Few 
 To meet a tripple Force : He calmly gives 
 His Orders ; while the dusky Horrors rise, 
 With blazing Confidence the Foes rush on, 
 And with quick Vollies hurl the leaden Showers, 
 Which thrice the British Troops bravely sustain, 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1760. 311 
 
 And then with double Force return the Fire, 
 
 Which spreads a wild Destruction all around : 
 
 Stunn d at the Blow the yielding Squadrons break, 
 
 And then in dire Amazement basely fly ; 
 
 While Britain s Sons pursue with noble Rage, 
 
 Renew the Charge with wide destroying Balls, 
 
 And wield with Skill the dire avenging Sword, 
 
 Whose steely Blade its horrid Circles cuts. 
 
 WOLFE, where the Combat mow d the falling Ranks, 
 
 Nobly serene enjoy d the raging War. 
 
 Come on, Come on, the valiant Leader cries ! 
 
 The Day is our s, the Day is our s ! But oh ! 
 
 (Heav n so permits what loyal Hearts don t Bleed !) 
 
 A fatal Ball soon plough d its angry Course 
 
 His Body thro , and stretch d him on the Strand ; 
 
 And yet with bleeding Wounds, and shatter d Voice, 
 
 He cries Pursue, Pursue, my Lads, pursue ! 
 
 Now Victory and Heav n divide his Mind, 
 
 And each alternate claim his dying Cares 
 
 Till Victory s secur d ; And then in Peace 
 
 He breaths his noble Soul into the Arms 
 
 Of Guardian Angels, who with Joy convey 
 
 It to the Realms of Cloudless Day above. 
 
 O WOLFE ! immortal Hero, tho now fall n 
 
 Thy Name shall live for ever in our Breasts. 
 
 Shall We, or envy or condole thy Fate ? 
 
 Like him of Gaza, conqu ring in thy Fall 
 
 Gaining the greatest Victory at thy Death. 
 
 on 1760. The title page this year is embellished with a 
 rude cut of the Zodiac surrounded by ideal figures of the four Seasons. 
 War with all its pomp and circumstance, with Mars in command with his 
 baneful influence, is poetically described in the opening verse, and Peace 
 as briefly, but not as forcibly alluded to. 
 
 The inconveniences of being popular, and being the author of a popu 
 lar publication are thoroughly experienced by the Doctor this year, in 
 which occurs quite a " cotillion," caused by the action of the printers of 
 the Almanack 1759 (see Note p. 289) in declining to furnish copies to the 
 booksellers. 
 
 There being no copyright law in the Colonies, the booksellers engaged 
 a printer named Kneeland, stole the copy after publication by Dr. Ames 
 printers, and issued on their own account. 
 
 Not content with absolute robbery, these pirates boldly announced 
 their production as the " Hd. Edition, Price, 2 Pistareens per Dozen, 5 
 
312 ALMANACK FOR 1760. 
 
 Coppers single. Corrected from the Mistakes and Blunders of those 
 printed by some of the PRINTERS of Boston." Then to add insult to in 
 jury they (the booksellers) appended : 
 
 " N. B. As some of the Printers of the Town of Boston seem deter- 
 min d to impose on the Publick : This is to inform, that to the great 
 Abuse of Dr. Ames, and the Publick, they have printed Almanacks for 
 1760 & affix d the Doctor s name to the same, that differ in a scandalous 
 Manner, and can by no Means be depended on : and that great Care has 
 been taken to correct this Edition, from the Errors they have made in 
 said Almanacks : We also desire the Public to beware they are not im- 
 pos d on by giving an Extravagant Price for said Almanacks." 
 
 This the Doctor replied to as followeth : 
 
 FROM THE BOSTON GAZETTE, JUNE 14, 1760. 
 
 In a Connecticut Paper was Advertised Almanacks for 1760, with my 
 Name thereto, to be sold by some of the Booksellers in Boston ; and also 
 some to be sold at New Haven, at the low price of Two Shillings per Dozen : 
 and having seen some of them in Boston ; it appears that said Almanack 
 is a notorious Cheat and Imposition ; The Chief Design was, (as given out 
 by some who had Honor, Honesty and ingenuity enough to assist in 
 Counterfeiting) to destroy the Credit my Almanack had gained, and pre 
 vent its having such Credit for the future : To which Purpose they have 
 Endeavoured to render my performance as despicable as possible, by 
 omitting the Preface, Ephemeris, Verses, &c. also what is of Service, 
 Interest Tables, Value of Coin, the several Roads and Stages : and further 
 to make me appear still more Contemptible omitted AI,I, the Week Days 
 in the whole Year, and above 50 Days in the Months, and fixed in some 
 places the wrong Dominical Letter : Surely such Conduct is to the last 
 Degree, Base ! 
 
 fflJtT I therefore advertise again, That those Almanacks printed in 
 Boston from my Copy have the Printers name thereto, and none others : 
 And I hope that the Defence of my Reputation, in thus advertising, which 
 at this Time seems necessary, will be a sufficient Apology to my Country 
 men, whose Good I seek, and on whose Good-will I depend. 
 
 Boston, Jan. 8, 1760. Nathaniel Ames. 
 
 The recorded "pirated" editions published previous to this date, and 
 during the lifetime of the author, bore the following imprints : 1757 New 
 England; 1758-59, New Haven: J. Parker & Company ; 1764, "Printing 
 office New Haven /" 1765, " Reprinted New London. Timothy Green" 
 
 In his address to the Reader in the Almanack for 1760, the Author 
 rehearses the advantages of the increased size of the Almanack ; remem 
 bers " the friendly Sect of Men called Quakers," etc., etc., closing with an 
 allusion to that " happy World " where all errors typographical and other 
 wise will be amended. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1761. 313 
 
 The accession to the throne of George the Third, is celebrated in heroic 
 verse, and in the monthly lines, Temperance, Truth, Cause and Effect, 
 Inconstancy, Folly and its punishment, Liberty and Custom, Idleness, 
 fashion, and the Pre-historic man, are all attended to in the Doctor s usual 
 method. 
 
 Then follows an Account of the Royal Family, and contemporary rulers, 
 with their postoffice addresses ; concluding the annual production in an 
 heroic elegy in blank verse on the "Death of the Immortal Wolfe." 
 
 As might well be surmised, the humor for this month is well nigh 
 dissipated by the presence of more important serious matters. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1761. 
 
 By NATHANIEL AMES. 
 
 BOSTON : Printed by JOHN DRAPER, in Cornhill ; RICHARD DRAPER in 
 Newbury-Street ; GREEN & RussEW,, & EDES & GiUv in Queen-Street : 
 and THOMAS & JOHN Fi,EET, at the Heart and Crown in Cornhill. 
 
 Great Alexander, who the World had won, 
 Sat down and wept when all his Work was done. 
 AMHERST with Glory triumphs o er his Foes, 
 And rests for want of Countries to oppose. 
 CANADA conquer d ! Can the News be true ! 
 Inspir d by Heav n what cannot Britons do. 
 The News with Haste to listning Nations tell, 
 How Canada, like ancient Carthage, fell. 
 
 Kind READER. 
 
 The Motions and various Appearances of the Planets were 
 brought to Rule and Order, by viewing the Heavens with the 
 greatest Precision and Accuracy ; every one improving upon the 
 Observation of his Predecessor, until all the Phenomena were 
 compleatly gathered ; and then applying Geometry and Numbers 
 
 J The Almanack for 1761 was issued Nov. i, 1760, to prevent the " pirates " 
 from deriving any advantage by reason of an earlier publication. 
 
314 ALMANACK FOR 1761. 
 
 to investigate their Orbits, their Distances, the Laws of their 
 Motion, their Natures, and their Causes : By these Means 
 Astronomy has been brought to great Perfection : Nevertheless 
 to bring some Points in this sublime Art to a yet greater Degree 
 of Perfection the curious and learned Mathematicians of this 
 Age expect a curious Phenomenon the sixth day of June, this 
 present Year 1761 : I mean the Transit of the Planet Venus over 
 the Disk of the SUN. His Majesty has granted a Sum of Money 
 to the Royal Society in London to send proper Persons to St. 
 Helena and Bencoolon, and also to Hudson s Bay ; The French 
 King has sent one of the Royal Academy of Sciences to Pondi- 
 cherry, in the East Indies ; the Academy of Petersburg to Siberia, 
 that this curious Appearance may be accurately observed from 
 these different and distant Parts of the Earth at the same real 
 Moment of Time. 
 
 With the other Things as usual in this Performance, I have 
 continued and added to the Account of the Roads and Houses of 
 Public Entertainment, and observed the Alterations that have 
 been made (according to the Information of Travellers) since my 
 last. I have also added the Table of the Value of Coins currant 
 in the several Provinces : and to prevent these Things from 
 growing stale and unentertaining, I have Wrote a word or two 
 on those Subjects, that there may be the Appearance of Novelty, 
 where almost the same Things are repeated. There is added to 
 this last Table, the Value of Grains of Gold and Silver in Old 
 Tenor, from one Grain to a Pennyweight, very handy in this 
 Province. I have likewise given a Page for a Table of the 
 Difference of apparent and true Time, for every other Day in the 
 Year. 
 
 The disarming the SMALL-POX of its Malignity and Danger is 
 a Matter of great Importance. Some at this Day affirm they 
 have found this great Secret : If what I have wrote on this Sub 
 ject might stir up the Ingenious to make due Inquiry into this 
 Affair, and refute or confirm the Pretensions of these Gentlemen, 
 it will answer some good Purpose. 
 
 With the Assistance of the Muses I have attempted to deco 
 rate the Almanack this Year with Poetry of my own composing, 
 except the Lines at the Top of the Eclipse-Page, which were 
 sent me after the Copy was sent to the Press. NATH. AMKS. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1761. 315 
 
 To thee, great GOD, thro whose indulgent Care, 
 
 We view the Dawning of another Year, 
 
 Our annual Song, inflam d with IvOve, shall rise, 
 
 Grateful as Incense, curling to the Skies. 
 
 Still, may thy guardian Providence protect, 
 
 Sweeten our Days, and all our Paths direct : 
 
 Inspir d by firm Religion s sacred Pow r, 
 
 May noble Acts illumine ev ry Hour : 
 
 So when L/ife fades, to Heav n our Souls shall wing, 
 
 Those blooming Regions of immortal Spring. 
 
 The Foreign Vintage rival d by the Gardens of America : Or, A 
 Receipt to make Wine as good as most that is imported, and 
 much cheaper. 
 
 A proper Receipt to make Currant Wine. 
 
 To a Gallon of Currants, a Gallon of Water, mash them, and 
 strain the Liquor from them, and to every Gallon of Liquor put 
 two Pounds and three Quarters of good Brown Sugar : Put it in 
 a tight Cask, and let it stand three or four Days, that it may 
 Work, with the Bung out ; then bung it up, and it will be fit to 
 drink by Christmas. 
 
 A Divine ought to calculate his Sermon, and an Astronomer 
 his Almanack, to the Meridian of the Place & People where 
 they live. 
 
 Names, Characters, Explanation and Use of the Five Aspects. 
 
 ASPECT signifies the Situation of the Planets and Stars, in 
 Respect of each other. Of these we commonly reckon five 
 different Sorts, viz.: 
 
 c/ Conjunction, when they are both in the same degree. 
 
 o Opposition, when they are 180 Degrees distant. 
 
 D Quartile, when they are 90 Degrees distant from each other. 
 
 A Trine, is when they are distant 120 Degrees. 
 
 ^ Sextile, is when two Planets, or Stars, are 60 Deg. distant. 
 
 Names and Characters of the Signs, and Planets. 
 T Aries tt Taurus U Gemini Cancer & Leo 1XP Virgo 
 
316 ALMANACK FOR 1761. 
 
 Libra Tit Scorpio T^ Sagitarius Vj Capricorn Aquarius 
 X Pisces. 
 
 Sun T? Saturn 2i Jupiter c? Mars 9 Venus Mercury 
 D 3 Moon Q> Dragon s Head 3 Dragon s Tail Earth. 
 One Star differeth from another Star in Glory. The most 
 glorious is the Planet VENUS, and she is our Evening Star to 
 the 6th of June, thence she reigns Queen of the Morning till 
 the End of the Year 1761. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 The Eye, surprizing Instrument of Sight ! 
 Within whose Orb reflected Rays of Light 
 Transcribe the Image of external Things, 
 And Notice to the Mind immediate brings, 
 From the vast Range of distant Stars and Skies, 
 And various beauteous Landscapes as they rise. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Nor less than GOD planted the curious Ear 
 Whose winding Porch collects the trembling Air, 
 Sonorous Cave ! from Bends and Hollows come 
 The speaking Echoes on the sounding Drum, 
 Where living Cords impress the ready Mind, 
 And raise the Man above the brutal Kinds. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 . The Sense of Feeling on the Frontiers stands, 
 |> < With Scouts and Guards on Finger s Ends and Hands 
 Nervous Detachments, Legions on the skin 
 To warn of Dangers e re it comes within. 
 From the keen Nerve to the numb Heel the Touch 
 Nor thrills the Part too feebly nor too much. 
 
 APRII,. 
 The Smell dispatches Couriers to the Mind 
 
 With such Advice as Sight has left behind, 
 
 The station d Sweets, that hover round the Rose 
 
 Unseen, are yet detected by the Nose : 
 
 And yet for great Segacity of Smell 
 
 Some Beasts the Man for Keeness far excell : 
 
 An old experienc d hunting Hound kept back, 
 
 Where Thousands step, will find his Master s Track. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1761. 317 
 
 MAY. 
 
 The Taste s commission d to discuss the Food, 
 
 And make Report whether tis bad or good : 
 , The Mouth to hold this Office is ordain d, 
 ^ ( That nothing there might pass but what has gain d 
 j A Passport with the greatest Scrutiny 
 (. Upon it s pleasing wholesome Quality. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Knowledge which has from others Senses flown 
 The Use of Speech appropriates to my own ; 
 This Art conveys the Secrets of the Breast, 
 This ! favours Man so much above the Beast. 
 The Voice in Speech so artful strikes the Ear, 
 That we thereby the very Thoughts do hear. 
 
 When the yEtherial Blue with Clouds is spread, 
 And dormcnt Lightnings hover over Head ; 
 Soon as the Flash has launch d the livid Flame, 
 It darts and burns along th electric Train, 
 The dire Explosion leaves the light ned Air, 
 To shine in cool Serenity and Fair. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Th aspiring Hills, from whose steep craggy Sides, 
 The gath ring Mist in humid murmuring glides, 
 These Stores reserv d the running Stream befriends, 
 Whose constant Flow the bub ling Fountain spends. 
 Let Hills and Mists withhold their kind Supply, 
 Brooks fail and leave their o ozy Channels dry. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Now Nature paints her Colours !. Blue and Green, 
 
 On the high Arch and ample Carpet seen, 
 
 Make up the Ground of Nature s wond rous Piece 
 
 Where perfect Pictures mingling intersperse ; 
 
 The golden Stars on saphire Pavements glow 
 
 And ardent Hues adorn the Scene below, 
 
 Nor in too strong Exuberance of Light 
 
 Fatigue, but please, and chear the approving Sight, 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 The temperate Man enjoys the most Delight, 
 For Riot dulls and palls the Appetite, 
 
318 ALMANACK FOR 1761. 
 
 Excess shuts out true Relish from the Soul, 
 And does the Pleasures ev n of Taste controul ; 
 Such keen Delights from Abstinence proceed, 
 That Temp rance is true Luxury indeed. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 When Sol descends a down the Midnight Way, 
 The Atmosphere holds up the falling Day ; 
 And so the Morn with Blushes paints the East 
 To entertain the rising princely Guest. 
 But for this kind Refraction of the Light 
 Sudden would flash the Day and rush the Night. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 The Atmosphere Soi/s gentle Heat retains, 
 Broods on the Earth in gentle Dews and Rains ; 
 Tis this kind Vest that keeps our Planet warm, 
 Defends her numerous Progeny from Harm, 
 While Mountain Tops lie chill d in Frost and Snow, 
 Where Flowers and Fruits adorn their Slopes below. 
 
 The Contented FARMER. 
 
 I eat, drink, and sleep, and do what I please, 
 The King in his Palace can only do these. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Their Light lessen d, their Strength & Glory abated. 
 
 A Discovery of secret & cunning Devices. 
 
 By missing the Good expected, an Evil unthought of, is prevented. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Blind Fortune from her Tree lets drop, Discord & Trouble on some, 
 but Mirth, Wealth and Pleasure on others. 
 
 Nature operates vigorously in the Production of Cold or Wet. 
 
 We shall soon reap the Fruits of Peace : or new Incidents will embroil 
 the War afresh. 
 
 Give me this Week for Elbow-room to guess in and I ll promise wet 
 enough. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 High Matters transacted with Fear & Care. 
 One hopes for Good but misses it. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1761. 319 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 News of Importance ! 
 
 A righteous man (more excellent than his Neighbour) slandered because 
 he cannot be corrupted. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Some Men like the Planets stir up & influence smoaky thick air. 
 Behold a Man vexed and Fearful. 
 
 Husbandry is the Philosopher s Stone which turns Trees, Fruits, Barth, 
 Iron & Water into Gold. 
 
 GENERAL ELECTION. Happy Privileges ! 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Nature s Apparatus being prepared, the Grand Electric Fire plays uiar- 
 velously in the Night. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Slander should think of Memory and Chalk. 
 
 Saturn sheds malignant Influence on Monks, Fryars and Jesuits. 
 How pleasant is the Draught of modern Punch this sultry Weather ? 
 It is reviving. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Live temperate and defy the Physician. 
 
 The Consideration of Utopian Schemes are adjourned till Winter. 
 
 Hempen Cravats will come more and more into Fashion. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Now the Infirm grow more unhealthy, but the Alert perform many 
 short Journeys with Pleasure about this Time. 
 
 The Farmer and Labourer have had a day ; Attornies, Clerks and 
 Scribes have a Time to come. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Old Men are in danger of dying, and old Buildings of falling. 
 
 The three Doctors, Diet, Quiet and Temperance are the best Physicians. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Make due Preparation for an unwelcome Guest. 
 
 Some are influenc d by the Dragon s Head and some by his Tail. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 A Son of Mars from War does come 
 and War proclaims anew at Home. 
 May all your Pleasures last, and Pains end with this Year that s past. 
 
320 ALMANACK FOR 1761. 
 
 Of different COINS. 
 
 The Germans, because of their Easterly Dwelling from the 
 English, were called Esterlings, some of whom Dwelling in 
 England, first of all stamp d a pure Coin, which from them was 
 called Esterling Money ; and now leaving out the initial Letter 
 E, it is called Sterling- Money at this Day. Queen Elizabeth 
 called in all the base Coin of her Predecessors ; since which 
 Time nothing but Sterling Money passes ; except for the Neces 
 sity of the Poor, Permission is given for coining Copper into 
 English Farthings and Half Pence, which are not a Tender for 
 Rent and Debt. The Pound, Shilling, and Pence, of different 
 Nations differ in Value ; thus, an English Penny is a Scottish 
 Shilling ; The Hebrew Talent in Silver is ^375, in Gold ^4500. 
 
 Artiabalipa King of Peru (being taken by the Spaniards who 
 conquered his Country) pay d for his Ranson Ten Million Three 
 Hundred and Twenty-Six Thousand Ducats in Gold ; neverthe 
 less the Spaniards after they had got his Money, put him to 
 Death. The Priests, after having described Heaven and Hell to 
 him, told him they would pardon his Sins, and he should go to 
 Heaven : He asked if the Spaniards went there ? The Priest 
 answered, Yes : Then, says the poor Peruvian, I will go to the 
 other Place. 
 
 Of the SMALL-POX. 
 
 The SMAU>POX is an Eruption of Pustles on the Skin of a 
 determinate shape & Nature, that in a certain Space of Time 
 become purulent Abscesses, containing Puss of a Malignant 
 Nature. A Person cannot be infected with this terrible Distem 
 per by an Epidemic Constitution of the Air, or State of the 
 Blood & Juices favouring the same, without the putrid Effluvia 
 of the Variolus Pus of the diseased Person be received into the 
 Blood and Juices of the Person that is infecfted, And this Dis 
 temper so produced is capable of being propagated from Indi 
 vidual to Individual (a few rare Instances excepted) till the whole 
 Race of Men throughout the World would have it, if they did 
 not keep out of the Way of the Infection. 
 
 If I conjecture right, this subtil Virus or the Effluvia, from 
 the Abscesses of the diseased Person, being received iuto the 
 Blood and Juices of the Person infected, by some Fermentation 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1761. 321 
 
 or Mechanic Operation, changes the Figure & Magnitude of a 
 certain Set of Salts in the Blood ; which Salts, being thus 
 altered, become like so many exotick Bodies, or to speak famili 
 arly, like the Points of Thorns broke off in the Flesh, and there 
 upon become incompatible with a State of Rest, Ease & Health; 
 and Nature takes the same Method for their Expulsion, viz. by 
 raising as many Phlegmons as there are Bodies, or Clusters of 
 Bodies, to be expelled. And from this Theory all the Phenomena 
 of this Distemper ma} be solved. 
 
 As to the Cure. 
 
 WHOEVER considers the Nature of Mercury ; its wonderfull 
 Effects & Operations on the Humane Body, it s Minuteness and 
 Gravity, the Sphericity of its Particles, and their Power to break 
 and divide the Corrosiveness and Pointedness of the Salts in the 
 Blood, to render those Liquors of the Body innocent and harm 
 less, that otherwise would be deadly and noxious. I say who 
 considers these Things must allow that Mercury is the best 
 Medicine to prevent the Dangers arising from the Small- Pox : 
 The Blood assisted by any considerable Quantity of Mercury, to 
 that of the Blood unassisted, to remove an Obstruction, will be as 
 3000 to i : This has been proved by Doct. Cheyne, in his new 
 Theory of Fevers : But this Mercury must be apply d for the 
 cleansing the Constitution before the Disease attacks, otherwise 
 it will no more avail than an Engine would to extinguish Fire in 
 a Dwelling that was filled with combustible Matter ; and if the 
 Body be rightly prepared, I conceive it is not much Matter which 
 Way the Distemper be received, whether by Inoculation, or the 
 Natural Way. Many have lately practiced Inoculation with 
 surprizing success ; and by their Preparation of the Body have 
 lightened the Distemper to almost nothing; some Practitioners 
 from selfish Views make a great Secret of the Method, whereby 
 they prepare their Patients ; but their whole Dependence is on 
 Calomel or some Preparation of Mercury ; and no doubt it may 
 be assisted by some other Medicines ; but after all, the right 
 Preparation of the Body for this Distemper caunot be performed 
 by ignorant Quacks : For the free Use of Mercury in such Hands, 
 would be as dangerous as the Small-Pox itself. 
 
322 ALMANACK FOR 1761. 
 
 Cleansing of a House. 
 
 WHERE the Small-Pox has been in a House, to cleanse the 
 same, so that the Person who moved out for fear of the Infection, 
 may return in safety, Dodl. Hales recommends this Method, viz. 
 Let the Feather-Beds be lain hollow on Chairs turned down, and 
 some of the Blankets being nailed before the Chimneys to prevent 
 the Fumes escaping, and the rest of them being nailed unfolded 
 against the Walls, and all the Drawers & Boxes set open ; then 
 four or more Pounds of Brimstone being laid on Wood-Ashes in 
 an Iron Pot or Pots, according to the Size of the House, and 
 plac d on some Sand or Earth in the midst of the Floor below, 
 the Brimstone to be fired by a hot Bullet or other large Piece of 
 Iron laid on it. 
 
 N. B. All living Creatures, whose lyives are worth preserv 
 ing, should be moved out of the House during this Operation, & 
 the Sand or Earth should be well laid on the Floor to prevent 
 the Danger of the Fire. 
 
 Oil 1761. A change comes o er the spirit of the muse this 
 season, and the author s feelings are correspondingly elevated. The verse 
 on the title indicates that British consols have advanced, and even the 
 rude cut of the face of generous Sol on the title page depicts that Mon 
 arch of the Day as looking pleasant, and agreeable. On the next page 
 the poet pours out his swelling soul in evident rejoicing, at the rich har 
 vest of glory redounding to AMHERST and the arms of Britain. 
 
 In his address to the Reader he mentions the extraordinary encourage 
 ment offered the Royal Society by the Crown, for the observation of the 
 transit of Venus, and he quotes the French King as being equally liberal 
 towards the Royal Academy of Sciences for a similar purpose. 
 
 By a note concerning the decoration of the Almanack with poetry of 
 his own composing, we are led to infer that the Doctor may have borrowed 
 some for a few years previous, or had it furnished by some sympathising 
 friend. 
 
 Further astronomical information is afforded by the definition and 
 description of the five planetary aspects, and encouragement is given to 
 American vintage by the insertion of " a proper Receipt to make Currant 
 Wine." 
 
 His advice to Divines and Astronomera is not devoid of Ames, and the 
 monthly verses are exuberant on the subject of the Jive senses and what 
 may be determined by the proper use of them. 
 
 The miscellany consists of a short description of coins current, their 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1762. 323 
 
 values, and the origin of their titles, an anecdote of Artiabalipa (? Ata- 
 hualpa) King of Peru, an appreciative and circumspect person. The clos 
 ing essay is upon the very (at that time) momentous subject of Small-pox, 
 with an opinion concerning the use of Mercury or Calomel as a cure for 
 the disease. 
 
 The usual olla podrida of sayings and suggestions, goes to fill up the 
 weather column which would otherwise be dry and indigestible for general 
 readers. 
 
 In a note concerning the length of the English mile, a Sabbath Day s 
 Journey, etc., he concludes with the observation. " The Traveller may 
 Note, that in all Solitary Ways, where the Sight is constantly broken and 
 interrupted, * * * the Miles seem much longer than in open Plain." 
 
 This will readily account for the custom some people have, (especially 
 late at Night) of taking the middle of the road in preference to the side 
 walk, for their homeward march en solitaire. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1762. 
 
 By NATHANIEL AMES. 
 
 BOSTON: Printed & Sold by JOHN DRAPER, in Cornhill : RICHARD 
 DRAPER in Newbury-Street ; GREEN & RusSEivi/ and EDES & Cm, in 
 Queen-Street ; and THOMAS & JOHN Fi,EET at the Heart and Crown in 
 
 Cornhill. 
 
 Sold also by the BOOKSEW,ERS. 
 
 Now we the long expected Year behold 
 
 Which Astrologic Prophecies foretold, 
 
 And great Events since Time began conceal d 
 
 Rush forth, and are to open View reveal d 
 
 Th Objector says, " What Things are come to pass 
 
 Does not each Scene continue as it was ?" 
 
 No. 
 
 The best of Kings has laid his Scepter down, 
 And GEORGE the Third adorns the British Crown ; 
 New conquered Realms joins to his boundless Sway 
 And Savage Chiefs their willing Homage pay : 
 He reigns o er Realms to former Kings unknown, 
 Whose vanquish d Monarchs due Subjection own. 
 
324 ALMANACK FOR 1762. 
 
 Ames 1762. 
 
 Urania descending from the forky Summit of Parnassus 
 delivered me a Rod, sent by the whole Choir of Muses, ta 
 Chastize the Insolence of the Vintners, whom they never lov d 
 and with whom they are highly offended for a Peice in Rhime 
 directed to Me in the Postscript of the Boston Weekly News Better 
 Thursday 25th December 1760, on the Receipt I published in my 
 last Year s Almanack, to make Currant Wine. 
 
 Like Priests of Baal they crav d the Muses Aid, 
 But Muses of the Vintners are afraid ; 
 For they infum d that wicked furious Crew, 
 Who Orphceus, and his tuneful Lyre o erthrew ; 
 So void of Thought, and uninspir d, their Song 
 Was doggrel low, and grov ling crept along : 
 Had not their Censure been unjust and bad, 
 They might and may with Poetry run mad. 
 Good Currant Wine is genuinely made 
 By that just Rule when cautiously obey d, 
 For Men of Worth, of Wealth, of Curious Taste 
 To that Receipt subscribe probatum est 
 They did presume to charge me with a Rape, 
 But they commit Adult ry with the Grape ; 
 They do indeed as often as they brew 
 And Liquors make which Nature never knew ; 
 They do the Off-spring of the Vine defame 
 To call their Wines by any genuine Name : 
 
 ! thou Madeira ! pure as Morning Dew ! 
 Thy Excellence the Gods stand witness to : 
 Thy Name enobles many a guileful Cheat, 
 Which can t thy Taste nor Flavour counterfeit. 
 
 1 meddl d not with Wine on Nature s Part 
 But only such as was contriv d by Art ; 
 Yet Vint ners the Victory is thine, 
 
 Your Art (I own) by far exceedeth mine, 
 For you can make your Cyder into Wine. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 America kind Heav ns peculiar Care, 
 Vast heaps of Nature s Stores are treasur d here : 
 Here the kind Earth produces yearly Grain, 
 Soften d by Waters and descending Rain : 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1762. 325 
 
 In Time thy Towers will vie with Europe s Pride, 
 And scepter d Heads will gladly here reside. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 The British Conquests reach to India s Land, 
 Whose num rous States an hundred Kings command : 
 There the Mogul a spacious Empire sways, 
 Around his golden Seat the dazzling Blaze 
 Of Diamonds, Rubies, Sapphires, strike the Eye, 
 The richest Throne beneath the copious Sky. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Vast are the Treasures Indian Climes may boast, 
 
 But Pagan Ignorance o erspreads the Coast ; 
 
 To Idol-Gods or living Brutes they bow, 
 
 Their King s the greatest Deity they know. 
 
 Ye Christians as their plenteous Wealth you share, 
 
 With your blest Faith enrich the Natives there. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 In India s Woods the Parrot builds her Nest, 
 With Plumage of the gayest Tinctures drest : 
 Sweet docile Bird whose imitating Tongue, 
 In Words distinct repeats its mimic Song ; 
 Discourses * too with Reason thro the whole, 
 And shows the Wisdom of its little Soul. 
 
 Commerce ! We do thy num rous Blessings own, 
 Thou bring st the Fruit of other Nations Home : 
 The Taste of hot Arabia s Spice we know, 
 Nor feel the scorching Sun that makes it grow : 
 Without the Worm in Persian Silks we shine, 
 And without Planting, drink of every Vine. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 See in whose Blood the chilling Ague reigns, 
 His Eyes grow languid and declare his Pains : 
 The ruddy Lips that once engag d the Sight, 
 Now trembling quivers in a ghastly White : 
 The Joints are now unstrung, the Fabrick shakes, 
 Nature the Dissolution fears and quakes. 
 
 1 See Mr. Lock on Htim. Under st., Vol. I. p. 285. 
 
326 ALMANACK FOR 1762. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 The Man who burns with Fevers on his Bed, 
 
 How his dry d Eye-Balls sink into his Head : 
 
 The Torture racks his Bones, contracts his Skin, 
 
 Expressive of the glowing Flames within ; 
 
 In vain he Drops of cool Relief receives, 
 
 His Tongue close to his clammy Palate cleaves. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 After the Dog-Days Heat, a cooling Breeze, 
 
 Of Evening Air closely contracts the Pores, 
 
 And locks transpiring Exhalations in : 
 
 Hence Dysenterys, and Drought, and scorching Fires r 
 
 And killing Pains the tender BOWELS rack, 
 
 The Seat of Nature s dreadful War within. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 When itching Humours tickle thro the Veins, 
 
 And Nature of the uneasy Guests complains, 
 
 W T hen the foul Leprosy breaks thro the Skin, 
 
 And the white Scurf without declares the Plague within, 
 
 When too the L/ungs almost forgot to breathe, 
 
 And quick and short, painful and panting heave. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 How the Live-Silver pristine Health restores, 
 Subtly pervades and cleanses all the Pores, 
 Drives from the sweetn d Blood the laten 111, 
 And bids the Lungs to rise, and fall at will, 
 Happy Catholicon ! at first designed 
 In all Capacities to serve Mankind. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 When impious War the guilty World alarms, 
 
 And jarring Nations meet in hostile Arms, 
 
 O er the dire Plains their threatning Ranks display. 
 
 To try the Fortune of a doubtful Day, 
 
 With mingling Dead the Plains are cover d o er, 
 
 And thundring Cannons shake the sounding Shore. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 If the blest Olive waves with Signs of Peace 
 Through all the Host tumultuous Clamours cease, 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1762. 327 
 
 Th exulting Croud are dazzl d with Surprize, 
 And on the pleasing Omen fix their Eyes ; 
 The gladd ning News Fame s hasty Pinions bear, 
 And Shouts of Joy salute it from afar. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 To live & die is all we have to do. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 The Obedience of the Canadians must be suspected, because subjected 
 by Force. 
 
 Tis as cruel to spare all, as to spare none. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Let the Caesars of the Ides of this March beware, for Disputes now 
 begun, to great Heigh th & Length may run. 
 
 HCBC est Magna diuque exspettata Conjunflio Saturni et Joins. This 
 loving Aspect of the Sun & Venus portends new Plantations : carried on 
 for the public Good. 
 
 Fortunate Marriages, and many Children on the Stocks to build Socie 
 ties withal. 
 
 Now Phoebe s sickly Face bound up in Clouds, and circled round with 
 Light, portends a Storm. 
 
 Whether it is not better to marry a quiet Fool than a witty Scold. 
 
 Some unusual Phenomenon. 
 
 Important Advice from Home. 
 
 When the Dolphins dance a Storm approacheth. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Much Altercation, and some bloody Noses. 
 Many unlucky and violent Accidents at this time. 
 
 All Men are by Nature equal, 
 
 But differ greatly in the sequel. 
 
 The Public Good Men oft pretend, 
 
 While private Interest is their End. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 In cool Retreats we skulking strive to shun 
 The torrid Rays of June s meridian Sun. 
 The Infirm shou d now make Use of their Leathern Conveniences. 
 
328 ALMANACK FOR 1762. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 The Ladies need their Fans. 
 
 Women are sooner angry than Men, the Sick than the Healthy, the Old 
 than the Young. 
 
 Be careful how and what you drink. 
 
 It is decreed above 
 
 That soon or late we all must love. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 At this Time there is a Vote of the House in the starry Parliament for 
 Rain. 
 
 The Muscovian Weed rightly apply d is the most effectual Cure for the 
 Itch of Stealing. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 They who run aground at the full Tide of a Silver Currency, will stick 
 in the Mud at the Tide of Ebb. 
 
 Strange that we should feel the War most when it is past. 
 
 This Month is a proper Season to recruit the unhealthy by taking Dr. 
 Horse, and riding long Journeys, tho moderately. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Let the Poor be content with their present Lot, for when they come to 
 make Brick without Straw, their Case will be yet worse. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Now fortify your Cellars against the Approach of Winter. 
 A Crisis is just at Hand when nothing but Industry and Frugality can 
 save us. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 The harmless Country Folk themselves amuse, 
 
 Drink Cyder, smoak Tobacco, & read the News. 
 
 An Increase of Law-suits amongst the rural sort, and after the Meat is 
 gone they will pick the Bones of each other. 
 
 Alas ! how many Wise are gone, how few remain behind ! 
 
 DEATH levels all, the Wicked and the Just ; 
 
 Man s but a Flower, and his End is Dust. 
 
 A PAGE FOR THE LADIES. 
 
 The Idea of Love & the Ladies are so connected, that when 
 I dedicate the following Lines to the Fair Sex, I may be allowed 
 to make use of the Word Love : Therefore I promise them that 
 the Subject which I treat of in the following Pages shall be the 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1762. 329 
 
 Object of their Love : Then as first and most beloved, I shall 
 give a few Hints concerning that Shrub or Bush manufactured 
 in the East Indies, the Decoction of whose Leaf makes that 
 Liquor which so delights, & sometimes almost intoxicates, called 
 Tea. And first of its negative Virtues ; If the Gentlemen en 
 liven their social Hours with the generous Bowl, furnished from 
 the West Indies with the inebriating Spirit, and pleasant Acid 
 mixed with the cool Fountain, why should not the Ladies chear 
 their friendly Visits with the harmless Decoction of an Indian 
 Leaf? Naturalists observe, that amongst Herbs, Worm-wood and 
 Hore-hound will not grow together ; no more will the Habit of 
 drinking Tea and spiritous Liquors freely subsist in the same 
 Person. It is rare to find an Instance of a Person that is far 
 gone in the Habit of drinking Drams or spirituous Liquors, but 
 what abhors the Thoughts of Tea : On the other Hand, they 
 who use Milk, but more especially Tea for Breakfast, are more 
 easily preserved from the Custom and Habit of drinking Spiri 
 tuous Liquors, which murders Soul, Body, Estate and Reputa 
 tion. They who upon the Use of Tea cry out, It hurts my 
 Nerves ! away with it ! Alas, they should go further back for the 
 Cause: These nervous Symptoms are caused by some Male- 
 Regimen of their own, or from a weak State by Nature : they 
 are afflicted for their own, or their Parents Mis-Conduct : Tea 
 only raises the Ambush of a latent Distemper, but would by and 
 by break forth spontaneously upon them: if Tea hurts them, it 
 is only the Criterion of weak disordered Nerves. They who 
 tremble at only drinking a Dish of Tea, should rather tremble 
 to think they are so obnoxious to nervous Disorders : Tea in 
 their Case serves only as a Glass which truly represents the 
 state of that curious Frame that join Soul and Body together, 
 the Nerves ; from which Source the most dispiriting and ill- 
 feeling Disorders of Body and Mind, do arise. 
 
 But positively : TEA is a Friend to the Muses, it brightens 
 the Intellects and clears the Understanding. High strong Food 
 casts an impervious Mist upon the Mind, and greatly beclouds 
 its Faculties : But Tea keeps the Body light and easy, whilst it 
 very sensibly satisfies Hunger : Tea in this Light is considered 
 only as Part of our Food : its medicinal Virtues more eminently 
 reside in the Thea Veridis, or Green Tea : But take in the whole 
 
330 ALMANACK FOR 1762. 
 
 Idea of Tea, and consider it both in its alimentary and medicinal 
 Qualities, and more with Justice and Truth may be said in its 
 Praise than of any other Plant or Shrub that grows out of the 
 Earth. 
 
 There may be some considerable political Objections against 
 the Utility of so great a Consumption of a foreign Commodity : 
 but as I meddle not with Politicks, so I shall not pretend to 
 answer this Objection. The Tea Pot, like the Widow s Cruise 
 of Oil, receives only hot Water, and emits a pure alimentary 
 Liquor, and continues to do so after several Repetitions. 
 
 2. The second Thing I would offer to the Ladies Consider 
 ation as what claims their Regard and Love next to Tea, is 
 their tender Offspring. 
 
 It is an Krror in Judgment on the Part of the Mother who 
 only for the Preservation of her Beauty, and fine Shape of Body, 
 would put out her Infant to Nurse, since suddenly to dry up a 
 full Breast of new Milk in a healthy Woman, does such Violence 
 to Nature as greatly exposes the Mother to such Diseases as may 
 marr her Beauty and Shape both. On the part of the Child, 
 whose Flesh is the same with the Mothers, nourished with the 
 same Blood, and Nature had provided a Store from the same 
 Fountain for its future Nourishment and Grow T th : I say, for the 
 Infant to be deprived of that Aliment that was congenial to its 
 Nature, and put to the Breast of a Nurse, who differs in Consti 
 tution from the Child s, as much as one Species differs from 
 another happy ! thrice happy for many a poor Infant, in such 
 cases, if its Nurse had been a Goat, and not a Woman ! The 
 former feeds on the tender Bruse, and drinks only at the cool 
 Fountain, but the latter sometimes feeds foul, and drinks deeply 
 of that Liquor which can, and often does kill the Infant at 
 second Hand, from the Breast of the Nurse, of which unhappy 
 Instances, many Examples might be produced. Almost all 
 Infants Diseases arise by fault in the alimentary Tube, from 
 Disorders in the Milk, whether of the Nurse or Mother : Hence 
 the Nurses to Persons of Quality are under the strictest Regimen 
 by the Direction of the most eminent and learned Physicians. 
 
 It certainly is, in some Measure, our own Fault, that so great 
 a Part of the Human Race perish in a state of Infancy. Our 
 indulgent Creator has done his Part with infinite Perfection. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1762. 331 
 
 " His Byes did see our Substance yet being unperfect : and in 
 his Book all our Members were written, which in Continuance 
 were fashioned, when we were made in Secret, and curiously 
 wrought in the lowest Parts of the Earth." Nature provided 
 wonderfully for our Preservation in her soft and easy Lap, but 
 when so delicate a Machine as the Body of an Infant is (whose 
 very Bones were lately a fluid Mass) I say, when such a delicate 
 Thing from the Lap and Care of Nature, comes to be jounced on 
 the hard Knees, or handled with the rough Fingers of a cruel 
 Nurse, or ignorant Mother : it is a Wonder that there are no 
 more crooked Limbs, dislocated Joints, and Cripples from 
 Infancy, than there are. Naturalists observe that the Hen is 
 the fondest of her young ones of any Animal : but how many 
 of the tender Brood perish in a cool Morning for want of the 
 Mother s indulgent Care : So some Mothers, though they love 
 their Infants, hardly discover common Sense in their Treatment 
 of them. Many Infants are sick, and many die with the unsuit 
 able Aliment they receive by the Hand, or at second Hand, from 
 the Breast. I would, according to my Talent give special Cau 
 tions and Directions in an Affair of so much Importance as this 
 seems to be : but it would swell these Pages to a Volume : I hope 
 some qualifyed Person in Charity to the helpless & suffering Part 
 of ourselves, will accomplish a Work which would be so useful. 
 But that there may be some special Matter alledged in this 
 Charge against the Ladies Conduct towards their Infants, I shall 
 repeat the Words of Doctor Hales as follows : " When the Bodies 
 of tender Infants (says he) are close confined in Swathing, neither 
 their Breast nor Belly can rise so freely as they ought to do, when 
 the Child draws its Breath: and consequently not only its 
 Breathing, but Digestion also, are thereby greatly incommoded, 
 for the Digestion is much promoted by the Kneedings of the 
 Middriff on the Stomach, which are no less than twelve hundred 
 in an Hour : and in proportion as these numerous Kneedings are 
 abated by Swathing, so will the Digestion be accordingly retarded 
 and incommoded." " Further," says he, " Ignorant Nurses tak 
 ing the Soft Part of the Scull for a great Defect in Nature, are apt 
 often to attempt to close the Mould of the Head, as they call it, 
 that is to press together by Stroking and Bandage, those Parts 
 of the Scull which are bony, expecting thereby to unite those 
 
332 ALMANACK FOR 1762. 
 
 distant bony Parts, not knowing that the intermediate soft Parts 
 will turn to Bone : little thinking what Injury they do the Infant 
 thereby &c. causing Fits and Head Aches during Life &c." 
 
 Oil 1762. The astronomer-poet of Dedham hails the advent 
 of the year, in which great happenings were to come to pass by prediction 
 of the Astrologers in the year 1760 ; and to the skeptical, the author urges 
 the advent of peace, and the accession of George the Third, as the ample 
 realization of the star-gazers prognostications. 
 
 The great advantage of possessing an organ even if only an annual 
 publication, is made practical in the case of Dr. Ames. Some envious per 
 son, with whom Protection was a delusion and a snare, and home produc 
 tion but deceit, has taken the physician to task for his " Currant Wine" 
 suggestion made in the Almanack for 1761. But the presumptuous censor 
 has met a foe in the Doctor most worthy to defend the premises, and the 
 verses in reply most assuredly from the Doctor s own pen -are refresh 
 ingly satirical, and considerably adverse to the sentiments expressed at 
 this present day by the average inn-keeper. 
 
 The monthly verses are in the Muse s happiest vein. Love of America; 
 Honor to the Parent Land, the advancement of the Empire of the Anglo- 
 Saxon and the extension of the Commercial intercourse of the Colonies. 
 From these general topics he gravitates toward his profession ; Agues, 
 Fevers, Dysenteries, Leprosy, are described with facile pen, and then the 
 remedy -the live Silver ( Mercury) is poetically brought forth as the 
 panacea par excellence. Happy Catholicon ! as the disciple of Hippocrates 
 exclaims, recalling to our memory the medical practice of the period cele 
 brated in the ditty of the itinerant peddler, with violin accompaniment. 
 
 " If Mr. A. or B. is sick, 
 
 " Go call the Doctor, and be quick ! 
 
 " The Doctor comes with right good will, 
 
 " And ne er forgets his Calomel." 
 
 War with sounding alarms, marches with bloody banners over the 
 plains, (in November) and a tableau of Peace precedes the falling of the 
 curtain, at the close of the first month of dreary Winter. 
 
 The Essay is entitled a " Page for the Ladies" : In a happy style the 
 Doctor extols the "cup that cheers but not inebriates," and expands his 
 protean mind in adulation of the herb and its wholesome properties 
 lauding it as a " friend to the Muses" stimulating to the Intellect and 
 clarifying to the Understanding. It would not be like the Doctor if he 
 could not make himself agreeable in more ways, so he ends his allocution 
 and the almanack, on the care of Children and the habits of Nurses, A 
 discourse exhibiting the noble qualities of his nature as a teacher, and 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1763. 333 
 
 well worthy of resurrection in this age of Day Nurseries and Children s 
 Hospitals. The characteristic humor of the inn-keeper shines in the 
 weather observations, and the tenor of his remarks political, betokens the 
 premonitory symptoms of the trouble soon to antagonize the children 
 against the parent. 
 
 " Old Tenor " has now assumed such a bulk as a circulating medium, 
 that it almost requires a "weigher and ganger" to determine its correla 
 tive value with flax, tow, hemp and other bulky materials on which its 
 primary issue was based ; not to mention gold or silver which was of rare 
 occurrence. 
 
 In the almanack this year is a table showing its current value on a gold 
 and silver basis from which we may note that ^500 " Old Tenor " is ^66, 
 135., 4d. in " lawful money." Or in the ratio of one to seven and one-half. 
 
 We further find that Spanish silver is sold in London at five shillings 
 five pence per ounce. 
 
 At Philadelphia eight shillings six pence their currency per ounce. 
 
 At New York eight shillings per ounce by law, though often sold for 
 95. to 9S. 3d. in the market. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1763. 
 
 By Nathaniel Ames. 
 
 BOSTON : Printed & Sold by/. Draper, in Cornhill, R. Draper, in New- 
 bury-street : Green & Russell, and Edes & Gill, in Queen-street ; and 
 T. & J. Fleet at the Heart and Crown in Cornhill. Sold also by the 
 Booksellers. 
 
 Price Half a Dollar per Dozen, & Six Coppers single. 
 
 PLENTY three Years our crowded Graneries fill d 
 
 Ere Soil s fierce Beams the blighted Pastures kill d. 
 
 When Drought for Rains suppress the Nilus flow 
 
 In sTZgypfs Plains no Fruit nor Herbage grow : 
 
 When seven full Streams had seven large Harvests crown d 
 
 Then seven long Years with Famine curst the Ground : 
 
 If Nature sure this Contrast still maintains, 
 
 One Year of Drought and Scarcity remains. 
 
334 ALMANACK FOR 1763. 
 
 READER. 
 
