Ames Township (part 2 of 4)

Comets or Blazing Stars, are a sort or kind of Plajiets; They may be stiled Pla?iets, because they revolve about the same Su?i 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 the Universe, at vast Distances both from the Plaiiets, and from one another. As they descend to the Sim 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 doleful 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 respe(5live 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 Saturn ; 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 discover more and more of these Starry Globes ; and after all, perhaps we cannot see the thousandth Part of what the Heavens contain.

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, for the Nourishment and Support of our Lives, relates more to our Health and Comfort; and has more Power to prevent Diseases, 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 Proportion, without being balanced with Farinacious^ Substances, Fruits and Herbage) naturally produce Acrimon}- in the Blood, and daih' dispose it to a state of Putrefaction. I have forgot the Number of Days Dodl. Arbiirthnot asserts, that a Meat Diet without Bread, and only Water for Drink, will certainly produce a Fever in ; but he is ver}- particular, and the Time he sets is short. If Water, which is simple and innocent, cannot withstand the Alkaline- State of Blood, which such a Diet produces; spirituous Liquors substituted in the stead of Water, will produce 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 the}' kept so clean, nor enjoy quite so good an Air, therefore they are more sicklj'.

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 sufficienth' attenuated, and they will retain their original Qualities, which ever tends to Putrefacflion ; 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 Dj-senteries, and other atrocious Distempers.

But methinks I hear my Countrj-men 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 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 mealj' 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 Sianmiim Bonurn Rum, being dealt out freely; and all this without any Wine, Lemmons, Cyder, Apples, or Acescent Substance, to make a Balance between the Acid and Alkaline Salts of the Blood, it is not to be wondered, wh}- 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 conies 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 negle(5ts, 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 pradliced by the common Soldiers, some Lives might be saved, and many made more able and effective to answer the Purposes they are imployed about.

Xotes on I759. - " Grim visag'd war" is announced in the opening verses, and in common with the Astrologic prophet, the Doctor predicts the advent of the Comet of 1762, to be " big with Fate," and "portentous of events." The Ahnanack is increased in size this year to twenty-four (24) pages, including more information />r£» bono publico.

The muse continues her extravagances and in varied form. An Earthquake 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.

Almanack For 1760

Contatning, The Sun'a and &Moon'3rifing and fetting, - Eclipfes, - Time of. High - Water, - Lunitions, - Afpefts.-^Cpurts Spring -Tides, - Jadgrtiemof the Weather -

MARS .like a. wild Infernal Fury ftalks, And marks his Steps in Blood whereVc" he walks ; But i'eacc would frpm her' Native Heay'a dcfcchd. And OfiveBra'odhcs to 'the Nation lend.-

Thro' the Kindness of Heaven in preser\-ing my Life another Year, and 5'our free Acceptance of my Labours for so long past, I am enabled and encouraged to present you with this my Thirtyfifth 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 Almanack, and made an Ephemeris in a Page b^' 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 Sedl 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 3'ou 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 j^ou behold with 3'our naked Eye, or that you can see with the Assistance of Glasses, are so many Suns to whole S^'stems 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 probation State with the Supreme Applause will be received into some of the happy Worlds, where they will possess perfedl Joy : Where all the Errors of this World will be amended, and whatever exists there, analogous to this present State, will be in infinite Perfection.

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.

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 3'ou him understand) His erring Mate, " you make yourself a Man."

" 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.

The Life 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.

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 eff"ecls ; Heaven, Earth & Air, & Seas

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.

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 j^our Merit by your Taylor's Bill ; Concluding he to Wit has no Pretence, Whose lasting Serge was bought at small Expence.

NOVEMBER. The happy Men that first possest this Earth, Spent their dear Hours in endless Rounds of Mirth The}^ 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 djunken Fits ensu'd. Acorns and Strawberries were all their Food ; From painful Cares of Luxury the\' 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.

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

Gotha, born 30th of November 17 19, 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 lyouisa- Ann ; 7 Frederick-William ; 8 Caroline Matilda.

Important is the Cause. All British Hearts 'Twixt Hope and Fear expetft 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.

" Behold on yonder Earth, the British Troops, " True to their GOD, and valiant for their King, " Compell'd to Arms bj' Gallic Perjury, " I,ed 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 Viclory half-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 my Hand, and own a Power Divine.

" 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.

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 wisli'd Victory : 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 glitfring 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 dusk)' Horrors rise. With blazing Confidence the Foes rush on. And with quick Vollies hurl the leaden Showers, Which thrice the British Troops bravely sustain,

Notes Oil 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 popular 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. 2S9) in declining to furnish copies to the booksellers.

There being no copyright la~u' 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.

Coppers sin,s;le. Corrected from the Mistakes and Blunders of those printed by some of the Printers of Boston." Then to add insult to injury they (the booksellers) appended :

" N. B. As some of the Printers of the Town of Boston seem determin'd to impose on the Publick : - This is to inform, that to the great Abuse of Dr. Anies^ 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 impos'd on by giving an Extravagant Price for said Almanacks."

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 prevent its ha\-ing 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 Sers'ice, Interest Tables, Value of Coin, the several Roads and Stages : and further to make me appear still more Contemptible omitted All 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 !

S@^ 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 Countrymen, whose Good I seek, and on whose Good-will I depend.

The recorded "pirated" editions published previous to this date, and during the lifetime of the author, bore the following imprints : 1757 New Englajid ; 1 758-59, A'^zf Haven : J. Parker cf Company ; 1764, ^^ Printing office New Haven ;" 1765, " Reprifited 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 ; remembers " the friendly Sect of Men called Quakers," etc., etc., closing with an allusion to that " happy World " where all errors typographical and otherwise will be amended.

Almanack For 1761

The accession to the throne of George the Third, is celebrated in heroic verse, and in the monthly lines. Temperance, Truth, Cause and Effect, Inconstancj', 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 Wolfed

BOSTON : Printed by John Draper, in Cornhill ; Richard Draper in Newbury-Street ; Green & RusSELL, & Edes & GiLi. in Queen-Street: and Thomas & John Fleet, 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 w-ant 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.

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 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 Perfedlion : Nevertheless to bring some Points in this sublime Art to a yet greater Degree of Perfecftion the curious and learned Mathematicians of this Age expedl a curious Phenomenon the sixth day of Jicne, 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 Loyidon 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 Pondicherry, 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 Subjedl 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 decorate the Almanack this Year with Poetry of my ozvii composing, except the Lines at the Top of the Eclipse-Page, which were sent me after the Copy was sent to the Press. Nath. Ames.

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.

© Sun 1? Saturn % Jupiter c? Mars ? Venus ^ Mercury - 3 Moon Q Dragon's Head ^ Dragon's Tail (=) Earth. One Sfar 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.

r The Eye, surprizing Instrument of Sight ! [- -| Within whose Orb reflecled Rays of Light i!!;; (^ Transcribe the Image of external Things, ^ r And Notice to the Mind immediate brings, '-Q X From the vast Range of distant Stars and Skies,

> -; Whose winding Porch collects the trembling Air, ^ (^ Sonorous Cave ! from Bends and Hollows come '^ r The speaking Echoe.'s on the sounding Drum, ^ -^ Where living Cords impress the ready Mind, And raise the Man above the brutal Kinds.

!The Sense of Feeling on the Frontiers stands. With Scouts and Guards on Finger's Ends and Hands ; Nervous Detachments, Legions on the skin Ct^ ( 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.

The Taste's commission'd to discuss the Food, [a -I And make Report whether 'tis bad or good : N ( The Mouth to hold this Office is ordaiu'd, ^ ( That nothing there might pass but what has gain'd ^ -| A Passport with the greatest Scrutiny V. Upon it's pleasing wholesome Quality.