 What I have said concerning the Continuance of the Drought 
 and Scarcity this Year, in the Title Page Verse, is a Conclusion 
 drawn from Premises that are not universally certain, therefore 
 the Conclusion, viz. that this Year 1763 will be a dry and scarce 
 Year is not certain. He who has fore-ordained whatsoever 
 conies to pass, knows, and he only knows with absolute Certain 
 ty, what will come to pass : The Book of Fate is hid from all 
 created Beings : Creatures know future Events only by Way of 
 Argumentation and Deduction : and indeed in some Instances 
 there is such a Connection between the Premises and Conclusion 
 that the Event is known with great Certainty ; but in general 
 we know nothing of the Connection of Things, we cannot see 
 the Links of that great Chain which binds with certainty all the 
 Events of the wide extended Universe : Indeed the Devil does 
 not know so much of future Events as many expect an Almanack 
 Maker should foretell, although it must be owned that they are 
 willing to allow him the Help of the Devil for his Information. 
 
 I have been often requested to explain some Things relating 
 
 to the Moon s rising and setting. Astronomers begin their 
 
 Day at 12 o Clock at Noon : I have told you that in September 
 it will be New Moon the 7th day at u in the Forenoon, but if 
 I had spoken in the astronomical Language I should have said 
 New Moon September the 6th day at 23 Hours past Noon; but 
 in the Almanack I conform to the common and vulgar Method 
 of Computation, that is, beginning the Day at Midnight, and 
 continuing it till the Midnight following ; and the first Moment 
 of Time after Midnight belongs to the Morning of the next 
 Day : Now for Example, How are you informed of the Moon s 
 rising upon the 2d Day of May, when if you look into the 
 Almanack you find no figure, but the Word Morn to stand 
 against the 2d Day of May ? Why, the Moon does not rise at 
 all that Day or within that 24 Hours, which according to this 
 Method makes the 2d Day ; for on the ist Day of May the 
 Moon rises at n Hours 26 Min. at Night, from which Time to 
 the Moon s next rising is 24 Hours 43 Min. which carries the 
 next rising to 9 Min. in the Morning of the 3d Day ; so that the 
 2d Day is a Blank on which the Word Morn, stands, which 
 denotes that the following days until the Change the Moon rises 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1763. 335 
 
 in the Morning preceding or going before the Day ; You are not 
 left uninformed of the Moon s rising at any Time, for instead 
 of calling it 9 Min. after Midnight the 2d Day it is properly 
 o hours 9 Min. in the Morning of the 3d day, for since the Day 
 begins at Midnight the preceding day ended at Midnight, the 
 Division is at that Point of Time, and the Darkness of the 
 Night from the Day-Light s ending till Midnight belonged to 
 the 2d day, and from Midnight till the Dawn of the Morning, to 
 the 3d Day. From whence it is easy to conclude that on any 
 Night when the Moon rises after Midnight the Time of her 
 rising must be sought for in the Almanack on the Morning of 
 the next succeeding Day. And if there should be any still 
 that cannot understand this Mystery, nor the explination I have 
 given of it, I shall conclude they were born in the Dark of the 
 Moon, and I would advise them not to trouble their Heads about 
 any Thing that is in the Almanack. 
 
 NATH. AMES. 
 
 In the last Page but two there is an Account of the Advan 
 tage of Preserving FLAX SEED, those who bring it to Market 
 may depend upon having Silver or Gold therefor of those Gentle 
 men in Boston who advertise to purchase. 
 
 It happens every Year that some Tavern Keepers in one 
 or other of the Governments give up their Licence, and others 
 are substituted in their Room : It is therefore requested for the 
 Benefit of Travellers as well as their own, that such new 
 Licenced Persons would send a Letter Free of Charge to the 
 Author living at DEDHAM, that it maybe inserted in the follow 
 ing Years. They must be particular in expressing the Number 
 of Miles they are from the stages before & after them. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Whilst Capricorn s cold Tropic bears command, 
 The naked Trees in frozen Armour stand, 
 Bound fast with Ice the Waves no longer roar, 
 But with stiff Arms embrace the silent Shore ; 
 The mighty Hills lie cover d deep in Snow. 
 And all the cold Allies of Boreas blow. 
 
336 ALMANACK FOR 1763. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 For Spain an evil Planetary Hour, 
 
 When She in League combin d with Gallic Pow r, 
 
 And Britain s Friendship spurn d with base Design, 
 
 But she too late her Folly sees in vain : 
 
 Th HAVANNAH lost, her Navy there destroy d ! 
 
 British Thunder with British Skill employ d, 
 
 Yield Arguments that work on Foes the most, 
 
 The Bombs determine who shall pay the Cost. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 If we could chuse the Time, and chuse aright, 
 Tis best to die our Honour at the Height : 
 When we have done our Ancestors no Shame, 
 But serv d our Friends, and well secur d our Fame, 
 Then should we wish our happy Life to close, 
 And leave no more for Fortune to dispose. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 From Southern Climes the chearful Suh returns, 
 
 And the late frozen North now gently warms ; 
 
 His subtle Penetration op rates so, 
 
 He does but look on Flowers and Plants, they grow : 
 
 His loving Beams sweetly salute the Spring, 
 
 And dart their Virtue into every Thing. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 When Sol descends, what Golden Streaks arise, 
 
 And Tracks of Glory paint the Western Skies : 
 
 This is the Time when witty Poets tell 
 
 That Phcebus into Thetis Bosom fell : 
 
 She blush d at first, and then put out the Light, 
 
 And drew the modest Curtains of the Night. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Friend ! ask not Bodies doom d to die, 
 
 To what Abode they go ? 
 Since Knowledge is but Sorrows Spy, 
 
 Tis better not to know ; 
 To live uprightly then is sure the best 
 To save ourselves, and not to damn the rest. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1763. 337 
 
 JULY. 
 
 The Sun is the Lyon mounted high, 
 The Ground below is parch d, the Air is dry, 
 And Bankrupt Clouds their promis d Rain deny ; 
 The Flowers droop and fade (their Beauty fled) 
 And close their sickly Eyes, and hang their Head, 
 And rivel d up with Heat, lay dying in their Bed. 
 
 AUGUvST. 
 
 All Men at first were form d and cas d in one, 
 And Nature hands the long Succession down ; 
 Tis she unfolds the faint and dawning Strife 
 Of Infant Atoms kindling into Life, 
 Guides dudlile Matter, the new Road it takes, 
 And slender Trains of twisting Fibres makes ; 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 And makes the viscous seek the closer Tone, 
 And by Degrees to harden into Bone ; 
 Whilst the more loose flow from the vital Urn, 
 And in full Tides of purple Streams return : 
 Thus the dim Spark of Entity began, 
 To work its little Being into Man. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Whilst Phoebus holds the Ballance in his Hand, 
 
 The Days and Nights in Equilibrio stand ; 
 
 It grows towards the Evening of the Year, 
 
 And Summer Birds and Swallows disappear; 
 
 The Autumn is with various Bounties crown d, 
 
 And Fruits and Nuts and Berries paint the Ground, 
 
 And lavish Nature laughs and strews her Stores around. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 As o er their Prey rapacious Wolves engage, 
 
 Man dies on Man, and all is Blood and Rage ; 
 
 With copious Slaughter all the Fields are red, 
 
 And heap d with growing Mountains of the Dead ; 
 
 Fierce Discord storms, Apollo loud exclaims, 
 
 Fame calls, Mars thunders, and the Field s in Flames. 
 
338 ALMANACK FOR 1763. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 The temperate Man nor ever over feeds 
 
 His cramm d Desires with more than Nature needs ; 
 
 For Nature wisely stints our Appetite, 
 
 And craves no more than undisturb d Delight ; 
 
 Which Minds unmix d with Cares and Fears obtain, 
 
 A Soul serene, a Body void of Pain. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 A bold Speech upon a good Cause. 
 
 Now Coughs and Rhunies, and broken Shins grow worse. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Ten to one but it snows or rains about this time. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Where the Sword has strowed the Dead, the Plowshare makes the 
 better Speed. 
 
 APRIL. 
 The Scalping Knife is now used to prune French Vines. 
 
 The Beaux and Ladies are now as gay, 
 As if it was the Month of May. 
 
 Preparation for a great and important Affair. 
 
 MAY. 
 Some take a Liberty to speak ill of the Absent. 
 
 Why so elate, 
 
 Before you know your Country s fate ? 
 
 The Man is dead to the World who is separated from Money. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 An envious Man is wounded at the Advancement of a bold, plain, and 
 faithful Counsellor. 
 
 The hearty Thanks from hungry Goals 
 Are sent to those whose noble souls 
 Regale themselves in flowing Bowls. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1763. 
 
 339 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Every Man carries a fool in his sleeve, with some he appears bold, 
 with some he only pops out now and then, but the wise keep him hid. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Virtue is praised more than followed. 
 
 To some Men their Country is their shame ; and some are the Shame 
 of their Country. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Wine has drowned more Men than the Sea. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Now expect more Bankrupts than Miracles. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 A prodigal soon spends what a covetous father was a long time getting. 
 Time brings all things to an end. 
 
 A Brief CHRONOLOGY of Remarkable Events, relating chiefly 
 to the present WAR. 
 
 SINCE first the Sparks of this dire War begun, 
 In this new World, which into Europe run. 
 Since the perfidious French in hostile Ranks 
 The English drove from smooth Ohio s Banks. 
 Since Washington enter d the List of Fame, 
 And by a Journey to Lake Erie came. 
 Since he defeats a French detached Band, 
 Under the brave Junonville s Command. 
 Since Contrecoeur took hold of English Claim, 
 His Fortress builds and calls it Fort DuQuesne. 
 Since Bcau-se-jour yielded to British Fame, 
 And Cumberland adorns its present Name. 
 Since Fortune turn d to Washington adverse, 
 Who makes good Terms with a superior Force. 
 Since Braddock slain and all his Soldiers fail, 
 In a defeat near fam d Monongahale. 
 Since Dieskatt dar d brave Johnson to attack, 
 Is taken, and his Soldiers driven back. 
 Since England s sprightly Trumpet from afar, 
 Sounded to France the Signal of her War. 
 
 I 
 
 J749- 
 
 j. October 1 753. 
 May 24, 1754. 
 
 \June 13, 1754. 
 
 June 20, 1754. 
 
 \July 3, 1754. 
 \July 9, 1755, 
 
 \Sept. 8, 1755. 
 \May 1 8, 1756. 
 
34-O ALMANACK FOR 1763. 
 
 Since Byng for not engaging was so curst, \May 20 1756. 
 
 That to be a Coward since no Briton durst. f 
 
 Since conscious France puff d up with fell disdain, \j , 
 
 Sent back to us the voice of War again. \ 
 
 Since Fort St. Phillip, in Minorca taken, l/une 27 17 6 
 
 Being of her Country s Succours quite forsaken, f 
 
 Since the French Forces do besiege and take | * , 
 
 Oswego Fort upon Ontario Lake, j 
 
 Since the great Soul of Victory, Prussia s King, )* , 
 
 To Saxony does Martial Terror bring. j" * 2 
 
 Since his strong Arm in Battle does annoy, | ^ , 
 
 Count Brown and all his blasted Schemes destroy. \ 
 
 Since He too bold and rash advances made, \T . . 
 
 Got check d by Daun & rais d the Siege of Prague. } 
 
 At Hanover since England s noblest Duke, ) , , 
 
 By French Etrees receiv d a sad Rebuke. j 
 
 France by Montcalm does William Henry 1 take, \^ U . q I7S7 
 
 And Savages the sacred Truces brake. j 
 
 The British Force from Rochefort do return, \Qct 7 I7S7 
 
 One small Fort only do reduce and burn. j 
 
 Brave Forrest fights the French with Force uneven ) ^ , 
 
 With four Ships only fully beats their seven. f 
 
 Confus d, dispers d the French & Austrian Train,) ^ 
 
 From Prussia fly in bloody Rosbach Plain. j 
 
 Fresh Laurels now the Prussian Monarch Crowns,) r^ 
 
 Beats Daun at Lissa, and his Hosts confounds. j 
 
 This warlike King a glorious Progress makes, \f) ec 2 i 
 
 Fame calls aloud and Breslau he retakes. / 
 
 Osborn at Sea in fearful Pomp does ride, (.Feb 28 
 
 With Foudroyant and Orphee by his side. f 
 
 The English Conquests reach the Africk Shore, | ^ I ^ 
 
 Where Senegal surrenders up her Store. f 
 
 Since at St. Maloes, Marlborough did prevail, | T 
 
 And of their Shipping burnt an Hundred Sail. j 
 
 Prince Clermont at Crevelt by Ferdinand, \j ^ , 
 
 Was fairly beat with all his Warlike band. J 
 
 Since noble Howe lay prostrate on the Ground, \r u i v c J7 c8 
 
 And the Whole Armies Soul fled thro his Wound,} 
 
 Since at Ticonderogue in Battalions array, \ *, g 
 
 Our Soldiers Lives were vainly thrown away. j 
 
 Cape Breton s Isle taken the second Time, 
 For which our Men with Godlike Honor shine. 
 
 \j / , 
 
 j" 
 
 1 Fort William Henry on Lake George. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1763. 34! 
 
 The Gallick Coast by us again anuoy d, | . 
 
 And Cherburg taken, and its Pier destroy d. \^ Au S- 8, 1758. 
 
 $inceFortuneI?radstree/ s tiresoraeMarch did own "I * 
 
 Who Frontenack reduc d to England s Crown. f * 27 * 75 
 
 The Prussians now the Russians quite defeat, | ~ 
 
 At Zorndorff, why? the Prussians always beat. j ^ 25> I758< 
 
 Since ZJ#w surpriz d the Prussian Camp by Night, ) n . 
 
 Slew Marshal Keith, a wondrous Man in Fight. j I4> I75 
 
 His Life to Fate Marlborough at Munster gives, (,, , 
 
 But Marlborough of immortal Fame yet lives. \ 
 
 Since General Forbes the Fort Z>w Quesne obtains, ) r 
 
 A Key to all the rich 0/hV.y Plains.- \ * 4 I75 
 
 Of Goree too the British Conquests boast, \ n 
 
 A noble Isle on Golden Guineas Coast. j 29 * 75 
 
 On General Harrington the Heavens smile, | ,. 
 
 Who conquers Guadaloupe, a spacious Isle. f 
 
 Since bursting Bombs torment the bellowing Air, { , 
 
 At Havre de Grace, and fright the Poltroons there. \ 5 1759< 
 
 Niagara Fort the first of Victory s here, I / / / 
 
 B y Johnson won in this auspicious Year. | 
 
 No Frenchman yet can Anthers? s P ame withstand, ( ,- , 
 
 Ticonderoga yields at his Command. I 
 
 To take Crown Point an arduous Work begun | ^ 
 
 Long since, at last was in a Moment done. j 
 
 A Battle fought on height of Abram s Plain, | <-. . , 
 
 Where great Montcalm & greater Jfo//i? were slain- I3 I759 
 
 Fame stood amaz d at our victorious Troops, ! c /,/ 
 
 When proud Quebec unto their Capture stoops. } 
 
 To Plunder Ireland, Thurott was employ d, 1 /? A g 60 
 
 Who meeting Captain Elliot is destroy d. ) 
 
 The French discourag d from before Quebeck, \j\fay 16 1760 
 
 Raise their long Siege and hastily flee back. f 
 
 Hail Victory ! behold Montreal s fall, \Sept 8 i 60 
 
 Who can do more, Amherst has conquer d all. ) 
 
 SinceDeath s dark shade eclips d ^.George s Light, | Q ^ ^ 
 
 Whose setting Sun shin d gloriously bright. j" 
 
 Elizabeth the great Czarina dies, \.D .c 2 1761 
 
 And Peter third to Russia s Throne does rise. f 
 
 Spain unprovok d (to their Eternal Shame) \fan 18 1762 
 
 A War with us unjustly do proclaim. j 
 
 But George the third his Grandsire s steps pursues, ) p , , 
 
 And Martinico s Peopl d Isle subdues. \ 
 
 Since Peter^s Queen his Subjects Treason own, ) T Q 7 g 
 
 Slips him aside & Mounts her Husband s Throne. \ 
 
342 ALMANACK FOR 1763. 
 
 France does but ask and take our Newfoundland. \ T , 
 
 .June 27, 1762. 
 None there oppose or do the Foe withstand. \ 
 
 Britains strike home a glorious Conquest make, \ ^ J2 - 
 
 They do the rich and great Havannah take. f 
 
 Another Amherst Newfoundland regain d, \Sebt 18 1762 
 
 Sent home the French confound d and asham d. f 
 
 Of Raising FLAX. 
 
 Experience has, I doubt not, convinced the Farmers in this 
 Province, how advantageous the raising of Flax is; and this 
 Branch might still be more beneficial, if proper Care was taken 
 to save all the Seed. By the best Accounts there has only yet 
 been exported from 1000 to 1200 Casks, of about 7 Bushels each, 
 in a Season. While at New- York there is from 8 to 9000 Casks 
 annually ship d off: And at Philadelphia from 10 to 12000, which 
 makes a considerable Remittance. Now if we suppose, that out 
 of 45,000 Families, said to be in the Province, that only 25,000 of 
 them saves one with the other but one Bushel of Seed, this 
 would make 3500 Casks. The Farmers will always find Sale for 
 it, and be paid in ready Money ; and have still this further Satis 
 faction that so much as they save of this Article, the same Value 
 of Silver and Gold they prevent from being exported ; and the 
 many Disadvantages arising from sending away Money, is so 
 plain to every one, that we are likely very soon to feel the bad 
 Effects of it. 
 
 Of the Settlement and Increase of New England. 
 
 As Providence has smiled upon the British Arms this War, 
 we have Reason to hope, that upon a Peace Canada will be ceded 
 to the English ; if that should be the Case America will reap the 
 happy Fruits of a bloody War. A vast extent of Territory will 
 be added to the British Empire in America; and as long as 
 Canada is held by the English, we shall have Peace with the 
 Savages ; so that that War which at first seemed like to break 
 up our new Settlements will in the Conclusion greatly promote 
 and increase the Settlement and Peopling of America. A vast 
 Tract of excellent Land lies between No. IV and Crown-Point. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1763. 343 
 
 I am informed of above Twenty Townships granted in these 
 Parts which will soon be peopled. The Hon. BENJAMIN FRANK 
 LIN, Esq., in his Observations concerning the increase of Man 
 kind, &c. says, " People increase in Proportion to the Number 
 " of Marriages, and that is greater in Proportion to the Ease and 
 " Convenience of supporting a Family. When Families can be 
 " easily supported, more Persons marry, and earlier in Life." 
 And in another Place he says, " Land being plenty in America, 
 
 II and so cheap as that a Labouring Man that understands Hus- 
 " bandry can in a short Time save Money enough to purchase a 
 " Piece of New Land sufficient for a Plantation, whereon he may 
 " subsist a Family." But now behold! the Farmer may have 
 Land for nothing ; Land that will produce all the Necessaries of 
 Life without Money and without Price. Land enough for him 
 self and all his Sons, be they never so many, only for taking up 
 and accepting of the same. Not single Townships now offer 
 themselves to the lucky Persons that shall obtain Grants to the 
 Exclusion of the rest, but here is Land enough for all : Town 
 ships to be collected into new Governments and Colonies, extent 
 of Territory large enough for a Kingdom ! 
 
 The ingenious Mr. STYLES * has published a curious Table, 
 which he has given me leave to transcribe, viz. 
 
 A Table of Increase upon half a Million Inhabitants in the 
 four New-England Governments for the present Period of doub 
 ling. By inspecting which may be seen the Number of Inhabi 
 tants in New-England for each Year. 
 
 1 Possibly Rev. Dr. Ezra Stiles is the person referred to. He was a 
 man of varied accomplishments, and was President of Yale College from 
 1778 to his decease May 12, 1795, aged 68 years. He was an "inveterate 
 chronicler " and intimate with all the doings of the period in which he 
 lived. In his diary under date Feb. 13, 1779, ne wrote "General Ethan 
 Allen of Vermont died and went to Hell this day." He was an astronomer 
 and geographer, and inclined to the opinion that the Carthaginians 
 advertised their arrival in America by the very curious but unsatisfactory 
 announcement on Dighton rock. He pursued the " lost tribes of Israel," 
 and it must have been with much satisfaction that he finally found them 
 (in his opinion) in the intelligent and sociable American Indians. 
 
 Dr. Benjamin Franklin once gave him a thermometer, and this started 
 him off in the meteorological line. Of such data he kept notes for over 
 thirty years, and the results fill six quarto volumes. 
 
344 
 
 ALMANACK FOR 1763. 
 
 A. D. 
 
 1760 500,000 
 1761 514,050 
 1762 528,510 
 
 1763543.370 
 1764558,650 
 
 1765574,350 
 1766590,500 
 
 A. D. 
 
 1767 607,090 
 1768 624,170 
 1769 641,710 
 1770659,760 
 1771678,305 
 1772697,370 
 1773716,971 
 
 A. D. 
 
 ! 1 774 737^35 
 ! J 775 757>S57 
 1776779,165 
 : 1777801,070 
 ; 1778823,590 
 1 1779846,745 
 
 ! 1780870,550 
 
 A. D. 
 
 1781 895,025 
 1782 920,185 
 T 7 8 3 946,060 
 1784972,655 
 1785-1,000,000 
 
 1810-2,000,000 
 1835-4,000,000 
 
 This Table A. D. 1760, supposes the Inhabitants of the four 
 New-England Governments to be half a Million, or 500,000 and 
 the period of doublihg to be 25 Years, so that in 1785 they will 
 amount to 1,000,000. But when we consider the thirteen British 
 Governments upon this Continent, from Nova Scotia to Georgia, 
 the vast extent of disputed Claim secured by this Conquest, as 
 well as the great Country of Canada it self; I say, when we 
 consider these Things and look forward, all Computation is 
 lost : We may rather apply what the Almighty said to Abraham, 
 concerning the Settlement of Canaan by his Posterity, 2 " Lift 
 " up now thine Eyes, and look from the Place where thou art, 
 "Northward, and Southward, and Eastward, and Westward; 
 " for all the Land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to 
 " thy Seed forever ; and I will make thy Seed as the Dust of the 
 " Earth, so that if a man can Number the Dust of the Earth, 
 " then shall thy Seed also be numbered." 
 
 We hold our lands under no other Lord but He who gave the 
 Land of Canaan to Abraham : Twas He who directed our 
 Planters in their Navigation over the Atlantic above 140 Years 
 ago, which was then a difficult Voyage ; and when they had 
 arrived at an inhospitable Shore, and waste Wilderness in the 
 dead of Winter, without one Accommodation of Life, with 
 nothing but the Heavens to skreen them from the Cold, what 
 but Almighty Power did preserve them ? And when they were 
 all Friendless, Strangers, and but few in Number, and inevitably 
 engaged in a War with the Natives, infinite Goodness prevented 
 their utter extirpation ; and the same Hand has visibly con 
 ducted them through every Stage of their increase ; and in our 
 
 3 Gen. xiii. 14, 15. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1763. 345 
 
 Memories are many recent Instances of the Interposition of 
 Providence ; witness the Destruction of Duke d" Anville and his 
 Fleet, A. D. 1747, and the signal Successes of this War. Great 
 Things are to come to pass in America, which every Year grad- 
 nally unfolds and opens more and more to our View. 
 
 N. AMES. 
 
 on 1763. Predicating his prognostication on the experience 
 of previous years, and arguing that Nature again is liable to repeat the 
 Egyptian disaster of Pharaoh s times ; the author, this year poetically 
 maintains on the title page the dire possibility of a " year of drought 
 and scarcity." Pursuing this subject in his annual Salutatory, he enlarges 
 thereon, and also upon future events hidden in the " Book of Fate ;" very 
 pleasantly relating the supposed connection between the " father of Evil," 
 and the Almanack-maker ; as well as the implied lack of capacity of those 
 who were " born in the Dark of the Moon." The monthly verses are 
 varied with Natural Astrology, and War ; with notes on the proper time to 
 die, and some speculations as to the propriety of enquiry as to where 
 departing Souls are destined. 
 
 A poetic Chronology of Remarkable Events is ingeniously constructed ; 
 some advice in relation to the advisability of raising flax, and in conclusion 
 an article forecasting the Increase of New England and its advantages to 
 the Settler. Incorporated with this is a tabular estimate of the increase 
 in population to 1835, and a valedictory by the Doctor, making a declaration 
 of title, by which the Colonists hold their lands in America. 
 
 Fertilizers, Scalping Knives, Beaux, Ladies, Money, Flowing Bowls, 
 Fools, Virtue, Shame and Bankrupts, with appropriate notes, are all mingled 
 in a delightful jumble, as only the landlord can. 
 
 In the later issues of the Almanack is given annually a list of the 
 various post roads throughout the country, and the most acceptable houses 
 of entertainment situated thereon, for the information of the traveller. 
 This made the almanack very desirable as a pocket time card ; hence the 
 desire of the Doctor for a proper return of the " licensed victuallers," that 
 his publication might be " corrected (in this particular) up to the time of 
 going to press." 
 
346 ALMANACK FOR 1764. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1764. 
 
 By Nathaniel Ames. 
 
 BOSTON : Printed and Sold by R. & S. Draper, in Newbury street ; 
 Edes & Gill, and Green & Russell, in Queen-street ; and T. & J. Fleet, 
 at the Heart and Crown in Cornhill. Sold also by the Booksellers. 
 
 Price : $s. ^d. per Dozen, and 7 Coppers single. 
 
 Old Nick s a Fool, and so bewitch d to Sin, 
 
 That he has overshot himself again : 
 
 To set the Devil-driven Savages on us, 
 
 They ll work our Weal, tho he but aim d to curse. 
 
 They ll make a Train of nodding Virtues rise : 
 
 And be a School to keep a People wise ; 
 
 And noble Heroes form and exercise. 
 
 AMERICA ! thy Int rest understood, 
 There are blest Omens of thy future Good : 
 What though the L,ancit the vital Fluid spills, 
 It keeps the Body free from greater Ills. 
 
 Kind Readers: 
 
 Your general Acceptance of my Performances, has encou 
 raged me to present you with another ALMANACK for the Year 
 1764. Those Sentences in the great Column of the Weather, 
 which have the Letters of the Alphabet included in the Paren 
 thesis against them, are astrological Notes upon some of the 
 Mutual Aspects : the Aspects are noted in the same Manner 
 which they refer to. Those Ages which produced Men of 
 greater Health, Strength of Body and Length of Life, also pro 
 duced Men of greater Genius and Abilities of Mind : Astrology 
 was formerly professed and practised by Men of the greatest 
 Capacity, Learning, Honor and Prudence, Men that were con 
 versant with the Person of Princes and great Men. The Astrol 
 ogers often hit upon Things very surprizing ; for the Story is not 
 fabulous of Spurina, how he cautioned Julius Ccesar to beware 
 of the Ides March, the Time upon which C&sar was slain in the 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1764. 347 
 
 Senate House. Nature to prevent a Chasm in the human Mind 
 fills the vast Void in the Understanding of the Ignorant with 
 Pride ; what we do not know we despise : There are many 
 curious Things lost that will be republished to future Genera 
 tions. Look back a few Years and see with what Contempt, 
 and as impious we treated those among the Ancients, who insti 
 tuted certain Bodies to be used in Defence against the Effects 
 of Thunder and Lightning ; they groped after the Shadow of 
 Truth : but we knew nothing of the matter; we despised the 
 little they knew, because we had no idea of the Thing at all ; 
 But since such surprising Discoveries have been made in Elec 
 tricity by our Countryman yea by our Bostonian the Hon. BEN 
 JAMIN FRANKLIN, Esq : tis allowed that certain Bodies are 
 able to defend against the Effects of Thunder and Lightning, 
 and that very Doctrine so lately despised, is now admired, and 
 the worthy Author of those new Discoveries justly had in the 
 greatest honor by all the polite and enlightened Nations of 
 Europe Enroll d amongst the first Discoverers of curious 
 Things when the full Harvest of his fame is ripe, may the 
 American Bards upon the GLASSYCHORD 1 chant forth his honor 
 for Generations to come. ASTROLOGY has a Philosophical 
 Foundation : the caelestial Powers that can and do agitate and 
 move the the whole Ocean, have also Force and Ability to 
 change and alter the Fluids and Solids of the humane Body ; 
 and that which can alter and change the Fluids and Solids of 
 the Body, must also greatly affect and influence the Mind ; and 
 that which can and does affect the Mind, has a great Share and 
 Influence in the Actions of Men. 
 
 Some Degree of Superstition, mixed with and over-balanced 
 by the Light and Influence of Religion, leads Men on to a greater 
 Degree of Goodness ; so in Astrology, the Superstition of which 
 in Politicks, with good Sense and Learning, and the Use of all 
 lawful Means, may lead Men on to Greatness. A Gentleman 
 long since residing in Boston, invited me into his Company as an 
 Astrologician, his Sentiment was, that there was Truth in the 
 Art and Science of Astrology, altho it ever was lash d and de 
 spised by the great and learned Men of this Age; he shew me 
 
 *A Musical Instrument of Glass invented bv Mr. FRANKLIN. 
 
348 ALMANACK FOR 1764. 
 
 his Prediction concerning his Friend and Kinsman an Officer in 
 the Navy, which was, that he would acquire great Reputation in 
 the Navy, and be a great Man in the Nation, he went Midship 
 man with him, and after signal Victories at Sea he wrote me a 
 Letter to put me in Mind of his Predictions; and true it was 
 this Officer went on from conquering to conquer, to the Glory of 
 the British Flag: and besides becoming an Admiral of England, 
 he gained a Seat in Parliament, and a Rank among the Nobility, 
 was beloved by Mankind, his Death which (too soon if we might 
 judge) happened after such signal Services to the Nation, was 
 justly deplored from the Prince to the Peasant. 
 
 This Friend to Astrology, and to the Deceased (who long be 
 fore the Event, made his Predictions) has been a worthy Follower 
 of his Friend s great Example ; has adventur d much and done 
 great Things in Battle in the late Wars, and now rides an Admiral 
 in the British Navy, with special Betrustments from his Prince, 
 at this Day : In full Faith of Astrology, by this noble Scale of 
 Ascent, he has become a great Man by doing great Things, and 
 been the Instrument, among others, this War, of gaining great 
 Good and Honor to his Country. 
 
 Instead of Verses over each Monthly Page, I have given you 
 some Hints concerning the Sanctorian Doctrine of Perspiration, 
 a Discharge from our Bodies, tho insensibly made, that is greater 
 than all the sensible Evacuations put together, since Health in 
 all Persons every Moment depends upon a right Discharge of 
 this Matter, it is but reasonable that every Person should know 
 something about it. 
 
 Besides what is usual in the Almanack this Year, I have fill d 
 a Page for the Gentlemen, and another for the Husbandman, 
 which I have endeavour d to furnish with Things rather useful 
 than curious. 
 
 Dedham, Sept. i, 1763. N. AMES. 
 
 N. B. The several Stages on the Roads in the latter Part of 
 the Almanack, have been altered agreeable to the Letters which 
 have been received in Consequence of the Advertisement last 
 Year : It is still requested when there are any further Alterations 
 of Stages, they may be communicated to the Author free of 
 Charges, they being so beneficial to Travellers. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1764. 349 
 
 THE DOCTRINE OF PERSPIRATION. 
 
 Let the Body be weighed at night, after, and in the Morning, before, 
 sensible Evacuations, the Quantity wasted that Night by insensible Per 
 spiration will be determined ; if eight Pounds in one Day are taken in by 
 Meats and Drink, five Pounds will be discharged insensibly by Perspira 
 tion. The different Constitutions, Sexes, Ages, Countries, Seasons, Dis 
 tempers, and all other Non-naturals, make a great Variation in different 
 Persons, or the same Person at different Times, of the Quantity of the 
 Matter insensibly perspired ; but he need not trouble himself about what 
 he perspires, that can eat, sleep, and ascend a Precipice, as well as ever. 
 Insensible Perspiration and Sweat are two very different Things, the more 
 a Person sweats the less he perspires ; free Perspiration makes the Body 
 light and chearful, but Sweat faint and dispirited. Perspiration passes off 
 without Injury, but Sweat robs the Body of its Nourishment. He who 
 has thro any Error lessened Perspiration says he has catch d Cold ; and if 
 the Inconveniencies from thence arising are not removed in three Days by 
 the Force of Nature, let Celsus come, who by proper Evacuations may 
 prevent an acute Fever, or other fatal Consequences that would punish 
 the Neglect of such Means. Persons do not perspire so well in a strange 
 Bed, because Objects that are not frequent, presenting themselves, pre 
 vents that perfect Blank in the Mind and Relaxation which are nec 
 essary to produce quiet Sleep and due Perspiration. Tossing and 
 Dreams are Evidences of bad Perspiration. To sleep a Nap at Noon, after 
 Dinner, may serve good Purposes of Health to some weak People, but it 
 is a Practice that ought to be cautiously come into, especially by those 
 who incline to grow fat ; for by deferring Sleep till the following Night, 
 using gentle Exercise, the perspirable Matter will be better fitted to pass 
 off thro the Pores. There is great Danger in this sultry Season, of taking 
 Cold in the Night, by sleeping uncover d, with Doors and Windows open ; 
 the Heat rarifies the Blood and Juices, which exhale in Plenty thro the 
 Pores ; when sudden Cold turns back the transpiring Steams, surprizing 
 Evils ensue. Those Persons who have sizy Blood, should be careful to 
 avoid Cucumbers and cold Fruit, most kinds of Fish, and all Aliments 
 that increase Viscidity of the Juices, which, with many other Causes at 
 this Season, will join in causing obstructed Perspiration, Dysenteries, and 
 putrid malignant Fevers. From the Autumnal Equinox to the Winter 
 Solstice weakly People are in great Danger, for where the Cold increases, 
 and the Firmness of the Fibres does not proportionably increase, the Per 
 spiration will be lessened to a Degree incompatible with a State of Health. 
 It is an ill Custom to drink out of Proportion to the solid Food we eat. 
 When more Liquor is taken in than is sufficient with the Saliva to dilute 
 the Aliment, it wears the secretory Organs faster, hastens Old Age, and 
 brings Death the sooner. Robust Persons discharge their Food for the 
 most Part by Perspiration ; those not so strong by Urine, and the Weak 
 
350 ALMANACK FOR 1764. 
 
 chiefly by indigested Chyle, and this is the Reason the weakest Persons 
 are the most laxative, and discharge much more by Stool in Proportion to 
 the other Evacuations, than those that are strong. The Word of God and 
 the Voice of Nature concur in affirming the Truth of this Proposition, 
 i. e. They who do not work must not eat ; for plentiful Meats will be 
 injurious to Persons who use but little Exercise ; but they who work hard 
 can digest the hardest Aliments. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 cP }? $ Mischief plan d by the Savages, and a factious Disposition 
 among ourselves. 
 
 [U c? Partnerships in Trade dissolved. 
 
 ^ ]? 9 Prudes and Coquets would marry, but where are there hum 
 ble Servants? 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Q QJ. 9 Small Differences amongst true Friends thro Misunder 
 standing, portends rash Actions. Hurries and Disasters through Unguard- 
 eduess. 
 
 A c? 9 Some Love Affairs end honorable & happy. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Sudden and inflamatory Distempers, attack here and there. 
 
 cP QJ. 9 Very expensive Differences, accompanied with the Height 
 of Ingratitude on one Side, and Blame on the other. 
 
 O" T? 9 Now let the Ladies that have got to Bed safely lie patiently 
 longer than usual, if they love their own Lives. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 O" Q[ 9 The Great and the Good join in Council for the Benefit of 
 Mankind. 
 
 P (^ 9 Difference amongst Lovers, but they make it up again, again, 
 and again. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 tf <3> T? An ol( i Politician gets into Power, whilst Temerity and Dis 
 cord attend, and like Chaos of old by Decision more imbroil the fray. 
 Increasing Heat and blooming Trees, 
 Delight Mankind as well as Bees. 
 The Symptoms of the present Day, 
 Denote the Crop of Flax and Hay. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1764. 351 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 cP tf All is violent Fires, Faggots, Falls and Fevers. 
 
 Cf D QJ. These planets shed their kind Influences into the hearts of 
 Princes and Governors, which drop in acts of love and kindness upon the 
 people. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 ->^ Much talk and nothing said. 
 
 cf QJ. The loquacious more talkative than ever, and fine Harangues 
 preparing. 
 
 COMMENCEMENT AT CAMBRIDGE. 
 
 Much Money sunk, 
 Much Liquor drunk. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 A ^ Now Mercury pours oil on the tongue of the Orator. 
 Q T? Bungling thieves set up their trade, to the scandal of their 
 brethren. 
 
 A c? 9 Now lovers are gratify d, but the belly-ach proves dangerous. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 n 2J- The fancies of Poets and Painters enlivened and brightened. 
 Let those who ride for their health at this season avoid the evening air. 
 King George III crown d Sept. 22, 1761. 
 A fine traveling month. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 7>ff I? QJ. denotes Peace and harmony amongst states. 
 May the Indians which have broke league have no peace till the Mur 
 derers of Capt. Campbell 1 at Detroit are delivered up. 
 
 ^Donald Campbell, more frequently called in the books Major than 
 Captain, was killed at the siege of Detroit in 1763. 
 
 When this frontier post was besieged by Pontiac in May, 1763, Major 
 Campbell and Lieut. McDougall were sent to the camp of the Indian chief 
 at his suggestion, for a conference. While they were thus detained a 
 skirmish took place in which a popular chief was slain. McDougall had 
 escaped before this time, but Campbell, on account of his age and imper 
 fect sight, had been unwilling to make the attempt. Enraged at the death 
 of a chief, and further aggravated by the very foolish exhibition of his 
 scalp at the fort, a relative of the chief had his revenge in the massacre of 
 poor Campbell. 
 
 He was seized, bound to a tree, and shot to death with arrows ; his heart 
 was torn out, boiled and eaten, and a pouch made of the skin of his arm. 
 The brutal assassin fled, fearing the vengeance of Pontiac, and it is but 
 just to the memory of this celebrated Indian chief to say that he was 
 indignant and used every possible exertion to apprehend the murderer. 
 
352 ALMANACK FOR 1764. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 eP T? The human frame violently attacked by distempers from putre 
 faction of the blood and juices. 
 
 J 3 T? The stammerers speech is more confounded, his health and 
 senses attacked. 
 
 Q 1? tf At such times the savages seem to be devil-driven to 
 mischief. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Winter, like death, seizes on men whether prepar d or not. 
 
 Pain d stomachs, more than griev d consciences, now bring bad hus 
 bands to repentance. 
 
 Some curious invention conceived at this time, to be put in execution 
 anon. 
 
 Another sextile of the superiours which promises peace and tranquility 
 to ^ 1? 2J. the world. 
 
 A Page for the GENTLEMEN. 
 
 The Minister the Merchant, and Physician, 
 
 The Lawyer, and the deep-schem d Politician, 
 
 Meet round the friendly Board, crown d with the Bowl, 
 
 Which drowns their Cares, and recreates each Soul ; 
 
 To smoke prepar d the lighted Taper shines, 
 
 Hold ! e re you burn this Leaf first read these Lines. 
 
 The Object of your looser Hours esteem, 
 
 Tobacco, Snuff, and Punch shall be my Theme. 
 
 First, of TOBACCO, a Native of America, called Tobacco by 
 the Spaniards from Tobago, an Island in the West Indies, where 
 it grows in Plenty ; the Indians called it Petum. Strange that a 
 Plant which by its venemous qualities at first affects the Senses 
 in so disagreeable manner, should be in such Vogue and Esteem 
 by mankind. 
 
 Poison that cures, a Vapour that affords 
 Content more solid than the Smiles of Lords, 
 Rest to the Weary, to the Hungry Food, 
 The last kind Refuge of the \Vise and Good, 
 Inspir d by thee, dull Cits adjust the Scale 
 Of Europe s Peace, when other Statesmen fail ; 
 By thee protected, and thy sister Beer, 
 Poets rejoice, nor think the Bailiff near. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1764. 353 
 
 The medicinal Virtues of Tobacco are many, but it should 
 not be used wantonly ; for though it is good in cold watry Con 
 stitutions, in hot cholerick Habits it is the reverse. The incom 
 parable Dr. BOERHAVE, in one of his Notes remarks, that when 
 the Saliva is lavishly spit away, we then remove one of the 
 strongest Causes of Hunger and Digestion ; the Chyle prepar d 
 without this Fluid is not of so good a condition, and the Blood 
 itself is worse for being depriv d of this diluteing Liquor. I 
 must needs be of Opinion, says he, that the smoaking of Tobacco 
 is pernicious to lean and hypochondriac Persons, by destroying 
 their Apetite, and weakening their Digestion : Smoaking and 
 chewing Tobacco creates Thirst, which to allay occasions plenti 
 ful Drinking, which drowns the Stomach, weakens its Tone, and 
 is often the Cause of an universal ill Habit of Body. 
 
 Secondly of SNUFF. It is reported of the great Duke of 
 Marlborough, that in the Time of Action, when he dilated his 
 great Soul over the whole Field of Battle, he usually appeared 
 all besmeared with Snuff. The very Trifles of great Men, which 
 are concomitant with their great Actions, receive a Dignity from 
 the great Example and high Character of the Persons from 
 whom they proceed ; so now, because Mr. P. and my Lord B. 
 take Snuff, Mr. W. and all the Journeymen and Apprentices in 
 London, notwithstanding they are in another Box, take Snuff 
 also, but besides its being fashionable to take Snuff, there is 
 some real Advantage in it ; the Snuff, and the fine Box which 
 contains it, serve the Beau instead of Ideas ; when the Jest goes 
 round, and the Laugh is put upon him, instead of a smart Re 
 partee, he gravely pulls out his Box, and says 
 
 I am a Gentleman and that s enough, 
 
 Laugh if you please, I ll take a Pinch of Snuff. 
 
 But some Ladies have taken Snuff at the Gentlemen, for 
 using it to Excess, because it makes them appear slovenly ; and 
 Men of Sense affirm, that the excessive Use of it produces 
 Apoplexies, and Disorders arising from Obstructions of the 
 Animal Spirits. Thirdly, 
 
 Of mighty PUNCH, allow d by Fate, 
 To Drown the Pilot of the State ; 
 Maudle the Gown-Man s holy Looks ; 
 And make the Lawyer burn his Books ; 
 
354 ALMANACK FOR 1764. 
 
 Forgetful of his Patient s Ills. 
 
 Physicks the Doctor without Pills ; 
 
 Yet Punch for Aid is still implor d, 
 
 And by its Votaries ador d. 
 
 Nectarian Dew, pure and divine, 
 
 Belov d by many more than Wine, 
 
 Thou shar st due Honours with the Vine ; 
 
 When Wine inflames, Punch does but cheer, 
 
 Nor fuddles like the muddy Beer ; 
 
 But like the Fountain runs off clear. 
 
 The Punch Drinkers of this Day may certainly boast of an 
 ^ra, wherein that Liquor is made more suitable to the Nature 
 and Constitution of Man, than the Punch which was made in 
 the Days of Yore. That you may know what Punch was an 
 Hundred Years ago, I shall give you a Receipt verbatim from 
 Doctor Salmon, to make a Bowl of Punch, viz. 
 
 " Fair Water two Quarts, pure Limejuice a Pint, treble 
 " refined Sugar, 3 Quarters of a pound, or better, mix and per- 
 " fectly dissolve the Sugar, then add of choice Brandy 3 Pints, 
 " stirring them well together, and grating in one Nutmeg." 
 
 But to make a modern Bowl of Punch a la mode, to the above 
 Quantity of Water, 6 Lisbon Lemons, not quite so much Sugar, 
 one sixth part of the Spirits, and the Nutmeg to be omitted. 
 
 To the lost Wretch, who ceaseless craves the Bowl, 
 Th inebriating Draught such Pleasure gives, 
 That Reason and Religion both in vain, 
 Their pure and heavenly Prohibitions urge. 
 
 Yet modern Punch bids fair to cheat the Drunkard into Tem 
 perance ; ior he may sooner hurt his Belly than his Brains by 
 such Liquor. The Acid of the Fruit, and Alkali of the Spirits 
 being mixed, neutralize the contrary Salts of each Ingredient, 
 tho the Acid is predominant ; and the plentiful use of this 
 Liquor is hurtful to such as have weak Bile, and are subject to 
 Diseases arising from Acidity, as flatulent Cholics, Dysenteries 
 and the like. 
 
 An Introduction to AGRICULTURE. 
 
 If we may judge by Analogy, and the progressive Increase 
 of the Inhabitants of this Continent, the Kingdoms of the Earth, 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1764. 355 
 
 and the Glory of the World will be transplanted into AMERICA : 
 But the Study and Practice of Agriculture must go Hand in 
 Hand with our Increase ; for all the Policy and Learning in the 
 World will not enable us to become a rich, flourishing and happy 
 People, without the Knowledge and Practice of Agriculture. 
 "The vast and noble Scenes of Nature infinitely excel the pitiful 
 Shifts of Policy. The Lands here are taken from a State of 
 Nature, and we improve them by the Strength of Nature : when 
 one Piece of Land is worn out, we throw it by: But the Art of 
 Husbandry teaches us how to make these Lands continue fertile, 
 and produce Crops by Management and Manure, and how to 
 adapt the Manure to its proper Soil. I have Room only to give 
 you a Description of one Species of Manure, of great Utility in 
 Husbandry, but little understood in America ; I mean Marie. It 
 lies under the Surface of the Earth, it is often flung up in Ditches, 
 boggy Lands and clayey Soils, marshy Levels often cover it, and 
 sandy Land is not destitute of it, but then it lies deeper. It s 
 Description in the New System of Agriculture (a Book so called) 
 is in the following Words: "The Colour of Marie is either red, 
 brown, yellow, blue, grey, or mixed : It is to be known by its 
 pure and uncompounded Nature ; there are many Marks to dis 
 tinguish it by, such as its breaking into little square Bits, its 
 falling easily to Pieces by the Force of a Blow, or upon being 
 exposed to the Sun and Frost, its feeling fat and oily, shining 
 when it is dry. But the most unerring Way to distinguish and 
 know it from any other Substance, is, to break a Piece as large 
 as a Nutmeg, and when it is quite dry, drop it to the Bottom of 
 a Glass of clear Water ; where, if it be right, it will dissolve and 
 crumble as it were into Dust in a very little Time, shooting up 
 Sparkles to the Surface of the Water." This I have mentioned 
 that my Countrymen may be upon the Look out, in order to 
 make Discoveries of this important Article of Manure. Another 
 Year perhaps I may give you some further Hints upon this 
 
 Subject. 1 should conclude, but that many People think the 
 
 Earth produces Grass spontaneously; a great Mistake this, for 
 the Seeds of Grass are strangely scatter d into all Places, by Birds 
 and Beasts, Winds and Water, and after this Manner was the 
 famous Fowl-Meadow-Grass brought into a spacious Meadow 
 upon Nepo7iset River iu Dedham, called Fowl Meadow, by the 
 
356 ALMANACK FOR 1764. 
 
 wild Fowl that frequent the Place ; the Grass took its Name from 
 the Place where it made its first Appearance about 50 Years ago; 
 the Seed is now manufactured and carried into many Parts of 
 the Country ; it produces gre.at Crops on the hard Land, Banks 
 of Rivers and Brooks, and Meadows that can be flooded and 
 
 drained. Clover is also a Species of Grass that s well known 
 
 to produce great Crops of an excellent Kind. Flanders produces 
 the Seed in the greatest Perfection ; Doctor Gardiner of Boston 
 has imported the red and white Clover Seed from thence; and 
 tis to be noted that Garden and Grass Seeds thrive best when 
 
 transplanted from a foreign Soil. This is also evident by the 
 
 Quantities of Flax-Seed, which every Year is transported from 
 
 this Continent to Ireland. The Merchants in Boston give Cash 
 
 for Flax Seed. 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 Some Years ago the Art of Paper-Making was set up in this 
 Province, tho for want of Persons that understood the Business, 
 it failed ; but lately one Mr. Clark, has carried it on at the Mills 
 in Milton, to as great Perfection as at Pennsylvania : and all the 
 Discouragement the Manufacture at present meets with, is the 
 want of RAGS. If the Heads of Families would therefore order 
 their Children and Servants to collect and save the Rags that 
 are often thrown away, they would not only receive a valuable 
 consideration therefor, but promote a Manufacture, whereby the 
 Exportation of some Thousands of Pounds a Year would be 
 saved to this Province. 
 