When the ^therial Blue with Clouds is spread. And dorment Lightnings hover over Head ; Soon as the Flash has launch'd the livid Flame, It darts and biirns along th' electric Train, The dire Explosion leaves the light'ned Air, To shine in cool Serenity and Fair.

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. L,et Hills and Mists withhold their kind Supply, Brooks fail and leave their o'ozy Channels dry.

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.

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 Refra6tion of the Light Sudden would flash the Day and rush the Night.

The Atmosphere Sol'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 P'rost and Snow, Where Flowers and P^ruits adorn their Slopes below.

Saturn sheds malignant Influence on Monks, Fryars and Jesuits. How pleasant is the Draught of modern Punch this sultry Weather ? It is reviving.

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 Necessity 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 Hebrezv Talent in Silver is ;/^375, in Gold ^4500.

Artiabalipa King of Peric (being taken by the Spaniards who conquered his Country) pa3'''d for his Ranson Ten Million Three Hundred a7id Twefity-Six Thotisand Dticats in Gold ; nevertheless the Spaniards after they had got his Money, put him to Death. The Priests, after having described Heaven and Hell to him, told him thej^ 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.

The Small-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 Distemper by an Epidemic Constitution of the Air, or State of the Blood & Juices favouring the same, wdthout the putrid Effluvia of the Variolus Pus of the diseased Person be received into the Blood and Juices of the Person that is infedled, - And this Distemper so produced is capable of being propagated from Individual to Individual (a few rare Instances excepted) till the whole Race of Men throughout the World would have it, if the}' 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 into the Blood and Juices of the Person infected, by some Fermentation or Mechanic Operation, changes the Figure & Magnitude of a eertain Set of Salts in the Blood ; which Salts, being thus altered, become like so many exotick Bodies, or to speak familiarly, like the Points of Thorns broke off in the Flesh, and thereupon become incompatible with a State of Rest, Ease & Health ; and Nature takes the same Method for their Expulsion, viz. by raising as many PJilegmons as there are Bodies, or Clusters of Bodies, to be expelled. And from this Theory all the Phenomena of this Distemper may be solved.

Whoever considers the Nature of Mercury ; its wonderfull Effedts & Operations on the Humane Body, it's Minuteness and Gravity, the Sphericit}^ of its Particles, and their Power to break and divide the Corrosiveness and Pointedness of the Salts in the Blood, to render those lyiquors of the Body innocent and harmless, 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- Po x : The Blood assisted by any considerable Quantit)^ of Mercury, to that of the Blood unassisted, to remove an ObstrucSlion, will be as 3000 to I : This has been proved by Docft. 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 Bod)^ be rightly prepared, I conceive it is not much Matter which Wa}^ the Distemper be received, whether by Inoculation, or the Natural Way. Manj^ have lately practiced Inoculation with surprizing success ; and by their Preparation of the Body have lightened the Distemper to almost nothing; some Pradlitioners from selfish Views make a great Secret of the Method, whereby they prepare their Patients ; but their whole Dependence is on Calomel or some Preparatio7i 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 cannot be performed by ignorant Quacks : For the free Use of Mercury in szich Ha7idSy would be as dangerous as the Small-Pox itself.

Where the Small-Pox has been in a House, to cleanse the same, so that the Person who moved out for fear of the Infedlion, 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 Lives are worth preserving, 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.

^Otes on 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 Monarch of the Da)' as looking pleasant, and agreeable. On the next page the poet pours out his swelling soul in evident rejoicing, at the rich harvest of glory redounding to Amherst and the arms of Britain.

In his address to the Reader he mentions the extraordinary encouragement 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 five senses and what may be determined by the proper use of them.

Almanack For 1 762

values, and the origin of their titles, an anecdote of Artiabalipa (? Atahualpa) King of Peru, an appreciative and circumspect person. The closing 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 oUa 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 sidewalk, for their homeward march en solitaire.