 Cash for RAGS of Linen, coarse & fine, old Sail Cloth, Cotton 
 or Checks, will be given by Mr. Boicc, near the South Battery in 
 Boston, or at the Paper-Mills in Milton.^ 
 
 1764. Trouble with the Indians attributed to " Old Nick," 
 constitutes the thread of the title page verse; a short lecture on Astrology 
 is directed to the " Kind Readers," and is laudatory, not only of the 
 
 1 The first paper mill in New England was set up with the aid of the 
 Massachusetts legislature, by Daniel Henchman, a bookseller of Boston, 
 in 1730. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1764. 357 
 
 Philosophical foundation of the Science, but of the glorious discoveries in 
 Electricity made by the Hon. Bostonian, Benjamin Franklin, Esq. 
 
 The doctor announces for the captions of each Monthly Page, instead 
 of Verses, some hints on the " Sanctorian Doctrine of Perspiration" and 
 the advice therein is quaint and interesting not only to the latter day 
 physician, but to his patient. 
 
 An advertisement to encourage the Art of Paper-Making in the colony 
 appears this year, and is the first trade announcement to appear in Ames" 1 
 Almanack. 
 
 A practical " Introduction to Agriculture " closes the essays in this 
 year s pamphlet. 
 
 The predictions in the weather column, as noted in the preliminary 
 discourse on the subject, are deduced from Astrological observations and 
 aspects, and probably more to illustrate the Science than to forecast the 
 future. 
 
 A Voice from the Tavern speaks in the latter pages this year, under the 
 caption of "A Page for the Gentlemen," and conveys the Innkeeper- 
 Physician s sentiments on Tobacco, Snuff and Punch. 
 
 If there ever was anything in Ames Almanack, which more than 
 another caused my heart to go out to that enterprising New England 
 Astronomer-Physician, it was the knowledge of the fact that he was an 
 inn-keeper, who fully appreciated the importance of his calling, and 
 hesitated not to own the " sorry trade," yet withal, to caution the guest 
 against the serpent that lurked within the boivl. 
 
 An Ames* " Almanack for 1764" was the first of his publications which 
 came into my hands. I treasured it highly, reading and re-reading its 
 " Page for the Gentlemen," until, on one occasion I introduced a portion 
 of its poetry in some after dinner remarks, to a party of gentlemen who 
 were trying to persuade themselves that they were having a " real jolly 
 time," at a banquet, without any wine. It was really the saddest occasion 
 that I ever attended. Think of it! No wine : yet every one at that table 
 seated himself for the purpose of enjoying " a feast of reason and a flow 
 of soul;" and behold, their countenances gave one the idea that each 
 was contemplating " funeral baked meats." 
 
 A banquet without wine ! My ! What would the marriage feast at Cana 
 have amounted to if the cistern water had not been tampered with, and 
 converted to a " stimulator of the conscience and arouser of the mental 
 faculties ; " of so much advantage at such gatherings, in producing the 
 social and home-like feeling always to be desired. 
 
 What repute could Noah 1 have gained beyond ~h.\<3 forty days experience 
 as a navigator? I ask if his name and fame would have been treasured 
 so long and well, had he not experimented with the grape, and its effects, 
 handing down to us the tradition, in connection therewith. 
 
 1 The honored founder of the " Royal Ark Mariners," known to a 
 select few as the " Swivel-tailed Marines." 
 
358 ALMANACK FOR 1764. 
 
 " The Grape that can with Logic absolute 
 The Two-and Seventy jarring Sects confute : 
 The potent Alchemist that in a trice 
 Life s leaden Metal into Gold transmute." 
 
 I went to Dedham a few years ago. I had read so much about the 
 quaint old town, that I had mentally erected, and soon came to believe 
 that I should find there the veritable old Tavern in which the Almanacks 
 were written ; where " Physick " was dispensed, where the jovial, hearty r 
 grand old landlord had " welcomed the coming, sped the parting guest." 
 
 A hostelry, where the mail coach on His Majesty s service had reg 
 ularly stopped, where the horses were changed, and passengers either 
 alighted for a stay, or to step in for a " drop of something comforting." 
 Exchanging pleasant greetings the while with the host, and granting a 
 smile for a "curtsey," to the plumpest and cheeriest of barmaids. 
 
 But, alas ! I didn t find it nor even a substitute for it. But I did find 
 an Historical Society, and as genial and enthusiastic a gathering of anti 
 quarian Students as one could ever desire to meet. 
 
 No wine needed in that company to make the conversation "go." It 
 went of its own accord, and when I departed, I felt that I had been 
 "admitted a freeman of Dedham," if not created an absolute New Eng- 
 lander. 
 
 I saw the spot where the old tavern stood, but "modern evidences" 1 
 only existed to identify its location, with the exception of the " Fisher 
 Ames Elm" the mute witness of its latter days. 
 
 The Priestess of this ruin d shrine, 
 
 Unable to survive the stroke, 
 Presents no more the ruddy wine, 
 
 Her glasses gone, her china broke. 
 
 The friendly Host, whose social hand 
 
 Accosted strangers at the door, 
 Has left at length his wonted stand, 
 
 And greets the weary guest no more. 
 
 Old creeping time, that brings decay, 
 
 Might yet have spar d these mouldering walls 
 
 Alike beneath whose potent sway 
 A temple or a tavern falls. 
 
 IMPROVEMENT was the ruffian blast 
 
 Whose vandal breath rent wall and door 
 And all the roof to ruin cast, 
 
 The roof that shelter d us before. 
 
 Your wrath appeas d, I pray be kind 
 
 If Mopsus should the dome renew ; 
 That we again may quaff his wine, 
 
 Again collect our jovial crew. 
 
 Philip Frcneau slightly altered to fit the case. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1764. 359 
 
 On the nth day of July, 1764, Dr. Nathaniel Ames died, aged 56 years. 
 
 He had performed nearly, if not quite all the calculations for the 
 Almanack for the year 1765, which was completed by his son, Nathaniel 
 Ames, Jr., and from whose hands this, as well as the subsequent almanacks 
 were issued. 
 
 At a person s decease there are those who would not be satisfied to be 
 informed in answer to an enquiry, that the decedent left all he possessed, 
 but would desire the details of the estate. 
 
 While the returns of the appraisers have been placed in my hands, 
 setting forth the items of the Doctor s possessions in wigs, pots, steers, 
 negroes, pills, potions, medicines, tubs, horses, carts, etc., etc., I have 
 gathered the same into the grand totals of: 
 
 Real Estate, ^"1561, 43, yd. 
 
 Personal Estate, - 407, 93, 
 
 ^1968, 145, i#a. 
 
 From an account rendered by Richard Draper, (administrator of his 
 father, John Draper) against Dr. Ames estate, we find the value of the 
 " copy of an almanack " for a number of years : 
 
 For the almanacks from 1751-1757 he received \Q: 13 : 4 for each issue. 
 For 1758 he received ^12, and for 1759 ^13 : 6 : 8 ; making a total of ^ 100 
 for nine years. 
 
 The following letter written to Dr. Nathaniel Ames, Jr., will show how 
 the almanack business was transacted, and the desirability of such publi 
 cations : 
 
 BOSTON, August 25, 1764. 
 SR. 
 
 You did not call the last time you were in Town, to inform me whether 
 you would accept of the offer I then made for the Copy of the Almanack 
 for 1765 upon which I think I am not under obligations now to stand 
 to that offer. If you have any further Proposals to make it must be 
 speedy a Gentleman has made us an offer of a Copy, which will no 
 doubt be acceptable, for a very small Consideration, and shall send him an 
 Answer this Day or on Monday, and if he can finish it next Week, shall 
 immediately put into the Press, as the Booksellers will have one Lowe s^ 
 out for sale, before the Printers can have a Chance of publishing your s, 
 if we agree for the Copy your Father left. 
 
 I here enclose you the account between your Father & mine, which was 
 never settled, and by which you will see there is a Ballance due to J. 
 Draper /"6ios4^d lawful money. And the offer I now make is that 
 
 1 Nathaniel I/ow published an Almanack at Boston from 1762 until 
 early in the present century. 
 
360 ALMANACK FOR 1765. 
 
 you will deliver me the Copy by the ist Day of September, I will allow 
 you the 100 Old Tenor & the Ballance of the Account, as above, which 
 will be in the whole 20 lawful money a sum larger than ever was given 
 (by more than a third Part) or than ever expected by your Father, till I 
 took it in Hand in the Year 1760-1. 
 
 I am Sir your humble Servant 
 
 RICHARD DRAPER. 
 
 The Administrators settled on the terms proposed. (Ed.) 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1765 
 
 By NATHANIEL AMES. 
 
 BOSTON : Printed and Sold by R. and 5. Draper, in Newbury street ; 
 Edes and Gill and Green and Russell, in Queen street ; and T. &y. Fleet 
 at the Heart and Crown in Cornhill. Sold also by the Booksellers. 
 Price : 3^. <\d. per Dozen, and 7 Coppers single. 
 
 As thro the Zodiack moves the changing Year, 
 The varying Stars go down and disappear ; 
 The vernal Bloom the Summer Suns destroy, 
 And barren Winter blasts th Autumnal Joy : 
 So change the Human Race, around the Ball, 
 And gliding Generations rise and fall. 
 AMES who in annual Labours long approv d, 
 * The Page consulted and the Man belov d, 
 Rapt thro th Etherial Space th exalted Soul, 
 Sees Stars and Planets far beneath him roll : 
 But while from Earth the Parent Mind is flown, 
 The grateful Publick bless the rising Son. 
 
 READER. 
 
 By a most heavy distressing Stroke of Providence, and seeing 
 it was the Will of Heaven, I must not repine, being bereaved of 
 the Author of Part of these Calculations, viz. the Ephemeris of 
 the Planets and Places, and the Rising and Setting of the Sun 
 and Moon, for the fortieth Almanack he ever published ; I, his 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1765. 361 
 
 Son, am thus forced, as it were, to make my unexpected, prema 
 ture Appearance in Public ; I was induced to finish this Alma 
 nack rather to please some intimate Friends, who were urgent to 
 have it continued by the same Name than by the Prospect of the 
 Reward, which is indeed very small, or by any Fondness for 
 commencing Author. I have been very anxious to have it 
 become as useful as possible to those whose Oracle is an Alma 
 nack, such as are destitute of any other periodical Performance, 
 as Magazines, or the like, or even News Papers : The Piece on 
 Agriculture I imagin d might be as useful as any Thing, seeing 
 such Instructions can be convey d thro no other Channel so 
 conveniently as this to those Persons who practice that Art ; and 
 any Observations or Improvements in that, or any Art or Manu 
 facture, that would be really useful to the Community, will be 
 very acceptable from any Gentlemen that please to favour me 
 with em against another Year ; for it is now become absolutely 
 necessary that we begin to cultivate every Art and Manufacture 
 that will help us to make Remittances to our Mother Country, 
 for the vast Quantities of Broad Cloths, and a Multitude of other 
 less necessary Articles, for which this Country is now in debt : 
 And also to enable us to bear up under the heavy Duties that 
 have been laid on us since the Conclusion of the War, when one 
 great Source of our Affluence was cut off that supported so many 
 idle Persons both in the Army and at Home, in so great Ease, 
 that finding they must get a Living some how or other, and 
 having but poor Stomachs to return to the Stall or Plough, from 
 whence they came ; some of them commence Quacks, and call 
 themselves Doctors, having seen a Man that saw another Man 
 cured of a very foul Gunshot by hot Oil of Turpentine, and heard 
 their Grandmother say that Carduus Tea will vomit, and Fifing- 
 ers are very cooling ; or perhaps having exercis d their Skill on 
 passive Beasts, at length have the Audacity to practice their 
 Butchery on the human Race ; and upon the slightest occasions, 
 or oftener none at all, absent themselves from public Worship 
 to be thought Men of Business : thus without one qualification 
 necessary for a Physician they become famous Water Gruel 
 Doctors. 
 
 There is another Herd of these Drones as troublesome to the 
 Gentlemen of the Bar, as the other is despicable in the Eye of a 
 
362 ALMANACK FOR 1765. 
 
 regular bred Physician, which are called Petty foggers ; this is a 
 Race made up, for the most part, of the Dregs of Misfortune and 
 Misconduct, join d with a Deal of low Wit, and such a Sip of 
 Learning as just intoxicates the Brain, as Pope has it, who 
 having suffered a Course of Law repeatedly, in Actions of Debt, 
 Trespass, and perhaps criminal Actions too, at last get the Form 
 of a Declaration pretty perfectly by Heart, run off to some differ 
 ent Part of the Continent, fill up Writs in the most trifling 
 Causes, exciting Quarrels, thereby becoming downright Barra 
 tors, the very Pest of Society ; and perhaps if they have a good 
 Stock of Dissimulation they may get a certain Commission that 
 commands my Silence. 
 
 " Titles are Marks of honest Men, and wise, 
 " The Fool or Knave that wears a Title, lies. 
 
 These are two Evils which it seems strange to my Shortsight 
 edness, the Legislature of New England has not found a remedy, 
 for, seeing these Animals might be employed for the Good of the 
 Common Wealth in subduing our stubborn Soil, or in some other 
 handy Work. 
 
 There is a third Species of these Clogs on our growing 
 Wealth, as worthless as either of the former, who under the 
 specious Pretence of Religion, and an alarming Conscience, walk 
 to and fro, up and down the Earth, sowing Sedition among 
 Churches, raising Disputes about holy Trifles, destroying that 
 universal Charity that ought to warm the Breast of every 
 Christian towards every Class of Men that adore one Being of 
 infinite Wisdom and Power, whether they call him JEHOVAH or 
 Jupiter, whether they worship him prostrate and kneeling, or 
 standing and setting ; whether they light up Wax Tapers at 
 Noon Day to celebrate him, or are contented with the grand 
 Luminary which he has placed in this " azure Vault," whether 
 they who are appointed to tell us we must love Him, be cloath d 
 in a white Robe, a black Gown, or black Coat ; whether the 
 Colour of their Skin happens to be white, olive or sable ; 
 whether they speak our own, or an unknown Language ; 
 whether they wear an embroidered Coat and laced Hat, or a plain 
 grey, woollen Coat and flopp d Hat. Not only these Conditions 
 unequal indeed to Men of narrow Minds perfectly equal in the 
 Eye of the great Creator, but all the little foolish Differences of 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1765. 363 
 
 Opinion, are made the signals of Hatred and Persecution, by 
 these lay Pretenders, to serve that Being, who is so independent 
 of every Thing created, that even the highest Angel can do him 
 no Service, much less such diminutive Atoms as Men, otherwise 
 than by serving one another. Thus Reader, you have not my 
 Opinion alone, but that of every Man of Sense, viz : That 
 every one ought to act in his own Sphere, that the Mechanics 
 ought to diligently pursue their respective Occupations, nor 
 trouble their Heads any further with Law, Physic or Divinity, 
 than immediately concerns their own Wealth, Health, or Salva 
 tion ; nor until some such Regulations take Place, shall we ever 
 be a flourishing people. 
 
 The Eclipse on the 2ist of March, as calculated and projected 
 from the Tables of the latest Author on that Subject and who is 
 very much commended by the Reviewers, will be invisible in 
 Boston ; but as done by the greatest Mathematician in America, 
 from the Tables of the then greatest Astronomer in Europe, 
 it will be a small Eclipse, a little before the Time I have said ; 
 but every one knows on whose calculations we ought most to 
 depend. It is hoped that Gentlemen of Curiosity, especially 
 such as are favoured with a clear Horrison and Telescopes will 
 make critical Observations. The Title Page Verse is the Favour 
 of a worthy Friend. Reader, adieu ! 
 
 N. AMES. 
 
 JANUARY. Hail sacred Wisdom, in whose blest Abode, 
 Unravell d Nature clearly speaks the God ; 
 Where Virtue s Sons shall full Protection find, 
 Where Vice or Dullness ne er disturb the Mind, 
 Where Love and Joy eternally reside, 
 Nor Fame and Affluence swell the Mind with Pride. 
 
 FEBRUARY. O Grant me Pow r, by thy instructive Rays, 
 
 To Thee and Virtue, tune some worthy Lays ; 
 
 Exalt my Youth with true Poetic Fire. 
 
 To grace the Works of my departed Sire ! 
 
 With Tho ts like Milton; Pope s smooth moral Song ; 
 
 The Dean s deep Wit ; or Lord of Satyr, Young; 
 
 The soft Distress of Shenstone s rural Theme ; 
 
 Cervante s Mirth ; or Hammond s tender Scene. 
 
364 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 ALMANACK FOR 1765. 
 
 From these Examples could I catch the Flame, 
 To please the Sage, and shun the Critic s Blame ; 
 Or better still ; our Vices to expose ; 
 Convince the Mind what joy from Virtue flows ; 
 On Fancy s Wings then upwards would I soar, 
 And bless the Muse for Strains with me she bore. 
 
 O ! What a vain, an empty Thing is Man, 
 
 Blown by each Tempest of uncertain Fate ! 
 
 Mov d by no certain Rule, or settled Plan, 
 And still unhappy in his happiest State. 
 
 A mere Machine, by ev ry Passion led ; 
 By Vice undone, by Virtue nourished." 
 
 As from a late Debauch, the Drunkard reels, 
 
 (True human Nature, undisguis d by Art) 
 Nor in his Breast a Beam of Reason feels, 
 
 To move his Actions, or to mend his Heart. 
 So are Mankind uncapable of Thought, 
 Till Reason guides, and Wisdom Sense has brought. 
 
 " Upon this World, this Pageantry of Show, 
 
 This gaudy, glaring, chequer d Masquerade, 
 
 Each wishes something, Wisdom can t bestow, 
 And seeking Greatness, is of Want afraid. 
 
 To Thee ! sage Goddess, for my self I call ; 
 
 I ask no Greatness and I fear no fall." 
 
 Life is a Jest ; tho most mistake in this, 
 
 Till Death draws nigh, they deem it real Bliss ; 
 
 The Wise and Good the Pangs of Death shall know 
 
 Tho Virtue, always mitigates its Woe. 
 The Atom, Monarch, or like Atom, Slave, 
 Shall both be swallowed in th insatiate Grave. 
 
 " Did Fortune, what to few she ll give, 
 Allow me make my Choice to live ; 
 I would not seek an envy d Seat, 
 
 Or daily Visits of the Great ; 
 Nor yet would my Ambition fall, 
 To meagre want s deserted Hall." 
 
 SEPTEMBER. "For Use, not Shew, my House should stand 
 Amid a spot of fertile Land ; 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1765. 
 
 365 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 DECEMBER 
 
 A Lake below ; around a Wood ; 
 
 Here rise a Rock there rush a Flood 
 A Mountain would in Prospect rise, 
 And bear the grey Mist to the Skies." 
 
 " When in some dark Retreat I sit, 
 Be near a Friend, a Man of Wit, 
 Of Heart sincere, and Converse free, 
 
 The Lover of Mankind and me, 
 Who, should the World tumultuous roar, 
 Could calmly see the Storm ashore." 
 
 How Happy s He ! whose guiltless Mind, 
 Is to his native Fields confin d ; 
 Bless d with his State, and craves no more 
 Than Heav n allow d his Sires before ; 
 No Care by Day disturbs his Breast, 
 At Night he steeps his Brows in Rest. 
 
 If Life you want, undash d with Woe, 
 Serene enjoy the instant Now ; 
 If Fortune smiles, enjoy the Ray, 
 And smile her very Gloom away ; 
 Let Tempests sweep and Billows roar, 
 The Storm of Life shall soon be o er. 
 
 If any good House of Entertainment is omitted, or any 
 inserted that do not keep Tavern ; also if there are any Errors 
 in the Distances of the Stages, it is desired that those who live 
 at or near the Places where the Mistakes are, would send a letter 
 to Richard & Samuel Draper, Printers in Boston, free of Charge, 
 and they shall be rectified. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 Don t expect any Thing uncommon in the Weather this Year. 
 
 It is better to wear a homespun Coat, than lose our LIBERTY. 
 
 A Man of Sense can Artifice disdain ; as Men of Wealth may venture 
 to dress plain. 
 
 Those who can keep House now without hurting their business, are 
 best off. 
 
366 ALMANACK FOR 1765. 
 
 It s time to think of raising Hemp & Flax, if we ve a Mind to save a 
 Tax. 
 
 News from afar, of distant War, Many Schemes prove abortive. 
 
 Any Winds that come now you may denominate March Winds. 
 Some literary Performances usher d into Light and soon disappear. 
 New England Luxury cannot be supported unless more of her Com- 
 modies are exported. 
 
 Fools and Prodigals, as well as the Wise & Industrious are necessary 
 to build a nourishing State. 
 
 Are Provisions dear ? Whose Fault is that as long as your Ground is 
 untill d and Hands unemploy d. 
 
 Fine Times for those who would make their Fortunes in new Settle 
 ments. 
 
 A Suit of Green delights the Bye, which Nature puts on gradually. 
 
 Some brave Spirits glow with patriotic Ardor. 
 Many are governed by Interest, but more by Whim. 
 Strange Fate of human Things. 
 How Nature every Day new Wonders bring. 
 
 This Conjunction of 9 (Venus & Mercury) promises much Fruit of 
 licentious Love next Winter. 
 
 Now let the curious with Pleasure view the liquid Flame dart down 
 the electric Rod ! 
 
 Ladies be gay and richly attir d, if from no other Motive you can be 
 admir d. 
 
 When Adam dalve and Eve span, who was then the Gentleman ? 
 
 In vain we fly from Care, the Monster in our Breasts we bear. 
 
 Your Glasses, at present, prognosticate best concerning the Weather, 
 seeing the Stars refuse. 
 
 The Farmer only independent lives, he asks but what indulgent Nature 
 gives. 
 
 Bolus with his Company of Winds rush from their Confinement bear- 
 down all before them producing some Rain. 
 
 Anniversary of the AUTHOR S Death (July n, 1764.) 
 
 Many Crapulcs^- to Day, give the Head-ach to the Gay. 
 
 The most egregious Folly that I can see, is a Man living in Luxury. 
 
 1 A Complaint once common among the " Sons of Malta." 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1765. 367 
 
 Nothing more certain than Death, or more uncertain than the Time. 
 
 With loads of Fruit the Trees do bend ; but soon they re pluck d by 
 ev ry Hand. 
 
 Vomitings and Purgings attack here and there. 
 
 Why are Quacks and Rhum alike ? because they both kill with Impunity. 
 
 A Man may be too good a Poet as well as too good a Fiddler. 
 
 The Farmer, if he minds his own Business, only, has the best Title to 
 Happiness of any Man. 
 
 Signs of foul Weather, which if ever so foul is better than the Gamester 
 and Drunkard deserve. The Sight of one Drunkard is better than twenty 
 Sermons would be without it, to prevent Drunkeness. 
 
 Thunder, the grand Artillery of Heaven ! heard afar. 
 
 Perhaps the Sextons will see more prosperous Times than for some 
 Years past. 
 
 No rain without a sprinkling. 
 
 Cease to speak ill of others least you hear of your own Misdeeds. 
 
 A very good Time to recruit a crazy, wasting Carcase, by gentle Exer 
 cise on Horseback. 
 
 Weather being pretty pleasant, if not too cold. 
 
 Where a Vot ry of Venus has pitched his Tent, there he must abide 
 tho his Int rest be spent. 
 
 A mighty Emulation among the Great ! but for what ? who shall acquire 
 the best Estate. 
 
 Behold the Change in Nature s Face ; this, Ladies, too, will be your 
 Case ! 
 
 Less Silk & Lace, more Wool and Flax, must be in vogue with the 
 Mobility, before we may expect better Times. 
 
 A Plenty of Poultry you now may behold, with fine winter Butter, as 
 yellow as Gold ! 
 
 To let your Income exceed your Expences is as sure a Way to grow 
 rich, as to trust your Farm with Hirelings is to grow poor. 
 
 Inactivity fouls the Soul as well as Body, 
 
 Something threatens our Liberty ! 
 
 If we are bless d with a great Store, the Name of GOD let us adore. 
 
 Now Ladies take care of what China you ve got, lest winter s Frost 
 render it as though it were not. 
 
 Which is most ridiculous, a Hottentot adorn d with the Entrails of 
 Beasts, or a modern Saint deform d with his Sunday s Phiz? 
 
 Wherever over-sanctity you see, be sure take care of hidden villainy. 
 
 Reader prepare, thy Fate to share, with those whose Station is past 
 Probation. 
 
368 ALMANACK FOR 1765. 
 
 An ELEGY 
 On the Death of the late Dr. AMES. 
 
 On troubl d Seas when Life s full Sails are swell d 
 By Blasts of Passion, ne er by Reason quell d, 
 The fleeting Forms that in Life s Vision dance, 
 The futile Pleasures of this Scene enhance : 
 But Death approaches ! when calm Reason rules, 
 And real Scenes rush dismal on our Souls. 
 
 Ye Youth who now with cold Indiff rence view, 
 A worthy Parent, perhaps scorn him too. 
 Oh ! yet, while Fate delays th impending Woe, 
 Be rouz d to Thought! anticipate the Blow. 
 Lest, unexpected, in funereal Gloom, 
 With me you bend o er some untimely Tomb, 
 Or your sad Frame with inward Grief you wear, 
 And almost think Heav n s sacred Doom severe. 
 
 Oh ! stop ye Dreams ! ye dear Illusions stay ! 
 Methinks I see the re-inspired Clay ! 
 Lo ! pleasing Smiles his guileless Heart declare, 
 Behold him healing with successful Care. 
 
 Kind as the Turtle to her unfledg d Young, 
 
 Indulgent oft when I requested wrong. 
 
 Still let me listen while his words impart 
 Instructions mild, that captivate the Heart, 
 And all the Soul, each Tumult charm d away, 
 Yields, gently led, to Virtue s easy Sway. 
 Adorn d by Thee, bright Virtue ! Age is young, 
 And Musick warbles on the faultering Tongue, 
 Thy Ray creative chears the clouded Brow, 
 Touches the faded Cheek with rosy Glow, 
 Illumes the joyless Aspect, and supplies 
 A lively Lustre to the languid Eyes ; 
 Bach Look, each Accent, while it awes, invites, 
 And Age with every youthful Charm delights. 
 
 But here, alas ! the pleasing Vision s flown, 
 I see him struggling ! hear his dying Groan ! 
 Behold his Visage with dire Spasms wrung ! 
 The fainter Sounds just scape his parched Tongue, 
 His flutt ring Pulse now stops now beats now done ! 
 His Soul now leaps ! returns and now quite gone ! 
 
 Oh cruel Death ! of ev ry Rule forlorn, 
 Or thou might st spare the Oak to take the Thorn ; 
 Why miss thy erring Darts the worthless Drones, 
 Does Heav n no more protect its virtuous Sons ? 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1765. 369 
 
 Pardon my vain Grief! Reason takes the Reins, 
 His Soul is freed ! while we endure the Pains, 
 Scap d the dark Dungeon, does the Slave complain, 
 Nor bless the Hand that broke the galling Chain ? 
 Say, pines not Virtue for the ling ring Morn, 
 Doom d in this Midnight Waste to stray forlorn ? 
 Oh ! happy Stroke that breaks the bonds of Clay, 
 Darts thro the bursting Gloom the Blaze of Day, 
 And wings the Soul with boundless Flight to soar, 
 Where Dangers threat, and Fears alarm no more. 
 
 Ye Sluices of my Eyes, suppress your Tears, 
 His ravish d Soul now roves among the Stars. 
 
 The " Rules for Husbandry" are omitted, not being of much interest. 
 
 on 1765. As it was observed that there was a sensible 
 change in the essays and humor of the almanack after the decease of the 
 first Nathaniel Ames in 1736, who, though he did not appear as the 
 author, undoubtedly exerted his influence upon the publication so in the 
 present instance, there will be noted a still greater change between the 
 present astronomer and his father ; due undoubtedly to the change in the 
 affairs of government, and the customs and habits of the people. 
 
 The title-page verse is admitted to have been written by a " mutual 
 friend," for a proper modesty on the part of either Nathaniel, would not 
 have led them to have indited the two last lines thereof, witty as it really 
 is. 
 
 The address of the Author to the reader having premised with an 
 announcement of the decease of his father, shows that he has largely 
 inherited his father s tastes and his sentiments (though more positively,) 
 and can handle the pen of satire equally well. The burden of his discourse 
 is the urgency of cultivating and the encouragement of home productions, 
 the discouragement of titled drones, pretentious medical quacks, legal 
 pettifoggers, and seditious Clergymen. 
 
 Thorough-paced democracy characterizes every line, as opposed to the 
 encroachments of the opponent Aristocracy now apparently growing up in 
 the Colonies. 
 
 The monthly verses are the production of Nathaniel Jr., and bear all the 
 family traits of genius and education. 
 
 The monthly squibs give a fair exhibit of the " Spirit of the Times," 
 and which can best be appreciated by a careful perusal of the interlined 
 notes, showing the general direction of the political storm now brewing. 
 
 The elder Doctor, whom we have now followed for forty years through 
 his astronomical career, his wit, and pleasantries, his humor, sense and 
 
370 ALMANACK FOR 1765. 
 
 nonsense, has fulfilled his mortal destiny and been gathered to his fathers. 
 With his own plain-spoken works before us, no fulsome eulogy is 
 demanded at the hands of the mere collator of his labors, and we shall 
 simply transcribe one of the many testimonials which were indited to his 
 memory by appreciative contemporaries. 
 
 Ellsworth, 1765, a Connecticut Almanack- Maker on the Death of 
 
 Doctor AMES. 
 
 My muse with sable colours spread, 
 To hear that Doctor Ames is dead. 
 His great seraphic genius fled. 
 Mourn, mourn, sons of Urania, mourn, 
 For he will never more return : 
 To hover round the starry brood, 
 For he s pass d thro the ecliptic road. 
 To world s unknown, he s took his flight, 
 The Grave s receiv d him from our sight : 
 Fame sits aloft and spreads her wing, 
 While we in mournful strains may sing. 
 
 Any change in tone from the usual manner of the Almanack, or its 
 sentiments, could not fail of being noted by those who had for forty years 
 been conversant with the AMES publications; hence it is not to be 
 wondered that we should find among the correspondence of the present 
 author, a letter of a neighboring critic which is subjoined, and which 
 explains itself. 
 
 ROXBURY 8 April 1765 
 SIR, 
 
 Tho a stranger to you, yet I take the freedom to give my simple senti 
 ments of your address to the Reader publish d in your Almanack. I 
 mean what you say of " a third species of these Clogs " &c. which as It 
 seams strange to my short sightedness, you did not upon a review, sup 
 press. As I conclude you have adopted the sentiment, shall not charge 
 you with borrowing it from the famous M. Voltaire. Excuse me Sir, if I 
 tell you, that you have given sufficient evidence, that reveal d religion is 
 with you, a Chimera. Nor will your calling them, you explode, " Lay 
 pretenders," avail you, as you had before given a droll catalogue of the 
 various sects which unhappily divide the Christian world. Supposing 
 them all equaly right, or (if you please) equaly wrong; Indeed the heathen 
 Idolitors seam to obtain your charity. 
 
 If in fact such are your sentiments, you may Laugh at an attempt to 
 set you right. If otherwise tis doubtless a pity you gave the publick 
 reason to think you an Enemy to the religion of your country, for, this is 
 not my oppinion alone, but that of many men of better sense. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1766. 371 
 
 The universal Esteam which the country had for your deceas d father 
 wou d have vastly indear d you to the publick, had you trod in his steps 
 but your early wide departure from his known principles, is an unhappy 
 flourish at your first "commencing Author." 
 
 If you receive this in the friendly manner, in which it is wrote, you 
 will not resent the attempt. 
 
 Am Sir yf &c W. K : 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1766 
 
 By NATHANIEL AMES. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 Printed and sold by W. M AiypiNE; and J. FILMING, in Marlborough 
 
 street. 
 
 Price, 2 s. 8 d. per Dozen. Six Coppers single. 
 
 We, tho from Heav n remote, to Heav n will move 
 With strength of Mind and tread th Abyss above ; 
 And penetrate, with an interior light, 
 Those upper Depths, which Nature hid from sight, 
 Pleas d we will be to walk along the Sphere 
 Of shining Stars, and travel with the Year ; 
 To leave this heavy Earth and scale the height 
 Of Atlas, Who supports the heav nly Weight ; 
 To look from upper Light, and thence survey 
 Mistaken Mortals wand ring from the way. 
 
 GENEROUS READER. 
 
 It was not without great diffidence of my own ability to fill 
 the place of my deceased father, who was 40 years conversant 
 with the public in this way, and whom even envy owns to have 
 gain d their generous and impartial approbation ; a grateful sense 
 of which, inspiring me with the most refreshing hopes of their 
 
372 ALMANACK FOR 1766. 
 
 future encouragement and protection, join d with a reflection on 
 the sublimity of the employment for leisure hours, that I was 
 sollicited to offer these first fruits of my labours, under my own 
 patronage, to your candid view. And as long as I can gain the 
 smiles of public favour, which is a great incitement to a noble 
 exertion, I purpose to make my appearance before you annually, 
 notwithstanding what some obscure persons would insinuate to 
 the contrary ; who, at the expence of truth and reputation, per- 
 sue their sordid interests with such a monopolizing disposition, 
 as astonishes all impartial judges : for they have not only made 
 use of my name to impose upon the public, by prefixing it to 
 their counterfeit Almanacks, but have even advertised that I 
 was not about to publish an Almanack for this year, which the 
 public knows to be false. 1 I would advise such as would buy 
 my Almanack to be cautious lest they be imposed upon. Thus 
 much I think necessary to inform the public with regard to this 
 intended imposition. Besides what is usual in this Almanack 
 you have the rising, setting, or southing of the seven stars, 
 several times in each month. I shall always endeavour to pub 
 lish what I think will be most useful to the bulk of my readers, 
 let individuals make what application they please ; and next 
 consider their innocent diversion : yet I hope I shall never be so 
 bigotted to my own opinion as not to lay open to the conviction 
 of any error, when it is offered in a candid manner, by argu 
 ments drawn from cool reason, void of passion and prejudice. 
 Here I should conclude, did I not share in the general distress 
 of my countrymen, and think it out of character, not to condole 
 with them in their present distressed circumstances, who not 
 only groan, but almost sink beneath a load of debt ; our mer 
 chants continually breaking ; no money to be had, even for the 
 most valuable articles ; and all threatened with ruin, without the 
 lenity and assistance of our superiours ; yet so far from this, 
 
 *In 1765, in evident anticipation of the discontinuance of the publica 
 tion after the decease of the old Doctor, " a late Student at Harvard Col 
 lege," 1 issued a " Nathaniel Ames almanack" for 1766, which is remarkable 
 for the following note in connection with the price of the book, and the 
 " Stomp Act. n "Price before the Stamp Act takes Place, Hal f-a-Dollar 
 per Dozen, and six Coppers Single. After the Act takes place, more than 
 double the Price." 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1766. 373 
 
 that we are shocked with a new demand, which, it is thought by 
 many, all the current specie among us is not able to satisfy ; and 
 after that is gone, then go houses and lands, then liberties ! and 
 all the land that we can then get, will be only in vassalage to 
 some haughty Lord, which Heaven avert ! But this is only a con 
 jecture of what might be should we prove very tame and easy at 
 putting on the yoke. Now, on the other hand, let us consider, 
 the Government must be kept up ; and that they who sit at helm, 
 know the exigencies of state much better than we who are at a 
 distance ; and that we have the happiness to be under as good a 
 King as ever reign d, and a very wise government ; that they 
 know we possess a true British spirit ; and that when they come 
 to know our true circumstances, they will certainly redress our 
 evils, for as we are a member of the whole body of the state, our 
 interests are mutual, and we cannot think of independency. 
 But, above all things, let us rely on the goodness of that power 
 which protected our forefathers, who sought shelter in this howl 
 ing wilderness among the savage beasts from more savage men ; 
 that they might quietly worship HIM, who has hitherto, and as 
 long as we do our duty, will continue to defend us from foreign 
 and domestic enemies, and STAMP with eternal infamy and dis 
 grace, those who would oppress or tyrannize over us. And now, 
 reader, relying on further acquaintance, wishing all happiness 
 to British America and confusion to its foes, I subscribe my self 
 your humble Servant, NATH. AMES. 
 
 All Persons who incline to encourage the Paper Manufacture 
 are requested to save their old Cotton and Linen Rags &c, for 
 which they may have a good Price at the Paper Mill at Milton. 
 
 JANUARY. Columbian Genius hear our prayer : 
 O ! let us all with lustre rise 
 Beneath thy tutelary care : 
 Retain our dear bought liberties ; 
 L/et not the voice of Native freedom sound 
 Alone in realms which Albion s shores surround. 
 
374 
 
 ALMANACK FOR 1766. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 "As each society may justly claim 
 A task adapted to each sex and frame ; 
 Much it imports in active life to know, 
 What to ourselves, to others, what we owe ; 
 What offices from what relations rise ; 
 And what our state, and what our frame implies 
 By these in one consistent plan we rise ; 
 Sense makes us active, action make us wise." 
 
 " Lovely beauty, breathing spring, 
 Waving soft thy balmy wing ; 
 Fairest glory of the year ! 
 On our longing plains appear. 
 Sweet inspirer of my song ! 
 On a sun-beam glide along ! " 
 
 " See the lovely Nymph appears, 
 And a crown of roses wears. 
 Now the Husbandmen prepare 
 To improve the coming year ; 
 Flinging free the gen rous grain, 
 Hoping pleasure, bearing pain." 
 
 " We ll write him down a slave, who, humbly, proud ? 
 With presents, begs preferments from the croud ; 
 That early suppliant who salutes the tribes, 
 And sets the mob to scramble for his bribes. 
 I/et awful virtue, patriot warmth inspire, 
 And catch from breast to breast the noble fire." 
 
 " Be thou content with that degree of fate, 
 That s first thy lot, and first thy destin d state ; 
 Be wise, and wholly on thy God rely. 
 This world s vain pleasures, and its pride defy ; 
 Whilst cank ring cares does mortal life surround, 
 In Heav n alone true happiness is found. 
 
 " What is in death, that men should fear to die ? 
 Or, What is life, but care and misery? 
 The world s chief glories are unworth our stay ; 
 Their distant beauties, when approach d, decay : 
 L/ike lovers dreams, which paint the yielding fair, 
 We grasp a shade, and fill our arms with air. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1766. 
 
 375 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Observe a man thro ev ry scene of life, 
 Blest in estate, in children, and a wife, 
 And something you will ev ry hour find, 
 To spoil his pleasures and distract his mind. 
 The greedy miser makes his sole employ, 
 To heap up riches others may enjoy." 
 
 SEPTEMBER. " Tis wealth to have tranquility of mind", 
 In that consists the bliss of human kind : 
 
 Content thou great, thou universal good, 
 
 So seldom known, so little understood ; 
 In thee the peasant, seeking only health, 
 Learns to contemn the sordid misers wealth. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 " Of all the vows, the first and chief request 
 Of each, is to be richer than the rest ; 
 And yet, no doubts the poor man s draught controul, 
 He dreads no poison in his homely bowl ! 
 They fear the deadly drug, whose gems divine, 
 Enchase their cups, and sparkle in their wine." 
 
 NOVEMBER. " The fearful passenger who travels late, 
 
 Charg d with the carriage of his large estate, 
 Shakes at the moon-shine shadow of a rush, 
 And sees a robber rise from ev ry bush. 
 The beggar sings, e en when he sees the place 
 Beset with thieves, and never mends his pace." 
 
 DECEMBER 
 
 " Tho plung d in ills, and exercis d with care, 
 Yet never let the noble mind despair : 
 When prest by dangers, and beset with foes, 
 The Gods their timely succor interpose ; 
 And when our virtue sinks o erwhelm d with grief, 
 By unforeseen expedients send relief." 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 The driving Snow with wind & sleet resemble much th affairs of State 
 
 Wealth is a wave, honor a bait of death, catching at which we are 
 catch d. 
 
 Love is a credulous thing. 
 
 Trust not him who hath deceived you, nor him that pretendeth great 
 things, for both are liars. 
 
376 ALMANACK FOR 1766. 
 
 He that speaks truth, yet aims to deceive, is a liar. 
 A fop is but a piece of a man. 
 
 How is the world deceived by show ! 
 
 Alas ! how different to pretend and know. 
 Liberty carried to excess becomes the worst kind of tyranny. 
 Reconciliation of grand parties. 
 
 The approach of Spring plainly perceiv d by the old and infirm. 
 
 As now the snow and ice are soften d, so are the hearts of some ladies. 
 
 Plainness of manners is the surest sign of honesty. 
 
 Poverty is the fruit of idleness. 
 
 The sole end of government is the happiness of the people, &c. 
 We should not measure men by Sundays, without regarding what they 
 do all the week after. 
 
 Want prompts the wit, and first gave birth to arts. 
 One good turn deserves another. 
 
 To know ourselves rightly will be a good means to cure us of the itch 
 of being flattered. 
 
 The pleasant fields young girls entice 
 
 And make them hear their sparks advice. 
 Many rail at the times, but few strive to make them better. 
 
 A man of sense never tells a long story. 
 
 Some great affair on the carpet, but as yet remains a profound secret, 
 except to some politicians. 
 
 Great preparations to very small profit. 
 
 How highly shall we esteem the man that wears the manufactures of 
 his own country, in opposition to the ill taste of the age ? 
 
 No man is to blame for his opinion ; for we believe what we must, not 
 what we will. 
 
 An excellent Orator and sage Politician received into favor, and caressed 
 by his Prince. 
 
 By a prospect of some interest, differences amongst rivals come near 
 being settled, but alas ! Venus overcomes Plutus and spoils all. 
 
 They are thought to have read much who speak of it often, but tis 
 only a sign they don t digest what they read. 
 
 Whilst some are fighting about riches, 
 Others strive who shall wear the breeches. 
 
 Range where you please thro water, earth and air, 
 God is in everything and everywhere. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1766. 377 
 
 A very good season for traveling, both for the Epicure and Valetudi 
 narian. 
 
 Acquaintance are common as chaff, but friends are rarely to be found. 
 Pride, ill nature and folly, are the three great sources of ill manners. 
 
 Gravity passes with many for wisdom, but tis often dullness, sometimes 
 Affectation, at best disagreeable, but talkativeness is always the effect of 
 folly. 
 
 If each blade would mind his trade, 
 
 Each lass and lad in homespun clad, 
 
 Then we might cramp the growth of STAMP. 
 
 Keen north wester Old maids doth pester. 
 
 When we hear the disagreeable chains of slavery rattle, it is time to 
 think of avoiding them. 
 
 Liberty is more precious than all gifts. 
 
 An idle man is the d 1 s playfellow. 
 
 Good sense is the foundation of good manners. 
 
 There will be four Eclipses this Year. 
 
 The first of the SUN, February 9th, at 7 h. 13 m. 23 s. Morning, 
 invisible in North America ; but in South America, and at the 
 Cape of Good Hope, the Sun will be two thirds eclipsed. 
 
 Second of the MOON, February 24th, at 3 h. 6 m. Afternoon, 
 invisible. 
 
 Third of the SUN, August 5th, visible. 
 
 h. m. 
 Beginning, 1 1 40 Forenoon. 
 
 Middle i 14) . 
 
 -.-A , \ Afternoon. 
 
 End 2 47 j 
 
 Duration 3 7 
 
 Digits eclipsed 8 48 
 
 ####*### 
 
 This latter eclipse, after traversing the voids of space from 
 the creation, at last began to touch upon the unknown parts 
 near the south pole, about 88 years after the conquest. In the 
 
378 ALMANACK FOR 1766. 
 
 year 1546, the ijih of June, it began to touch New-England: 
 And in 1622, it first touched the southern parts of Old-England, 
 the 3oth of April, about 2 in the Afternoon ; It s central appear 
 ance rising in the American south sea, traversing Peru and the 
 Amazon country, thro the Atlantic ocean into Africa, and setting 
 in Ethiopia near the Red Sea. In 1676, on the first of June, it 
 was almost central to us at Sun rise ; and at Sun setting in the 
 gulf of Cochinchina : In 1694 visible in the afternoon: In 1748, 
 July 25th, it was nearly central at Newfoundland, just after Sun 
 rise. The next period is the present eclipse. Again, in 1820 
 Sept. 7th, this eclipse will return very large at London. It 
 will be visible again in 1838, at London, Sept. i8th; It will 
 also be visible here, a small quantity eclipsed : but it wears off 
 every period to the northward ; and about the year 2090, it 
 wholly leaves the earth, and there will be no more return of it, 
 till after a period of 10,000 years. 
 
 The first eclipse of this year came on at the North pole 
 several thousand years ago ; and, some thousand years hence, 
 will leave the earth at the South pole ; and thus it is ascertained, 
 that an eclipse finishes one grand revolution in 11683 years; so 
 that those eclipses which began at the creation, have but little 
 more than half finished their periods. By an extensive knowl 
 edge in this dodlrine of eclipses, Astronomers are enabled to fix 
 the date of any thing recorded in ancient history very exadlly, 
 where an eclipse is recorded about the same time : thus the 
 vulgar year of Christ s birth is found to be erroneous ; and what 
 we now write or call the year of our Lord 1766, is not more than 
 1762, as is demonstrated by the observation of an eclipse recorded 
 by Josephus, which cannot change, tho the calculations from 
 our present tables do not exactly agree with very ancient obser 
 vations, which, according to the opinion of all modern Astrono 
 mers, is owing to the Moon s finishing her periods now in less 
 time than formerly, and that she is continually approaching 
 nearer and nearer the Earth, as do the rest of the planets to the 
 Sun, their projectile force not being quite sufficient to balance 
 the power of attraction ; whence in time the present system of 
 the world must come to an end of itself, without any interposi 
 tion of its Grand Constructor, just as a clock left to itself will 
 inevitably run down. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1766. 379 
 
 Fourth eclipse of the MOON, August 2oth, visible. 
 
 h. m. 
 
 Beginning i o } 
 
 Middle - 2 16 /-Morning. 
 
 End 3 32 ) 
 
 Duration 2 32 
 
 Digits eclipsed 6 13 
 
 The ancients believed, that all visible eclipses were porten- 
 tuous of some dire event ; and several treatises were written, to 
 shew against what regions the malevolent effects of any particu 
 lar eclipse was aimed: and these writers affirm, that the effects 
 of an eclipse of the Sun, lasted as many years as the eclipse 
 lasted hours ; and that of the Moon, as many months. But as 
 futile as these notions may appear now-a-days, they were once 
 of no small, advantage to Christopher Columbus, who, in the 
 year 1493, was driven to the island of Jamaica, where he was in 
 the greatest distress for want of provisions, and was moreover 
 refused any assistance from the inhabitants, on which he threat 
 ened them with a plague, and that in token of it there should be 
 an eclipse ; which falling on the day he had foretold, so terrified 
 the barbarians, that they strove who should be the first in 
 bringing him all sorts of provisions, throwing them at his feet, 
 and imploring his forgiveness. 
 
 All persons who are desirous to have any alteration made in 
 this Almanack concerning the Stages on the Post-roads, or any 
 thing else, are desired to write to the Author, not to the former 
 Printer as he advertised in last year s Almanack. 
 
 Oil 1766. The present Author follows the conventional 
 custom, and the title page verse is of the devotional order, both in the 
 religious and astronomical view. 
 
 The address to the Generous Reader calls the public attention to the 
 liability of their being imposed upon by the sale of spurious copies of 
 the time honored weather book, and indirectly alludes to the " late student 
 at Harvard College" as one of the pirates who endeavor to profit by the 
 reputation achieved by another. The condition of affairs political and 
 
380 ALMANACK FOR 1766. 
 
 social ; the recent attempt of the Crown to enforce odious burdens of 
 taxation; particularly the obnoxious Stamp Act together with the 
 myriad of almost daily occurrences leading up to the great event of the 
 century, should afford an abundance of material to make a very interest 
 ing pamphlet, even if it appeared but annually. 
 
 The tone of our Author is moderate and while the gravity of the 
 situation is wholly apparent to him, (the condition of affairs in all classes 
 of society being almost, if not quite, desperate,) yet with all the loyalty of 
 a good subject (which, under the circumstances is remarkable) he counsels 
 mildness, with every reliance upon the wisdom of the home government, 
 and the honest intentions of " as good a King as ever reigned." He further 
 urges that " we cannot think of independency" although " we should not 
 prove very tame and easy at putting on the yoke" 
 
 The allusion to the Deity, and the accentuation of the word STAMP, 
 in the latter paragraphs, are quite Ames characteristics. 
 
 The spirit of Philopatria is observed in the opening stanzas of the 
 monthly poem ; then follows the typical " spring poetry " of the epoch ; 
 now we gather some " awful virtue and patriot warmth " as summer 
 approaches ; passing on to a mid-summer idyl on Life and Death then 
 contentment is described, closing the year with a versified disquisition on 
 the blessings of poverty. 
 
 The essay is a description of the great Solar Eclipse, happening this 
 year on August 5. The article in question is very readable, and embraces a 
 history of the occurrence, with its various periods of appearance at differ 
 ent points of observance on the Earth, and its prospective recurrence for 
 the future. 
 
 Some not generally known facts in connection with eclipses are noted : 
 one, that the present year 1766, should not be more than 1762 ; and further, 
 the end of all things is predicted to occur without the " interposition of 
 the Grand Constructor just as a clock left to itself will inevitably run 
 down." 
 
 The "squibs" in the "pot pourri " column are much like father s: 
 Politics, Love, Wealth, Women, Wisdom, Saws, Satire, Sadness, Religion, 
 Pretence, Flattery, Hard Times, Harder Money, Home Productions, 
 Opinion, Gravity, Stamps, Slavery, Idleness, and Good Sense all, as 
 Prof. Tyler says, " mingled in delightful juxtaposition " and thus ends 
 the fateful year. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1767. 381 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1767. 
 
 By NATHANIEL AMES. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 Printed and sold by WIW,IAM M AivPiNE in Marlborough street. 
 Price, 2S. 8d per Dozen, Six Coppers single. 
 
 Who thinks that Fortune cannot change her mind, 
 Prepares a dreadful jest for all mankind ; 
 And who stands safest, tell me ? Is it he 
 That spreads and swells in pufF d prosperity ? 
 Or blest with little, whose preventing care, 
 In peace provides fit arms against a war ? 
 Content with little I can piddle here, 
 On turneps, beef and mutton, round the year: 
 I ll marry Honesty, tho Fortune lour, 
 Rather than follow such a blind dull . 
 
 READER, 
 
 I most heartily congratulate thee on the happy prospect of 
 the publick affairs of this Country, so different from what it was 
 last Fall, as nearly to exceed the most sanguine expectation, and 
 which, however unwilling, some few may be to own it, was pro 
 duced by the exertion of that noble spirit of Freedom, which 
 every thinking honest Man that has never been galled with the 
 chain of slavery is possessed of a spirit which GOD grant no 
 tyrant may ever be able to extinguish amongst us : to the first 
 exciters of which we are so superlatively indebted on so many 
 accounts, as would far exceed the limits of my page to express. 
 I only hope that you will always show your sense of the obliga 
 tion by rewarding them and their posterity, so long as they shall 
 hold their integrity, with all the most important posts of honour 
 and profit that you are capable of bestowing ; and that whenever 
 a Virginian shall visit this part of the Land of Freedom, you 
 
382 ALMANACK FOR 1767. 
 
 will be no niggard of Hospitality. Having these matters so far 
 settled according to our wishes, let us turn our thoughts on the 
 arts of peace. Oh ! ye husbandmen, too happy would ye be, 
 did ye know your own advantages ; did ye turn your minds to 
 the cultivation of ingenious arts, that soften the manners and 
 prevent our being brutish ; did ye neglect the vain amusements 
 and idle tattle of the town, and rather strive to know the life and 
 manners of young prince Heraclius of Georgia, than whether 
 neighbour Such-a-one married a month too late to be honest. 
 What fine opportunities have ye to improve yourselves by study 
 above tradesmen and mechanicks, whilst your fruits and herbage 
 are growing ? At the intervals of cultivating your fields, ye might 
 be enriching your minds with useful knowledge by perusing 
 the Roman history ye might learn how gradually a rough 
 and ignorant people, by cultivating the study and practice of use 
 ful arts and manufactures, did emerge from obscurity to a state 
 of grandeur and affluence inconceivable ; so great that their relicks 
 are at this day the wonder of the world how at last they became 
 indolent and luxurious, and therefore vitious and ignorant, which 
 made them a prey to tyranny ; and tyranny always ends in the 
 extinction of a nation, as is evident to those that take notice of 
 what passes in the great world, that is, read history. Ignorance 
 among the common people is the very basis and foundation of 
 tyranny and oppression. With what absolute and despotick sway 
 did that grand tyrant and impostor the Pope of Rome rule the 
 consciences and purses of mighty sovereigns and most of the 
 people of Europe, Britons among the rest, so long as lie kept 
 them in ignorance, making them pray in Latin like a parcel of 
 parrots, nor suffering the common people to keep Bibles in a 
 
 language they understood. But happy for the world he is 
 
 dwindling away, many nations have thrown off his saddle, and 
 are not quite so much priest-ridden. Let us then, my country 
 men, study not only religion but politicks and the nature of 
 civil government : become politicians every one of us ; take 
 upon us to examine every thing, and think for ourselves ; 
 striving to prevent the execution of that detestable maxim of 
 European policy amongst us, viz : That the common people, 
 who are three quarters of the world, must be kept in ignorance, 
 that they may be slaves to the other quarter who live in 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1767. 383 
 
 magnificence; and for this end I should recommend to you, first, 
 the study of Geography, that is the situation, extent, government, 
 commodities, &c. of all countries upon earth. Salmon s or Gor 
 don s Geography are as good as any that are published ; and in 
 Salmon s Gazeteer you have in few words an history of any 
 country in alphabetical order, that you may turn to in a moment. 
 An English dictionary will be a vast help to you. The knowl 
 edge of geography will fit you for reading history : it is proper 
 to begin with the history of your own nation ; Rapirts, Echard s 
 
 or Plume s histories of England are most approved of. Yet 
 
 let not these amusements intrude upon the more important 
 occupations of life : our bodies must be fed and clothed, but 
 that is not all ; we must do more ; we must raise something to 
 sell for exportation, if we would increase in wealth. We are 
 not tenants but lords of the soil, and may live as genteel tho 
 not in such splendour, as lords, by increasing trade and com 
 merce, which are as necessary to a state as wings to a bird ; 
 encouraging all kinds of tradesmen and artificers among us, 
 diligence and industry in every one, keeping all sorts of lawful 
 business constantly going on, every wheel in the grand system 
 continually moving, despising foreign luxury and effeminacy, 
 banishing from among us immorality and idleness. He that will 
 not work, neither shall he eat. 
 
 Besides this general ceconomy, there are many schemes that 
 would turn out to the immediate advantage of individuals, many 
 of which nothing but necessity, the mother of. invention must 
 discover in time to come, when the country is too thick inhab 
 ited for all to get a living by the present methods of farming. 
 Of how little value and trifling of late did we esteem the Ashes 
 that we make in our houses, till some publick spirited gentle 
 man set on foot the scheme of making Pot-Ash, which is now 
 become a fine staple commodity ; for which Great-Britain used 
 to send vast sums of money to Russia, Norway, and other woody 
 countries that now centers here. 
 
 But after all, our farms ought to be the chief objecl of our 
 attention ; for they are capable of so great and profitable 
 improvements, that I shall not here attempt to describe them, 
 but heartily recommend to the perusal of every farmer in the 
 country Mr. Eliot s essays on field husbandry, as it is or may be 
 
384 ALMANACK FOR 1767. 
 
 ordered in New-England, and dare promise them it will not be a 
 
 mispence of time. Before I quit this subject, I shall briefly 
 
 hint to you another way in which I think you may be of great 
 service to the publick, by introducing a manufacture which would 
 be as clear a saving to the country as that of Pot-ash, and inter 
 fere very little with other business, which is the raising raw 
 silk. I will communicate to you the method as delivered to me 
 by sundry persons and by my next neighbour, who raises consid 
 erable quantities of silk every year. In the first place, you must 
 provide a sufficient number of mulberry-trees, which grow as 
 fast as peach-trees, for altho the silk worms will live on other 
 leaves, yet they w r ill produce silk from no other food but mul 
 berry-leaves ; having procured a parcel of silk-worms eggs you 
 may hatch them when you please by exposing them to the air 
 on shelves, or rather to the warm sun-shine, you must mind 
 and not hatch them out before the leaves have come forth in 
 great plenty, for they eat more than one would imagine, and so 
 greedily that you may hear them chew : they must be carefully 
 tended every day with fresh leaves, and their shelves cleaned 
 from filth, till they have done eating, which will be in about a 
 fortnight from the time they begin, and then they go to spining, 
 which lasts about a week longer ; at the end of which they must 
 be killed in a warm oven or warm water, or they will eat thro 
 their silk and spoil it ; but those that you intend for breeders 
 must be suffered to eat thro their balls and turn into butterflies, 
 to lay eggs for the next year, which must be kept in drawers 
 close from the air. As to the manufacture of the silk, I may 
 possibly say something about it before your mulberry-trees are 
 grown; and, in the mean time, am, with the profoundest 
 respect, &c. NAT> AMES _ 
 
 JANUARY. The spleeny matron on her pensive bed, 
 Pain at her side, and megrim at her head ; 
 Two handmaids wait her nod, alike in place, 
 But diff ring far, in figure and in face. 
 Here stands Ill-nature, like an ancient maid, 
 Her wrinkled form in black and white array d. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1767. 
 
 385 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 APRII,. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 JUI.Y. 
 
 With store of prayers for mornings, nights and noons 
 Her hand is fill d her bosom with lampoons. 
 There Affectation, with a sickly mein, 
 Shows in her cheek the roses of eighteen, 
 Pradlis d to lisp, and hang the head aside, 
 Faints into airs, and languishes with pride. 
 On the rich quilt sinks with becoming woe, 
 Wrapt in a gown for sickness and for show. 
 
 Nature made ev ry fop to plague his brother, 
 Just as one beauty mortifies another : 
 But here s the Captain that will plague them both, 
 Whose air cries, Arm ! whose very look s an oath, 
 The Captain s honest, sirs, and that s enough, 
 Tho his soul s bullet, and his body s buff. 
 
 But thou, ignoble wretch, who first essay d 
 
 To charm, by sordid arts, the venal maid, 
 
 Taught her young breast, on hopes of gain to rove, 
 
 Neglecting innocence and faithful love, 
 
 Eternal curses blast thy hated name, 
 
 Thou bane of life, of humanity the shame. 
 
 The fatal effects of Luxury are these ; 
 We drink our poison, and we eat disease. 
 Not so, O Temperance ! when rul d by thee 
 The brute s obedient, and the man is free, 
 To learn how great the virtue and the art, 
 To live on little with a cheerful heart. 
 
 Hear what says Rusticus, not vers d in schools, 
 But strong in sense, and wise without the rules ; 
 Go work, hunt, exercise, but shun the glass, 
 Then scorn a homely dinner if you please." 
 Soft are the slumbers, balmy is the rest, 
 The veins not boiling from the midnight feast. 
 
 Tis to thy rules, O Temperance ! we owe 
 
 All pleasures, which from health and strength can flow, 
 
 Vigour of body purity of mind, 
 
 Unclouded reason sentiments refin d, 
 
 Unmix d, untainted joys without remorse, 
 
 Th intemp rate Sensualist s never-failing curse. 
 
3 86 
 
 ALMANACK FOR 1767. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 On morning wings how active springs the mind, 
 
 That leaves the load of yesterday behind ! 
 
 How easy ev ry labour it pursues, 
 
 How coming to the Poet every muse, 
 
 How fresh and clear the streams of wisdom flow, 
 
 How soon they cease when we intemp rate grow ! 
 
 How pale, each worshipful and rever nd guest 
 Rise from a clergy, or a city feast ! 
 What life in all that ample body, say, 
 What heav nly particle inspires the clay, 
 The soul subsides, and sensually inclines, 
 To seem but mortal, e en in sound divines. 
 
 D , with more than harpy throat endu d, 
 
 Cries " Send me gods a whole hog barbecu d, 
 " With south winds blasted till a stench exhale, 
 " Rank as the ripeness of a rabit s tail." 
 By what criterion do ye eat, d ye think, 
 If this is priz d for sweetness, that for stink ? 
 
 Tis yet in vain, I own, to keep a pother, 
 
 About one vice, and fall into the other : 
 
 Between excess and famine lies a mean ; 
 
 Plain, but not sordid tho not splendid, clean, 
 
 In cheerful mood when with you friends shall dine, 
 
 Good humour s better than the richest wine. 
 
 When luxury has lick d up all thy pelf, 
 
 Curs d by thy neighbours, thy trustees, thyself, 
 
 Sculk to your garret, at the hour of seven, 
 
 There starve and pray, for that s the way to heav n 
 
 Then buy a rope, that future times may tell, 
 
 Thou hast at least bestow d one peny well. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 Strife among sensual lovers for want of preliminary articles. 
 The wrinkled scold embitters cold, 
 And adds a curse to an empty purse. 
 
 Want of decency is want of sense. 
 
 He that stays in the valley will never get over the hill. 
 
 Want of care does more hurt than want of skill. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1767. 387 
 
 A wise man s soul couches at the root of his tongue, but a fool s is ever 
 dancing on the tip. 
 
 Vice rules where gold reigns. 
 Far from court, far from care. 
 Good deeds live, all things else die. 
 
 Almanack says spring, but Jack Frost says winter. 
 
 Mercury has been very busy among the planets and will produce some 
 thing very astonishing among old women and politicians. 
 March 18. STAMP ACT repealed. 
 
 Let s drink to PiTT, the English pearl ; 
 
 May he shine yet, tho made an Earl. 
 Ill will speaks good of no one. 
 
 Cool words scald not the tongue. 
 
 To prove a friend, experiences Reaches, 
 One deed is worth a thousand speeches. 
 
 Every bean has its black. 
 
 Truth may be blam d but will ne er be sham d. 
 
 A lye stands upon one leg, truth upon two. 
 
 Pride will have a fall. 
 
 Where virtue fails, a bribe prevails. 
 Let not your tongue cut your throat. 
 
 Thunder and lightning purge the air, as a fever does the human body. 
 The world loves to be imposed on by extravagancies, and always will as 
 long as three-quarters of it are fools. 
 
 None is truly great that is not truly good. 
 
 Haughty words breed strife. 
 
 He that now neglects his hoe, must in winter suck his paw. 
 
 Poverty is to be laughed at when it is the consequence of vice, prodi 
 gality, or neglect of one s calling: for it fills our streets with robbers, 
 money-makers, quacks, and pettifoggers. 
 
 A bean with freedom is better than a sugar plumb in prison. 
 The gods of war and eloquence, combine to fill the gaps of sense. 
 Virtue is the beauty of the soul. 
 
 A fine growing season for horns. 
 
 Wilful waste makes woful want. 
 
 Let your tongue avoid rash speaking : they that speak without care 
 suffer without pity. 
 
 To defend the Christian religion is one thing, and to knock a man on 
 the head for being of a different religion is another. 
 
388 ALMANACK FOR 1767. 
 
 Content is a jewel of the highest esteem, not to be bought with money, 
 but gained by virtue. 
 
 Silence is the safest course for a man to take that mistrusts his own 
 judgment. 
 
 He is not good who does not wish to mend. 
 
 A plodding old knave gains publick esteem but soon is unmasked. 
 
 Better suffer a great evil than do a small one. 
 
 Trade and Commerce make any place happy and rich. 
 
 If you can t bite, never show your teeth. 
 
 Rather go to bed supperless than rise in debt. 
 
 Possession is riches ; trade and commerce enable us to possess any 
 thing. 
 
 That place is richest and most happy where there are fewest useless 
 men. 
 
 Give to them that want. 
 
 Immodest words admit of no defence. 
 
 Powder Plot most forgot. 
 
 Sharpers in their black uniforms lead the people by the nose with the 
 bridle of ignorance. 
 
 In eastern climes its rugged times the Indian yet dissembles. 
 
 A Wit s a feather, a Chief s a rod. 
 
 An honest man s the noblest work of God. 
 
 To be genteel is not to be reserved or haughty, but to make your com 
 pany as easy and agreeable as possible tis the overflowing of universal 
 love : an affected speech or behaviour may be politeness. 
 
 Conversation is the chief blessing in this life with friends. 
 
 With Christmas cheer let s banish care. 
 
 Our bad lives mend quite to the end. 
 
 A brief Account of the supreme executive Courts that are held in 
 
 England. 
 
 The King s Bench is next to the Parliament, the highest court 
 in England at common law ; in which are handled the pleas of 
 the crown, all things that concern the loss of life or member of 
 any subject, treason, breach of peace, oppression, &c. In this 
 court are four judges : the first is called Lord Chief Justice of the 
 King^s-bench ; his power is very great. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1767. 389 
 
 The High Court of Chancery is designed to mitigate the 
 rigour of the other courts, and is called the Court of Equity. 
 This court has but one judge, viz. Lord Keeper of the Great Seal ; 
 his sentence is definitive without a jury of 12 men. 
 
 The Court of Common Pleas, wherein the usual and common 
 pleas between subjects are debated. 
 
 The Court of Exchequer. In this court are tried all causes 
 relating to the King s treasury or revenue, &c. 
 
 & ^\k^^^\r^\^r^&^ 
 
 W. M ALPINE hereby informs the Publick that he purchased 
 the genuine copy of this Almanack from Dr. AMES, and hopes 
 they will not be imposed upon by buying spurious, pirated, and 
 incorrect editions of the same : At whose shop may be had Tate 
 and Brady s Psalms, Watts Psalms and Hymns, Bibles, Testa 
 ments, Prayer-books, Psalters, Spelling-books, Primers, Divinity 
 and History-books, Paper, Pens, Ink, Ink-powder, Wax, Wafers, 
 &c. &c. at the very lowest Prices. 
 
 @~PRINTING performed by said M ALPiNE in the best 
 Manner, and at the most reasonable Rate. 
 
 ^^^^^-i\^4^^ 
 
 Notes on 1767. The verses on the title sheet, upon close exam 
 ination, abundantly exhibit the very desperate condition of either the 
 times, or the Muse. But yet the annual address seems to give a different 
 aspect to affairs, which betokens a general improvement in relations both 
 political and social. 
 
 The author s manner of encouraging the people to an active apprecia 
 tion of the advantages for improvement which are within their reach, is 
 peculiar and practical, and the homily entire is replete with wisdom and 
 discretion. He inveighs against the prevalence of ignorance in the lower 
 classes, and points out the way to a more intimate acquaintance with, and 
 knowledge of, religion, politics, and the nature of civil government, so 
 absolutely essential to prevent the establishment of the European policy 
 of aristocracy in the Colonies. 
 
 He then dilates upon the necessity of economy, and the encourage 
 ment of agriculture and home productions ; (so long a popular text with 
 the author s father,) particularly enlarging upon the silk-culture then 
 deemed to be an advantageous industry for introduction into the Colonies. 
 
 The poetic captions of each monthly page are in the direction of topics 
 
390 ALMANACK FOR 1768. 
 
 of a social nature addressed generally to both sexes luxury decried and 
 temperance extolled in the very fullness of sturdy Anglo-Saxon. 
 
 The miscellany is not very plentiful this year. A short account of the 
 titles and provinces of the English Courts ; and an advertisement by the 
 printer, " that he purchased the genuine copy of the Almanack from 
 DR. AMES, and hopes they (the Publick) will not be imposed upon by buy 
 ing spurious, pirated and incorrect editions of the same." 
 
 The weather column is brim-full of wit and humor ; terse sayings, and 
 timely allusions to men and manners. Pitt is honored, the repeal of the 
 Stamp-Act noticed, the results of poverty alluded to, the advantages of 
 freedom recalled to the public notice, the clergy treated to a mild form of 
 castigation, and the " Powder plot most forgot." 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1768. 
 
 By NATHANIEL AMES. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 Printed and Sold by the Printers and Booksellers, 
 at 2s 8d per Dozen, and Five Coppers single. 
 
 Ador d Artificer! What Skill divine ! 
 What Wonders in the wide Creation shine ! 
 Fair look the Stars, and fair the Morning Ray, 
 When first the Fields their painted Scenes display. 
 Order and Majesty adorn the whole. 
 Beauty and Life, and thou th inspiring Soul : 
 Whatever Grace, or Harmony s express d 
 On all thy Works the God is there confess d : 
 But, oh ! from all thy Works how small a Part, 
 To human Minds is known of what thou art ? 
 Fancy gives o er its Flight in search of Thee, 
 Our Tho ts are lost in thy Immensity. 
 
 READER. 
 
 Custom and Fashion, which the World blindly follows, right 
 or wrong, must be followed by Almanack-makers, as well as 
 others; otherwise, perhaps, I should have saved myself the 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1768. 391 
 
 Trouble of writing, and you of reading a formal Preface, and 
 rilled this Page with a Table of Interest, or something that might 
 assist you in your Business. Bnt to prevent your going to sleep 
 over it, I shall season it with some humorous Extracts from Dr. 
 Smollefs Travels concerning the Absurdity of the Customs and 
 Fashions of different Nations. "At Paris, says he, tis the Fashion 
 to eat mortified flesh : a Native of Legiboli will not taste his 
 Fish till it is quite putrified : The civilized Inhabitants of Kam- 
 schatka get drunk with the Urine of their Guests whom they 
 have already intoxicated : The Nova-Zemblans and Laplanders 
 feast and make merry on Lamp Oil : The Greenlanders eat in 
 the same Dish with their Dogs : The CafFres at the Cape of Good 
 Hope p ss upon those whom they delight to honor, and feast 
 upon Sheep s Guts as the greatest Dainty that can be presented : 
 A true-bred Frenchman dips his Fingers imbrowned with Snuff 
 into his Plate filled with Ragout, and between every three Mouth- 
 fuls takes a fresh Pinch with the most graceful Gesticulations, 
 then he displays his Handkerchief, which may be termed the 
 Flag of Abomination, and in the Use of both scatters his Favors 
 on all that have the Happiness to sit near him ; it must be owned 
 however that a Frenchman will not drink out of a Tankard, in 
 which perhaps a dozen Mouths have slabbered, as is the Custom 
 among the English, but each has his own Goblet, which stands 
 before him on the Table, if there is so little Cleanliness among 
 these People, much less shall we find Delicacy, which is the Clean 
 liness of the Mind ; can Custom exempt from the Imputation of 
 gross Indecency ; a French Lady who shifts herself in Presence 
 
 of a male Visitant, and suffers herself to be handed to by her 
 
 Admirer, or him who stands at the Door all the while she s within, 
 and entertains her with the smart small Talk of the Town which 
 he has at his Finger s ends." Now Reader, let us look into our 
 own Country, and see if we ourselves have no such absurd, un 
 clean, indelicate customs. I think I could mention several ; 
 but seeing that they do little other Damage than offend the 
 Senses of those who come within the Sphere of their Action, I 
 shall wave them, and only just touch upon the bewitching Power 
 of the Fashion of the times. How absurd is it for Parents 
 who by their own Care and Industry have heaped up an Estate 
 to educate their Children, as if they thought they never could 
 
392 ALMANACK FOR 1768. 
 
 spend it, by teaching or suffering them to place their chief Am 
 bition in Dress, and Scenes of Dissipation, whereby they contract 
 an hearty Aversion for Business, and the thriving Sound of the 
 Spinning Wheel and Loom, and spread the Infection of despising 
 honest Industry and modest Merit, in home-made Dress, as if in 
 this consisted Gentility, which has little to do with externals ; 
 for a Gentleman is the same in all Circumstances, in Silk & 
 Sackcloth ; and we often see an ill-bred Villain dressed very 
 fashionably. How much more honor d and esteemed by every 
 true Patriot and Friend to his Country, is the Man, who, cloath d 
 in the Manufacture of his own House, conies to the City on his 
 lofty Steed, loaded with the Fat of the Land, in Sacks as white 
 as Snow, true Emblem of Neatness and Delicacy ! he looks inde 
 pendent, and need not fear the Frowns of the prosperous Villain. 
 I say, how esteemed and much more useful to Society is such a 
 one, than the empty idle Fop, who laughs at his laudible Curi 
 osity. But methinks I hear one say, there is still a great Ab 
 surdity unnotic d, which is, that an Almanack-maker should set 
 up for a Reformer ; I submit to the Censure, and return to my 
 Province, by saying, there are but four Days in the Year on 
 which a true Clock or Watch will be right with the Sun, but are 
 sometimes a Quarter of an Hour too fast or slow if they go even. 
 From the 24th December to i5th of April, the Clock will be too 
 fast ; from i5th April, to i6th June, Clock will be too slow ; from 
 1 6th June to 3ist August, Clock will be too fast ; and from thence 
 to the 24th December, Clock will be too slow : And you may tell 
 whether your Clock or Watch goes exact, by observing through 
 a small Hole in a Window Shutter, what Time any Star dis 
 appears behind a Steeple or Chimney ; and if, on the next Night, 
 the same Star disappears 3 Minutes 56 Seconds sooner by the 
 Clock or Watch, it is exact. 
 
 N. AMES. 
 
 JANUARY. Whether amid the gloom of night I stray, 
 Or my glad eyes enjoy revolving day, 
 Still Nature s various face informs my sense 
 Of an all wise, all powerful Providence : 
 Sole Lord of nature s universal frame, 
 Thro endless years unchangeably the same. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1768. 
 
 393 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 APRIL,. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 JUI.Y. 
 
 When the gay Sun first breaks the shades of night, 
 And strikes the distant eastern hills with light, 
 Colour returns, the plains their liv ry wear, 
 And a bright verdure cloaths the smiling year ; 
 The blooming flow rs with op ning beauties glow, 
 And grazing flocks their milky fleeces show. 
 The barren cliffs with chalky fronts arise, 
 And a pure azure arches o er the skies. 
 
 But when the gloomy reign of night returns, 
 Stript of her fading pride all nature mourns : 
 The trees no more their wonted verdure boast, 
 But weep in dewy tears their beauties lost ; 
 No distant landskips draw our curious eyes, 
 Wrapt in night s robe the whole creation lies. 
 
 Yet still, ev n now, while darkness cloaths the land, 
 We view the traces of th Almighty hand : 
 Millions of stars in heav ns wide vault appear, 
 And with new glories hang the boundless sphere : 
 The silver moon her western couch forsakes, 
 And o er the skies her nightly circle makes. 
 
 Her solid Globe beats back the sunny rays, 
 And to the world her borrow d light repays ; 
 Whether those stars that twinkling Lustre send, 
 Are suns, and rolling worlds those suns attend ; 
 Man may conjecture, and new Schemes declare, 
 Yet all his systems but conjectures are. 
 
 But this we know, that heav ns eternal King, 
 Who bid this universe from nothing spring, 
 Can at his Word bid num rous worlds appear, 
 And rising worlds th all-pow rful Word shall hear. 
 His single fiat guide th amazing whole 
 And teach the new-born planets where to roll. 
 
 When to the Western Main the Sun descends, 
 To other Lands a rising Day he lends, 
 The spreading Dawn another Shepherd spies, 
 The wakeful Flocks from their warm Folds arise, 
 Refresh d, the Peasant seeks his early toil, 
 And bids the Plow correct the Fallow soil. 
 
394 
 AUGUST. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 ALMANACK FOR 1768. 
 
 While we in Sleep s embraces waste the night, 
 The Climes oppos d, enjoy Meridian light ; 
 And when those Lands the busie Sun forsakes, 
 With us again the rosy Morning wakes ; 
 In Lazy Sleep the night rolls swift away, 
 And neither Clime laments his absent ray. 
 
 So when the soul is from the body flown, 
 No more shall nights alternate reign be known : 
 The sun no more shall rolling light bestow, 
 But from th Almighty, streams of glory flow ; 
 Then may some nobler thought my soul employ, 
 Than empty transient sublunary joy. 
 
 For what is life ? with ills encompass d round 
 Amidst our hopes, fate strikes the sudden wound, 
 To-day the statesman of new honors dreams, 
 To-morrow death destroys his airy schemes, 
 Is mouldy treasure in thy chest confind ? 
 Think all that treasure thou must leave behind. 
 
 Thy heir with smiles shall view thy blazon d hearse 
 And all thy hoards with lavish hand disperse. 
 Should certain fate th impending blow delay, 
 Thy mirth will sicken and thy bloom decay, 
 Then feeble age will all thy nerves disarm, 
 No more thy blood its narrow channels warm. 
 
 Who then would wish to stretch this scanty span, 
 
 To suffer life beyond the date of man ? 
 
 The virtuous soul pursues a nobler aim, 
 
 And life regards but as a fleeting dream ; 
 
 She longs to wake and wishes to get free, 
 
 To launch from earth into eternity. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 You won t forget tis Winter these stormy days. Good slaying. 
 A full cellar, neat house, warm wife, at this time are blessings of life. 
 Plots & schemes now laid will be very like to take place. 
 There will hardly be a thaw this month, unless now ! 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1768. 395 
 
 Southern blasts almost break the heart of winter. 
 
 Domestic polity now comes on. 
 
 Warm and sloppy weather some time about the end of this month. 
 
 Pleasant travelling at a small distance from the ground, especially if 
 the fashion, is wings, tho they that have try d, had their neck broke by 
 strings. 
 
 Sincerity does not so much good in the world, as its appearance does 
 mischief. 
 
 Sincerity as it is the plainest, so it is the best rule for conduct of life. 
 The deceitful are full of fear and anxiety. 
 
 Bluntness, as it is the seeming effect of sincerity, So it is the best cover 
 to Artifice. 
 
 Swiming is now a fine excercise for the weak, lazy and corpulent. 
 
 It is not in the power of a weak Man to be sincere. 
 Some learn how to live. Some how to get a living. 
 Now Fans and Umbrellas afford the ladies an airy satisfaction. 
 Nothing is so great an inlet to Misery and Vice as not to know how to 
 employ our leasure Hours. 
 
 They who know no Pleasure above sensual, can hardly be idle and 
 innocent. 
 
 If the Sun shine on the 24th of August, that is a good sign. 
 
 Take care of early Frost, cold fruit, and hot Rum. 
 
 He that lets his tongue run before his wit cuts other mens meat and 
 his own Fingers. 
 
 Exercise will warm you better than Rum or fire. 
 
 A moderate Man has a great advantage over one that is passionate. 
 A man should enlarge the sphere of his innocent pleasures, so much, 
 that he may safely leave Business, and not fall into Vice. 
 
 In the seventh day of the Moon Abel was slain. 
 Excellent weather to lodge together. 
 
396 ALMANACK FOR 1768. 
 
 Save your MONEY, and you save your COUNTRY ! 
 
 At a legal and full Meeting of the Freeholders of the Town 
 of Boston, on the 28th of October, 1767, the following Votes were 
 passed unanimously. 
 
 WHEREAS the excessive use of foreign Superfluities is the 
 chief cause of the present distressed State of this town, as it is 
 thereby drained of its Money : which Misfortune is likely to be 
 increased by means of the late additional Burthens and Impo 
 sitions on the Trade of the Province, which threaten the 
 Country with Poverty and Ruin : 
 
 Therefore, Voted, That this Town will take all prudent and 
 legal Measures to encourage the Produce and Manufactures of 
 this Province, and to lessen the Use of Superfluities, and partic 
 ularly the following enumerated Articles imported from Abroad, 
 viz: Loaf Sugar, Cordage, Anchors, Coaches, Chaises and Car 
 riages of all Sorts, Horse Furniture, Men and Womens Hatts, 
 Mens and Womens Apparel ready made, Household Furniture, 
 Gloves, Mens and Womens Shoes, Sole Leather, Sheathing and 
 Deck Nails, Gold and Silver and Thread Lace of all Sorts, Gold 
 and Silver Buttons, Wrought Plate of all Sorts, Diamond, Stone 
 and Paste Ware, Snuff, Mustard, Clocks and Watches, Silver 
 smiths and Jewellers Ware, Broad Cloths that cost above los. 
 per Yard, Muffs, Furrs and Tippets, and all Sorts of Millenary 
 Ware, Starch, Womens and Childrens Stays, Fire Engines, 
 China Ware, Silk and Cotton Velvets, Gauze, Pewterers hollow 
 Ware, Linseed Oyl, Glue, Lawns, Cambricks, Silks of all kinds 
 for Garments, Malt Liquors and Cheese. And that a Sub 
 scription for this End be and hereby is recommended to the 
 several Inhabitants and Householders of the Town. 
 
 And whereas it is the Opinion of this Town, that divers new 
 Manufactures may be set up in America, to its great Advantage, 
 and some others carried to a greater Extent, particularly those 
 of Glass and Paper : 
 
 Therefore, Voted, That this Town will by all prudent Ways 
 and Means encourage the Use and Consumption of Glass and 
 Paper, made in any of the British American Colonies ; and more 
 especially in this Province. The Form of the Subscription voted 
 unanimously b}^ the Town, is as follows : 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1768. 397 
 
 Whereas this Province labours under a heavy Debt, incurred 
 in the Course of the late War ; and the Inhabitants by this 
 Means must be for Time subject to very burthensome Taxes : 
 And as our Trade has for some Years been on the decline, and 
 is now particularly under great Embarrassments, and burthened 
 with heavy Impositions, our Medium very scarce, and the 
 Balance of Trade greatly against this Country : 
 
 WE therefore the Subscribers, being sensible that it is abso 
 lutely necessary, in Order to extricate us out of these embar 
 rassed and distressed Circumstances, to promote Industry, 
 Oeconomy and Manufactures, among ourselves, and by this 
 Means prevent the unnecessary Importation of European Com 
 modities, the excessive Use of which threatens the Country with 
 Poverty and Ruin. Do promise and engage, to and with each 
 other, that we will encourage the Use and Consumption of all 
 Articles manufactured in any of the British American Colonies, 
 and more especially in this Province ; and that we will not, from 
 and after the 3ist of Dece tuber next ensuing, purchase any of 
 the following Articles imported from Abroad, viz : Loaf Sugar, 
 and all the other Articles enumerated above. 
 
 And we further agree strictly to adhere to the late Regulation 
 respecting Funerals, 1 and will not use any Gloves but what are 
 Manufactured here, nor procure any new Garments upon such 
 an Occasion but what shall be absolutely necessary. 
 
 Friends and Country-Men ! Our Fathers came into this 
 Wilderness, encouraged by the Word of a King that they should 
 enjoy their Civil & Religious Liberties ! They lived upon boil d 
 Corn and Clams, and laboured hard to clear and cultivate the 
 Country they purchased of the Natives, and defended the same 
 at the Expence of their own Blood and Treasure : We have 
 often aided the Crown with Men and Money ; and by the Con 
 quest of Cape-Briton, gave Peace to Europe : Our Taxes, till 
 very lately, have been granted by our own Representatives for 
 the Support of Government ; and we have given Old England 
 
 1 The Practice of the Town relative to Funerals, by which a Saving has 
 been made of ^"100,000 is to give Gloves only to Bearers and Ministers : to 
 make Use of no other Mourning for the nearest Relations, than a Weed 
 in the Hat for Men, and a black Bonnet, Gloves, Ribbons and Handker 
 chief for Women. 
 
398 ALMANACK FOR 1768. 
 
 Millions of Money in the way of Trade : Our growing Extrava 
 gancies have run us amazingly into Debt ; and the Moneys that 
 should go in Payment, are now to be taken from us, without our 
 Consent, to Support, independent of the People, and in greater 
 Affluence, the Officers of the Crown ; as also to maintain & keep 
 up a large body of Regular Troops in America. Duties, 
 unknown to our Fathers, to be paid here upon Sugar, Molasses, 
 Wine, Rum, Tea, Coffee, Cocoa, Paper of all kind, Painters 
 Colours, Window and other Glass, &c., will carry off all our 
 Silver and Gold, without other Taxes, which are talk d of upon 
 Salt & Land, to the Ruin of Trade, and in the end of the whole 
 Province, unless prevented by the Virtue of the People. Boston, 
 has set a noble Example for the Encouragement of Frugality 
 and our own Manufactures, by the Agreement unanimously 
 come into ; and may it be followed by all the other Towns : 
 Nay, let them go further, by agreeing not to sip that poisonous 
 Herb, called Bohea Tea, as also not to purchase any sort of 
 Woolen Goods made abroad, for 12 or 18 Months to come, but 
 to wear their old patch d Cloaths till our own Manufacture can 
 be bought, as many in New- York, Connecticut and Philadelphia, 
 are now doing. If this Saving is not made, Interest must rise, 
 Mortgages cannot be cleared, Lands will fall, or be possess d by 
 Foreigners, ; Families impoverished, and our Goals filled with 
 unhappy Objects If these wise Measures should be come into, 
 a whole Province will be saved from Slavery, and this dreadful 
 Ruin, and we shall soon become a FREE, RICH and HAPPY 
 PEOPLE ! That the Things which belong to our political Peace, 
 may not be hid from the Eyes of Americans, as it seems to be 
 
 from the Eyes of Britons, is the hearty Wish of 
 
 A NEW-ENGLAND MAN. 
 
 All Persons who incline to encourage, the Paper Manufac 
 ture, are requested to save their old Cotton and Linen Rags, &c. 
 for which they may have a good price at the Paper Mill at 
 Milton. 
 
 Oil 1768. If variety is, (or was,) the Spice of Life, no one 
 can pick up an Ames Almanack without being convinced that both father 
 and son were thoroughly seasoned with this most agreeable zest. Their 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1768. 399 
 
 works, humble though they be, give assurance of acute observation, a 
 thorough familiarity with the general literature of the day, and a knowl 
 edge of what was for the general good of the greatest number. 
 
 The almanack for the present year is no exception to the usual pro 
 duction. The character of a devout Christian gentleman is embodied in 
 the stanzas of the title page, as well as the ardent admiration of the 
 astronomer for the handiwork of the Grand Architect of the Universe. 
 
 The desire of the author to lighten the way of the weary traveler on 
 this terrestrial ball, is made apparent in the address to the Reader, in 
 which he introduces Doctor Smollett and his humorous ideas, to set forth 
 the follies of Fashion, and warn the Colonists against the errors of extrav 
 agance. From this he returns to the consideration of the life of the in 
 dependent Farmer, and closes his short lecture with some practical in 
 structions for the regulation of Clocks and Watches. 
 
 A " Hymn to Nature " embellishes each page in the almanack, and in 
 sentiment differs not from the Ames theory, as has been expressed in 
 similar manner, for these forty and more years. 
 
 If any person doubts the Spirit of the Colonists, which brought about 
 the great change which led to the independence of the Colonies, they 
 have only to read the "Preamble and Resolutions, voted at the Freeholders 
 Meeting at Boston, Oct. 28, 1767," and the very earnest and sensible address 
 of " A New England Man " and consider whether the then example, may 
 not be a precept to be adapted for our own times. 
 
 The domestic nature of the author can be judged from the casual re 
 marks in their proper place in the " remarks column." 
 
4OO ALMANACK FOR 1769. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1769. 
 
 By Nathaniel Ames. 
 
 BOSTON : Printed and Sold by WILLIAM M ALPINE, in Marlbor- 
 ough street. 
 
 How blest the Man with Powers superior born, 
 Whose Mind the Muses with each Grace adorn, 
 For distant Flights to wing th excursive Soul 
 Or glance with Lightning s speed from Pole to Pole 
 Whether thro Nature s devious Path he strays, 
 Pursues the Planet s Course, the Comet s Blaze. 
 Or less advent rous quits the aerial height 
 To fix on mortal Woes, a mortal Sight ; 
 Divest the Heart of each dark Veil it wears, 
 Expose its Hopes, its Conflicts, and its Cares ; 
 By bold Examples fire the youthful blood, 
 Appal the Guilty, or confirm the Good ! 
 Submit each dang rous Wish to Reason s Laws, 
 And arm our Passions in our Virtue s Cause. 
 
 Note. The article " On the Manufacture of SII,K " is omitted as not 
 being of sufficient interest to republish. However " a Gentleman whom 
 Posterity will bless, has deposited 100 Dollars in the Hands of the Select 
 Men of Boston," to be divided in premiums among those of Massachusett s 
 Bay, " who in the Year 1771 shall have raised the greatest Number of 
 Mulberry Trees." 
 
 JANUARY. When our Forefathers firm maintain d the cause 
 Of true Religion, Liberty and Laws, 
 Disdaining down the golden Stream to glide, 
 But bravely stem d Corruptions rapid Tide, 
 Shall we, by Indolence, supinely doom 
 To Sweat and Toil the Nations yet to come ? 
 
 FEBRUARY. What ! shall a Tyrant trample on the Laws, 
 
 And stop the Source whence all his Pow rs he draws ! 
 His Country s Rights to foreign Foes betray, 
 Lavish her Wealth, yet stipulate for Pay ! 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1769. 
 
 401 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 APRII,. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 JUI<Y. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 To shameful Falsehoods venal Slaves subborn, 
 And dare to laugh the virtuous Man to scorn ! 
 Deride Religion, Justice, Honour, Fame, 
 And hardly know of Honesty the Name ! 
 
 Lives there a Wretch whose base degen rate Soul, 
 Can crouch beneath a Tyrant s stern Controul ? 
 Cringe to his Nod, ignobly kiss the Hand, 
 In galling Chains that binds his native Land? 
 Purchas d by Gold or aw d by slavish Fear, 
 Abandon all his Ancestors held dear ! 
 
 Tamely behold that Fruit of glorious Toil, 
 The People s Charter made the Ruffians Spoil ? 
 In Luxury s Lap, lie screen d from Cares and Pains, 
 And only toil to forge the subjects Chains ? 
 Hear, unconcern d, his injur d Country groan, 
 Nor stretch an Arm to hurl them from the Town ? 
 
 In Peace, shall War, her horrid Front up rear, 
 And martial Vices draw the virtuous Tear, 
 Shall stern Oppression stalk along the Land, 
 Nor royal Pity our just Cry command? 
 Can we to Reason make a just Pretence, 
 No pow rful Aid invok d for our Defence ? 
 
 Hear then, just Heav n, our most fervent Prayer, 
 
 New-England s Weal be thy peculiar Care ! 
 
 Defend her Laws, her Worship chaste and pure ! 
 
 And guard her Rights while Heav n and Earth endure 
 
 O ! let not ever, fell tyrannic Sway, 
 
 His blood-stain d Standard on her Shores display. 
 
 When scepter d Tyrants mount the trophid Car, 
 
 And scatter Havock from the Wheels of War ; 
 
 Curst by Mankind, they lance the Lightning s Flame, 
 
 And sink in Virtue, as they rise in Fame. 
 
 Far nobler he, who sheaths the murd rous Blade, 
 
 And clothes his Mountains with the Olive s Shade. 
 
 Whose patriot Wisdom civil Life refines, 
 Whose Radiance warms and blesses as it shines, 
 Such Britain s Prince, whose placid Beam displays 
 The milder Glories of unsullied Praise : 
 Tis his to break Oppression s galling Chain, 
 And fix o er India Freedom s gentler Reign. 
 
402 
 
 ALMANACK FOR 1769. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. See ! Where on Canada s untutor d Youth 
 
 Already beam the Rays of Heav n born Truth ! 
 See ! plume crown d Chiefs each social Blessing taste, 
 And rising Towers adorn th illuinin d Waste ; 
 See ! cultur d Meads their golden Fruits display, 
 Where rang d the hunter Savage as his Prey ! 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 No more the Sachem views Kiwasa s Form, 
 Frown in the Cloud, or mutter in the Storm, 
 Religion s beams the darksome Mists dispel, 
 Where Ign rance broods in Superstition s Cell, 
 Ev n there shall Science spread her hallow d Store, 
 And Art s fair Empire grace Ontario s Shore. 
 
 Some future LOCKE with Reason s keenest Ray, 
 Pierce the rich Font of intellectu l Day, 
 The subtil Ties of Complex Thought unbind, 
 And fix each Movement of the varying Mind. 
 Some second NEWTON trace Creation s Laws, 
 Through each Dependance to the sov reign Cause. 
 
 Some MII/TON plan his bold impassion d Theme, 
 Stretch d in the Banks of Oxallana s Stream, 
 Another SHAKESPEAR shall Ohio claim, 
 And boast its Floods allied to Avon s Fame. 
 There too shall Sculpture warm the featur d Stone, 
 And Canvas glow with Beauties not its own. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 What but Devotion makes Bramins keep Instruments to torment them 
 selves ? 
 
 What but entrancing Opium makes the Turks give up their Manhood 
 and Freedom to Bashaws and their Janissaries. 
 
 What but Madness or Folly makes Americans do either ? 
 
 True Religion is true Reason. 
 
 A chearful mind and thankful Heart is the most grateful offering to 
 Heaven. 
 
 Unity is a better Guard than military. 
 
 A Horse laugh is as far from Chearfulness as Sowerness is from Sorrow 
 or Religion. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1769. 403 
 
 Patience though a slow Remedy is sure. 
 
 Marry thy Sons when thou wilt, thy Daughters when thou canst. 
 
 The Learned are only a Family scattered among all Nations. 
 
 Who would sell his Birth Right for a Mess of Soup, or risque his Con 
 stitution for a Sip of Tea. 
 
 Let us keep Master of our own Consciences and Purses, and no Matter 
 what Prince we are under. 
 
 Learning is the Spoil of other Mens Labours. 
 
 Gay Nature s renewing all Things. 
 Dictate to Obey. 
 
 In each Creature you may see 
 
 The Effect of Love s Decree. 
 The Spectator warns the Ladies to be very circumspect this Month. 
 
 Men of Wars Press Gangs appear in Boston, 1768, to the Scandal of the 
 Sons of Freedom. 
 
 I would sooner pistol a Man for robbing me of Liberty, than for 
 robbing me of my Purse. 
 
 Necessity is the Shadow of an Excuse for the last, but the first has 
 none at all. 
 
 Morality is the Life of Religion. 
 
 Some true Catholics & a few Politicians may be found in all Nations. 
 There may one Day be a Uniformity in Politics and Religion through 
 the World. 
 
 By your Bye a Mistress chuse, 
 
 By your Ear a Wife. 
 That grown plain you may refuse ; 
 This must last for Life. 
 
 By constant Eating none grow strong, 
 
 Or constant reading wise. 
 Sometimes cull Wisdom from the Throng, 
 
 Get Strength by Exercise. 
 
 To know a Man s true Character take him at Home ; not as he appears 
 in Publick. 
 
 Never intreat thy Servant to stay with thee, or trust him thy Secrets, 
 for that will make him thy Master. 
 
 Think of Ease but Work on, for Hope is all our Joy below. 
 
 When thou buyest, suspect Ornaments and Commendations. 
 
404 ALMANACK FOR 1769. 
 
 It is not absurd to exclaim against foreign Luxuries, and at the same 
 time make those who live by introducing them, the Leaders of our 
 Fashions. 
 
 Before you speak Evil of Dignities upon hear say, consider whether if 
 you was in Place, you would not be liable to Mistakes, or to be belied. 
 
 Lend Money to thy Enemy thou wilt gain him to thy Friend and 
 thou wilt lose him. 
 
 We all set out on the Journey of Life on equal Footing. Why should 
 Fellow Travellers fight, rob, or enslave each other? But Accounts will be 
 balanced at the End. 
 
 An Indian Story. 
 
 From the treacherous Behaviour of those who are called the 
 politest Nation of Europe, we may see how little the refinements 
 in the arts of civil Life have contributed to enforce the Princi 
 ples of Justice and Humanity. Monsieur du-Pratz, in his history 
 of Louisiana relates that a Quarrel having arisen between the 
 French and the Natchez, one of the principal Nations on the 
 Banks of the Missisippi River, a War of course ensued, which 
 having lasted only four Days, was ended at the request of the 
 Frenchmen, and peace regularly and formally concluded. Not 
 withstanding this in a short time after the French fell upon them 
 unawares in the Night and when they thought themselves in 
 perfecl security, making great slaughter among them, and oblig 
 ing them to give one of their oldest Chiefs to procure a peace. 
 The discourse which our Author had with one of them soon after 
 this Affair will give the Reader a very favorable opinion of the 
 Native good Sense of these unhappy People, and shew the 
 Cruelty of treating them in so base and treacherous a Manner. 
 " I, says he, one Day stopped the Stung Serpent, who was pass 
 ing along without taking Notice of any one ; he was Brother to 
 the Great Sun and chief of the Warriors of the Natchez. I 
 accordingly called to him, and said, we w r ere once Friends, are 
 we no longer so ? he answered, No-co, that is I cannot tell. I 
 replied, you used to come to my House, at present you pass by ; 
 have you forgot the way or is my House disagreeable to you ; as 
 for me my Heart is always the same, both towards you, and to 
 wards all my friends. I am not capable of changing, why then 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1769. 405 
 
 are you changed ? He took sometime to answer, and seemed em 
 barrassed by what I had said to him : he never went to the Fort, 
 but when sent for by the Commandant, who put me upon sound 
 ing him in order, to discover whether his People still retained 
 any grudge. He at length broke silence, and told me he was 
 ashamed to have been so long without seeing me, but I imagined, 
 said he, that you were displeased at our Nation, because among 
 all the French in the War, you were the only one that fell upon 
 us. You are in the wrong said I to think so, M. Bienville being 
 our War Chief we are bound to obey him, in like manner as you, 
 tho a Sun, are obliged to kill or cause to be killed whomsoever 
 your Brother the Great Sun orders to be put to Death. Many 
 other Frenchmen besides me sought an Opportunity to attack 
 your Countrymen in obedience to the Orders of our War Chief, 
 and some were killed by yours. He then said, I did not approve 
 as you know, the War our People made upon the French, to 
 avenge the Death of their Relation, seeing I made them carry 
 the Pipe of Peace to the French; this you well know, as you 
 first smoaked in the Pipe yourself. Have the French two 
 Hearts, a good one to-day and to-morrow a bad one ? As for my 
 Brother and me, we have but one Heart and word, tell me then 
 if thou art, as thou sayest, my true Friend, what thou thinkest 
 of all this, and shut thy Mouth to every thing else ; we know 
 not what to think of the French, who, after having begun 
 the War, granted a Peace, and offered it of themselves; and 
 then at the time we were quiet, believing ourselves to be at 
 
 Peace. People come to kill us without saying a word. Why, 
 
 continued he, with an Air of Displeasure, did the French come 
 into our Country? we did not go to seek them, they asked 
 Land of us because their Country was too little for all the Men 
 that were in it ; we told them they might take Land where they 
 pleased, there was land enough for them and for us ; that it was 
 good the same Sun should enlighten us both, and that we should 
 walk as Friends in the same Path ; and that we would give them 
 of our provisions, assist them to build and to labour in the Fields; 
 we have done so. Is not this true ? What Occasion then had we 
 for Frenchmen ? Before they came did not we live better than we 
 do, seeing we deprive ourselves of a Part of our Corn, our Game 
 and Fish to give a Part to them ? In what respect then had we 
 
406 ALMANACK FOR 1769. 
 
 Occasion for them? Was it for their Guns? The Bows and 
 Arrows which we used were sufficient to make us live well. 
 Was it for their white, blue and red Blankets ? We can do well 
 enough with Buffalo Skins, which are warmer; our Women 
 wrought Feather Blankets for the Winter and Mulberry Mantles 
 for the Summer, which indeed, were not so beautiful, but our 
 Women were more laborious and less vain than they are now. 
 In fine, before the Arrival of the French, we lived like Men who 
 can be satisfied with what they have ; whereas, at this Day we 
 are like Slaves who are not suffered to do as they please." A 
 People who could think and reason in this manner were too 
 obnoxious to Frenchmen and French Governors ; the latter, 
 therefore, took every opportunity to oppress then:, which pro 
 voked them nobly to resolve on, and partly execute a Scheme for 
 a general Massacre of their insolent and tyrannical Oppressors. 
 At a Council held on that important Occasion, one of their Chiefs 
 spoke as follows : " We have a long Time been sensible that the 
 neighbourhood of the French is a greater prejudice than benefit 
 to us ; we who are old Men see this, the young see it not. The 
 wares of the French yield pleasure to the Youth ; but in effect 
 to what Purpose is all this, but to debauch the young women, 
 and taint the Blood of the Nation and make them vain and idle? 
 The Young Men are in the same case ; the married must work 
 themselves to Death to maintain their Families, and please their 
 Children. Before the French came among us we were Men, con 
 tent with what we had, and that was sufficient ; we walked with 
 boldness every Road, because we were then our own Masters; 
 but now we go groping afraid of meeting them ; we walk like 
 Slaves, which we shall soon be, since the French already treat 
 us as if we were such ; when they are sufficiently strong they 
 will no longer dissemble, for the lest Fault of our young People 
 they will tie them to a Post and whip them as they do their black 
 Slaves ; have they not already done so to one of our young Men, 
 and is not Death preferable to Slavery. Here he paused a while 
 and after taking Breath thus proceeded. What wait we for, 
 shall we suffer the French to multiply till we are no longer able 
 to oppose their Efforts ? what will other Nations say of us who 
 pass for the most ingenious of all the Red Men ? They will then 
 say we have less Understanding than other people : Why then 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1769. 407 
 
 wait we any longer ? I^et us set ourselves at Liberty, and shew we 
 are really Men who can be satisfied with what we have." The 
 Chief then proceeded to lay down the particulars of his design ; a 
 Plot formed with the Art, and carried on with all the Precaution 
 which would have done Honour to a Roman or Grecian Story ; 
 but which, like many other great Designs, miscarried by the fatal 
 Influence of a Woman, who found Means to penetrate the Secret 
 and then betrayed it. Whereupon the French massacred the 
 bigger Part, and at length extirpated every Soul of this sensible 
 Nation. 
 
 OH T7l9 The Almanack this year encourages by a well 
 written article, the culture of Silk, Silkworms and Mulberry trees, which 
 industry seems to have been seriously considered by the economists of 
 the later Colonial period. A history of the growth of the enterprise in 
 other countries is included, and also a poetic description of " Worm life" 1 
 and the proper method of caring for the Worms, Cocoons, etc. 
 
 Patriotism shines in every line of the poem, and indicates the " rising " 
 about to occupy the attention of New England s sons ; and the possibility 
 
 1 " The whole Nation into Tribes divide, 
 
 And give them different Mansions to reside ; 
 
 This more than once, as often as you view, 
 
 Their rooms too narrow for the growing Crew : 
 
 Nor cease dividing and removing still, 
 
 Till every Shelf and every Lodge you fill ; 
 
 Mean while, neglect not with immediate food 
 
 To cherish and support the new-born brood ; 
 
 With their first Breath they ll draw their Pastures in, 
 
 At once they Hunger and their Lives begin. 
 
 When for one Night thro wretched lust of Gain, 
 
 Laid up in Stores the gather d Leaves remain, 
 
 Their wholesome use is by corruption cross d, 
 
 Their Taste ungrateful, and their Flavor lost. 
 
 Take thou Care with moderate Hand to strow, 
 
 And only thrice each Day their Food bestow ; 
 
 Should you stint their Forage, or refuse 
 
 The wonted comfort of their daily dues, 
 
 A dire Disease invades the starving Worms, 
 
 And meagre leanness all the Flock deforms ; 
 
 With Wine perfum d besprinkle and expel 
 
 From the purg d Mansions each offensive smell." Vida. 
 
408 ALMANACK FOR 1769. 
 
 perhaps, of its creating some little interest on the other side of the Atlan 
 tic. The future grandeur of the republic is pictured, and the advent of 
 new Lockes, Newtons, Milton, and a Shakspeare, prophesied as not un 
 likely happenings in the new Western land. 
 
 An Indian tale is recited at length as illustrative of the Punic faith of 
 some European nations, and is to be taken as a lesson for the times. 
 
 Wit and Humor, Morality and Religion, in homeopathic doses are 
 prescribed in their proper places. A parallel between Bramins, Turks and 
 Americans is illustrated. The " Tea " question is briefly hinted at, the 
 arrival of the "Press Gang" mentioned, and many a wise remark well 
 worthy of repetition, even at this day. 
 
 The old Slitting Mill formerly owned by Mr. Jackson at 
 Milton, which has been long out of Repair, is now in good order 
 and will cut Iron in a few Days ; those Persons who will send 
 Iron to the Mill may have it cut for 6 i2S. 4d. per Ton, which 
 is ^4 cheaper per Ton than ever it was cut before. 
 
 JAMES BOIES. 
 Paper Mill there is still in want of RAGS. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1770. 409 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1770. 
 
 By Nathaniel Ames. 
 
 B OS TON: 
 
 Printed and Sold by the Printers and Booksellers, at 
 2S. 8d. per Dozen, and Six Coppers single. 
 
 To all inferior Animals tis given 
 
 T enjoy the State allotted them by Heaven. 
 
 No vain Researches e er disturb their Rest, 
 
 No Fears of dark Futurity molest. 
 
 Man, only Man solicitous to know 
 
 The Springs whence Nature s Operations flow, 
 
 Plods thro a dreary Waste with Toil and Pain, 
 
 And Reasons, hopes and thinks, and lives in vain, 
 
 For sable Death still hovering o er his Head 
 
 Cuts short his Progress with his vital Thread. 
 
 Wherefore since Nature errs not do we find ^ 
 
 These Seeds of Science in the human Mind 
 
 If no congeneal Fruits are predesign d ! 
 
 For what avails to Man his Power to roam 
 
 Thro Ages past and Ages yet to come, 
 
 T explore new Worlds o er all the sethereal Way, 
 
 Chain d to a Spot, and living but a Day? 
 
 The making of Paper at Milton has been a great Saving to 
 the Province; It is earnestly desired that People would save 
 their Cotton and lyinnen Rags, for which they will receive a good 
 Price from the Paper maker. A small Paper Bag hung up in a 
 room, to put in every piece would prevent their being swept 
 into the Fire or out of Doors. 
 
 JANUARY. Because we are unable to conceive 
 
 How unembody d Souls can act and live, 
 
 The Vulgar give them Forms and Limbs and Faces, 
 
 And Habitations in peculiar Places. 
 
 Hence Reasoners more refin d, but not more wise, 
 
 Their whole Existence fabulous surmise. 
 
410 
 
 ALMANACK FOR 1770. 
 
 FEBRUARY 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Come say they let s feast let Chloe sing, 
 And soft Necera touch the trembling string, 
 Enjoy the present Hour, nor seek to know 
 What Good or 111 To-morrow may bestow ; 
 But these Delights soon pall upon the Taste, 
 Let s try then if more serious cannot lest, 
 Wealth let us heap on Wealth, or Fame pursue, 
 Let Power and Glory be our Points in view. 
 
 Each weak Attempt the same sad Lesson brings, 
 
 Alas ! What Vanity in human Things. 
 
 What Means then shall we try ! where hope to find 
 
 A friendly Harbour for the restless Mind, 
 
 Who still, you see, impatient, to obtain 
 
 Knowledge immense (to Nature s Law ordain.) 
 
 Hear then my Argument confess we must 
 
 A GOD there is, supremely wise and just ; 
 
 If so however Things affect our Sight, 
 
 As sings our Bard, Whatever is is right, 
 
 But is it right what here so oft appears 
 
 That Vice should triumph Virtue sink in Tears ? 
 
 The Inference then that closes this Debate 
 Is that there must exist a future State ! 
 The Wise extending their Enquiries wide 
 See how both States are by Connection ty d ; 
 Fools view but Part, and not the Whole survey, 
 So crowd Existence all into a Day. 
 
 Hence are they led to hope, but hope in vain 
 That Justice never will resume her reign, 
 On this vain hope Adulterers, Thieves rely, 
 And to this altar vile assassins fly. 
 But rules not God by general Laws divine ? 
 Man s Vice or Virtue change not the Design. 
 
 Rate not the Extension of the human Mind 
 By the Plebean Standard of Mankind ; 
 But by the Size of those gigantic few 
 Whom Greece and Rome still offer to our view. 
 Or Britain once deserving equal Praise, 
 Parent of Heroes too in better Days. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1770. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Why should I try her num rous sons to name 
 By Verse, Law, Eloquence consign d to Fame ? 
 Or who have forc d fair Science into sight 
 Long lost in Darkness and afraid of Light. 
 O er all superior, like the solar ray, 
 First Bacon usher d in the dawning Day, 
 And drove the Mists of Sophistry away. 
 
 Pervaded Nature with amazing force, 
 
 Following Experience still thro out his Course, 
 
 And finishing at length his destin d Way, 
 
 To Newton he bequeath d the radiant Lamp of Day. 
 
 Illustrious Souls ! if any tender Cares 
 
 Affect angelic Breasts for Man s Affairs. 
 
 If in your present happy heavenly state 
 You re not regardless quite of Britain s fate, 
 Let that degen rate land again be blest 
 With that true Virtvie which she free possess d, 
 Compell her to unfold her slumbring eyes 
 And to her antient Dignity to rise. 
 
 The Soul tho fetter d in corporeal Clay 
 Climes Step by Step the Prospect to survey 
 And seeks unwearied, Truth s eternal Ray. 
 No fleeting Joys she asks which must depend 
 On the frail Senses, and with them must end ; 
 But such as suit her own immortal Fame 
 Free from all Change eternally the same. 
 
 Of those what think you who the circling Race, 
 
 Of suns and their revolving planets trace, 
 
 And Comets journeying through unbounded space 
 
 Say can you doubt but that th all searching soul 
 
 That now can traverse heaven from pole, to pole, 
 
 From thence descending, visits but this earth, 
 
 And shall once more regain the regions of her birth ? 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 The Politicians spin so fine a Thread 
 
 That Princes think they lead, when the) are led. 
 
412 ALMANACK FOR 1770. 
 
 So cold that all Business, even Cuckold making ceases uow-a-days, but 
 the Tongue of Slander is always limber. 
 God helps them that help themselves. 
 
 The Cold relents, yet not so much but that the Sluggard chuses to burn 
 his Shins rather than stir abroad. 
 
 Sloth like Rust consumes faster than Labor wears, while the used Key 
 is always bright. 
 
 Dost thou love Life ? improve Time for that s the stuff Life s made of. 
 
 The sleeping Fox catches no Poultry, and there will be sleeping 
 enough in the Grave. 
 
 God has fitted our Constitutions to the Climate we live in, turn out, 
 you Sluggard, and shake off the Scurvy. Thou art neither Sugar nor Salt. 
 
 Handle your Tools without Mittins, remember the Cat in Gloves 
 catches no mice. 
 
 He that riseth late must trot all Day, and shall scarce overtake his 
 Business at Night. 
 
 Laziness always travels so slow that Poverty soon overtakes him. 
 
 He that hath a Trade hath an Estate, and he that hath a Calling hath 
 an Office of Profit & Honor. 
 
 Many without Labour would live by their Wits only but they break 
 for want of Stock. 
 
 Three removes is as bad as a Fire. 
 
 Keep thy Shop, and thy Shop will keep thee. 
 
 Dilligence is the mother of good luck, and God giveth all things to 
 industry then sow deep while Sluggards sleep, and you ll have corn to 
 sell and to keep. 
 
 He that by the Plough would thrive, himself must either hold or drive. 
 Not to oversee your workmen is to leave them your purse open. 
 In affairs of this world men are saved not by faith but by the want of it. 
 Learning is for the studious, riches for the careful, power for the bold, 
 and heaven for the virtuous. 
 
 A little neglect may breed a great mischief, for want of a nail the shoe 
 was lost, for want of a shoe the horse was lost, for want of a horse the 
 rider was lost, being overtaken by the enemy, all for the want of a horse 
 shoe nail. 
 
 Since women for tea forsook spinning and knitting and men for punch 
 forsook hewing & splitting, many fair estates are spent in the getting. 
 
 A man if he knows not how to save as he gets may keep his nose all his 
 life to the grindstone and die not worth a groat. 
 
 The diligent eye of the master will do more work than both his hands. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1770. 413 
 
 Who dainties love shall beggars prove. 
 
 Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them. 
 
 If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some. 
 
 Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse 
 
 E er fancy you consult, consult your purse. 
 Pride is as loud a beggar as want. 
 
 Some when they have got their bargain think little of payment, but 
 creditors have better memories than debtors. 
 
 Creditors are a very superstitious sect, being great observers of set 
 days & times. 
 
 For age and want save while you may, no morning sun lasts a whole 
 day. 
 
 Tis easier to build two chimnies than to keep one in fewel. So rather 
 go supperless to bed than rise in debt. 
 
 Experience keeps a dear school but fools will learn in no other, and 
 scarce in that. 
 
 If you will not hear reason, she will certainly one day rap your 
 knuckles. 
 
 Constant dropping wears away stones little strokes fell great oaks. 
 
 Silks & sattins put out the kitchen fire. 
 
 The artificial wants of mankind are more numerous than the natural. 
 
 A child and a fool imagine that twenty shillings & twenty years can 
 never be spent, but always taking out of the meal tub and never putting 
 in, soon come to the bottom. 
 
 An ESSAY on PHYSICK. 
 
 In this degenerate age, when most men are more solicitous 
 for the gratification of their sensual appetites and passions, than 
 for the spread of true religion and impartial justice through the 
 land, is it not some how unaccountable to see such ample pro 
 tection afforded to the pulpit and the bar from the intrusion of vile 
 illiterate pretenders, while the important art of preserving health 
 (without which we cannot indulge those appetites and passions,) 
 lies open to the intrusion of every ignorant drone that assume the 
 title of doctor, to rob his Majesty s good subjects of New England 
 not only of their estates, but of joints and limbs, and even life 
 itself. Is it not surprizing that we should still behold, without 
 
414 ALMANACK FOR 1770. 
 
 emulation a neighbouring province 1 so far get the start of us in 
 the cultivation of this noble science, which, of all others, most 
 needs the protection of civil authority? for any man may, at 
 first hearing, form a tolerable judgment of a lawyer or minister ; 
 and any tradesman is known by his works ; but of a physician, 
 none but a philosopher can judge. Why has no one amongst us 
 attempted to immortalize his name by making a donation to one of 
 our colleges for a professor of physick, &c? If tis of importance 
 that a man should know the make and machinery of a clock or 
 watch before he attempts to mend them how much more important 
 is it that a physician should know the make and machinery of the 
 body, which is an infinitely more curious machine or piece of clock 
 work than any thing contriv d by man ; yet it is not so intricate 
 but that some great souls have, and daily are making such 
 discoveries of its make and construction as are surprizing to 
 those that are capable of diving into those mysteries. What can 
 we impute that absurd opinion to, of many, that a bone setter 
 must be born, or divinely inspired with the art? while the 
 physician, that pretends to no such supernatural gift, altho he 
 has spent the bloom of life in stinking hospitals, at lectures of 
 anatomy upon dead carcasses, and knows exactly the make of 
 every joint, &c., knows nothing of the matter, and must give 
 place to an ignorant wretch that has nothing but his impudence 
 to recommend him ; what can we impute that eagerness to, 
 where with people swallow the nauseous messes of every secret 
 monger without examining by what authority he dares practice 
 an art that if he were in England he would be liable to suffer for 
 as a felon. I can think of no other reason than this, viz. that 
 common people imagine (and in the present low orphan state of 
 physick in New England) they have some reason to imagine, the 
 whole art to be but mere empiricism, founded in the experience 
 of each practitioner, who is possess d of a number of secrets for 
 the cure of any disease, which he blindfold administers on all 
 occasions, without setting his reason to work to find out which 
 of the pipes, springs, or strainers is out of order in the curious 
 
 1 Pennsylvania where a public Hospital, Professor and Lecturer are 
 provided ; and Funds established for their Maintenance : They also confer 
 Doctor s Degrees. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1770. 415 
 
 frame, whether they want stiffening or loosening, oiling or 
 cleaning, &c. and a thousand other things that come under con 
 sideration with a true physician before he attempts to apply the 
 medicine ; indeed this might be the case 3000 years ago, when 
 physick was in the hand of the priests, who being covetous of 
 wealth and respect from the people, concealed the art under the 
 pomp of superstition, making them believe they had immediate 
 direction from their Gods concerning the cure of any disease ; 
 so when any patient asked their advice, they immediately fell to 
 sacrificing some beast, and because the Gods would accept none 
 but a sound animal, the priests always very carefully examin d 
 the entrails, which with the custom of embalming and opening 
 their dead, &c. helped them to some knowledge of the structure 
 of the human body, as also the causes of health, sickness and 
 death, and these joined to their improvements in philosophy 
 laid the first foundation of the art, each generation improving 
 upon and adding to the discoveries of their predecessors, rais d 
 its importance and reputation, yet it was a lame and perplexing 
 business till within this hundred years, when the immortal 
 Harvey with a more than human penetration remov d those 
 doubts and perplexities, by making such a discovery, not of any 
 Indian root or herb, but of the secret operations of nature 
 within the body, as established the profession upon a sure basis, 
 and raised it to the first dignity among arts and sciences. It is 
 esteemed a necessary part of polite education. Princes and 
 nobles learn its theory, and its practitioners have been ennobled. 
 Most civilized nations esteeming their greatest strength to con 
 sist in the number of healthy subjects, have made ample pro 
 vision for carrying the medical art to the highest perfection by 
 endowing colleges and corporations of physicians, publick hos 
 pitals and botanical gardens, whose members even of different 
 
 nations at war hold friendly correspondence. The college of 
 
 physicians in London was founded by Dr. Linacre physician to 
 King Henry 8th, to which the great Harvey added a library and 
 public hall in 1652 endowing the same with his whole inherit 
 ance, which he resigned while he was yet living and in health, 
 the physicians hereof have by charters such privileges as exclude 
 all others from practicing in London, or within seven miles of it, 
 without a license under the college seal ; also persons practicing 
 
416 ALMANACK FOR 1770. 
 
 physick in any part of Kngland are to have letters testimonial 
 from the president and three elects, unless they be graduate 
 physicians of Oxford or Cambridge, and all offenders in these and 
 divers other cases, they may fine and imprison, they have authority 
 to search all apothecary s shops to see if their drugs be whole 
 some, or burn or destroy all such as are not. and it is holden 
 
 that if a person not duly authorized to be a physician undertakes 
 the cure of a patient and he dies under his hands he is guilty of 
 felony. 
 
 oil 1770. The spirit of investigation blooms upon the title 
 page, and the silk worm and the silk industry again are called to the atten 
 tion of the colonists, with an allusion to the general encouragement given 
 to home productions ;* the " People being determined no longer to neglect 
 the One Thing needful for their Political Salvation." 
 
 The theory of Futurity is poetically elaborated in the course of the 
 months, and as the Almanack would not be complete without the essay 
 a sermon on Physick is introduced calling special attention to the neces 
 sity of maintaining colleges for the study of Medicine and Surgery ; con 
 demning in no mild tone the disreputable practices of those unlicensed 
 vagabonds denominated quacks. 
 
 The seasoning to the practical part of the almanack still interests us. 
 Business appears aivful dull in January, so the Doctor finds occasion in 
 this and the succeeding months, to berate laziness and cudgel the slug 
 gard. Diligence and industry appear to be the burden of his song the 
 entire year through. 
 
 1 Alluding to the Gentleman who offered the Premiums last year, Dr. 
 Ames says : " This great Encourager of American Manufactures now wears 
 Stockings made of Silk entirely raised and manufactured among us, so 
 that such Ladies (if any we have) as think themselves of too delicate a 
 Mould to apply their Hands to the Distaff, or cloath their House in Scarlet 
 from the tender Fleece, may find a very genteel Employment, for one 
 Month in a Year, in assisting at the curious Operation of Nature in the 
 Production of Silk Worms; and for their further Encouragement will 
 inform them that they may soon be furnish d with Cups and Saucers, equal 
 to the best China Ware imported, for sipping their Soul enchanting Tea, 
 without molestation, from Plants too, I hope, said to be growing in 
 America; for all the Materials are discovered amongst us, & Manufac 
 tures are preparing them for making China Ware, in Boston where the 
 best of green and Tortoise-shell Ware is already made : Callicoes are 
 printed there : Preparations are now making for several new Manufac 
 tures, the People are determined no longer to neglect the One Thing 
 Needful for their Political Salvation" 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1771. 417 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1771 
 
 By Nathaniel Ames. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 Printed and Sold by the Printers and Booksellers, at 
 2 s 8d per Dozen, and Six Coppers single. 
 
 Bards rapt beyond the Moon on Fancy s Wings, 
 And mighty Masters of the vocal Strings ; 
 Those who on laboured Speeches waste their Oil, 
 Those who in crabbed Calculations toil, 
 Who measure Earth, who climb the starry Road, 
 And human Fates by heav nly Signs forebode, 
 Pleasures Philosophers, Lyceum s Pride, 
 Disdainful soaring up to Heights untry d ; 
 From Science up to Science let them rise, 
 And arrogate the swelling Style of Wise, 
 Their Wisdoms Folly, impotent and blind, 
 Which cures not one Distemper of the Mind, 
 Till weary of their Vanities, they ve found 
 Th exalted Way to Truth s enlightened Ground, 
 Quaff d her cathartic and all cleans d within, 
 By her strong Energy, from Pride and Sin. 
 
 A DISCOURSE on what is not done, and on what may be done, 
 from a late eminent Writer. 
 
 " Let the World go as it will, do your Duty indifferently and 
 always speak well of the Prior," is an ancient maxim amongst 
 the Monks ; but it is capable of leaving the Convent in medioc- 
 rity, negligence and contempt. 
 
 When Men are not excited by Emulation they are Asses who 
 proceed on their Way slowly, stop at the first obstacles, and 
 quietly eat their Thistles in Sight of the Difficulties that deter 
 them, but at the Sound of the Voice that encouraged them, or at 
 
418 ALMANACK FOR 
 
 the Prick ot the Goad by which they are awaked, they are Steeds 
 who run swiftly and leave behind the Difficulties that had 
 opposed them. Had it not been for the Information of the Abbe 
 de St. Peter the Severities of the arbitrary Subsidies in France, 
 would perhaps never have been abolished, had it not been for the 
 Penetration of LOCKE the Deficiency in the current Coin would 
 never have been repaired at London. There are frequently Men 
 who without having purchased the Right of judging their 
 Equals, love the public Welfare, as much as it is sometimes 
 neglected by those who acquire as they purchase a Farm, the 
 Power of doing good and Evil. 
 
 In the first Ages of the Roman Empire, a Citizen, whose 
 ruling Passion was the Desire of rendering his Country flourish 
 ing, asked to speak to the first Consul ; when he was told that 
 the Magistrate was at Table with the Pretor, the Edile, some 
 Senators, their Mistresses, and their Buffoons ; on which he put 
 into the Hands of one of the insolent Slaves, who waited at Table, 
 a Memorial, the Contents of which was as follows : 
 
 " Since Tyrants have, throughout the whole Earth, done all 
 " the Mischief they were able ; O ye who value yourselves on 
 " being good, why do ye not do all the good in your Power? 
 " From whence does it proceed that the Poor encompass your 
 " Temples, stand at the Corners of the Streets and display a 
 " Misery unuseful to the State and shameful to you, and this at a 
 " Time when their Hands might be employ d in public Works ? 
 " How during the Peace are those lazy Legions employ d who 
 " might repair the Highways and the Citadels? Those Marshes 
 " if they were drained would no longer infedt the Provinces, they 
 " would become fertile Lands, Those open Places irregular and 
 " worthy of a barbarous City might by changed into magnificent 
 " Squares, those Blocks of Marble heaped up on the Banks 
 " of the Tyber might be hewn into Statues, and become the 
 " Recompence bestow d on Merit and Lessons of Virtue that 
 " might be heard in distant Ages ; your public Market-places 
 " ought to be both commodious and magnificent, and yet they 
 " are inconvenient and offensive ; your Houses want Water 
 " and your public Fountains are built without Taste, and Pro- 
 <l priety ; your principal Temple is a barbarous Piece of Archi- 
 " tecture, the Entrance to your public Shews, resembles the 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1771. 419 
 
 " Passage to an infamous House, the Halls in which the People 
 " assemble to hear what is worthy the Admiration of the Uni- 
 " verse have neither Proportion nor Grandeur, nor Magnificence 
 " nor Convenience, the Palace of your Capitol is ready to fall, 
 " yet it is inhabited. In vain does your Laziness make you 
 " ready to reply that it would require too much Money to remedy 
 " so many abuses ; will this Money be given to the Massagetes 
 "and Cimbrians? Will it not be gained by Romans, by your 
 " Architects, by your Sculptors, by your Painters, by your 
 " Artists ? These Artists when recompenced will restore this 
 " Money to the State by the new Expences in which they will 
 " be enabled to engage : The fine Arts will be held in Honor, 
 " they will be at once your Wealth for the richest People are 
 " they who labor most. Listen then to a noble Emulation, that 
 " the Greeks who begin to esteem your Valor and your Conduct, 
 " may no longer reproach you for your Rusticity." 
 
 The Citizen s Memorial was read at Table, the Council took 
 no Notice of it but called for Wine, the Edile however said it 
 contained some good Observations, and this was all. The Con 
 versation turned on the Tartness of the Wine of Falerna, and 
 on the strength of the Wine of Cecuba, they bestowed Praises 
 on a famous Cook, enquired into the Invention of a new Sauce 
 for Sturgeon, drank Healths, told two or three insipid Stories, 
 and fell asleep. However the Senator Appius, who had been 
 secretly affected at hearing the Paper read, built some time 
 after, the Appiean way ; Flaminius made the Flaminian way, 
 another embellished the Capitol, another built an Amphitheatre, 
 and another the public Markets. Thus the Writing of an 
 obscure Citizen was a Seed which by little and little grew and 
 produced Fruit in the Minds of the Great."- 
 
 What Fruit is the good Seed sown likely to produce in the 
 Minds of our Great, who can supinely behold the Philadelphians 
 not only outstrip us in the liberal Arts but also in the mechanic 
 Arts, who instead of importing immense Quantities of British 
 Manufactures, have their ships entef- their Ports laden with Cash 
 and Manufactures from England. Golden Fruits of the Non 
 importation Agreement ! 
 
420 ALMANACK FOR 1771. 
 
 Mr. FRANKLIN S Epitaph on himself curious for conveying 
 such solemn Ideas in the Stile of his Occupation. 
 
 The Body of BENJAMIN FRANKUN 
 
 Printer, 
 Like the Covering of an old Book 
 
 Its contents torn out 
 And stript of its Lettering and Gilding, 
 
 Lies here, Food for Worms; 
 
 But the Work shall not be lost, 
 
 It will (as he believ d) appear once more 
 
 In a New and more beautiful Edition 
 
 Corrected and amended 
 
 By the Author. 
 
 He was born January 6th, 1706 and 
 died 17 
 
 In Bengal the Ceremony of Marriage is according to the 
 Direction of their spiritual Guides, per form d in standing Water; 
 in which the Priest and the Bridal Pair hold a Cow with her 
 Calf by the Tail, and pour Water upon them ; then he ties 
 the Cloaths of the Bride and Bridegroom together, and walking 
 round the Cow and Calf, they are joined in the Bonds of holy 
 
 Wedlock. But mark the Epilogue of the Comedy the Parson 
 
 has the Cow and Calf for his Fee ! 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 High Tides and violent Storrn of ! of ! of ! 
 
 British Catchpennies as well as Hybernian and Tyburnian ones. 
 
 Loyalty is one thing and Slavery is another but synonymous with 
 those who know not Children from Servants : such Ignorance would dis 
 grace even the noble Lyon and Unicorn. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1771. 421 
 
 The alternate Chills and Thaws in this Month represent a long Court 
 ship as a Beehive does Matrimony, for its often empty & poor, sometimes 
 rich in Wax, but insipid and tastless and sometimes full of Honey, but 
 most frequently full of Stings. 
 
 Some are pleased with a Rattle, some with Jingle & some with Senti 
 ment and a great many with dire Prognosticks. 
 
 News from afar denotes a War. 
 
 Enjoy the good Weather when you can catch it for it is as variable as 
 Mrs. Temper this Month. 
 
 Aeolus sends forth Boreas & Auster who strive in terrible whirlwinds. 
 
 Some are so polite as to drink nothing but Madeira abroad that can 
 hardly get Cyder at home. Are other Countries as fond of our Luxuries ? 
 
 One may steal a Horse while another may not look over the Wall that 
 is, to get drunk with Toddy or raw Rum is a damnable Sin, while to get 
 drunk with Punch & Wine is hardly a venial one. 
 
 The Vulgar trace your Faults those you have in common with them 
 selves, but have no Idea of your Excellencies to which they have no Pre- 
 tentions. 
 
 What numbers live to the age of fifty or sixty, yet if estimated by their 
 merit are not worth a chick ? 
 
 Every instance of a Friend s insincerity increases our dependance on 
 Money, which produces external Respect when we are disappointed of 
 that which is internal and sincere. 
 
 Even in these degenerate days some are striving to make their (Gen. 
 Election BOSTON) calling and Election sure. 
 
 Cunning people are not always honest nor wise. 
 
 Beauteous Nature, blooming Health 
 Exceeds all Art, and Pride of Wealth. 
 Then Ladies chuse the better part, 
 Negledl the Head, and mend the Heart. 
 
 The Miser grows rich by seeming poor. The Extravagant Man grows 
 poor by seeming rich. 
 
 One should no more trust the skill of Apothecaries than ask the opin 
 ion of their Pestle and Mortar yet both are useful in their way. 
 
422 ALMANACK FOR 1771. 
 
 What some people term Freedom, is nothing else than a liberty of 
 saying and doing disagreeable things, carrying the notion a little higher 
 it would require us to break and have a head broke without offence. 
 
 Men praise against their Wills, but slander comes voluntary. 
 
 Superstition regulates some of the illiterate better than Law, Con 
 science or Honor, then is not the notion of Astrology more useful than 
 present Schools allow. 
 
 Great quickness of parts is seldom joined with great solidity and judg 
 ment the most rapid rivers are seldom or never deep. 
 
 A Girl of sixteen is more conversable than a Man of twenty-five. 
 
 If any one s curse can effect damnation, tis not that of the Pope, but 
 that of the poor. 
 
 Short visits are most agreeable. 
 
 A mere formal visitor among Men of business is intolerable but when 
 Men of genius happen to meet, their souls strike fire, and furnish out a 
 refined entertainment of new ideas too thin a diet for any but them 
 selvesand they would often be glad of one more solid. 
 
 It is not now " we have seen his Star in the Bast " but we have seen 
 the " Star on his Breast," and are come to worship him. 
 
 Make few promises and punctually perform them, then you ll soon 
 need no bondsmen. 
 
 Notes on 1771. The title page has the usual amount of poetic 
 wisdom, and is followed by a selection from a late Eminent writer, " on 
 what is not done and on what may be done /" an effort intended to incite 
 the people to emulation, and a strenuous endeavor to gather the " Golden 
 Fruits of a Non-importation Agreement" 
 
 Franklin s Epitaph is copied, and an account of a " Ceremony of Mar 
 riage in Bengal ;" the latter carrying a moral with it. 
 
 The annual poem distributed as monthly captions to each page, is the 
 Tale of Porsenna, King of Russia, and his adventure with the wife of 
 Aeolus, the King of the Winds, and her family ; which poem is continued 
 through the succeeding almanacks for 1772 and 1773, under the title of 
 " Por -senna in pursuit of the Kingdom of Felicity" 
 
 The weather column again is filled with patriotic squibs against British 
 Catchpennies, Slavery, Ignorance, those who prefer Madeira to home-made 
 Cyder, Superstition, etc., etc. 
 
 Abel Puffer s " Cure for Rattle-Snake bite " is omitted, as a superior 
 panacea for this purpose was brought into general use after the settlement 
 and developement of the resources of Kentucky. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1771. 423 
 
 PORSENNA in (Pursuit of the Kingdom of Felicity.* 
 
 In Russia s frozen clime some ages since, 
 
 There dwelt, Historians say, a worthy Prince, 
 
 Who to his People s good confin d his care, 
 
 And fix d the basis of his empire there ; 
 
 Inlarg d their trade the lib ral arts improv d 
 
 Made nations happy and himself belov d ; 
 
 To all the neighb ring states a terror grown 
 
 The dear delight and glory of his own, 
 
 Not like those Kings who vainly seek renown 
 
 From country s ruin d and from battles won ; 
 
 Those mighty Nimrods, who mean laws despise, 
 
 Call murder but a princely exercise, 
 
 And if one bloodless sun should steal away 
 
 Cry out with Titus, they have lost a day. 
 
 Far different praises and a brighter fame 
 
 The virtues of the young Porsenna claim 
 
 For by that name the Russian King was known, 
 
 And sure a nobler ne er adorn d the throne. 
 
 In peaceful time he suffer d not his mind 
 
 To rust in sloth, tho much to peace inclin d ; 
 
 But active rising ere the prime of day, 
 
 Thro woods and lonely desarts lov d to stray ; 
 
 With hounds and horns to wake the furious bear, 
 
 Or rouse the tawny lion from his lair ; 
 
 To rid the forest of the savage brood, 
 
 And whet his courage for his country s good. 
 
 One day as he pursu d the dang rous sport, 
 
 Attended by the nobles of his court, 
 
 It chanc d a beast of more than common speed, 
 
 Sprang from the brake, and thro the desart fled ; 
 
 The ardent prince, impetuous as the wind, 
 
 Rush d on and left his lagging train behind ; 
 
 Fir d with the chace, and full of youthful blood, 
 
 O er plains, and vales, and woodland wilds he rode, 
 
 Missing his train, he strove to measure back, 
 
 The road he came but cou d not find the track, 
 
 J This poem, supposed to have been written by Dr. Ames, (no mention 
 being made of the authorship of the " monthly verses " this year) is con 
 tinued thro the Almanacks for several years as the monthly verses. For 
 convenience of the reader it is printed continuously under this title with 
 out regard to its position in the original Almanacks. 
 
424 ALMANACK FOR 1771. 
 
 And now the gath ring clouds began to spread 
 O er the deep face of night a deeper shade ; 
 And the hoarse thunder growling from afar, 
 With herald voice proclaim d th approach of war; 
 
 Silence a while ensued then by degrees 
 
 A hollow wind came mutt ring thro the trees, 
 
 The active lightning ran along the ground, 
 
 The fiery bolts by fits were hurl d around, 
 
 And the wide forests trembled at the sound, 
 
 Amazement seiz d the prince where cou d he fly ? 
 
 No guide to lead, no friendly cottage nigh. 
 
 Groping about he spy d a distant light, 
 
 That faintly twinkled thro the gloom of night, 
 
 And his heart leap d for joy and bless d the welcome light 
 
 With much fatigue and many dangers pass d, 
 
 At a huge mountain he arriv d at last ; 
 
 There lighting from his horse on hands and knees 
 
 Grop d out the darksome road by slow degrees. 
 
 Joyful at length he gain d the steepy height, 
 
 And found the rift whence sprang the friendly light. 
 
 While he the wonders of the place survey d, 
 
 And thro the various cells at random stray d, 
 
 In a dark corner of the cave he view d 
 
 Somewhat that in the shape of woman stood ; 
 
 But more deform d than dreams can represent 
 
 The midnight hag, or poet s fancy paint. 
 
 The Lapland witch, when she her broom bestrides, 
 
 And scatters storms and tempests as she rides. 
 
 The prince with civil words approach d the dame, 
 
 Told her his piteous case and whence he came, 
 
 And till Aurora should the shades expell, 
 
 Implor d a lodging in her friendly cell ; 
 
 Mortal, whoe er thou art, the Fiend began, 
 
 And as she spake a deadly horror ran 
 
 Thro all his frame ; his cheeks the blood forsook, 
 
 Chatter d his teeth, his knees together struck ; 
 
 Wlioe er thou art that with presumption rude, 
 
 Dar st on my sacred privacy intrude, 
 
 Pardon d, know, thro yon wide extended plains, 
 
 Great Eolus, the king of tempests reigns ; 
 
 And in this lofty palace makes abode, 
 
 Well suited to his state and worthy of the God ; 
 
 His queen am I, from whom the beauteous race 
 
 Of winds arose, sweet fruit of our embrace : 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1771. 425 
 
 Libs, Eurus, Boreas, all the boisterous train, 
 Then round the Cave, caine rushing in amain. 
 
 Their boasting talk was of the feats th* had done, 
 Of trees uprooted, and of towns o erthrown, 
 The gaping hag in fix d attention stood, 
 
 And at the close of ev ry tale cry d good ; 
 
 And where said she does little Zephyr stray ? 
 Know ye, my sons, your brother s rout to day? 
 Ne er was he known to linger thus before, 
 Scarce had she spoke, when at the Cavern door, 
 
 Come lightly tripping in a form more fair, 
 Than the young lovers fond ideas are, 
 Of burnish d silver were his sandals made, 
 Silver his busking and with gems o erlaid ; 
 His wings than lillies whiter to behold, 
 Sprinkled with azure spots and streak d with gold ; 
 Around his temples with becoming air, 
 In wanton ringlets curled his auburn hair ; 
 Such his attire, but O ! no pen can trace, 
 No words can show the beauties of his face. 
 
 Thou vagrant, cry d the dame in angry tone, 
 Where could st thou loiter thus so long alone ? 
 Little thou carest what anxious thoughts molest, 
 What pangs are lab ring in a mother s breast ; 
 My dear mamma, the gentle youth reply d, 
 And made a low obeisance, cease to chide, 
 Nor wound me with your words, for well you know 
 Your Zephyr bears a part in all your woe, 
 
 Nor had I loiter d thus had I been free, 
 But the fair princess of felicity, 
 Intreated me to make some short delay, 
 And ask d by her, who cou d refuse to stay ? 
 Close by a mount with fragrant shrubs o ergrown, 
 On a cool mossy couch she laid her down ; 
 Her air, her posture, all conspir d to please ; 
 Her head upon her snowy arm at ease, 
 Reclin d, a studied carelessness express d ; 
 Loose lay her robe, and naked heav d her breast, 
 Eager I flew to that delightful place, 
 And pour d a shower of kisses on her face : 
 Now hover d o er her neck, her breast, her arms. 
 Like bees o er flow rs, and tasted all her charms ; 
 And then her lips and then her cheeks I tried, 
 And fawn d and wanton d round on ev ry side. 
 
426 ALMANACK FOR 1771. 
 
 O Zephyr ! cry d the fair, thou charming boy, 
 Thy presence only can create me joy, 
 Excuse my weakness, madam, when I swear, 
 Such gentle words join d with so soft an air, 
 Pronounc d so sweetly from a mouth so fair, 
 Quite ravished all my sense, nor did I know 
 How long I staid, or when or where to go. 
 
 Mean while her damsels debonnair and gay, 
 Prattled around, and laugh d the time away ; 
 These in soft notes address d the ravish d ear, 
 And warbled out so sweet, twas heaven to hear; 
 And those in rings beneath the greenwood shade, 
 Danc d to the melody their fellows made. 
 Porsenna like a statue fix d appear d, 
 And, wrapped in silent wonder, gaz d and heard : 
 Much he admir d the speech, the speaker more 
 And dwelt on every word, and griev d to find it o er : 
 O, gentle youth, he cry d, proceed to tell 
 In what fair country does this Princess dwell : 
 To whom the winged god with gracious look, 
 Numberless sweets diffusing while he spoke, 
 Thus answered kind These happy gardens lie 
 Far hence remov d, beneath a milder sky, 
 Their name the kingdom of felicity. 
 Sweet scenes of endless bliss, enchanted ground, 
 A soil forever sought but never found, 
 Tho in the search all human kind in vain 
 Weary their wits, and waste their lives in pain. 
 In different parties, diff rent paths they tread, 
 As reason guides them, or as follies lead ; 
 These wrangling for the place they ne er shall see, 
 Debating these, if such a place there be ; 
 But not the wisest, nor the best can say 
 Where lies the point, or mark the certain way. 
 Some few by fortune favour d for her sport 
 Have sail d in sight of this delightful port ; 
 In thought already seiz d the blest abodes, 
 And in their fond delirium rank d with gods. 
 Fruitless attempt ! all avenues are kept 
 By dreadful foes, sentry that never slept. 
 Here fell detraction darts her pois nous breath 
 Fraught with a thousand stings and scatters death ; 
 But say, young monarch, for what name you bear 
 Your mein, your dress, your person, all declare ; 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1771. 427 
 
 Say, would you choose to visit this retreat, 
 
 And view the world where all these wonders meet ? 
 
 Wish you some friend o er that tempestuous sea 
 
 To bear you safe? behold that friend in me. 
 
 There perfect bliss thou may st forever share 
 
 Scap d from the busy world and all its care ; 
 
 There in the lovely Princess thou shalt find 
 
 A mistress ever blooming, ever kind. 
 
 All ecstasy on air Por senna trod, 
 
 And to his bosom strain d the little god ; 
 
 With grateful sentiments his heart o erflow d, 
 
 And in the warmest words millions of thanks bestow d. 
 
 When ^olus in surly humour broke 
 
 Their strict embrace, and thus abruptly spoke, 
 
 Enough of compliment ; I hate the sport 
 
 Of meanless words ; this is no human court ; 
 
 Where plain and honest are discarded quite, 
 
 For the more modish title of polite. 
 
 Where in soft speeches hypocrites impart, 
 
 The venom d ills that lurk beneath the heart ; 
 
 In friendship s holy guise their guilt improve, 
 
 And kindly kill with specious shews of love. 
 
 For us, my subjects are not us d to wait 
 
 And waste their hours to hear a mortal prate. 
 
 Excuse my plainness, Sir, but business stands, 
 
 And we have storms and shipwrecks on our hands, 
 
 He ended frowning, and the noisy rout, 
 
 Each to his several cell went puffing out. 
 
 But Zephyr far more courteous than the rest, 
 
 To his own bow r convey d the royal guest ; 
 
 There on a bed of roses neatly laid, 
 
 Beneath the fragrance of the myrtle shade, 
 
 His limbs to needful rest the prince applied 
 
 His sweet companion slumbering bv his side. 
 
 No sooner in her silver chariot rose 
 
 The ruddy morn, then sated with repose 
 
 The prince address d his host, the god awoke, 
 
 And leaping from his couch thus kindly spoke, 
 " Like you I long to reach the blissful coast, 
 " Hate the slow night, and mourn the moments lost. 
 " The bright Prosinda, loveliest of the fair 
 " That crowd the princess court, demands my care ; 
 " What sweet rewards on all my toils attend, 
 " Serving at once my mistress and my friend, 
 
428 ALMANACK FOR 1771 
 
 " Just to my love and to my duty too, 
 " Well paid in her, well pleas d in pleasing you." 
 This said, he led Porsenna to the gate, 
 And clasp d him in his arms and pois d his weight ; 
 Then ballancing his body here and there, 
 Stretch d forth his agile wings and launch d in air : 
 Swift as the fiery meteor from on high 
 Shoots to its goal and gleams athwart the sky 
 Here with quick fan his lab ring pinions play ; 
 There glide at ease along the liquid way. 
 The friendly God, who instantly divin d 
 The terrors that possess d his fellows mind 
 To calm his troubl d thoughts and chear the way, 
 Discrib d the nations that beneath them lay. 
 The sweet discourse so charm d Porsenna s ear 
 That lost in joy he had no time for fear, 
 From Scandinavia s cold inclement waste 
 O er wide Germania s various relms they past, 
 And now on Albion s fields suspend their toil, 
 And hover for a while, and bless the soil. 
 Dwells chearful plenty there, and learned ease, 
 And art with Nature seems at strife to please : 
 Their Liberty, delightful Goddess, reigns, 
 Gladdens each heart, and gilds the fertile plains, 
 Streaching their course to climates then unknown, 
 Nations that swelter in the burning zone. 
 There in Peruvian vales a moment staid, 
 And smooth d his wings beneath the citron shade : 
 Then swift his oary pinions ply d again, 
 Cross d the new world and sought the southern main 
 Where many a wet and weary league o er past, 
 The wish d for paradise appear d at last. 
 With force abated now they gently sweep 
 O er the smooth surface of the shining deep : 
 The Dryads hail d them from the distant shore, 
 The Nereids play d round, the Tritons swam before, 
 Nor pale disease nor health consuming care, 
 Nor wrath nor foul revenge, can enter there. 
 What e er the sweet Sabaean soil can boast, 
 Or Mecca s plains, or India s spicy coast ; 
 What Hybla s hills, or rich Oebalia s fields, 
 Or flowing vale of fam d Hymettus yields : 
 Or what of old th Hesperian orchard grac d, 
 All that was e er delicious to the taste. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1771. 429 
 
 Sweet to the smell, or lovely to the view, 
 
 Collected there with added beauty grew : 
 
 And on each bough the feather d choir employ 
 
 Their melting notes, and naught is heard but joy : 
 
 The painted flowers exhale a rich perfume, 
 
 The fruits are mingled with eternal bloom. 
 
 And spring and autumn hand in hand appear, 
 
 L/ead on the merry months and join to cloath the year. 
 
 And now descending from his flight, the God 
 
 On the green turf releas d his precious load : 
 
 Zephyr, impatient to behold his love, 
 
 The prince in raptures wand ring thro the grove. 
 
 Now skipping on, and singing as he went, 
 
 Now stopping short to give his transports vent. 
 
 Close by the borders of a rising wood, 
 
 In a green vale a chrystal grotto stood, 
 
 And o er its side, beneath a beechen shade, 
 
 In broken falls a silver fountain play d : 
 
 Hither, attracted by the murm ring stream, 
 
 And cool recess, the pleas d Porsenna came : 
 
 The warb ling birds, and rills that gently creep, 
 
 All join their musick, to invite his sleep. 
 
 The princess for her morning walk prepar d, 
 
 The female troops attend, a beauteous guard. 
 
 Array d in all her charms appear d the fair, 
 
 Tall was her stature, unconfin d her hair. 
 
 No foreign aids, by mortal ladies worn, 
 
 From shells and rocks her artless charms adorn ; 
 
 For grant that beauty were by gems increas d, 
 
 Tis rendered more suspected at the least. 
 
 Her chesnut hair in careless rings around 
 
 Her temples wav d, with pinks and jes mine crown d. 
 
 The. damsels of her train w T ith mirth and song 
 
 Frolick behind, and laugh and sport along: 
 
 The birds proclaim their queen from ev ry tree, 
 
 The beasts run frisking thro the groves to see. 
 
 By what e er fancy led, it chanc d that day 
 
 They thro the secret valley took their way 
 
 And to the crystal grott advancing spi d 
 
 The Prince extended by the fountain side : 
 
 He look d as by some skilful hand express d 
 
 Apollo s youthful form retir d to rest ; 
 
 Waking he started from the ground in haste 
 
 And saw the beauteous choir around him plac d : 
 
430 ALMANACK FOR 1771. 
 
 Then summoning his senses ran to meet 
 The queen, and laid him humbly at her feet. 
 " Deign lovely princess to behold," said he, 
 " One who has travers d all the world to see 
 " Those charms, and worship thy divinity. 
 " Accept thy slave, and with a gracious smile, 
 " Excuse his rashness, and reward his toil." 
 Stood motionless the fair, with mute surprize, 
 And read him over with admiring eyes : 
 And while she stedfast gaz d, a pleasing smart 
 Ran thrilling thro her veins and reach d her heart, 
 Bach limb she scan d, consider d ev ry grace, 
 And sagely judg d him of the Phoenix race. 
 An animal like this she ne er had known, 
 And thence concluded there could be but one. 
 " O, handsome Phoenix, for that such you are 
 " We know your beauty does your breed declare. 
 " For Nature form d you single and alone 
 " Alas ! what pity tis there is but one ! 
 " Were there a queen so fortunate to shew 
 " An aviary of charming birds like you. 
 " What envy would her happiness create 
 " In all who saw the glories of her state ! " 
 The prince laugh d inwardly surpriz d to find 
 So strange a speech, so innocent a mind. 
 The compliment indeed did some offence 
 To reason, and a little wrong d her sense. 
 But she d a piercing wit, of wond rous reach 
 To comprehend whatever he could teach. 
 Thus hand in hand they to the palace walk 
 Pleas d and instructed with each other s talk. 
 Here, should I tell the furniture s expence, 
 And all the structure s vast magnificence, 
 Describe the walls of shining sapphire made 
 With emerald and pearl, the walls unlaid, 
 And how the vaulted canopies unfold. 
 A mimic heav n and flames with gems of gold : 
 Or how Felicity regales her guest, 
 The wit, the mirth, the musick, and the feast, 
 And on each part bestow the praises due, 
 Twould tire the writer, and the reader too. 
 Alas ! how vain is happiness below ! 
 Man soon or late must have his share of woe : 
 Slight are his joys and fleeting as the wind, 
 His griefs wound home, and leave a sting behind. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1771. 431 
 
 His lot distiuguish d from the brute appears 
 Less certain by his laughter than his tears : 
 For ignorance too oft our pleasure breeds, 
 But sorrow from the reas ning soul proceeds : 
 If man on Earth in endless bliss could be, 
 The boon, young prince, had been bestow d on thee. 
 Bright shone thy stars, thy Fortune flourished fair, 
 And seem d secure beyond the reach of care, 
 And so might still have been, but anxious thought 
 Has dash d thy cup, and thou must taste the draught. 
 It so befel, as on a certain day 
 This happy happy couple toy d their time away, 
 He asked how many charming hours were flown 
 Since on her slave her heav n of beauty shone, " 
 " Should I consult my heart," cried he, " the wait 
 " Were small, a week would be the utmost date, 
 " But when my mind reflects on actions past 
 " And counts its joys, time must have fled more fast. 
 " Perhaps I might have said three months are gone, 
 " Three months ! " replied the fair, " three months alone ! 
 " Know that three hundred years have rolled away 
 " Since at my feet the lovely Phoenix lay." 
 " Three hundred years," re-echoed back the prince, 
 " A whole three hundred years compleated since 
 " I landed here ! O ! whither then are flown 
 " My dearest friends, my subjects and my throne? 
 " My crown perhaps may grace a foreign line 
 " A race of kings that know not me nor mine. 
 " Who reigns may wish my death, his subjects treat 
 " My claim with scorn, and call their prince a cheat. 
 " Oh, had my life been ended as begun ! 
 " My destin d stage, my race of glory run, 
 " I should have died well pleas d, my honor d name 
 " Had liv d, had flourish d in the list of fame, 
 " Reflecting now my mind with horror sees 
 " The sad survey, a scene of shameful ease." 
 The fair beheld him with impatient eye, 
 And red with anger made this warm reply, 
 " Ungrateful Man ! is this the kind return 
 " My love deserves ; and can you thus with scorn 
 " Reject what once you priz d, what once you swore 
 " Surpass d all charms and made e en glory poor ? 
 " What gifts have I bestow d, what favors shown ! 
 " Made you partaker of my bed and throne ; 
 
432 ALMANACK FOR 1771. 
 
 " Three centuries preserved in youthful prime, 
 " Safe from the rage of death, and iujuries of time." 
 Weak arguments ! for glory reigns above, 
 The feeble ties of gratitude and love. 
 " I urge them not, nor would request your stay ; 
 " The phantom glory calls, and I obey : 
 " Go, tell the world your tender heart could give 
 " Death to the princess, by whose care you live." 
 At this a deadly pale her cheeks o er spread, 
 Cold trembling seized her limbs, her spirits fled, 
 She sunk into his arms ; the Prince was mov d, 
 Felt all her griefs, for still he greatly lov d ; 
 He sigh d, he wish d he could forget his throne, 
 Confine his thoughts, and live for her alone ; 
 But glory shot him deep, the venom d dart 
 Was fixed within and rankled at his heart. 
 An age no longer like a month appears, 
 But every month becomes an hundred years. 
 Felicity was grieved and could not bear 
 A scene so chang d, a sight of so much care ; 
 She told him with a look of cold disdain, 
 And seeming ease as women well can feign ; 
 He might depart at will ; a milder air 
 Would mend his health ; he was no pris ner there ; 
 She kept him not, and wished him ne er might find 
 Cause to regret the place he left behind. 
 If these prophetic words a while destroy 
 His peace, the former ballanc d it in joy. 
 He thanked her for her kind concern, but chose 
 To quit the place, the rest let heaven dispose ; 
 For fate on mischief bent, perverts the will, 
 And first infatuates whom it means to kill. 
 Aurora now, not as she was wont to rise, 
 In gay attire, ting d with a thousand dies; 
 But sober sad in solemn state appears, 
 Clad in a dusky veil bedewed with tears ; 
 Some black event tlfe threat ning skies foretel, 
 Porsenna rose to take his last farewell ; 
 A curious vest the mournful Princess brought, 
 And armour by the Lemnian artist wrought. 
 A shining lance with the secret Virtue stor d 
 And of resistless force a magic Sword, 
 Caparisons and gems of wond rous price, 
 And loaded him with gifts and good advice. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1771. 433 
 
 But chief she gave, and what he most would need : 
 The fleetest of her stud, a flying steed 
 " The swift Grissippo," said th afflicted fair, 
 
 (Such was the Courser s name) " with speed shall bear " 
 " And place you Safely in your native air 
 " Assist against the foe with matchless might 
 " Ravage the field, and turn the doubtful fight 
 " But this I warn, beware ; what e er shall lay 
 " To intercept your course, or tempt your stay, 
 " Quit not your saddle, nor your speed abate, 
 " Till safely landed at your palace gate, 
 " On this alone depends your weal or woe ; 
 " Such is the will of Fate, and so the Gods foreshow. 
 He mounts and sighing took a kind adieu, 
 Then urg d his steed, though fierce Grissippo flew 
 With rapid force outstript the lagging wind 
 And left the blissful shores, and weeping fair behind. 
 Thus driving on at speed the prince had run 
 Near half his course, when with the setting sun 
 As through a lonely lane he chanc d to ride 
 With rocks and bushes fenc d on either side, 
 He spied a waggon full of wings that lay 
 Broke and o erturn d across the narrow way, 
 The helpless driver on the dirty road 
 Lay struggling, crush d neath th incumbent load, 
 Never in human shape was seen before 
 A wight so pale, so feeble, and so poor. 
 Comparisons of age would do him wrong 
 For Nestor s self if plac d by him were young : 
 His limbs were naked all, and worn so thin, 
 The bones seem d starting ihro the parchment skin. 
 The conscious steed stopped short in deadly fright, 
 And back recoiling stretch d his wings for flight. 
 When thus the wretch with supplicating tone, 
 And rueful face began his piteous moan, 
 " O gentle youth, if pity e er inclin d 
 " Thy soul to generous deeds, if e er thy mind 
 " Was touch d with soft distress, extend thy care 
 " To save an old man s life, and ease the load I bear 
 " So may propitious Heaven your journey speed, 
 " Prolong your days, and all your vows succeed. 
 Mov d with the pray r the kind Porsenna staid, 
 Too nobly minded to refuse his aid, 
 And prudence yielding to superior grief, 
 Leap d from his steed, and ran to his relief: 
 
434 
 
 ALMANACK FOR 1771. 
 
 Remov d the weight, and gave his pris ner breath 
 Just chok d, and gasping on the verge of death. 
 Then reach d his hand, when lightly with a bound 
 The grizly spectre vaulting from the ground 
 Seiz d him with sudden gripe, th astonish d prince 
 Stood horror struck and thoughtless of defence. 
 O, King of Russia," with a thund ring sound 
 Bellow d the gastly fiend, " at length thou rt found " 
 Receive the Ruler of Mankind, and know, 
 My name is TIME thy ever dreaded foe 
 These feet are founder d and the wings you see 
 1 Worn to the pinions in pursuit of thee, 
 Through all the world in vain for ages sought, 
 But fate has dooin d thee now, and thou art caught." 
 Then round his neck his arms he nimbly cast 
 And seiz d him by the throat and grasp d him fast, 
 Till forc d at length his soul forsook its seat, 
 And the pale breathless corse fell bleeding at his feet 
 Now since that day (the wretched world must own 
 This mournful Truth by sad experience known) 
 No mortal since enjoy d that happy clime, 
 And ev ry thing on earth submits to TIME. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1772. 
 
 435 
 
 Aa ASTRONOMICAL DIART ; or 
 
 A L M A N AC K 
 
 For the Ttar of cur JW CHRIST 1772 ; bmg i/exti!e or 
 *>. Calculated for the Meridian of BOSTON, 
 Lat. 42-25,.Norih. 
 
 Bcfides what is ufual in Altnanioks, a 
 Defcrjprion of the Dwarf that lately made her Appearance 
 in BotTOiri s$alfoa eurious Method & taking Wax 
 and Honef, without deflroymg Bees, 
 
 By Nathaniel Ames. 
 
 PrU s 8t/. 
 
 per 
 
436 ALMANACK FOR 1772. 
 
 The following short Description of the extraordinary Person who 
 lately made her appearance in this town, may not be disagree 
 able to our Readers, although it may not be so particular, as the 
 curious ivould desire, as she would not admit of an accurate 
 examination. 
 
 Miss Emma Leach was born in Beverly, about 20 Miles 
 distant from this town, in the year 1719. She was at her birth 
 as well a shaped child as any of ten which the same mother bore. 
 Her friends early discovered her bones to be in a flexible state, 
 and unable to resist the action of the muscles, which made it 
 very difficult to support her in any other than a horizontal posi 
 tion. After two years the bones acquired some considerable 
 degree of firmness ; but they had been so long inflected by the 
 action of the muscles, that they never recovered their proper 
 figure or situation. She measured in a right line from the crown 
 of the head to the feet, twenty-two inches. The head was as 
 large as is usual for persons of a common stature, and not at all 
 deformed. The vertebrae of the back were somewhat elevated. 
 The sternum was almost in a line parallel with the chin, the ribs 
 formed with the sternum a monstrous protuberance before : the 
 thigh bones were prodigiously incurvated, forming from their 
 junctures more than a semicircle ; had they been straight, they 
 might have equalled in length the bones of a child seven or eight 
 years old. The bones of the legs also were crooked, but not so 
 much as those of the thighs, and were so much flattened that the 
 tibia was quite acute on the anterior part. Her feet were about 
 the size of a child of five or six years old, and not at all deformed. 
 She could never walk, but was either carried by her friends or 
 moved herself about with the assistance of a small chair and 
 stick. She enjoyed a tolerable share of health, free from most 
 complaints excepting indigestion, in consequence of which she 
 was sometimes troubled with hysteric and epileptic fits. In her 
 conversation she discovers a vivacity which very much surprizes 
 all who have the pleasure of being acquainted with her. She 
 now enjoys herself very agreeably at her native place. 
 
 more full and accurate Description of this little facetious person, 
 with a physical dissertation thereon, together with an account of a number 
 of remarkable small persons who have made their appearance in different 
 parts of Europe, is published by EzEKiEi, RUSSEU,, at his Printing Office 
 in Marlborough Street. (Price 4d.) 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1772. 
 
 437 
 
 THE PATRIOTIC AMERICAN FARMER, 
 D- K -NS-^N. Esoj BAJLRIITB*. at LAW. 
 
 wftk Afttte titoqqtfnce, and Rorosm Spirit, hath af-; 
 e Liberties ot the ButTi^a Coldnles in 
 
 nobly dofte to Stem Taxations Rage, 
 Varfe ffie :-TKfltt^Vtt of $ itfgrifr*te Ag, 
 
 for Happincfi and Joy, froor freedom fpriog ; 
 
 Btit 
 
 DICKINSON (JOHN), an American statesman and lawyer, born in Mary 
 land in 1732. He was chosen a member of the Continental Congress in 
 1774, an d wrote several important state papers issued by that body. In 
 
438 
 
 ALMANACK FOR 1772. 
 
 June, 1776, he opposed the Declaration of Independence, which he thought 
 premature. Having declined to sign that declaration, he impaired his 
 popularity, and lost his election to the next Congress. He afterwards 
 served as a private soldier against the British. In 1779 he was again 
 elected to Congress from Delaware. He was President of Pennsylvania 
 about three years, 1782-85. He was an able debater, and distinguished for 
 his elegant manners and superior culture. Died in 1808. [Lippincotfs 
 Biog. Dictionary^ 
 
 Mrs. CATHARINE 
 
 Macauley (Catharine,) an English authoress, whose maiden name was 
 Sawbridge, was born in Kent, in 1733. She was married to Dr. George 
 Macauley, of London, about 1760, and published a "History of England 
 from the Accession of James I to the Elevation of the House of Hanover," 
 (1763) which is favorable to republicanism. In 1785 she visited Washing 
 ton at Mount Vernon. She wrote several political treatises. " Her 
 history," says T. B. Macauley, " is more distinguished by zeal than either 
 by candor or skill." Lippincot? s Biog. Dictionary. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1772. 439 
 
 BENEVOLENT READER, 
 
 The harmony and union which, in my Father s day subsisted 
 among the Gentlemen of the TYPE, being now unhappily 
 destroyed, renders it necessary for me to delay the publication of 
 my Almanack till such a time as Almanacks are in greatest 
 demand, that the original Purchaser of the copy may have the 
 utmost advantage of a quick sale to save enough to pay for the 
 copy in the few days start he has of the other Printers. The kind 
 receptance which you are pleased to afford my annual publica 
 tions, cherishes in me an irresistable ardour to serve you, accord 
 ing to the best of my capacity, and for this end I earnestly 
 entreat all persons that know of any errors or defects in the 
 account of the Stages, or alterations in, or new establishment of 
 Courts in either of the four New-England governments, and 
 according to desire, the Courts in either of the provinces of 
 New-York and Nova-Scotia, or governments of Canada, New 
 foundland and St. Johns, to send me correct accounts thereof, and 
 they may depend on the favors being most gratefully acknowl 
 edged, by their most humble Servant, 
 
 NAT. AMES. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 The moment a man emerges from minority he is upon a level with all 
 mankind. 
 
 Policy makes it a point to dazzle in order to enslave, but the rod of 
 Justice will overtake even KINGS ! 
 
 Jan y 30. K. Charles I. beheaded. 
 
 For pleasure, see the gay 
 
 Expose themselves at leisure in the Sley 
 
 Till almost froze ! 
 
 Neither kill a fly, nor beat a dog, without a reason sufficient to vindi 
 cate it thro all the courts of Morality. 
 
 Old stile says tis Winter yet, which we may now believe, seeing the 
 planets, like the great ones here below, can t agree whether we shall con 
 tinue under the grievance of Winter or enjoy the season s birthright, 
 blooming spring. 
 
 There will yet be Snow ! Where this page shall go. 
 
440 ALMANACK FOR 1772. 
 
 Let servants dress fine that elegance may more strongly distinguish the 
 gentleman. 
 
 Before you become intimate consider that familiarity destroys respect 
 but increases L,ove. 
 
 See politicians of all conditions Ministerial faults can trace, 
 Yet from a Counsellor to a Corporal they are emulous of place. 
 May i6th. TRYON S glorious ! ! ! 
 
 Most people mistake the means for the end, as riches for happiness, 
 learning for sense, &c. 
 
 Spleen is often little else than an obstructed Perspiration. 
 There are not five in five thousand that pity, but at the same time 
 despise, so be cautious where and to whom you complain. 
 
 Great sprightliness in children is no sign of future sense and judgment. 
 
 It is a good way to gain esteem to wave some advantages you have a 
 just claim to, as men of quality never appear more amiable than when 
 their dress is plain. 
 
 Taste, elegance and refinement distinguish the poor gentleman from 
 the rich Vulgar ; but are poor estate in the eyes of the world in general. 
 
 The Golden Age was never the present that is, our grandfathers say it 
 was better times when they were young their s said the same. 
 
 Self Interest will reconcile enemies, and some like their master below 
 might say, " We have embraced and have cherished a mortal hatred toward 
 each other ever since, and assumed the mask of friendship to wound the 
 deeper. 
 
 It will do to laugh men out of their follies, but not drive them, for you 
 cannot make an ass into an elephant. 
 
 It is happy enough that the same vices which impair our fortunes fre 
 quently ruin our constitutions, that one may not survive the other. 
 
 See ! nightly battles fought in air, 
 
 See ! royal Honor full of fears. 
 
 Now my brave countrymen prepare for dire approaching civil wars ! 
 The proverb ought to run " a fool and his words are soon parted, a man 
 of genius and his money." 
 
 To burn the Pope, is now a joke, for a design he miss t on, to sap that 
 mansion which dares pension your famous Butcher Preston ! 
 
 Men are sometimes accused of pride merely because their accusers 
 would be proud themselves if they were in their places. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1772. 441 
 
 Now virgin Aunts void of gallants 
 
 Envy lads and lasses 
 Whose winter s night in gay delight 
 
 Innocently passes. 
 
 Chearly Christians fill to Bacchus, 
 
 He will guard from nipping cold, 
 Wine will warm us, Love will wreck us 
 
 Venus now is turn d a scold. 
 
 I77 2 We note our approach to modern times and tastes 
 in this year s production ; and the desire for the monstrous and extra 
 ordinary is pandered to by the author in his description of the Beverly 
 dwarf, Miss Emma Leach; though he deprecatingly announces " it may 
 not be so particular as the curious would desire, as she would not admit 
 of an accurate examination." A frightful wood cut illustrates the descrip 
 tion, and is quite the equal of any modern horror. The " unhappiness " 
 among the printers calls forth an explanatory card from Doctor Ames, 
 which recounts circumstances endorsing the extreme popularity of his 
 annual publication. Mr. John Dickinson, Barrister-at-Law, " The Patri 
 otic American Farmer" is basely slandered by an outrageous portrait in 
 this issue, and Mrs. Catherine McCaulay, is similarly disposed of by some 
 barbarous engraver ; yet the almanack itself gives no reason for the sacri 
 fice. 
 
 The "jester s cap and bells " are both profitably seen and heard through 
 the pages of the prognostications. Trite allusions are made to Pity, the 
 Golden Age, Self-interest, and the impending Civil War, with a dig at 
 Parliament (under November) for pensioning the heroic (?) commander of 
 the detachment of British troops who perpetrated the " Boston Massacre" 
 
442 
 
 ALMANACK FOR 1773. 
 
 An attronomical Diarp : Or, An 
 
 For the Year o-f our L R D, 
 
 1773 
 
 BeFng the firft Year after Biflextile 
 
 Or Leap Year, 
 .Calculated for the Meridian o) 
 
 BOSTON, NEW- ENGLAND 
 Lat. 42 Deg 2Mm. North 
 
 Containing bcfides what is common 
 
 in Almanacks. A Method of 
 
 Planting Vineyards. How i 
 
 Nation, may be ruined and 
 
 reformed, &c.&c. 
 
 OQQOQQOQQQOOOQOOQQOQOQQQOQ 
 
 OUR great Forefathers, fir d with virtuousRage, 
 Did all the Perils of the Deep engage, 
 To fly thofe Realms where proud tyrannic Sway, 
 And horrid P Vcution fcout^for Prey ; 
 Theif natiye Soil and youthful Scenes they fled, 
 Where bounteous Nature ail her .Blefimgs fhed, 
 And fifler Art had ranfack d foreign Shores, 
 Made every Dainty croud their Britifh Stores, 
 Had rais d the ample Dome an4 lofty. Spire, 
 And fpacious Theatre, were Crouds Admire 
 The mighty Feats perform 4 in ancient Days, 
 That fpring to Life, revived in Englifli Plays. 
 Thefe Pleafures ail, our. Fathers left behind, 
 But bro r. the Seeds of Science in their Mind, 
 Here planted firft fair Freedom with Applaufe, 
 Which gives the Relifli to all other Joys : 
 Guard then the Plane, this favage Land adorn, 
 This Work .they left their Children thei unborn. 
 
 &<OQ^a(3(93<3G>3X^ 
 
 S O S T N : Pxinied and SoM by 
 R. DRAPER, Eu*3 &. Gin.. fl.n3 T &;J. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1773. 443 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 Blessed is the man that has none but open enemies, and wo unto the 
 young man that is without any if any such there be since the Golden Age. 
 
 An eminent station is a sure mark for envy, which is the Child of the 
 Devil or rather the Devil s mother. 
 
 When a great Blackguard presumes upon his eminent Station to abuse 
 a stripling that cannot meet him upon equal Terms, tis the wisest Course 
 for the latter to leave the Chastisement of his insolence to the grand 
 Executioner of the Universe. 
 
 That man is in a queer situation who is oblig d to honor an office when 
 he must despise the wretch that holds it. 
 
 Full Communion in some Countries is equivalent to plenary indulgen- 
 cies in others. 
 
 As the Reformation is said to have begun in Harry the 8Ws breeches, 
 so in our times some notable reformations begin there rather than in the 
 head or heart, and thereabouts is often the spring of noble deeds imputed 
 to virtuous resolutions. 
 
 What grand projections for elections 
 
 Now are plotting here and there, 
 Yet nought availing more prevailing 
 
 To address the generous Fair. 
 
 He that dictates who you shall marry, might by the same arrogance 
 dictate what sort of meat you shall always eat. 
 
 Some people not only kill as much time as they can, but are so plaguy 
 good natur d & friendly as to make their acquaintance commit murder 
 upon it against their wills. 
 
 Affliction is the School of Wisdom. 
 
 The grand musician for the heavenly Spheres, tunes the electric Bass 
 to our ravish d Ears. 
 
 Providence is impartial in bestowing riches on one, and contempt of 
 riches on another. 
 
 Hope is the most upright of all flatterers, she visits the poor as well 
 as the rich. 
 
 Liberty is a more noble invigorating cordial than Madeira; think of 
 of this ye splendid Slaves, Parasites and Pimps. 
 
 Some people will lose their best Friend rather than miss cracking a 
 Joke yet cannot bear one themselves. 
 
444 ALMANACK FOR 1773. 
 
 He s not your Friend that Flatters, but he that tells you of your Faults. 
 
 Some s * * * s take advantage of that text of scripture " What goes into 
 the body denies not the body," to poison all their acquaintance. Surely 
 it was not spoken like a Physician. 
 
 The monthly page for want of wit 
 Is apt to hold a little smut. 
 
 The real wants of life are few in comparison of those that are artificial 
 as Mrs. is most miserable without such a quantity of jewels. 
 
 The natives of this land are as witty and capable of improvement as 
 
 they who boast their English extraction, as when Col. C ask d the 
 
 old Squaw " how many Commandments are there ? " " Nine, Sir," said 
 she, " since you and I broke one behind that bush." 
 
 The amaz d new Negro sees all the silver gilded trees, and never saw 
 the fields so full of sugar salt, & cotton wool. 
 
 How agreeable to our notions of liberty would it be to see the Ladies 
 lead up the fashions in American furs. 
 
 How a Nation may be ruirtd and reformed. 
 
 There are two pernicious things in the government of a 
 nation which are scarce ever remedied. The first is an unjust 
 and too violent authority in Kings : the other is luxury, which 
 viciates the morals of the people. When Kings acknowledge no 
 law but their own will, and give a loose to their most exorbitant 
 passions, they may do anything ; but by this very power they 
 usurp of doing anything, they sap the foundation of their regal 
 power; they go by no certain rules, and govern by no fixed 
 maxims ; all try who shall flatter them most : they loose their 
 people and have nothing left them but slaves, whose number 
 diminishes every day. Who shall tell them the truth? Who 
 shall set bounds to this torrent ? Every thing falls before it ; the 
 wisest fly away, hide themselves, and groan in secret : nothing, 
 but a sudden violent revolution, can bring back this exorbitant 
 power into its natural channel ; nay some times the very means 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1773. 445 
 
 made use of to reduce it, irrecoverably destroy it. Nothing 
 threatens so fatal a fall as an authority that is strained too 
 high : it is like a bow that is bent, which at last breaks on a sud 
 den if the string be not slacken d : But who is he that will dare 
 to slacken it ? A King thus corrupted can scarce expedt to be 
 reformed without a kind of miracle. And as too great authority 
 intoxicates and poisons Kings, so luxury poisons a whole nation. 
 It is commonly urged " that luxury serves to feed the poor at the 
 expense of the rich;" as if the poor could not more profitably 
 provide for themselves by increasing the fruits of the earth, than 
 by unmaning the rich by the refinements of voluptuousness. 
 Thus a whole nation habituates itself to look upon the most 
 superfluous things, as the necessaries of life ; and thus every day 
 brings forth some new necessity of the same kind, and men can 
 no longer live without things which but thirty years ago were 
 utterly unknown to them. This luxury is called fine taste, the 
 perfection of arts, and the politeness of a nation. Thus vice, 
 which carries in its womb an infinite number of others, is com 
 mended as a virtue ; it spreads its contagion from the King 
 down to the very dregs of the people ; those of the royal blood 
 are willing to imitate the King s magnificence; the men of 
 quality imitate the King s relations ; and the middle sort strive 
 to equal those of quality ; for who would condemn himself when 
 in the wrong? The lowest rank of men would pass for a middle 
 sort ; and every one lives above his condition, some for ostenta 
 tion, and to make a shew of their wealth ; others through a mis 
 taken shame, to cloak their poverty. Even those who are so 
 wise as to condemn so great a disorder, are not so wise as to 
 dare to be the first to stem the tide, or to set contrary examples. 
 Thus a whole nation falls to ruin ; all conditions and ranks of 
 men are confounded ; an eager desire to support a vain expense 
 corrupts the purest minds ; and when poverty is accounted infa 
 mous, nothing is minded but how to get rich. Let a man be 
 learned, skilful, and virtuous ; let him instruct mankind, win 
 battles, save his country, and sacrifice everything to the good 
 of the public; yet he will be despised, unless his talents be 
 heightened by pomp and luxury. Even those who have no 
 fortune will appear and spend as if they had ; and so they fall to 
 borrowing, cheating, and using a thousand mean arts to get 
 
446 ALMANACK FOR 1773- 
 
 money. But who shall remedy these evils? The relish and 
 customs of a whole nation must be changed ; new laws must be 
 given them. And who shall attempt this, unless the King 
 should prove to be so much of a Philosopher as to set an example 
 of moderation himself, and so to put out of countenance all those 
 who love a pompous expense ; and at the same time/ encourage 
 the wise, who would be glad to be authorized in a virtuous 
 frugality ? 
 
 on I773 On the title page this year is represented a Jewish 
 shekel by way of illustration, and the verse is a brief poetical epitome of 
 the reasons why our forefathers left England for the shores of Massachu 
 setts ; with some wholesome advice as to the duty of their descendants. 
 
 The practical treatise this year is on Grape and Wine culture, giving 
 the results of experimental growing at Dedhani and in the vicinity, and 
 recommending this pursuit to the husbandman and fruit grower. (It is 
 omitted from this re-print as of no particular interest.) 
 
 A political address on " Ruin and Reform" and addressed to the King 
 indirectly, might have been profitably heeded by the Prince had he "taken 
 in " Ames 1 Almanack ; but after events lead us to surmise that he was not 
 so fortunately provided. 
 
 The miscellany on either page of the astronomical part of the book is 
 replete with wisdom and wit, mingled with odd weather predictions, and 
 parallels drawn between " Liberty and Madeira." 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1774- 447 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1774. 
 
 By Nathaniel Ames. 
 
 BOSTON : Printed and Sold by 
 R. DRAPER, EDES & GII.I,, and T. & J. Fi,EET. 
 
 With Wonder we survey the upper Air, 
 And the gay gilded Meteors sporting there, 
 And lambent Jellies kindling in the Night, 
 Shoot through the Aether in a Trail of Light. 
 How rising streams in th Azure Fluid blend, 
 Or fleet in Clouds, or in soft Show rs descend : 
 Or if the stubborn rage of Cold prevail, 
 In Flakes they fly, or fall in moulded Hail. 
 How Honey-dews imbalm the fragrant Morn, 
 And the fair Oak with luscious Sweets adorn. 
 How Heat and Mixture 1 mingle in a Mass, 
 Or belch in Thunder, or in Lightning blaze, 
 Why nimble Corruscations strike the Eye, 
 Or bold Tornadoes bluster in the Sky. 
 
 Altho Tyranny and Oppression may excite in us some noble 
 efforts to rival Britain, at least so far as to supply our necessities, 
 in manufacturing. Yet notwithstanding our rapid increase, 
 doubling our number of inhabitants in about eighteen years, 
 besides the shoals of people that flock hither from all parts of 
 Europe, so long as this wide extended continent affords such an 
 ample field for agriculture, and other rich resources that will 
 turn to infinitely greater profit than manufacturing, and which 
 will, instead of discouragement, meet with the protection of 
 our mother Country, as soon as we have brought her to her 
 
 1 Moisture. (?) 
 
448 ALMANACK FOR 1774. 
 
 former senses, it is very unlikely that we shall be so blind to 
 our interest as to take that work out of the hands of Britains 
 and Hybernians which they will do so much cheaper and better 
 than we can get ourselves, Turn we therefore our thoughts on 
 Agriculture. 1 ******* 
 
 INSCRIPTION over a Chimney Piece in a Gentleman s Dining 
 
 Room. 
 
 Vive la Libertd. 
 
 To my BEST my Friends are free, 
 
 Free with that, and free with me ; 
 Free to pass the harmless joke, 
 
 And the Tube sedately Smoke ; 
 Free to drink just what they please, 
 
 As at Home, and at their ease ; 
 Free to speak, as free to think, 
 
 ( No Informers with me drink) 
 Free to stay a Night or so, 
 
 And when uneasy free to go. 
 
 INTERLINED WISDOM AND HUMOUR. 
 
 As Men salute a Prostitute 
 
 At the Expence of Noses 
 
 Some Ladies still their Tea do swill 
 
 Tho it ruin their Spouses. 
 
 American Pedigree is as much respected as a delicate Pair of Hands in 
 a House of Poverty and there is no Merit in either. 
 
 No Preacher but Time is listened to which gives us the same Train and 
 turn of Thought that elder People have tried in vain to put into our Heads 
 before. 
 
 Pleasant giving Weather, but I esteem taking Weather most. 
 
 1 The article on " Vineyards and Wine making" is omitted from this 
 eprint. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1774. 449 
 
 I have known some little Wits aim their pointless Satire against the 
 whole Tribe of Almanack makers because Sivift facetiously killed poor 
 Partridge with Ink, and buried him alive. 
 
 The latter part of a wise Man s life is taken up in curing the Follies, 
 Prejudices and false Opinions he had contracted in the former. 
 Sudden Acquaintance brings Repentance. 
 Showery and unsettled Weather without as Mrs. Coquetilla is within. 
 
 It is astonishing to see how the Race of Spaniels encreases amongst us 
 of late Years, especially in this Month of Elections. 
 
 If you fall into Misfortunes, creep through those Bushes which have 
 fewest Briars. 
 
 Some Men under a Notion of weeding out Prejudices, eradicate virtue, 
 honesty and religion. 
 
 What they do in Heaven we are ignorant of What they do not, we are 
 told expressly. The way to Heaven is in all Places alike. 
 
 Puffing, belching, f * * * * * g l Weather. 
 
 Herodotus tells us that " in Cold Countries Beasts have very seldom 
 Horns, but in Hot, they have very large ones." This might bear a very 
 pleasant Application ! 
 
 A high Fortune like great Buildings have low Foundations. 
 
 The reason why so few Marriages are happy is because the young 
 Ladies spend so much of their Time in making Nets, not in making Cages. 
 Censure is the Tax a man pays to the Public for being eminent. 
 No wise Man ever wished to be younger. 
 
 Law in a free Country is or ought to be the determination of the 
 majority of those who have property in land. 
 
 The encouragement of Arts and Sciences often renders a Nation more 
 powerful than arms. 
 
 I have known some Men stab a Character under a Cloak of friendship 
 thus : " My friend the attorney is very clever, but always unfortu 
 nate for his clients, &c. 
 
 1 " Sits the wind in that corner? 
 " There is something in the wind. 
 " How now lad ! is the wind in that door, i faith ? 
 " 111 blows the wind. 
 
 " O ! ill-dispersing wind of misery. Methinks the wind hath spoke 
 aloud." Domestic conversations of the Bard of Avon. in Press. 
 
450 ALMANACK FOR 1774. 
 
 Venus \ a beautiful good natur d Lady, was the Goddess of Love; Juno> 
 a terrible Shrew, the Goddess of Marriage, and they were always Mortal 
 Bnemies. 
 
 Religion is a cloak, honesty a pair of shoes worn out in the dirt, vanity 
 a shirt, and conscience a pair of breeches, which, tho a cover for lewdness 
 and nastiness, is easily slipt down for the service of either. 
 
 All Men are idolaters ; some of honor, some of riches. 
 
 As it is unpardonable for a Navigator to be without his charts, so it is 
 for a Senator to be without HIS, which is Lock s " Bssay on Government." 
 
 Dec. 16. East India TEA destroyed in Boston 1773. 
 The honest Farmer now at Ease 
 Regales himself with Cyder, Bread and Cheese 
 And further to himself amuse 
 He smokes his Pipe & reads the News. 
 
 The Definition of the Title of LADIES. 
 
 Women of Fortune were called LADIKS even before their 
 Husbands had any Title to convey that Mark of Distinction to 
 
 them. It was formerly the Fashion for those Families whom 
 
 God had blessed with Affluence, to live constantly at their 
 Mansion-Houses in the Country, and that once a Week or oftener, 
 the I^ady of the Manor distributed to her poor Neighbours, with 
 her own Hands, a certain Quantity of Bread, and she was called 
 by them the Leff-Day, 1 i. e. in Saxon, the Bread Giver. These 
 two Words in Time were corrupted and the Meaning is now as 
 little known as the Practice which gave rise to it ; yet it is from 
 that hospitable Custom that, to this Day, the English Ladies, and 
 they only, serve the Meat at their own Tables. 
 
 The Difinition of HOB or NOB. 
 
 In the Days of good Queen Bess (we find it upon Record) the 
 Maids of Honour not only used manly Exercise, but eat Roast 
 beef and drank Ale for Breakfast, and as in their masculine 
 Exercises they were liable to Accidents and the Tooth-ach, so it 
 
 1 The Saxon word, according to Webster, is hlafdie. ED. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1774. 451 
 
 was natural for them occasionally to warm their Beer, which 
 they who required such Indulgence generally did by ordering 
 their cupfuls to be placed on the Hob 1 of the Grate: and when 
 any of the Company called for Beer, it was just as natural for 
 their Attendants to ask "if from the Hob, or not from the Hob?" 
 which constant Practice (from the constant Indisposition of one 
 or the other of these fair Ladies) was soon not only remarked 
 by the Courtiers, but also perhaps, first humorously adopted by 
 them, with the Courtly Vice of Corrupting Hob or no Hob into 
 HOB OR NOB. 
 
 RUSTICUS has given a Receipt to destroy Rats in Farm 
 Houses &c. which will prevent the fatal consequences accruing 
 from the Method often used of mixing Rats bane : It is as 
 follows, viz. 
 
 Take of the Seeds of Stavesacre (Larkswort) or Lousewort, 
 powdered more or less as the Occasion requires, one Part, of 
 Oatmeal, three Parts : mix them well, and make them up into a 
 Paste with Honey. I^ay Pieces of it in the Holes, and on the 
 Places where Rats and Mice frequent, and it will effectually kill 
 or rid the Place of those kind of Vermin by their eating thereof. 
 
 OH 1774. The salutatory verse on the title page realizes the 
 truth of the old-saying, " like father, like son;" the sentiment and the 
 description being an absolute reflex of the mind of the present author s 
 father. 
 
 The practical address to the farmer opens with an allusion which 
 cites the condition of things politically, and the rapid increase of popu 
 lation which the many advantages of the new world has encouraged. 
 
 The author in this essay again repeats his former adulation of agricul 
 ture, and the larger and more certain profit which will inure to the hus 
 bandman, than to those who embark in manufacturing. 
 
 A quaint " Inscription over a Chimney-Piece in a Gentleman s Dining 
 Room" is quoted ; and an ingenious research has given us in this number 
 " the Definition of the Title of Ladies" and another extract from the 
 Author s dictionary, tells us of the origin of "Hob or Nob ;" while a prac 
 tical subject is again manifested in the closing item of the year s miscel 
 lany, viz: "a receipt to destroy Rats" 
 
 1 The two flat Sides contiguous to the Grate, made to hold any thing on 
 for the Benefit of moderate Heat, were called anciently Hobs. 
 
452 ALMANACK FOR 1775. 
 
 The weather column is found to be unusually attractive; wisdom, and 
 sturdy plain language, abounds on every page, Secrets and Spouses, 
 Pedigree and Preachers, Astrology and Almanack Makers, Pride and 
 Prejudice, Folly and Flatulence, Herodotus and Horns, Fortune and 
 Foundation ; with many merry allusions and drolleries all mixed together 
 in a pleasant pot pourri, both interesting and entertaining as usual. 
 
 THE ALMANACK FOR 1775 
 
 By Nathaniel Ames. 
 
 BOSTON: Printed and Sold at 
 DRAPER S, EDES & GH.I.S, and T. & J. FLEETS. 
 
 LET tyrant princes distant climes explore, 
 
 For wealth and power drench in human gore. 
 
 Let fleets and armies make their subjects pine, 
 
 And mouths of cannon prove their right divine. 
 
 Let India merchants, tyrants o er the Bast, 
 
 Extend their baneful commerce to ard the West. 
 
 Let spaniel courtiers lick their master s feet, 
 
 And conscious meanness make them feel they re great, 
 
 While art and science fix their standard here, 
 
 All hell combin d no longer need we fear. 
 
 Let savage virtue give a loose the reigns, 
 
 Our slaughter d traitors poison all the plains. 
 
 AMES. 
 
 With whatever just indignation we may receive the feeble 
 efforts of the super animated juntocracy against our Capital &c., 
 when the real Omnipotent displays his wrath, with deep con 
 trition of soul should we kiss the rod, and by a sincere reforma 
 tion obtain his mercy. Whether the fleet and army now stationed 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1775. 453 
 
 there may come under the former predicament, or the foul 
 diseases that accompany them under the latter, shall be left to 
 the "discussion of more able casuists : but as one kind of pox 
 with which they are visited, is in the natural way justly alarm 
 ing to the most virtuous, as well as others that have never had it : 
 a short history of the fam d Innoculation may not be unseason 
 able. The Circassian women have, from time immemorial com 
 municated the small-pox to their children, when not above six 
 months old by making an incision in the arm : and by putting 
 into the incision a pustle taken from the body of another child, 
 this pustle produces the same effect in the arm it is laid in as 
 yest in a piece of dough : It ferments and diffuses thro the 
 whole mass of blood the qualities it is impregnated with. The 
 pustles of the child in whom the artificial small-pox has been 
 thus inoculated are employed to communicate the same distem 
 per to others. There is an almost perpetual circulation of it in 
 Circassia : and when unhappily the small-pox has quite left the 
 country, the inhabitants of it are in as great trouble and per 
 plexity, as other nations when their harvest has fallen short. 
 The circumstance that introduced a custom in Circassia which 
 appears so singular to others, is nevertheless a cause common to 
 all nations. I mean maternal tenderness and interest. 
 
 The Circassians are poor and their daughters are beautiful : 
 and indeed tis in them they chiefly trade. They furnish with 
 beauties the seraglios of the Turkish Sultan, of the Persian Sophy 
 and of all those who are wealthy enough to purchase and maintain 
 so precious merchandize. There maidens are very honorably 
 and virtuously instructed to fondle and caress men : are taught 
 dances of a very polite and effeminate kind : and how to heighten 
 by the most voluptuous artifices the pleasures of their disdainful 
 masters for whom they are design d. These unhappy Creatures 
 repeat their lesson to their mothers in the same manner as little 
 girls among us repeat their Catechism, without understanding 
 one word they say. 
 
 Now it often happened that after a father and mother, had 
 taken the utmost care of the education of their children, they 
 were frustrated of all their hopes in an instant. The small pox 
 getting into the family, one daughter dy d of it, another lost an 
 eye, a third had a great nose at her recovery, and the unhappy 
 
454 ALMANACK FOR 1775. 
 
 parents were compleatly ruined. Even frequently when the 
 small-pox became Epidemical trade was suspended for several 
 years, which thin d very considerably the seraglios of Persia 
 and Turkey. 
 
 A trading nation is always watchful over its own interests, 
 and grasps at every discovery that may be of advantage to its 
 commerce. The Circassians observ d that scarce one person in 
 a thousand was attack d by a small-pox of a violent kind. That 
 some indeed had this distemper three or four times, but never 
 twice so as to prove fatal : in a word that no one ever had it 
 twice in a violent degree in his life. They observ d further, 
 that when the small-pox is of the milder sort, and the pustules 
 have only a tender delicate skin to break thro they never leave 
 the least scar in the face. From these natural observations 
 they concluded, that in case an infant of six months or a year 
 old should have a milder sort of small-pox, he would not die of 
 it, would not be mark d, nor be ever afflicted with it again. In 
 order therefore to preserve the life and beauty of their children 
 the only thing remaining was, to give them the small-pox in 
 their infant years. This they did by innoculating, in the body 
 of a child, a pustule taken from the most regular and at the same 
 time the most favourable sort of small pox that could be pro- 
 cur d. The Experiment could not possibly fail. The Turks 
 who are people of good sense soon adopted this custom, in so 
 much that at this time there is not a Bassa in Constantinople 
 but communicates the small-pox to his children of both sexes, 
 immediately upon their being wean d. Some pretend that the 
 Circassians borrowed the custom from the Arabians : but we 
 shall leave the clearing up of this point to some learned recluse 
 who will not fail to compile a great many folios on this subject, 
 with the several proofs or authorities. All I have to say upon 
 it, is, that in the beginning of the reign of King George the 
 first, the Lady Wortley Montagu, a woman of as fine a genius 
 and endu d with as great a strength of mind as any of her sex in 
 the British dominions, being with her husband who was ambas 
 sador at the Porte, made no scruple to communicate the small 
 pox to an infant, of which she was delivered in Constantinople. 
 The chaplain represented to his lady, but to no purpose, that this 
 was an unchristian operation, and therefore that it would succeed 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1775. 455 
 
 with none but infidels. However it had the most happy effect 
 upon the son of the lady Wortley Montagu, who at her return 
 to England, communicated the experiments to the Princess of 
 Wales. 
 
 It must be confessed that this princess, abstracted from her 
 crown and titles was born to encourage the whole circle of arts, 
 and to do good to mankind. The moment this princess heard 
 of innoculation she caused an experiment to be made of it on 
 four criminals sentenc d to die, and by that means preserv d their 
 lives doubly, for she not only saved them from the gallows, but 
 by means of this artificial small-pox prevented their ever having 
 that distemper the natural way with which they would very 
 probably have been attack d one time or other, and might have 
 died of in a more advanced age. The princess being assured of 
 the usefulness of the operation, caus d her own children to be 
 innoculated. A great part of the kingdom followed her example, 
 and since that time thousands of children have owed their lives 
 in this manner to her majesty, for she has since been queen of 
 England, and to the lady Wortley Montagu : and as many of the 
 fair sex are obliged to them for their beauty. 
 
 Upon a general calculation made in Europe, three score per 
 sons in every hundred have the small-pox. Of these three score, 
 twenty die of it, in the most favourable season of life, and as 
 many more wear the disagreeable remains of it in their faces so 
 long as they live. Thus a fifth part of mankind either die or are 
 disfigured by this distemper. But it does not prove fatal to so 
 much as one, who are inoculated in Turkey, England or here, 
 unless the patient be infirm, or would have died if the experi 
 ment had not been made upon him. Besides, no one is disfig 
 ured no one has the small-pox a second time if the inoculation 
 was perfect. 
 
 It is said the Chinese have practis d inoculation these hundred 
 years, a circumstance that urges very much in its favor, since 
 they are thought to be the wisest and best govern d people in the 
 world. The Chinese indeed don t communicate this distemper 
 by inoculation, but at the nose in the same manner as we take 
 snuff. This is a more agreeable way, but then it produces the 
 like effects, and proves that inoculation saves the lives of thou 
 sands. 
 
456 ALMANACK FOR 1775. 
 
 JANUARY. I call the man unworthy of my praise 
 
 Who wins the palm in wrestling or the race ; 
 Though nature gave him Tithon s form divine, 
 And Asia pour d him wealth from ev ry mine, 
 Though fortune every other virtue gave, 
 And yet deny the greatest to the brave. 
 
 Save your money and you save your country. 
 
 To borrow on usury brings sudden beggary. 
 
 Jan. 30. King Charles I established a memento for tyrants. 
 
 FEBRUARY. And brave alone is he who can sustain 
 The wild confusion of the bloody plain. 
 Can death and wounds behold with dire delight, 
 And shady legions moving to the fight 
 For he alone a lasting name can raise, 
 And crown his early years with martial praise, 
 Who in the front of battle stands unmov d 
 The bulwark of the country which he lov d. 
 
 All men and states, however Divine they may appear, are often so 
 unguarded as to manifest their humanity if not their deviltry, as we have 
 some late Instances, one is the King of Prussia, but none nearer Home. 
 
 MARCH. And loving, prodigal of life, to die, 
 Avoids no evil more than basely fly, 
 His great example shall the host inspire, 
 And thousands follow actions they admire. 
 He turns the phalanx of the foe to flight, 
 And rules with martial art, the tide of fight. 
 
 A good housewife commonly is no sheep more of a goose. 
 
 Fine weather for New Bngland about the barracks, but stormy, tem 
 pestuous, and bosterious when those Irish hero s are much in it, or it in 
 them. 
 
 APRIL. And when he falls amid the field of fame 
 
 He leaves behind a great and lasting name. 
 His Sire, his country shall with joy surround 
 His corse, and read their glory in his wound. 
 Both young and old shall sing his dirge of wo, 
 And his long funeral all the town pursue : 
 His tomb shall be rever d ; his children shine 
 Through ev ry age, along extended line. 
 
 We are most apt to censure that vice in others which we feel ourselves 
 most given to. 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1775. 457 
 
 MAY. Who never from the field of battle flies, 
 
 But for his children and his country dies 
 Ne er shall his glory fade, or cease his fame 
 Tho laid in dust, immortal is his name. 
 But if the sable hand of death he shun, 
 Returning victor with his glory won. 
 
 As it is rare since the Days of a certain Roman Emperor, for hornsmiths 
 to have the sanction of the Senate, some of our Daughters of Liberty 
 must inform who are the best workmen. 
 
 Nothing is more precious than time, and nothing more prodigally 
 wasted. 
 
 JUNE. By young and old reve rd, his life he ll lead, 
 
 And full of honor sink among the dead. 
 Or with his growing years his fame will grow, 
 And all shall reverence his head of snow : 
 The higher place from every youth he bears, 
 And age shall quit him all the claim of years. 
 Who then desires to rise to such a height, 
 Desires in vain, if he forgets the fight. 
 
 Cato stabbed himself and Widows on the coast of Malabar burn them 
 selves because it is the fashion and here we drink Tea, and wear British 
 Finery because it is the fashion like the bulls and heifers of old adorn d 
 with ribbons and gilded horns before their destruction. 
 
 Ye then who late dispers d the savage foe, 
 Whose wide domains your latest sons shall sow : 
 Ye knew the horrid work of arms before, 
 The dismal shock of battle oft ye bore, 
 To scout and skulk to gain the scalp you ve run, 
 In each reverse to vou is fortune known. 
 
 Most people can preach for their neighbors when the spirit moves. 
 It is often pride and curiosity that involves us in difficulties. 
 Nature is limited but fancy is boundless. 
 
 Fine weather for fighting, and for lawyers who for one year s famine 
 will have seven of plenty. 
 
 AUGUST. Stand forth the Champions of your Country s cause, 
 Nor fear the traitors aided by their laws, 
 Exalt the shady buckler to the war, 
 Aided by heav n, no human prowess fear, 
 For those who, in the front of battle, dare 
 Fight hand to hand, and bear the brunt of war, 
 
458 ALMANACK FOR 1775. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. But rarely fall Though dastards skulk behind, 
 
 The fate they shun still haunts the cow rdly kind. 
 What mind can well conceive, or tongue relate, 
 The ills unnani d that on the truant wait ? 
 To shun his fate when from the field he flies, 
 Pierc d from behind th inglorious coward dies, 
 When prone he lies, and gasping on the ground, 
 What shame to see behind the gaping Wound ! 
 
 Who can serve five hundred masters faithfully when they are three 
 thousand miles off. 
 
 St. Bvremonde says that the last sighs of a handsome woman are not 
 so much for the loss of her life as for her beauty. 
 
 Rain, thunder, no ! thunder first, then rain ! so said Socrates when he 
 receiv d his wife s warm fragrant shower from a Window. 
 
 A servant of servants is too low for human nature. 
 
 South winds then some quickening showers somewhere at least of 
 Xantippe s kind, then serene air sometime except among those that 
 charg d too deep for the King s health, and too many sentimental toasts. 
 
 OCTOBER. But firm to Earth let ev ry warrior grow, 
 
 Strain his large limbs, and low ring eye the foe, 
 To mighty deeds let each his arms extend, 
 Nor dread the balls that breast-high muskets send 
 Our practis d huntsmen, sure of flying game, 
 Ne er fight in phalanx when they ve surer aim. 
 
 NOVEMBER. No dazzling arms our steady marksmen hold, 
 No heavy panoply, or casque of gold 
 But sure as death, the trusty piece he bears, 
 And fears no wild, or powder d son of Mars. 
 Make ready then and fierce begin the fray ! 
 But pause awhile and hear what sages say, 
 Deep read in history, who know mankind, 
 The arts and stratagems sly courtiers find. 
 
 Lycurgus, by one of his laws, had prohibited to light those who came 
 in the night from a feast, that the fear of not being able to get home might 
 hinder their getting drunk. 
 
 Muggy air among tipplers, and thick smoky air among the minor poli 
 ticians, and it may end in a storm. 
 
 The Emperor Caligula wish d the Romans had all but one neck, that he 
 might behead them all at one blow. Have we not some Caligulas ? 
 
 The pleasure of what we enjoy is commonly lost by coveting more. 
 
 DECEMBER. To bribe the chiefs of their contending foes, 
 To gain the cause by safer means than blows 
 
ALMANACK FOR 1775- 459 
 
 How one grand centre must the whole survey, 
 By posts and couriers its resolves convey 
 How civil wisdom must the arms controul, 
 To act in concert like one mighty soul. 
 
 The ladies should consider that when men view a nag they always look 
 at the teeth. 
 
 The Queen Henrietta of England being in a vessel in a furious storm, 
 comforted her companions by telling them that queens were never 
 drowned. 
 
 Good slaying amongst the poultry, and pleasant air to exercise the 
 knife and fork, then comes falling weather if spirits are plenty. 
 
 The SIGNS Discontented. 
 
 THEY question Jove, why he had not 
 
 In Heav n a Stock of Females laid in ? 
 He but one Woman there had brought, 
 
 Who was (provoking ! ) still a Maiden. 
 Frankly the Ram confessed that he 
 
 Had often cast a Sheep s Eye at her ; 
 Aquarius acknowledg d she 
 
 Had often made his Mouth to Water. 
 The Bull would have the God to know, 
 
 Either he would no longer stay there, 
 Or if he did not get a Cow, 
 
 In Faith he would Pasiphae her. 
 Poor Virgo how to please them all, 
 
 Being really at a Loss to know, 
 To th Archer said, I fear I shall 
 
 Have more than two Strings to my Bow. 
 But if to you I should prove kind, 
 
 The rest would make the same Request, 
 Shall I be with a Scorpion join d, 
 
 Or take a Cancer to my Breast ? 
 Nor should my coyness you displease, 
 
 This was the Purpose of my Birth ; 
 Not only you to tantalize, 
 
 But all the Star-Gazers on Earth. 
 Not for the Sun or Moon but me, 
 
 Astronomers make such a pother ; 
 The Thing is they would rather see 
 
 My heavenly Body than another. 
 For such a peep they should not hope, 
 
 But mind their own Terrestrial Lasses ; 
 My Petticoats they ll ne er see up. 
 
 With all their Tellescopes and Glasses. 
 
460 ALMANACK FOR 1775. 
 
 AMES FAREWELL. 
 
 Notes on his last Almanack for the year 1775. 
 
 With much regret, we in this instance, (as in every other of human 
 affairs,) must note the final end, and bid farewell to our author, under 
 whose family name two generations have been amused and instructed for 
 a period of fifty years. 
 
 The situation of affairs, and the minds of the colonists generally is 
 exemplified in the title verse through whose lines Bcllona armored stalks 
 with sanguinary footsteps. 
 
 The poetical contributions at the top of each month incite to deeds of 
 bravery, to patriotism, to victory, liberty or glorious death upon the tented 
 field. The grandeur of the combat, the pomp and circumstance of " grim- 
 visaged war " is depicted, and the duty of every citizen to arm for the 
 encounter is vividly portrayed. Patriotism and America for Americans 
 beams from every syllable in this year s production, and every line can be 
 read and re-read with unflagging interest. Even the final essay though 
 introduced with the usual " fly" at the " home government," will be found 
 to be a very instructive account of the origin and practice of "Inoculation 
 for the Small-pox" the precaution in this disease antecedent to the dis 
 covery and application of vaccination by Dr.Jenner. 
 
 The interlined Wisdom and Humour is more than ordinarily jovial and 
 pointed, and his final almanack may almost be said to exceed in every 
 quality, any of his preceding productions. 
 
 NOTE. As has been said, this was the last of the Almanacks prepared 
 by Dr. Ames. Subsequently several spurious issues appeared bearing his 
 name, but these soon expired, and other Philomaths entered the field to 
 occupy public attention for a while, retiring in a few years to absolute 
 obscurity. 
 
 The "Ames " were the last of the great Almanack makers, and with the 
 opening of the Revolution the " art " decayed, and was buried with its 
 fathers. 
 
VALEDICTORY. 
 
 ! Laus Deo, this book is completed at least the 
 foregoing "copy" is with the printer, there to await a 
 resurrection at his hands. 
 
 The contents of the original almanacks have been carefully 
 compiled from such copies as I possess (all but 1726-7-30-33), and 
 the rest of the copy has been made from the complete set 
 formerly owned by the Doctors Ames, now in the archives of the 
 Dedham Historical Society. Nothing has been omitted that 
 would either interest, instruct or amuse. 
 
 I have ventured to add running notes and other memoranda 
 which appeared to me to be appropriate. 
 
 There may possibly be some repetitions tautological, if you 
 please of the same thoughts or relation in various places. 
 Should they prove interesting, it will pay, perhaps, to read them 
 a second time ; should the opposite quality exist, there will be 
 no harm done if you pass them by. 
 
 Again there may be an existing notion that I should have 
 elaborated still more upon the author s production. In reply I 
 would object that it would not be possible for me to take my 
 readers by the hand, walk through this " Island of Tranquil 
 Delights" and point out all the bright spots for much reading 
 must be done between the lines ; that familiarity with the work 
 may cause new ideas to be formed, and fresh sources of enjoy 
 ment to appear and be appreciated. 
 
462 VALEDICTORY. 
 
 Again, an attempt to improve, or enlighten any of the 
 author s bright sayings, would be as superfluous as to " paint the 
 lily, or gild the fine gold." 
 
 That some may be disappointed, perhaps horrified when 
 this book is received, goes without saying; but nothing of a 
 terrestrial nature can add to, or take away one iota of the pleasure 
 I have had with the Doctors Ames, in collating, reading, quoting 
 and compiling this collection of their humble works. 
 
 In some instances I may have exhibited a flippant manner, or 
 treated a serious subject with what might be called levity. 
 Consider, therefore, the age in which our authors lived ; reflect 
 upon the fact that for many moons I have lived and breathed in 
 an atmosphere redolent with the language, manners and customs 
 of the time in which these and other similar productions were 
 brought forth. Then for these reasons, of thy charity pray be 
 kind, and " in thy orisons be all my sins remembered." 
 
 Faithfully yours, 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 Entertainment for A Winter s Evening: being A Full and True Account 
 Of a very strange and wonderful sight seen in Boston on the twenty- 
 seventh of December at Noon-Day. 
 
 The Truth of which can be attested by a great Number of People, 
 who actually saw the same With their own Eyes. 
 
 By Me, the Honble B. B. Esq ; [Joseph Green]. 1 
 
 Primo progrediuntur anseres, dein vituli, grex asinaria sequitur. 
 Templum aditum est. Hie omnibus vir sanctus prcsdicavit, multis populis 
 circumstantibus. 
 
 Vet. Leg. lib. III. Cap. 14. 
 
 Boston : Printed and Sold by G. Rogers, next to the Prison in Queen 
 street. 
 
 TO THE READER. 
 
 COURTEOUS AND COVING READER, 
 
 I Thought it necessary to acquaint thee with three things, which 
 thou wilt perhaps, be inquisitive about. First, Why thou hast not had 
 the following Entertainment sooner. Secondly, Why it now appears 
 
 JOSEPH GREEN, born in Boston 1706, graduated at Harvard 1726, became a merchant, 
 had some interest in politics, espoused the Royal cause, was exiled, and died in Kng- 
 land in 1780. He had great reputation for wit, particularly in the form of satirical 
 verse. His favorite view of things was the facetious one ; he was convivial and hilar 
 ious ; he loved to mitigate by his waggeries the somber tints of life at the Puritan 
 metropolis ; and neither religion nor death, it was believed, could awe him into gravity, 
 as is partly intimated in this epitaph, which one of his friends wrote for his tomb-stone, 
 long before he had need of one : 
 
 " Siste, Viator! here lies one, 
 Whose life was whim, whose soul was pun ; 
 And if you go too near his hearse, 
 He ll joke you, both in prose and verse," 
 Tyler, Hist. Am. Lit. II. 48-49. 
 
464 APPENDIX. 
 
 abroad without sheltering itself under the Name of some powerful Patron. 
 And Thirdly, Why I have given Myself the Title I have assumed in the 
 Front of it. 
 
 As to the first Article, thou must know, that my great distance from 
 the Press, near one hundred miles, at this difficult season of the year, 
 made it impossible for me to convey it there sooner. As to the second, I 
 had fully determined to select a number of sutable Patrons, but was 
 prevented by finding all of them engaged already ; not so much as one 
 being left, under whose wings this poor sheet might retire for protection. 
 Thirdly, The title I have taken to myself, sounds I confess, something 
 odly. Nor indeed should I have ventured upon it, had I not been war 
 ranted by a Famous Society in an Example which they have lately set me. 
 For though this Society is, perhaps, the only one in the world that ever 
 gave itself those pompous Epithets, yet it is allowed to be the standard 
 of Antiquity and Honour. Of Antiquity, as it can boast an ^ra 
 many years higher than that of the world. Of Honour, as it invested 
 with that distinguishing Badge, which is, at this day, the glory of the 
 greatest Potentates on earth. And if so, I see no reason why Thou and 
 I should not submit to it, as the Standard of Propriety too. I am, I/oving 
 Reader, With the greatest Humility thine, 
 
 The HonWe B. B. Esq. 
 
 ENTERTAINMENT FOR A WINTER S EVENING. 
 
 O muse renown d for story-telling, 
 
 Fair Clio, leave thy airy dwelling. 
 
 Now while the streams like marble stand, 
 
 Held fast by winter s icy hand ; 
 
 Now while the hills are cloth d in snow ; 
 
 Now while the keen north-west-winds blow ; 
 
 From the bleak fields and chilling air 
 
 Unto the warmer hearth repair : 
 
 Where friends in chearful circle met 
 
 In social conversation sit. 
 
 Come, Goddess, and our ears regale 
 
 With a diverting Christmas tale. 
 
 O come, and in thy verse declare 
 
 Who were the men, and what they were, 
 
 And what their names, and what their fame, 
 
 And what the cause for which they came 
 
 To house of God from house of ale, 
 
 And how the parson told his tale : 
 
 How they return d, in manner odd, 
 
 To house of ale from house of God. 
 
APPENDIX. 465 
 
 Free Masons, as the story goes, 
 
 Have two saints for their patrons chose ; 
 
 And both Saint Johns, one the Baptist, 
 
 The other the Evangelist. 
 
 The Baptist had a Lodge which stood 
 
 Whilom by Jordan s ancient flood. 
 
 But for what secret cause the other 
 
 Has been adopted for a brother, 
 
 They cannot, and I will not say, 
 
 Nee scire fas est omnia. 
 
 The Masons by procession 
 
 Having already honour d one, 
 
 (Thou, to perpetuate their glory, 
 
 Clio did st then relate the story.) 
 
 To show the world they mean fair play, 
 
 And that each saint should have his day, 
 
 Now order store of belly-timber 
 
 Gainst twenty-seventh of December. 
 
 For that s the day of Saint John s feast 
 
 Fix d by the holy Roman priest, 
 
 They then in mood religious chose 
 
 Their brother of the roll and rose 1 
 
 The ceremony to commence : 
 
 He from the sacred eminence 
 
 Must first explain and then apply 
 
 The duties of Free Masonry. 
 
 At length, in scarlet apron drest, 
 Forth rush d the morning of the feast ; 
 And now the bells in steeple play, 
 Hark, ding; dong, bell they chime away ; 
 Until, will solemn toll and steady, 
 The great bell tells the parson s ready. 
 
 Masons at church ! strange auditory ! 
 And yet we have as strange in story, 
 For saints, as history attests, 
 Have preach d to fishes, birds and beasts, 
 Yea stones so hard, tho strange, tis true, 
 Have sometimes been their hearers too, 2 
 
 1 Rev. Charles Brockwell, Assistant Rector King s Chapel, Boston, inducted 1747 ; 
 died Aug. 20, 1755. 
 
 8 Vide Spec. Exemplar. Cees. Dial. Lib. IV. cap. 98. Benevent de Vit. S. Franc, cap. 8. 
 Capgr. Nov. legend, Fol. 160. Anton Chron. P. Ill, tit. 24, c. 2, g 5. 
 
466 APPENDIX. 
 
 So good Saint Francis, man of grace, 
 Himself preach d to the braying race ; 
 And further, as the story passes, 
 Address d them thus my brother asses. 1 
 Just so old British Werebtirga, 
 As ecclesiastic writers say, 2 
 Harangued the geese, both far and wide ; 
 Just so the geese were edify d. 
 
 The crowds attending gaze around, 
 And awful silence reigns profound. 
 Till from the seat which he d sat a * * * on 
 Uprose and thus began the parson. 
 
 Right Worshipful, at whose command 
 Obedient I in Rostra stand ; 
 It proper is and fit to show 
 Unto the crowds that gape below, 
 Who wonder much, and well they may, 
 What on th occasion I can say, 
 Why in the church are met together, 
 Especially in such cold weather, 
 Such folk as never did appear 
 So overfond of coming there. 
 
 Know then, my friends, without more pother, 
 
 That these are Masons, I m a Brother. 
 
 Masons said I ? yes Masons Free ; 
 
 Their deeds and title both agree. 
 
 While other sects fall out and fight 
 
 About a trifling mode or rite, 
 
 We firm by Love cemented stand, 
 
 Tis Love unites us heart and hand. 
 
 Love to a party not confin d, 
 
 A Love embracing all mankind, 
 
 Both catholick and protestant, 
 
 The Scots and eke New England saint : 
 
 Antonio s 3 followers, and those 
 
 Who ve, Crispin 4 for their patron chose, 
 
 And them, who to their idol goose 
 
 Oft sacrifice the blood of louse. 5 
 
 1 Fratres Assini, oreni vos ut sileatis, nee inturbetis Verbum Dei quod sitienti hinc 
 populo propono. Wadding, Annal. A. 1213, N. 8. We see he too had a thrifty audience. 
 3 Frat. Cress. Hist. Ecclcs. Lib. xvii. c. 77. 
 3 Antonio is the Patron of Sailors. 
 4 Crispin the Patron of Shoemakers. 
 6 It is conjectured that the Taylors are here meant. 
 
APPENDIX. 467 
 
 Those who with razor bright and keen, 
 And careful hand, each morn are seen 
 Devoting to Saint Nicolas 1 
 The manly honours of the face. 
 Him too who works, ah ! cruel deed ! 
 The fatal, tough Moscovian weed ! 
 And twists the suffocating string 
 In which devoted wretches swing, 
 (And O may gracious Heaven defend 
 The brethren from dishonest end,) 
 Whose cauldrons smoke with juice of Pine, 
 An offering to St. Catharine. 2 
 
 O Pine salubrious ! from thy veins 
 Distills the cure of human pains. 
 Hail Sacred Tree ! 3 to thee I owe 
 This freedom from a world of woe. 
 My heart tho grateful, weak my strain, 
 To show thy worth I strive in vain. 
 Could Thracian Orpheus but impart 
 His tuneful lyre and matchless art ; 
 And would propitious fates decree 
 Old Nestor s length of days to me, 
 That lyre, that art, that length of days 
 I d spend in singing forth thy praise. 
 Still thou shall never want my blessing ; 
 But to return from thus digressing. 
 
 Rhode-Island s differing, motly tribes, 
 Far more than Alec. Ross describes, 
 And light that s new and light that s old, 
 We in our friendly arms enfold, 
 Free, generous and unconfin d 
 To outward shape or inward mind. 
 The high and low and great and small, 
 
 F s P ns short and A n tall, 
 
 F n n as bulky as a house, 
 
 And W d smaller than a louse, 
 
 The grave and merry, dull and witty, 
 The fair and brown, deform d and pretty, 
 
 1 St. Nicholas the Patron of Barbers. 
 
 2 St. Catharine the Patron of Rope-makers. 
 
 3 The Pine was sacred to the Goddess Cybele, who was very skillful in Physick, and 
 preserved men s lives. She no doubt drew her remedies from this salutiferous Tree, 
 and perhaps was not unacquainted with the virtues of Tar Water. Hence this tree was 
 held sacred to her by the Ancients. 
 
468 APPENDIX. 
 
 We all agree, both wet and dry, 
 
 From drunken L to sober I, 
 
 And Hugh But hark, methinks I hear 
 
 One shrewdly whisp ring in my ear ; 
 " Pray, parson, don t affirm but prove ; 
 " Do they all meet and part in love ? 
 " Quarrels oft times don t they delight in, 
 " And now and then a little fighting ? 
 " Did there not (for the Secret s out) 
 " In the last Lodge arise a rout ? 
 
 " M with a fist of brass, 
 
 " Laid T s nose level with his face, 
 
 " And scarcely had he let his hand go 
 
 " When he receiv d from T a d d blow. 
 
 " Now, parson, when a nose is broken, 
 " Pray, is it friendly sign or token? 
 
 Tis true but trifling is th objection, 
 
 All general rules have an exception. 
 
 Oft from themselves the best men vary, 
 
 Humanum enim est errare, 
 
 But what I ve said I 11 say again, 
 
 And what I say I will maintain : 
 
 Tis Love, pure Love cements the whole, 
 
 Love of the Bottle and the Bowl. 
 
 But tis high time to let you go 
 
 Where you had rather be, I know : 
 
 And by proceeding I delay 
 
 The weightier business of the day; 
 
 For eating solid sense affords, 
 
 Whilst nonsense lurks in many words. 
 
 Doubting does oft arise from thinking, 
 
 But truth is only found in drinking. 
 
 This having said, the reverend vicar 
 
 Dismiss d them to their food and liquor. 
 
 From church to Stone s they go to eat; 
 In order walking through the street, 
 But no Right Worshipful 1 was there, 
 Pallas forbad him to appear, 
 For, well foreseeing that the jobb 
 Would from all parts collect the mob, 
 
 1 Thomas Oxnard, merchant, Boston, one of the directors of the " Silver Scheme" to 
 offset the " Land Bank " experiment, 1742. Appointed Provincial Grand Master vice 
 Rt. Wor. Tomlinson, deceased, Sept. 23, 1743, and held office until his death, June 26, 1754. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 He wisely catch d a cold and stay d 
 
 At home, at least, if not in bed. 
 
 So when the Greeks gainst Trojans went, 
 
 Achilles tarry d in his tent ; 
 
 Asham d he hides himself, nor draws 
 
 His conquering sword in harlot s cause. 
 
 See B k before the apron d throng 
 
 Marches with sword and book along ; 
 
 The stately ram with courage bold, 
 
 So stalks before the fleecy fold, 
 
 And so the gander, on the brink 
 
 Of river, leads his geese to drink, 
 
 And so the geese descend, from gab ling 
 
 On the dry land, in stream to dab ling. 
 
 Three with their white sticks next are seen, 
 One on each side and one between ; 
 
 Plump L w s 1 marches on the right, 
 
 Round as a hoop, as bottle tight, 
 
 With face full orb d and rosy too ; 
 
 So ruddy Cynthia oft we view, 
 
 When she, from tippling eastern streams, 
 
 First throws about her evening beams, 
 
 Tis he the brethren all admire, 
 
 Him for their steward they require. 
 
 Tis he they view with wondering eyes, 
 
 Tis he their utmost art defies ; 
 
 For though with nicest skill they work all, 
 
 None of em e er could square his circle. 
 
 Next B r with M 1 passes ; 
 
 Though brothers, how unlike their faces ! 
 
 So limners better represent 
 
 By artful contrast, what they paint. 
 
 Who s he comes next? Tis P e by name, 8 
 
 P e by his nose well known to fame ; 
 
 This, when the generous juice recruits, 
 Around a brighter radiance shoots. 
 So, on some promontory s height, 
 For Neptune s son s the signal light 
 Shines fair, and fed by unctuous stream, 
 Sends off to sea a livelier beam. 
 
 But see the crowds, with what amaze 
 They on the pothecary gaze ! 
 
 469 
 
 1 I < ewis Turner. * Pue. 
 
470 APPENDIX. 
 
 Tis he, when belly suffers twitch, 
 Caus d by too retentive breech, 
 Adjusts with finger nice and thumb, 
 The ivory tube to patient s bum, 
 
 A n l high rising o er the rest 
 
 With his tall head and ample chest ; 
 So towering stands the tree of Jove, 
 And proud o erlooks the neighbouring grove. 
 
 Where s honest L ke, 8 that cook from London, 
 
 For without L ke the Lodge is undone. 
 
 Twas he who oft dispell d their Sadness, 
 And fill d the brethren^ hearts with gladness. 
 For them his ample bowls o erflow d, 
 His table groan d beneath its load ; 
 For them he stretch d his utmost art ; 
 Their honours grateful they impart, 
 
 L ke in return is made a brother 
 
 As good and true as any other, 
 
 And still, though broke with age and wine, 
 
 Preserves the token and the sign. 
 
 But still I see a numerous train : 
 Shall they alas ! unsung remain ? 
 
 Sage H 1 of public soul, 
 
 And laughing F k s , friend to the bowl, 
 
 Meek R half smother d in the croud 
 
 And R who sings at church so loud, 
 
 Tall de la R of Gallic city, 
 
 Short B who trips along so pretty, 
 
 B d so truss, with gut well fed, 
 
 Who to the hungry deals his bread, 
 
 And twenty more crowd on my fancy, 
 
 All brothers and that s all you can say. 
 
 Whene er, for aiding nature frail, 
 
 Poor bawd must follow the cart s-tail, 
 
 As through fair London s streets she goes, 
 
 The mob, like fame, by moving grows, 
 
 They should ring close, press, stink and shove, 
 
 Scarcely can the procession move. 
 
 1 Doctor Aston. Apothecary, Boston, circa 1738, died Aug. 9, 1766, aged 74 years. 
 s l,uke Vardy kept " Royal Exchange," King St., Boston, Oct. 17, 1733. 
 8 Francis Johannot, son of Daniel, born Nov. 30, 1709, was a distiller and a prominent 
 member of the " Sons of Liberty, " died Mar. 8, 1775. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 Just such a street-collected throng 
 Guarded the brotherhood along ; 
 Just such the noise, just such the roar 
 Heard from behind and from before. 
 Till lodg dsA. Stone s, 1 nor more pursu d, 
 The mob with three huzzas conclude. 
 
 And now, withdrawn from publick view, 
 
 What did the brethren say and do ? 
 
 Had I the force of Stentor s lungs, 
 
 A voice of brass, a hundred tongues ; 
 
 My tongues and voice and lungs would fail, 
 
 E er I had finish d half my tale ; 
 
 E er I had told their names and nation, 
 
 Their virtues, arts and occupation, 
 
 Or in fit strains had half made known 
 
 What words were spoke, what deeds were done. 
 
 Clio, tis thou alone, canst show em, 
 
 For thou rt a Goddess and must know em. 
 
 But now suppress thy further rhyme, 
 And tell the rest another time. 
 Once more, perhaps, the apron d train 
 Hereafter may invite thy strain, 
 Then Clio, with descendent wing, 
 Shall downward fly again and sing. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 471 
 
 1 Journal of Capt. Francis Goclet N. E. Hist. Gen. JRegr. Vol. xxiv p. jj. Oct. 5, 7750. 
 " Had an Invitation from .Several Brothers to vissett the Master s I_odge, which is kept 
 at Stones, (Tavern,? ED.) in a very Grand Manner. Mr. Oxnard who is Provincial 
 Grand Master, Presided in the Chair, went from thence at 9 to Sup with Mr. Chue, 
 ( Pue ? ED.) who had a Company Gentn to Spend the Evening with him, we had a Very 
 Grand Supper where Very merry and broke up about 3 in the Morning. 
 
 October loth. * * went to Mr. Stones, where the I,odge was held and Parson 
 Brockwell Presided in the Chair, and Mr. William Coffin Mercht in Boston his Deputy, 
 from thence to Capt Wendells where was a large Compy Gentn drinking toast and Sing 
 ing Songs, the compy broke up at abt 3 in the Morning. 
 
 October 24th. * * * in the Evening went to the L,odge with Nathl Ferriter, Capt 
 Colvill or Lord Colvil Capt of the Stationed Man of War, when Mr. Wm. Coffin Presided 
 in the Chair, from thence went to Spend the Evening with Mr. Thos Bulfinch agreeabe to 
 promise where found a large compy gentn we Supd in a verry grand manner and where 
 exceeding Merry drinking toast and Sing g songs almost to 3 in the Morning broke up. 
 
472 APPENDIX. 
 
 A MOURNFUL LAMENTATION FOR THE DEATH OF 
 MR. OLD TENORS 
 
 By JOSEPH GREEN. 
 
 A doleful tale prepare to hear, 
 
 As ever yet was told : 
 
 The like, perhaps, ne er reach d the ear 
 
 Of either young or old, 
 
 Tis of the sad and woeful death 
 
 Of one of mighty fame, 
 
 Who lately hath resign d his breath ; 
 
 Old Tenor was his name. 
 
 In vain ten thousands intercede, 
 
 To keep him from the grave ; 
 
 In vain, his many good works plead ; 
 
 Alas ! they cannot save. 
 
 The powers decree, and die he must, 
 
 It is the common lot, 
 
 But his good deeds, when he s in dust, 
 
 Shall never be forgot. 
 
 He made our wives and daughters fine, 
 
 And pleased everybody : 
 
 He gave the rich their costly wine, 
 
 The poor their flip and toddy. 
 
 The laborer he set to work ; 
 
 In ease maintain d the great : 
 
 He found us mutton, beef, and pork, 
 
 And everything we eat. 
 
 To fruitful fields, by swift degrees, 
 
 He d turn d our desert land : 
 
 Where once nought stood but rocks and trees, 
 
 Now spacious cities stand. 
 
 He built us houses, strong and high, 
 
 Of wood, and brick, and stone; 
 
 The furniture he did supply ; 
 
 But now, alas ! he s gone. 
 
 The merchants too, those topping folks, 
 To him owe all their riches ; 
 Their ruffles, lace, and scarlet cloaks, 
 And eke their velvet breeches. 
 
 1 A New England currency. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 He launch d their ships into the main, 
 
 To visit distant shores; 
 
 And brought them back, full fraught with gain, 
 
 Which much increased their stores. 
 
 Ived on by him our soldiers bold, 
 
 Against the foe advance ; 
 
 And took, in spite of wet and cold, 
 
 Strong Cape Breton from France. 
 
 Who from that fort the French did drive, 
 
 Shall he so soon be slain ? 
 
 While they, Alas ! remain alive, 
 
 Who gave it back again. 
 
 From house to house, and place to place, 
 
 In paper doublet clad, 
 
 He pass d, and where he show d his face, 
 
 He made the heart full glad. 
 
 But cruel death, that spareth none, 
 
 Hath robbed us of him too ; 
 
 Who through the land so long hath gone, 
 
 No longer now must go. 
 
 In senate he, like Caesar, fell, 
 Pierced through with many a wound, 
 He sunk, ah, doleful tale to tell ! 
 The members sitting round : 
 And ever since that fatal day, 
 Oh ! had it never been, 
 Closely confined at home he lay, 
 And scarce was ever seen, 
 
 Until the last of March, when he 
 
 Submitted unto fate ; 
 
 In anno rcgis twenty-three, 
 
 ^ZLtatis forty-eight. 
 
 For ever gloomy be that day, 
 
 When he gave up the ghost ; 
 
 For by his death, oh ! who can say, 
 
 What hath New England lost ? 
 
 Then, good Old Tenor, fare thee well, 
 
 Since thou art dead and gone; 
 
 We mourn thy fate, e en while we tell 
 
 The good things thou hast done. 
 
 Since the bright beams of yonder sun, 
 
 Did on New England shine, 
 
 In all the land, there ne er was known 
 
 A death so mourn d as thine. 
 
474 APPENDIX. 
 
 Of every rank are many seen, 
 
 Thy downfal to deplore ; 
 
 For t is well known that thou hast been 
 
 A friend to rich and poor. 
 
 We 11 o er thee raise a silver tomb, 
 
 Long may that tomb remain, 
 
 To bless our eyes for years to come, 
 
 But wishes, ah ! are vain. 
 
 And so God bless our noble state, 
 And save us all from harm, 
 And grant us food enough to eat, 
 And clothes to keep us warm. 
 Send us a lasting peace, and keep 
 The times from growing worse ; 
 And let us all in safety sleep, 
 With silver in our purse. 
 
 HYMN BY REV. MATHER BYLES.^ 
 
 Great God ! Thy works our wonder raise, 
 To Thee our swelling notes belong ; 
 While skies, and winds, and rocks, and seas 
 Around shall echo to our song. 
 
 Thy power produced this mighty frame, 
 Aloud to Thee the tempests roar ; 
 Or softer breezes tune Thy name 
 Gently along the shelly shore. 
 
 Round Thee the scaly nation roves, 
 Thy opening hand their joys bestow ; 
 Through all the blushing coral grove, 
 These silent gay retreats below. 
 
 See the broad sun forsakes the skies, 
 Glow on the waves, and downward slide ; 
 Anon ! heaven opens all its eyes, 
 And star beams tremble in the tide. 
 
 Each various scene, or day, or night, 
 Lord, points to thee our ravish d soul ; 
 Thy glories fix our whole delight, 
 So the touch d needle courts the pole." 
 
 I MATHER BYLES, a Boston divine, born 1706, became a Royalist, and died in 178 
 Was a clergyman noted for his wit, and was prominent during his time for his readiness 
 of repartee, and general jocularity. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 475 
 
 The singing of this hymn furnished Jo. Greene with the hint for the 
 following piece of satire : 
 
 " In David s Psalms an oversight 
 Byles found one morning o er his tea. 
 Alas, that he should never write 
 A proper psalm to sing at sea? 
 
 Thus ruminating on his seat, 
 Ambitious thoughts at length prevail d. 
 The bard determined to complete 
 The part wherein the prophet fail d. 
 
 Awhile he paused and stroked his Muse, 1 
 Then, taking up his tuneful pen, 
 Wrote a few stanzas for the use 
 Of his seafaring bretheren. 
 
 The task performed, the Bard content, 
 Well chosen was each flowing word, 
 On a short voyage himself he went, 
 To hear it read, and sung on board. 
 
 What extasies of joy appear, 
 What pleasures and unknown delights 
 Thrilled the vain poet s soul to hear 
 Others repeat the things he writes. 
 
 Most serious Christians do aver, 
 Their credit sure we may rely on, 
 In former times that, after prayer, 
 They used to sing a song of Zion. 
 
 Our modern parson having praj^ed, 
 Unless loud fame our faith beguiles, 
 Sat down, took out his book, and said, 
 Let s sing a song of Mather Byles." 
 
 As soon as he began to read, 
 
 Their heads th assembly downward hung. 
 
 But he with boldness did proceed, 
 
 And thus he read, and thus they sung, 
 
 THE 151st PSALM. 
 
 With vast amazement we survey 
 
 The wonders of the deep, 
 
 Where mackrel swim, and porpoise play, 
 
 And crabs and lobsters creep. 
 
 1 Alluding to his remarkable fondness for a cat, which was jocosely called his Muse, 
 and on the death of which Greene wrote an Elegy. See Burton s Cyclop. Wit and 
 Humour, Vol. i, p. 4. 
 
476 APPENDIX. 
 
 Fish of all kinds inhabit here, 
 
 And throng the dark abode ; 
 
 There haddick, hake, and flounders are, 
 
 And eels and perch and cod. 
 
 From raging winds and tempests free, 
 
 So smoothly as we pass, 
 
 The shining surface seems to be 
 
 A piece of Bristol glass. 
 
 But when the winds tempestuous rise, 
 And foaming billows swell, 
 The vessel mounts above the skies, 
 Then lower sinks than hell. 
 
 Our brains the tottering motion feel, 
 And quickly we become 
 Giddy as new dropt calves, and reel 
 Ivike Indians drunk with rum. 
 
 What praises then are due that we 
 Thus far have safely got, 
 Amariscoggin tribe to see, 
 And tribe of Penobscot. 
 
 PARODY BY MATHER BYLES. 
 
 In Byles s works an oversight 
 
 Green spy d, as once he smok d his chunk ; 
 
 Alas ! that Byles should never write 
 
 A song to sing, when folks are drunk. 
 
 Thus in the chimney on his block, 
 Ambition fir d the stiller s pate ; 
 He summoned all his little stock, 
 The poet s volume to complete. 
 
 I/ong paus d the lout, and scratch d his skull, 
 Then took his chalk (he own d no pen,) 
 And scrawl d some doggrel, for the whole 
 Of his flip-drinking brethren. 
 
 The task perform d not to content 
 111 chosen was each Grub-street word ; 
 Strait to the tavern club he went, 
 To hear it bellow d round the board. 
 
APPENDIX. 477 
 
 Unknown delights his ears explore, 
 Inur d to midnight caterwauls, 
 To hear his hoarse companions roar, 
 The horrid thing his dulness scrawls. 
 
 The club, if fame we may rely on, 
 Conven d, to hear the drunken catch, 
 At the three-horse-shoes, or red lion 
 Tipling began the night s debauch. 
 
 The little stiller took the pint 
 
 Full fraught with flip and songs obscene, 
 
 And, after a long stutt ring, meant 
 
 To sing a song of Josy Green. 
 
 Soon as with stam ring tongue, to read 
 The drunken ballad, he began, 
 The club from clamr ring strait recede, 
 To hear him roar the thing alone. 
 
 SONG. 
 
 With vast amazement we survey 
 
 The can, so broad, so deep, 
 
 Where punch succeeds to strong sangree, 
 
 Both to delightful flip. 
 
 Drink of all smacks, inhabit here, 
 And throng the dark abode ; 
 Here s rum, and sugar, and small beer, 
 In a continual flood. 
 
 From cruel thoughts and conscience free, 
 From dram to dram we pass : 
 Our cheeks, like apples, ruddy be ; 
 Our eyeballs look like glass. 
 
 At once, like furies up we rise, 
 Our raging passions swell ; 
 We hurl the bottle to the skies, 
 But why, we cannot tell. 
 
 Our brains a tott ring motion feel, 
 And quickly we become 
 Sick, as with negro steaks, 1 and reel 
 Ivike Indians drunk with rum. 
 
 1 This, says an original note appended to the poem, alluded to what passed at a 
 convivial club to which Mr. Green belonged, where steaks cut from the rump of a dead 
 negro were imposed on the company for beef, and when the imposition was discovered 
 a violent expectoration ensued. 
 
478 APPENDIX. 
 
 Thus lost in deep tranquility, 
 We sit, supine and sot, 
 Till we two moons distinctly see, 
 Come give us t other pot. 
 
 Several persons not living in Kentucky, and subject to " snakes," have 
 asked that the following (omitted from the almanack for 1771) be inserted 
 here : 
 
 A sure and certain Cure for the Bite of a RATTLE-SNAKE, made Public 
 by ABEL PUFFER 0/Stoughton. 
 
 As soon as may be after the Person is bit, cut a Gash or Split in the 
 Place where the Bite is, as deep as the Teeth went in and fill it full of fine 
 Salt ; take common Plaintain 1 and pound it, add a little Water to it, then 
 squeeze out the Juice, and mix it with clear Water, then make a strong 
 Brine with fine Salt and the Juice till it will not dissolve the Salt, then 
 make a Swath or Bandage with Linen Cloth, and bind it round just above 
 the swelling (but not too tight,) then wet the Bandage with the before 
 mentioned Brine, and keep it constantly wet with the Brine, for it will dry 
 very fast, & keep strokeing the Part with your Hands as hard as the Patient 
 can bear, towards the Cut you made, and you will soon see the Poison and 
 virulent Matter flow out of the Cut, arid it will often flow so fast that it 
 will swell below the Cut, and if it should, you must cut below the swelling 
 to let out the virulent Matter, and it will not leave running till all is dis 
 charged ; you must keep the Bandage moving downwards as the Swelling 
 abates. It is proper to give the Patient something to defend the Stomack, 
 as sweet Oil, Safron or Snake Root : It very often bleeds after the Poison 
 is out, but be not surprized at that, it is Good for it ; it will run some time 
 after the Poison is out ; there must be care taken that none of the Poison 
 that runs out gets to any Sore or Raw Flesh, for it will Poison the Person. 
 
 I expect that some will slight this Publication, for the Remedies being 
 so simple a Thing, but I hope no one will so slight it, if he is bit, as to 
 neglect trying the Experiment, and the Effect will prove what I have said 
 to be true : I should not have published this, had I not been certain of its 
 performing the Cure by my own Experience ; for I have cured two Persons 
 dangerously bit, and a Horse and Dog, with no other Thing But what is 
 mentioned in the before Direction ; and make this Publick for the Benefit 
 of Mankind ; tho I have been offer d a considerable Sum by some Persons 
 to make it known to them, but then it must be kept as a Secret. 
 
 Stoughton, Oct. 4, 1770. ABEL PUFFER. 
 
 1 If Plaintain cannot be got, strong Brine will do the Thing. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 479 
 
 A RECIPE to cure the WHOOPING-COUGH, which has been tried with 
 
 Take dried Colt s Foot, a good Handful, cut them small, and boil them 
 in a Pint of Spring Water, till half the water is boiled away, then take it 
 off the Fire ; when almost cold, strain it through a Cloth, squeezing the 
 Herbs as dry as you can ; throw the Herb away, and dissolve in the I/iquor 
 Half an Ounce of brown Sugar Candy, finely powdered ; when dissolv d, 
 add to them one spoonful & an Half of the Tinclure of Liquorice of 
 which give a Child five Years old one Spoonful three or four Times a 
 Day. Grown Persons may take four Spoonfuls at a Time, and as often. 
 It will cure in two or three Days. 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAGE- 
 
 OW Tavern.. - - -Frontispiece. 
 
 Almanack for 1726, reproduction four pages 5678 
 
 " Regio-Montanus " Almanack, page from \ 
 
 View on High Street, Dedham, Mass facing 2-1 
 
 The Tavern Sign.. !"".T!! ^"facing 25 
 
 Autograph Letter, Dr. Nathaniel Ames, ist 37 
 
 Dedham Historical Society Building .. 
 
 Autograph Letter, Ezekiel Price ."" ^facing 42 
 
 Map of Dedham, ante 1775 ._ facing 44 
 
 Almanack for 1726, reproduction of title page facing 46 
 
 "Anatomy" for 1729, Ames Almanack 60 
 
 Title Page William Lilly s Almanack, 1652. . ._ 7I 
 
 " Anatomy " for 1734, Ames Almanack ... 89 
 
 Earth, Moon, and Mars, position of, June 18, 1749 220 
 
 Autograph Letter, Roger Sherman _ . 224 
 
 Almanack Characters, Signs, etc 245 
 
 Solar System 295 
 
 Almanack, title page, 1760. ... 7 O2 
 
 Almanack, title page, 1771 
 
 Emma Leach (a Dwarf) 435 
 
 Dickinson, John, Esq., Barrister-at-Law 437 
 
 McCaulay, Mrs. Catharine _ 438 
 
 Almanack, title page, 1773 442 
 
 INDEX OF SUBJECTS, NAMES, PLACES, ETC. 
 
 PAGE. PAGE. 
 
 A Alexandria 15 
 bercrombie 271 Allen, Bezoune 47 
 
 Abraham 344 Allen, Gen. Ethan. 343 
 
 Abrara s Plain, (Heights of Abraham). .341 Allin, Rev. John. 44 
 
 Academy of Sciences 1. 322 Almanack de Gotha 17 
 
 Acadians ..266 Almanack 1726 5, 6, 7, 8 
 
 Accidents .450 Almanack, Characters in 245 
 
 Acerbus 275 ALMANACKS IN GENERAL ._ IT, 
 
 Actors, English 31 Almanack Maker 233 
 
 Adam _ 130 Almanack Pirates. 311 
 
 Adams, Rev. William 44 Almanacks, price of 240 
 
 Addison .. ...21, 235 Almanacks, price paid for original copy 359 
 
 Adolphus-Frederick, King 308 Almanacks, size of. 240, 290 
 
 ^Ethiopia 378 Almanacks, spurious 389 
 
 vEtna, Mt 184 Amariscoggin 476 
 
 Africa 378 Amazon 378 
 
 Agriculture 354, 355 A mbrosius 287 
 
 Air 259 Amelia, Princess 307 
 
 Albany 270 American Literature, History of 12 
 
 Alexander 131 American Pedigree 448 
 
482 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 American Manufactures 416 
 
 Americus Vespucius . .. ..266 
 
 Ames, blank verse ---177 
 
 Ames, death of, 359 
 
 Ames, Deborah 28 
 
 Ames, decease of wife and son ...126 
 
 Ames Diary 30 
 
 Ames, Elegy on. 368, 370 
 
 Ames, Ellis 28 
 
 Ames, Estate of 359 
 
 AMES FAMILY 23 
 
 Ames farewell 460 
 
 Ames, Fisher... --23, 28, 39, 40, 41, 43 
 
 Ames, John . 23 
 
 Ames, John Worthington 40 
 
 Ames, Capt. Nathaniel (d. 1736) 23 
 
 Ames, Dr. Nathaniel ist (d. 1764) 28 
 
 Ames, Nathaniel, Jr _ _ 28 
 
 Ames, Dr. Nathaniel, Jr., first address .360 
 Ames, Nathaniel (ist) Ode on his death .109 
 
 AMES, PROPHECY OF. 284 
 
 Ames, Richard 23 
 
 Ames, Seth 28, 40 
 
 AMES TAVERN .357 
 
 Ames, William 23, 28, 35 
 
 Amherst,... 313, 322, 341 
 
 Anatomy 59, 60, 61, 89 
 
 Ancestry ... 144 
 
 Andrews, Henry 17 
 
 Angels wings .231 
 
 Anglo-Saxon 16 
 
 Annapolis, Md. 270 
 
 Annus tenebrosus .. . 187 
 
 Apertio Portarum 120 
 
 Appalachian mountains 285 
 
 Appeal to Arms (poem 1775) 456, 457, 458 
 
 Appius .419 
 
 Apple juice.. 294 
 
 APOLOGY 9 
 
 Apothecaries - 421 
 
 Apthprp, George 33 
 
 Arabians 15, 202, 325, 454 
 
 Arbuthnot, Dr _ 299 
 
 A rcana Imperil 273 
 
 Aristotle 119,124,130 
 
 Artiabalipa, King of Peru. 320 
 
 Articles of Faith 46 
 
 Arts and Sciences 449 
 
 Asia 456 
 
 Aspects 6, 49, 245, 252, 258, 282, 315 
 
 Aston, Dr. 470 
 
 Astrological notes 346 
 
 Astrological predictions.. 347 
 
 Astrology 53, 69, 74, 120, 125, 226, 290, 422 
 
 Astrology, truth of 347 
 
 Astronomy 57, 77, 87, 100, 278, 296, 207 
 
 Astro-Theologia, 297 
 
 Atahualpa 323 
 
 Augusta, Princess 307 
 
 Augustus, King.. 308 
 
 Aurora Borealis 75 
 
 Avon 402 
 
 Avon, Bard of --449 
 
 Azrail .115 
 
 Barr, Duke of. 
 Barrington ... 
 Bath, wife of.. 
 
 Battle 
 
 Beausejour. 
 
 B, 
 
 aal 324 
 
 Babel 157 
 
 Bacchus 441 
 
 Bacon 15, 20, 239, 285, 411 
 
 Baker, Sarah B... 12 
 
 Bankrupts 339 
 
 *8ardolph 239 
 
 Barney, Benjamin 205 
 
 - - 308 
 
 341 
 
 ---- 137 
 
 --- 37 
 
 271, 272, 339 
 
 Beere Waye 44 
 
 Belcher.. 42, 44, 268 
 
 Bell, Tom .-.170 
 
 Bellona 460 
 
 Bencoolon 314 
 
 Bengal ..420 
 
 Berlin . . 308 
 
 Bethlehem... 185 
 
 Beverly, Mass 436 
 
 Bewill ...170 
 
 Bickerstaff 34, 171 
 
 Bienville-. --404 
 
 Blackguard 443 
 
 Blackmore,58,59,i30, 133, 141, 173/178, 181, 186 
 
 Blackston s Point 133 
 
 Blackston s Revival 141 
 
 Blackston, William 133, 134 
 
 Bliss -.170 
 
 Blunden, H 71 
 
 Blunt _ 205 
 
 Boerhave 26, 353 
 
 Boies, James 408 
 
 Boston, 133, 135, 139, 267, 290, 356, 359, 365, 417, 
 450, 463, 465, 470. 
 
 Bostonia 185 
 
 Boston Common _ 134 
 
 Boston freeholders vote 396 
 
 Boston, (Gen. Election) 421 
 
 Boston Gazette 29, 312 
 
 Boston Massacre 441 
 
 Boston News Papers .. 33 
 
 Boston Selectmen .. ...400 
 
 Boston Weekly News Letter.. ---3 2 4 
 
 Bottle andBowl 468 
 
 Botts 106 
 
 Bounds 170 
 
 Bowel trouble .326 
 
 Bowen, Nathan 65 
 
 Bowman --- 3 1 
 
 Boyd, M. Gardner 12 
 
 Boylston, Dr. Zabdiel ---139 
 
 Braddock 262, 269, 270, 271, 272, 339 
 
 Bradstreet ---34 1 
 
 Braintree, Mass... 23 
 
 Breeches 376 
 
 Breslau 34 
 
 Bridgewater 23, 50, 185 
 
 Brigdtn.. 19 
 
 Bristol 476 
 
 Bristol, Eng... 273 
 
 British Finery.. 457 
 
 British Museum. 15 
 
 Brockwell, Rev. Charles 465, 471 
 
 Brown, Count 34 
 
 Brookefield 205 
 
 Bruton-Somerset (Eng.) 23 
 
 Buell 170 
 
 Bulfinch, Thomas 471 
 
 Bull, John 45 
 
 Burdakin, John H. 12 
 
 Burton s Cyclop. Wit and Humour 475 
 
 Bushell, John 47 
 
 Butler - 21, 70, 240 
 
 Byles, Mather 474, 475 
 
 Byles, Mather, parody by 476 
 
 Byng __ - 273, 340 
 
 ,abots 
 
INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. PAGE. 
 
 Cczsar - 473 Clough, Samuel _ 61 
 
 Caffres - - 391 Cochvn China [378 
 
 Cains Marius n Coffin, William. ...471 
 
 Caligula 142,458 Coin, French 305 
 
 Calomel .181, 186 Coins 320 
 
 Calvin, John - 108 Coleridge 22 
 
 Cambridge Commencement 351 Coley, Henry- 68, 70, 121, 125 
 
 Cambridge, Mass - 18,19,416 Colson, Nathaniel 64 
 
 Cambridge, University of. 15 Columbus, Christopher 48, 266, 379 
 
 Camp, Sickness in 298 Colvill, Capt_ 471 
 
 Campbell, John 82 Comets, effects of. 67,87,163,165,277 
 
 Campbell, Major Donald 351 Commandments, the . 444 
 
 Cana, marriage feast 357 Common Pleas, Court of. 29,42 
 
 Canaan 344 Commonwealth (Eng.) 70 
 
 Canada, 262, 263, 269, 271, 276, 285, 309, 313, 342 Connecticut 10, 222, 223, 270, 290, 3127370 
 
 Canadensis 199 Congregational Church 44 
 
 Canadians 327 Congressional Record n 
 
 Canker 186 Conjunction Saturn and Jupiter 151 
 
 Cape Breton 192, 267, 270, 340, 473 Coujuration 198 
 
 Cape Fear 268 Conscience- 450 
 
 Cape Good Hope 198 Constantine _. 185 
 
 Cape Horn. 204 Constantinople 308, 454 
 
 Captivity 15 Continental Congress ---43, 437 
 
 Carisbrooke Castle 70 Contrecoeur ---339 
 
 Carlos III, King 308 Convers, Dr. _ 31 
 
 Caroline, Matilda --.307 Cook.. 170 
 
 Caroline, Queen . --.307 Copenhagen _ 308 
 
 Cartesius 119, 124 Copernican Theory 92, 113 
 
 Carthage .- n, 313 Coquetilla 449 
 
 Carthaginians 343 Cornelius Agrippa 199 
 
 Catholics 403 Cornwall. 70 
 
 Cato 31, 235, 457 Court, Judgment of ....215 
 
 Ceciiba 419 Court, Supreme, Mass 24 
 
 Celestial \Vorlclsdiscovered 297 Crapulcz 366 
 
 Celsus .. . ...,. 265, 349 Creation, The 90, 256 
 
 Cervantes 363 Crevelt ..340 
 
 Chaldees... 15, 130 Cromwell (ians) 195, 264 
 
 Charles-Emanuel, King 308 Croswell 170 
 
 Charles-Frederick, King 308 Crown officers _ 398 
 
 Charles. King 195 Crown Point. 267, 270, 271, 272, 341, 342 
 
 Charles I 70, 439, 456 Cuckolds 139, 412 
 
 Charles II 17 Culloden . . 45, 200 
 
 Charles IX 287 Cumberland, N. Y., Co. of 34 
 
 Charles River. ---259 Cumberland, Duke of 45 
 
 Charlestown, Mass 36 Cumberland .339 
 
 Charlestown, S. C 268 ^ Currency 46, 150, 217 
 
 "Charlie Over the Water"... 45 --Currant wine 315, 324, 332 
 
 Chatham, Earl of _ 37 Gushing, John 25 
 
 Chaucer 169 Cybele 467 
 
 Chauncey 19 Customs of Nations 391 
 
 Cheever 19, 43 
 
 Cherbourg. 341 T~\ 
 
 Chester, N. Y. (East?) 35 JUaboll, Nathan n 
 
 Cheyne 100, 237, 238, 239, 278, 279, 321 Dacia, Petrus de 15, 59 
 
 Children s Hospitals.. 333 Dan, tribe of. - 229 
 
 China 273 Dana, Edmund - 33 
 
 Chinese 455 Danforth 18 
 
 Chloe.. 410 Daniel 185 
 
 Christ - - 185,378 D Anville, Duke - 345 
 
 Christ, Philos . 213 Daughters of Liberty 457 
 
 Chronology 185 Daun ...340,341 
 
 Chronos . 138 D 1. (Davenport) 168 
 
 Chue 47i Davenport - -.170 
 
 Church of England 180, 303 David s Psalms - 475 
 
 Cimbrians 4*9 Day Nurseries -333 
 
 Cimex lectularius n Daye, Stephen 
 
 "Cincinnati". 46 Dean, John Ward - 12 
 
 Circassia 453 Declaration of Independence 37, 438 
 
 Clark, Rev. Mr" ...... 30 Dedham, 12, 20, 132, 133, 184, 259,290, 297, 303 
 
 Clark, Mr 356 332, 335, 355, 358, 446 
 
 Clergymen. _. ._. 362 Dedham, Episcopal Church 30 
 
 Clermont " 340 Dedham, History of 24 
 
 Cleveland 61 135 Dedham Historical Register 29, 30 
 
 Clifford, Govcrnor"IIIIIIIIIIIIJIIIIIIII 4 Dedham Historical Society, 12,30,38,39,461 
 
4 8 4 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 DEDHAM, TOWN OF -- 23 
 
 DeFoe... --. 20 
 
 Delaware -- 438 
 
 Democratic Cake - 36 
 
 Denisoii .170 
 
 Denmark.. 308 
 
 Derham -- ..100, 101, 113, 114, 162 
 
 Detroit ---- ---35 1 
 
 Deus nobis haec Otia fecit --215 
 
 Devil ...198 
 
 Devil s Child 443 
 
 Deviltry - -- 456 
 
 Devotion 177 
 
 Dexter, Samuel 23, 33, 44 
 
 Dialogue 193 
 
 Diary 232 
 
 Diary of Nath. Ames 30 
 
 Dickinson, John 437, 441 
 
 Dictionary. -.. 383 
 
 Dieskau, Baron 271, 272, 339 
 
 Diet -.260 
 
 Diet, regimen of -.. 278 
 
 Dighton Rock 343 
 
 Dinwiddie, Robert 268 
 
 Diodorus Siculus --131 
 
 Discourse, political 417 
 
 Dobbs, Arthur -.268 
 
 Doctors 116 
 
 Dollars 240 
 
 Dollars, Spanish milled 308 
 
 Douglass, Dr. William 139 
 
 Douglass, Mass 140 
 
 Douglass... 141 
 
 Draper, 33, 47, 103, 109, 116, 125, 133, 142, 151, 
 159, 171, 179, 187, 195, 201, 208, 215, 225, 233, 
 241, 248, 255, 262, 274, 280, 289, 302, 313, 323, 
 333, 346, 359, 360, 365, 442, 447, 452. 
 
 Drummer, a play 31 
 
 Drought and Scarcity 334 
 
 Dryden, 21, 142, 143, 151, 173, 209, 234, 240, 
 242. 
 
 Dudley.., 19 
 
 Dudley, Paul 24,25 
 
 Duck, Stephen 126, 132 
 
 Du Pratz.. 404 
 
 Du Quesne, Fort 270, 272, 341 
 
 Dwarf 435 
 
 Dwights brook 42 
 
 Earthquake 290 
 
 Kast Indies 314, 329 
 
 Eclipses.. 7, 33, 34, 57, 68, 79, 241, 363, 377, 379 
 
 Edentown 268 
 
 Edes & Gill, 33, 34, 302, 313, 323, 333, 346, 360, 
 442, 447, 452. 
 
 Edinburgh, Scot... 45 
 
 Edward Augustus 307 
 
 Egypt 333, 345 
 
 Egyptians 15 
 
 Election, Boston 421 
 
 Electricity, discoveries in... 347 
 
 Eliot, Mr 383 
 
 Elizabeth, Czarina _ 341 
 
 Elizabeth, Empress ...308 
 
 Elizabeth, Queen 268, 320 
 
 Elliott.... 341 
 
 Ellsworth.. 370 
 
 Elvendene, Walter de 16 
 
 Endicott, John .137 
 
 England... 181, 184, 185, 339, 340, 378, 455, 459 
 
 English Courts 388, 389 
 
 England, History of. 383,438 
 
 English Malady.. 239 
 
 \ PAGE. 
 
 Entertainment for a Winter s Evening, 
 123, 463, 464. 
 
 Epicurus 118, 124 
 
 Erse 15 
 
 Esperies 184 
 
 Essay on Man 240 
 
 Esterling money 320 
 
 Etiam niortuus loquitur 248 
 
 Etmuller .. 181 
 
 Etrc es 340 
 
 Euclio ..136 
 
 Euroclydon 130 
 
 Europe _ 15, 203, 285 
 
 Exercise 260 
 
 Experientia docet 229 
 
 JT alerna 419 
 
 Fame, temple of 208 
 
 Farmer, the contented 318 
 
 Fashion ... 305, 306 
 
 Fayerweather 33 
 
 Felicity (personified) 430 
 
 Ferdinand 340 
 
 Ferriter, Nath l 471 
 
 Fevers 326 
 
 "Fifth Ward Hotel," N. Y. City 38 
 
 Fire Worshippers 166 
 
 Fisher 12, 23, 24, 28, 41 
 
 Fisher Ames Eltn 358 
 
 F sk._ 139 
 
 Fitch, Thomas 267 
 
 Fixed stars. 125, 298 
 
 Flainiuius... 419 
 
 Flanders 208, 267, 356 
 
 Flax 342 
 
 Flax Seed 335, 356 
 
 Fleeming, J._ 371 
 
 Fleet printer, 34, 289, 302, 313, 323, 333, 346, 
 
 360, 442, 447, 452. 
 
 Fools Paradise.. ^ 295 
 
 Fool in Sleeve 339 
 
 Forbes 341 
 
 Foreign Commodities 397 
 
 Forrest 340 
 
 Fort du Quesne-..- 339 
 
 Fort St. Phillip ---34O 
 
 Fortune ---381, 449 
 
 Foster.. 19 
 
 Foudroyant, le 340 
 
 Fountains and Springs 184 
 
 Fowl Meadow 355 
 
 France, 181, 200, 205, 262, 272, 285, 287, 308, 
 
 339, 342, 473, 
 
 Francis Stephen, Emperor 308 
 
 Franklin, Benjamin, 19, 20, 21, 31, 257, 261, 
 
 343,347, 357,420. 
 inklin, 
 
 Franklin, James.. 20 
 
 Frederick the Great-. 123 
 
 Frederick, King 308 
 
 Frederick, Prince of Wales 307 
 
 Frederick-William 307 
 
 Free Masonry ..116, 122, 207, 465 
 
 Freneau, Philip 358 
 
 Friendsh ip .449 
 
 Frontenac 341 
 
 Fryeburg Io8 
 
 Full Communion ---443 
 
 Fudderal Pan Cake 37 
 
 Funeral cu stoms 397 
 
 Future destiny 336 
 
 falen... 95, 213 
 
INDEX. 
 
 PAGE - PACK. 
 
 Galileo ..132 Henry II.. 
 
 Gallows and Scaffolds-. 191 Hcraclius 
 
 Ganzas 115, 214 Herodotus 
 
 Gardinier, Dr ---356 Hesperian 
 
 Gatchell, Increase- 28 Hesperus 
 
 Gay s Tavern ---42, 123 Hildreth, H. O 
 
 Gaza ..311 Hill, Don Gleason!!" 
 
 Gazette, Boston 29, 312 Hindus . 
 
 Gazetteer, Salmon s ---383 Hippocrates 
 
 Geography... 383 HISTORICAL"!!"" 
 
 George I 56,454 History of American Literature Jh 
 
 George, Lake 270 History of Printing .. 
 
 George, Prince of Wales 307 Hob or Nob 
 
 George II. ...55, 58, 119, 239, 302, 307, 308, 341 Home production 
 
 George III 37, 313, 323, 332, 341, 351 Homer !! 
 
 Georgia ..266, 268, 269, 344, 382 Honesty .. 
 
 Germany 285,308 Hopkins, Stephen.. "! "267 
 
 Gerould, Dr.. 26 Horns.. 
 
 Gibbs and Wansley, pirates... n Hornsmiths . 
 
 Gill 33 Horse, Dr "S 
 
 Glassychord ..... 347 Hot day, June 18,. 1749 "_"." 220 
 
 Goelet, Capt. Francis, diary 471 Hottentot ~\6-j 
 
 Gold, weight and value of 307 ^ouse of Entertainment" 
 
 Golden Age... 440,443 How(e) "" _. ""siVaS 
 
 Good Hope, Cape of ..391 Hubbard, Mother ..288 
 
 Goree 34I Hudibras.. . 70, 209, 214, 234*240 
 
 Government, Essay on 45<> Hudson s Bay . 
 
 Greece.. 410 Huggins (Huygens ?) ... " 101 
 
 Greeks 15,469 Hugh ! ""467 
 
 Green, B....5, 47, 51, 55, 59, 65, 70, 76, 83, 103 - Human Understanding" 
 
 Green, Joseph 123,463,472,475,477 Hungary 184 708 
 
 Greenland 391 Husbandry, Rules for ./. 369 
 
 Greenleaf, Sheriff ... 33 Hussy.. .. 204 
 
 Green & Russell, 289, 302, 313, 323, 333, 346, Hutchins Farmers Almanack !!!! 9 
 
 360. Huvgens 113 297 
 
 Green, Samuel 18,47 Hybernians... " 42 o 
 
 Green, Timothy 312 Hybla ~ 7 2 8 
 
 Greenwood, Mr.. 25 Hymettus 
 
 Gregorian Calendar... 239, 247, 248 
 
 Grenoble 184 T 
 
 Grenville 32 1 1 193 
 
 Grissippo 433 Iceland ...! ..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!i84 
 
 Grub Street 477 Ides of March 346 
 
 Guadalaxara 184 fern s Fatuus 188 
 
 Guadaloupe... 341 India 325, 428 
 
 Guild, John F 12 Indian Dialect .66 
 
 Guinea.. 341 Indians 182, 204, 343, 388, 404, 478 
 
 Guinne ...184 Infants, care of. 330 
 
 *Sun Powder Plot ...99, 102, 115, 132, 163, 175 Inoculation 453 
 
 Guy Fawkes 222 Inscription over Chimney Piece 448, 451 
 
 Intemperance, art of --.238 
 
 H Inverness 200 
 ales, Dr ...322,331 Ireland 341 
 
 Halifax, Nova Scotia 47 Irish 15 
 
 Hammond 363 Iron works.. 408 
 
 Hanover 195, 340, 438 Island of Tranquil Delights 461 
 
 Hardy, Sir Charles 267 Israelites 14 
 
 Harli treeve 169 Italy 267 
 
 Harvard..,. 185,463 
 
 Harvard College.. 18,372,379 T 
 
 Harvey. _ 415 Jack Frost. 244 
 
 Havannah. 336,342 "Jack Pudding"... 288 
 
 Haven 37 Jackson, Mr 408 
 
 Haven, address of. 43 Jacob, Seed of. 308 
 
 Haven, Reverend 44 Jamaica 379 
 
 Havre de Grace 341 James, I 17 
 
 Health and Long Life 239 Jarchus, .Solomon. 15 
 
 Hector 185 Jehovah and Jupiter 362 
 
 Hemiptera ir Jenner, Dr 460 
 
 Hempen Cravats 319 Jersey 271 
 
 Henchman, Daniel 356 Jesus Christ 185 
 
 Henrietta, Queen ---459 Jews 15 
 
 Henry VIII 415, 443 Joan 218 
 
 Henry Frederick 307 Johannot 47 
 
486 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Johnnades, Zechariah .131 
 
 "Johnnie Cope " 45 
 
 Johnson 214, 270, 272, 339, 341 
 
 John W - 10 
 
 Jokes and jokers . --443 
 
 Jordan s flood ---465 
 
 Joseph, King 308 
 
 Josephus 378 
 
 Joshua, and the Sun 93 
 
 Julian year 246 
 
 Julius Ccesa r 247, 346 
 
 Junpnville 339 
 
 Jupiter and Lady Venus 183 
 
 Juvenal _ 234, 240 
 
 Lyon and Unicorn 
 Lynde, Benjamin.. 
 Lynne, Nicolas de. 
 
 .420 
 - 2s 
 
 M, 
 
 K. 
 
 Lamschatka --39* 
 
 Keith 341 
 
 Kent, England 438 
 
 Kentuckjr 422, 478 
 
 Kepler 221 
 
 Kindrick 170 
 
 Kneeland 311 
 
 Knight, Madam 42 
 
 cAlpine -. 33, 371, 381, 389, 400 
 
 McCaulej , Catherine 438, 441 
 
 McDougall, Lieut 351 
 
 Macauley, Dr. George _ 438 
 
 Macauley, T. B 438 
 
 ^Madeira 267, 324, 421, 422, 443 
 
 Madrid 308 
 
 Magellan 204 
 
 Magicians 199 
 
 Malabar ---457 
 
 Manure 355 
 
 Marcy, Colo.. 232 
 
 Marlborough.. 340, 341, 353 
 
 Marie ... . 355 
 
 Maria Theresa, Queen 308 
 
 Marriage 449, 450 
 
 Marriage Ceremony 420 
 
 Martin, Aaron 232 
 
 Martin, Melatiah .167, 168 
 
 Martinico 341 
 
 L Maryland 268, 270, 437 
 adies, Definition of _ 450 Mary, Princess 307 
 
 Ladies, unmarried 249 Masonry 116, 207 
 
 Ladies, page for 328 Massachusetts 267 
 
 Lake Erie 339 Massachusetts Bay 133, 240, 290, 308 
 
 Lake George 301,340 Massachusetts Mistorical Society 43 
 
 Lalande 15 Massachusetts Hospital Life Ins. Co. .. 38 
 
 Lancashire 184 Massachusetts Medical Society 29 
 
 Land Bank 468 Massagetes ---419 
 
 Land Title of Colonies. 344 Mather 19, 25, 46, 87, 88, 107, 108, 213 
 
 Lapland 391, 424 Maurice, Prince 132 
 
 Law - _ 449 Maynard, J. P. 30 
 
 Lawful Money i .307,308 Mecca 428 
 
 Law, John 45 Mecaenus, advice of .. 65 
 
 Lawrence, Charles 266 Medical advice _ 237 
 
 Lawyers _ . . 1 1 6 Medicine 416 
 
 Lay Pretenders 363, 370 Medicine and Health 240 
 
 Leach, Emma 436,441 Meiii (Printer) 34 
 
 Lee, Samuel ---105, 108 Mercer... 271, 272 
 
 Legiboli 391 Mercurius Dulcis 181 
 
 Letnnian 432 Me.rcurius Novanglicanus 139 
 
 Leviathan 147 Mercurj^ 121, 122, 321 
 
 Lewis XV, King 308 Mercury (Live Silver) _ ...326, 332 
 
 Lexington, action at 36 Mercury, transit of.. _ 241 
 
 Lex talionis 269 Merlin 287, 288 
 
 Leyden 139 Merry Mount 135, 137 
 
 Libert} 7 365 Metcalf, Theron 40 
 
 Licensed victuallers 345 Metonic Cycles .. 17 
 
 Lilly, William .70, 71, 121, 125 Microscope, Essay on 146 
 
 Linacre 415 Middleboro .131 
 
 Lippincott, Biog. Diet 438 Militan^ Affairs, Preference in ...269 
 
 Lisbon 308 Milky Way (poem).. 156 
 
 Lissa 340 Milton. 21, 171, 188, 295, 363, 402, 408, 409 
 
 Littleton, William 268 Milton, Mass .. 26,43,356,373 
 
 Locke 325, 402, 408, 418, 450 Milton paper mill --S9& 
 
 London, Eng., 18, 185,188,308,333,415,418, Minorca 273,274,340 
 
 438,470. Misfortunes .. . 449 
 
 Lorrain, Duke of _ 308 Mississippi 270,285,404 
 
 Lost tribes of Israel 343 Modern Saints 367 
 
 Loudoun, Lord 271 Momus ...207 
 
 Louisa-Ann 307 Monckton 266 
 
 Louisbourg 192, 200, 261 Money (June) .210 
 
 Louisiana 404 Monongahela. 263, 339 
 
 Lovell 1 86 Mons 184 
 
 Lovewell 186 Montagu, Lady Wortley ---454, 455 
 
 Low, (Nathaniel). 34, 359 Montcalm 340, 341 
 
 Ludd ... ---185 Montreal 272, 341 
 
 Luxury 366 Moon, Rising and Setting of. 334 
 
 Lycurgus 458 Moore, Francis 17 
 
INDEX. 
 
 487 
 
 More, C., Almanack of 269 
 
 Morning Drams 171 
 
 Morning Glory - 178 
 
 Morris, Robert Hunter .. 268 
 
 Morton, Thomas 135, 136 
 
 Moses.. - 14, 130, 131, 164 
 
 Mount Dagon 137 
 
 Mount Vernon 438 
 
 Mulberry trees 384, 400 
 
 Mtimford 34 
 
 Minister 341 
 
 Muscovian Weed - 328 
 
 N, 
 
 .66, 69, 
 ---33, i 
 
 iamasket River 
 
 Narraganset 
 
 Natchez _ - 404 
 
 Nation, how ruined and reformed 444 
 
 National Debt- - 45 
 
 Navigator _ 450 
 
 Nazrow, Mrs 31 
 
 Necromancers 199 
 
 Negro Steak . 478 
 
 Neoera . . . ...410 
 
 Neponset River 259, 355 
 
 Nestor 467 
 
 Newcastle - 184 
 
 New England, 133, 185, 226, 261, 266, 344, 456, 
 
 466, 473. 
 
 " New England Almanack" 61 
 
 New England Hist. Geneal. Society 12, 471 
 New England Jour, of Med. and Surg. . . 140 
 New England, settlement and increase 
 
 of. - 342 
 
 Newfoundland 270, 342, 378 
 
 New Halifax 219 
 
 New Hampshire. ..267 
 
 New Haven - 312 
 
 New Jersey . 267 
 
 New Lights 167 
 
 New London 312 
 
 New Milford 223, 224 
 
 Newport, R. I._ 31 
 
 "News Letter," Boston 82 
 
 "New Stile" ---234 
 
 New Tenor 150 
 
 Newton, Sir Isaac, 87, 88, 140. 141, 221, 402, 
 
 408, 411. 
 
 New York 267, 269, 271, 290, 333, 342 
 
 Niagara 270, 271, 272, 341 
 
 Nice, Council of 246, 247 
 
 Nixon, the Cheshire prophet 288 
 
 Noah... 357 
 
 Nodes... -. 6,49 
 
 Non-Importation. 397 
 
 Norfolk Mass.) Co. of. .... . 29 
 
 North America, past, present and future 
 
 state of... 284 
 
 North Carolina.. 268 
 
 Norway --- 383 
 
 Nostradamus, Michael 287 
 
 Nova Scotia 266, 271, 284, 344 
 
 Nova-Zembla 39 1 
 
 Nuremburg 17 
 
 Oakes 18 
 
 Oebalia 428 
 
 Ohio 270, 272, 284, 292, 301, 339, 341, 402 
 
 Old Moore s Almanack 17 
 
 "Old Nick" -. 346 
 
 -OLD TAVERN 
 
 Old style ceases 239 
 
 I A ,1. 
 
 Old Tenor, 25, 46, 150, 218, 222, 225, 232, 233, 
 
 240, 244, 248, 255, 307, 308, 314. 
 Old Tenor, lamentation for th-j di-ath of.472 
 
 Oliver, Mr.. 
 
 Ontario, Lake 271,340 
 
 Orphan, a play 32,467 
 
 Or pli L-C 340 
 
 Osborn 340 
 
 Osman, Sultan 308 
 
 Oswego... 271, 272, 273, 274, 340 
 
 Oxallana 402 
 
 Oxford, ( University of is 
 
 Oxford, (Eng.) i > 
 
 Oxford... . 416 
 
 Oxiiard, Thomas 468, 471 
 
 \ adolia 184 
 
 *age for the Gentlemen 352 
 
 Pallas 469 
 
 Palmer, Thomas _ 33 
 
 Panthea - 187 
 
 Papal Power 309 
 
 Paper making 356, 357 
 
 Paper manufacture 373 
 
 Paper money - 204 
 
 Paper rags .". 398, 408, 409 
 
 Paris ---139, 3 8 , 39 1 
 
 Parker 217, 222 
 
 Parker, J. & Company 312 
 
 Parliament 44 1 
 
 Parnassus 324 
 
 Partridge, John 80,81,82, 248,449 
 
 Pennsylvania 268, 285, 356, 414, 438 
 
 Penobscot 4/6 
 
 Pepperell 270 
 
 Perry, Hon. Amos 12 
 
 Persecutor s Hell - 192 
 
 Persia 325,453,454 
 
 Perspiration, doctrine of- 349 
 
 Peru. - - 323, 378, 428 
 
 Peter, Saint 10 
 
 Petersburg (St.) . 38, 3H 
 
 Petersham - 205 
 
 Peter III, Emperor of Russia.. 341 
 
 Petrus de Dacia --- 15, 59 
 
 Pettyfoggers -- - 3 6 2 
 
 Pharoah 345 
 
 Philadelphia - 268, 333, 342, 419 
 
 Philip, King 185 
 
 Phoenix, John 59 
 
 Phrenix 43, 43 1 
 
 Physick, Essay on 4 T 3 
 
 Pierce, William s 
 
 Pillar of Fire H 
 
 Pillar of Liberty.. 37, 38 
 
 Pimps 443 
 
 Pismires - J 88 
 
 Pitt s Head ... 40 
 
 Pitt, William 37,38? 
 
 Plague in London 181 
 
 Planets 6, 49, 113, 245, 297 
 
 Plutarch 
 
 Plymouth - 85 
 
 Plymouth, Mass. 136 
 
 Poem, stray (Ames) 221 
 
 Poet, precocious 225 
 
 Poland 184,285,308 
 
 Pollok s Course of Time 115 
 
 iMward 6l 
 
 Pondicherry 3 ! 4 
 
 Pontiac 35 1 
 
 Poor Richard - M 
 
 Poor Richard s Almanack 19 
 
488 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. PAGE. 
 
 Poor Robin (Almanack) 75 RISE OF THE ALMANACK 18 
 
 Pope, Alex r, 21, 81, 133, 141, 180,208, 214, 235, Robie, Thomas 19 
 
 236,362,363. Rochefort --.340 
 
 Pope (of Rome) --i39> 170, 382, 422, 440 Rochefoucauld 20 
 
 Population, estimate of. ---344 Rogers, G 463 
 
 Porsenna 422.423 Rogue s March . 45 
 
 Porteous, Capt. John .. _". 45 Roman Father (a play) 31 
 
 Porte, Sublime 454 Romans 261 
 
 Portugal 267, 308 Roman soldiers.- 300 
 
 Post, Boston Evening 28 Rome 185,410 
 
 Post Roads. .. 379 Rosbach 340 
 
 Potash 383, 384 Ross, Alec 467 
 
 Powder plot.. 192, 219, 390 Roxbury 370 
 
 Prague.. 340 Royal Ark Mariners ... 357 
 
 Presbyteiian 139 Nloyal Exchange ---47 
 
 Press gangs _ --403 Royal family 307 
 
 Preston 440 Royal Society.. 322 
 
 Pretender. 45 Rum 238,367 
 
 Price, Ezekiel 42 Rush 32 
 
 Price, Henry 123 Russel Colvin Miracle n 
 
 Priests 116 Russell 289 
 
 Prince Charlie 194 Russell, Ezekiel 35, 436 
 
 Printing, invented 185 Russia 308, 383, 422, 434 
 
 Printing, History of 289 Rusticus 385 
 
 Prockter 170 Rusticus on Rats... ---45i 
 
 Prosinda. 427 
 
 Prostitutes 448 O 
 
 Protection - -332 Oabsea J .428 
 
 Providence, R. I... 12, 267 Sabbath Day s Journey _ 323 
 
 Provinces, account of 266 Sacrament, Lake ...270 
 
 Province Laws 24 St. Antonip 466 
 
 Prussia 308, 340 St. Catharine 467 
 
 Prussia, King of 456 St. Crispin. 466 
 
 Psalm XC 254 St. Evremonde 458 
 
 Psalm CLI -- 476 St. Francis 124, 466 
 
 Ptolemy... 79, 121, 125 St. Helena 314 
 
 Pue _ 124,469,470 St. John 465 
 
 Puffer, Abel. 422, 478, 479 St. Lawrence.- 270, 272 
 
 Punch 319, 352, 353, 354 St. Maloes -.340 
 
 Purgatory 152, 254 St. Nicolas 467 
 
 Puritans 122, 135 St. Omers 184 
 
 Pynson, Richard 17 St. Peter, Abbe de 418 
 
 Pyramids 15 St. Pierre, M de 270, 271 
 
 Pythagoras no St. Remy 287 
 
 Salem, Mass 19 
 
 QSaltonstall, Richard 25 
 uack doctors 361 Salvation 33 6 
 
 Quaker... 139, 303, 312 Samson .. 185 
 
 Quebeck 200, 272, 308, 341 Sardinia. 3 8 
 
 Queen Anne s War 266 Saturn, poem on_ 207 
 
 Queen Bess 450 Saunders, Richard 19 
 
 Savilian Library, Oxford. 15 
 
 R Saviour s birth 307 
 abelais 20, 22 Sawbridge 438 
 
 Rags 356 Saxe Gotha 307 
 
 Raleigh, Sir Walter 268 Saxony --34, 45 
 
 Ralph and Will, a dialogue 152 Saybrook, Conn 19 
 
 Ralph Reason Right 154 Scalping Knife 33 s 
 
 Rape of the Lock 81 Scholar and Clown 193 
 
 Rattle Snake bite ....422, 478 Scotland 139, 184, 246 
 
 Red Sea 378 Schuyler 271 
 
 Reformation, the... .443 Seekonk --- T 35 
 
 Regimen, Essay on 249, 253, 259 Senate - ---457 
 
 Regio-Montanus .. 16, 17 Senator - 45 
 
 Regular troops 398 Seneca - - I3 1 
 
 Religion . 450 Senegal 34 
 
 Religious Disputes 176 Senses, the five 3 l6 , 3*7 
 
 Restoration 70 Separatists ---205 
 
 Revenge, a play 31 Sessions, Court of... 29,42 
 
 Reynolds, John 269 Sewall, Stephen _. 25 
 
 Rhode 184 Sextons - -3 6 7 
 
 Rhode Island 121, 135, 267, 290, 467 Shakspeare 69, 402, 408 
 
 Rhode I. Hist. Socy 12 Sharpe, Hon. Horatio - 268 
 
 Richardson, James 40 Shawmut 133 
 
INDEX. 
 
 4 <S 9 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 
 Sheapheard s Kaleudar 17 Sun Time 
 
 Shenstone ..363 Supreme Court (Mass.)!! 
 
 Shepard ....170 Surgery "416 
 
 Sheppard, John 45 Sweden 
 
 Sherman, Roger 222,223,224 Swift 20, 80, 81 , "sV tfh AAQ 
 
 Shipton, Mother ...288 Swivel-tailed Marines 
 
 Shirley... 158, 192, 263, 267, 269, 270 Sword and Ploughshare .. 
 
 Shuttleworth 30, 38 Sydenham ... 
 
 Siberia 314 
 
 Sickness in Camp 298 T"* 
 
 Sidrophel 70 I ancred and Sigismunda, a plav . -u 
 
 v Sign of The Law Book" 41 {Tavern Keepers 335 
 
 *4Sign of the Sun" 229,239 ITaverns "165 
 
 Signs 49,245 (Tavern sign .." . 24166 
 
 Signs and Planets 315 {Tavern slander 
 
 Signs Discontented, poem 459 [Tea - - 329, 332", 7aS,~457 
 
 Signs of Zodiac 6 Tea drinking 140 
 
 Silk culture 389 Tea, East India 4=0 
 
 Silk manufacture 384 Tellus 
 
 Silk worms 384, 407 Temple of Fame " Voc i 214 
 
 Silver currency 328 Tennant. 170 
 
 Silver scheme ..468 Terra Canadensis _ "226 
 
 Silver, value of 307 Thacher, Samuel ""...."" ". . .. 171 
 
 Sir t us .189 Thales .1-1 
 
 Skilling ---37 Thanks from Gaols . -578 
 
 Slitting Mill... 408 Thatcher 170 
 
 Small-Pox ---314, 320, 452, 460 Thompson 246, 247 
 
 Smollett 391, 399 Thomson 21 
 
 Snuff.. 252, 353 Throat Distemper ---"253 
 
 Socrates 458 Thurott (Thuriot ? 341 
 
 Solar Time 246 -Ticonderoga 340, 341 
 
 Soldiers, Roman 300 Time (personified) 434 
 
 Solar System. -. 206, 295 Titcomb 264, 269 
 
 Solomon Jarchus 15 Tit/ion 456 
 
 Somers, John 16 Tobacco 352,353 
 
 Sons of Liberty. 37, 470 To-day and To-morrow _ ....201 
 
 Sons of Malta 366 Tomlinson 468 
 
 Sons of Urania... 63 Tooth-ach 450 
 
 Sorcerers 199 Trecothick, Alderman 
 
 South Carolina 121, 268 Trojans 469 
 
 South Carolina, Courts ...81, 92 Troy 185 
 
 South Church 134 Tryon 440 
 
 Southcott, Joanna 288 Tully, John 19 
 
 South Sea Bubble 45 Turin 308 
 
 Spain 15, 181, 186, 267, 308, 336, 341 Turkey 308, 453, 454 
 
 Spaniards ...269 Turks 173, 402 
 
 Spaniels 449 Turner, Lewis. 469 
 
 Spanish milled dollars 240 Turpin, Richard 45 
 
 Spanish Silver... _. 333 Tweed, river 190 
 
 Spectator 176, 177, 243 Tyber, river 418 
 
 Spleen 440 Tyburn 45, 268 
 
 Sprague, Dr 31 Tyburnians 420 
 
 Spurina 346 Tyler, Prof. Moses Coit.. 12, 20, 108, 122,463 
 
 Stages 379 
 
 Stamp 377 TT 
 
 Stamp Act 32, 37, 38, 372, 380, 387 Ulme 16 
 
 Standish, Capt... 137 Urania. 
 
 Stanislaus, King.. ...308 Urania, Bont of. 63, 65 
 
 Star in the East 422 Utrecht, treaty of. 266 
 
 Stars, Morning and Evening 316 
 
 Stationers, Company of 71 \J 
 
 Steele 20 V anity 45 
 
 Sterns, Sam 34 Vardy, Luke 47 
 
 Stiles, Rev. Ezra.. 343 Vaux-Hall --.230 
 
 Stimson, Fred. J 39 Venus, Transit of 34, 314 
 
 Stockholm 308 Vesuvius, Mt. 184 
 
 Stone s (tavern). 468, 471 Vermont 343 
 
 Stoughton, Mass 478, 479 Verrazani 
 
 Stowel, Thaddeus 34 Victory, invocation to... 
 
 Stuart, James 45 l iaa 47 
 
 Styles, Mr 343 Vienna _ 3 8 
 
 Suffolk Co., Mass 42 Vi et armis 244 
 
 Suffolk resolutions. 43 Vineyards 
 
 Sumner, Seth 26 Vintners 
 
490 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Virgil- 214, 242 
 
 Virginia 268, 270, 381 
 
 Voltaire 37 
 
 Vose, Daniel. - 43 
 
 Vox Ste.llarum.. 17 
 
 W 
 
 -371 
 
 . K., letter from 
 
 Wales. - - 184 
 
 Walpole, Robert 45 
 
 Wardell - 17 
 
 Warming pans - --- 1/4 
 
 War notes -.294 
 
 Warren, Gen. Joseph 43 
 
 Warren s Chambers. 31 
 
 Warsaw 3 8 
 
 War verses. - 291 
 
 Washington 269, 270, 339, 438 
 
 Waterloo- - --- n 
 
 Watts. Dr 61, 247 
 
 Weather Judgment 179 
 
 Webb 271 
 
 Webster - 45 
 
 Webster s Dictionary 214 
 
 Weekly News Letter ...So, 121 
 
 Wendell, Capt. 47* 
 
 Wentworth, Benning.._ 267 
 
 Wereburga 466 
 
 West, (Benjamin) 34 
 
 Western Post 263 
 
 Western Reserve Historical Society 135 
 
 West Indies 3 2 9 
 
 Westminster (England) 37 
 
 Whatever is, is right 410 
 
 Wheelock -.170 
 
 Whiston, Rev. Mr... 164 
 
 Whitefield, Rev. George 142 
 
 White (Peregrine) 185 
 
 Whitfield... 170 
 
 Whiting. Mrs 35 
 
 Whooping Cough, Recipe for 479 
 
 Wiggen 184 
 
 Wigglesworth, Michael 108 
 
 Wild Geese 96 
 
 William, Duke of Cumberland 200, 307 
 
 William Henry Ft 307, 340 
 
 William, King 195 
 
 William (III) ... 17 
 
 Williams 264, 269 
 
 Williamsburg 268 
 
 Windy Weather 449 
 
 Wine making 448 
 
 Winslow 262, 266, 269, 271, 272 
 
 Winthrop, Govr 47 
 
 Win throp. John 33 
 
 Witchcraft ...198 
 
 Wives and Mistresses. 403 
 
 Wolfe, General 308, 309, 310, 311, 313, 341 
 
 Woodward, Dick... 35 
 
 Woodward, Mrs 41 
 
 Woodward, Richard.. 29, 35, 36, 43 
 
 Wood ward s Tavern 4* > 43 
 
 World, beginning of.. 131 
 
 World, destruction of 213 
 
 Worm Seed 107 
 
 Worthington, Erastus 12 
 
 Worthington (historian)... 24 
 
 X 
 
 antippe 458 
 
 I ale College -.. 343 
 
 Yorkshire 288 
 
 Young ._ 363 
 
 Z/ainer, John 16 
 
 Zealand 131 
 
 Zodiac, signs of, poem ...216 
 
 Zomdorff. 341 
 
 Mend, (Gentle Reader} what escapes amiss, 
 And then it matters not whose Fault it is ; 
 For, all men sin, since Adam first Trans grest : 
 The Printer sins ; I sin much like the rest : 
 
 Yet here our Comfort is, though both Offend, 
 We to our Faults can quickly put 
 
 AN 
 
 1 Capt. George Wharton, " Student in Astronomy," author of " HEM- 
 EROSCOPEION," 1652. 
 

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