The Almanack For 1762

BOSTON: Printed & Sold by John Draper, in Cornhill : Richard Draper in Newbury-Street ; GrEEN & RusSEWv and Edes & Gill in Queen-Street ; and Thomas & John FlEET at the Heart and Crown in Cornhill.

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 : Ke reigns o'er Realms to former Kings unknown. Whose vanquish'd Monarchs due Subjection own.

Urania descending from the forky Summit of Parnassus delivered me a Rod, sent b)^ the whole Choir of Muses, to Chastize the Insolence of the Vintners, whom they never lov'd and with whom they are highly offended for a Peice in Rhime diredled to Me in the Postscript of the Boston Weekly News Letter 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 probatian 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 b}' any genuine Name :

0 ! thou Aladeira ! 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 Vidlory is thine. Your Art (I own) by far exceedeth mine, For you can make your Cyder into Wi7te.

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 :

The British Conquests reach to hidid's L,and, 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.

In India's Woods the Parrot builds her Nest, With Plumage of the gayest Tindlures drest : Sweet docile Bird whose imitating Tongue, In Words distindt 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.

See in whose Blood the chilling Ague reigns, His Eyes grow languid and declare his Pains : The ruddy L,ips 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.

How the Live-Silver pristine Health restores. Subtly per\'ades 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.

Almanack For 1762

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.

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.

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.

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

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 hidies, 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 enliven 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 Spirituous Liquors, which murders Soul, Body, Estate and Reputation. They who upon the Use of Tea oxy 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 Nerv^es. The}' 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 illfeeling 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

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.

It is an Error in Judgment on the Part of the Mother who only for the Preser\'ation 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 Growth : 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 Constitution 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 Phj-sicians.

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 1 762. 33 1

" His Eyes 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 the}' love their Infants, hardly discover common Sense in their Treatment of them. Many Infants are sick, and many die with the unsuitable Aliment they receive by the Hand, or at second Hand, from the Breast. I would, according to my Talent give special Cautions 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 msLy 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 Bell)' can rise so freelj' 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 Middriif 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 taking 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 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 lyife &c."

^Otes on 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 person, with whom Protection was a delusion and a snare, and home production 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 ozv7t pen - are refreshingly 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. Dove 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 par excellence. Happy CatJwlicon ! as the disciple of Hippocrates exclaims, recalling to our memory the medical practice of the period celebrated in the ditty of the itinerant peddler, with violin accompaniment.

War witli 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 mouth 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 well worthy of resurreetion in this age of Day Nurseries and Children's Hospitals. The characteristic humor of the inn-keeper shines in the weather o1)servations, 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 correlative 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, 13s., 4d. in " lawful money." Or in the ratio of otie to seven and one-half.

The Almanack For 1763

Boston : Printed & Sold by/. Draper, in Cornhill, R. Draper, in Newbury-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.

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 comes to pass, knows, and he only knows with absolute Certainty, 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 Conne(5lion 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 expecft 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.

Day at 12 o'Clock at Noon: I have told you that in September it will be New Moon the 7th day at 11 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 3'ou find no figure, but the Word Morn to stand against the 2d Day of Ma}^ ? 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 11 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 Daj^ ; 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 1 763

In the last Page but two there is an Account of the Advantage of Preserving FLAX SEED, those who bring it to Market may depend upon having Silver or Gold therefor of those Gentlemen 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 may be inserted in the following Years. - They must be particular in expressing the Number of Miles they are from the stages before & after them.

Whilst Capi-iconi' 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.

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 happj' Life to close, And leave no more for Fortune to dispose.

The Su7i is the Lyoi 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.

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;

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 Mati.

Ai.Manack For 1 763

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 Neiv-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 onl}^ 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 Satisfaction 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 Mone}', is so plain to every one, that we are likelj' very soon to feel the bad Effe(5ls of it.

As Providence has smiled upon the British Arms this War, we have Reason to hope, that upon a Peace Ca^iada will be ceded to the English ; if that should be the Case America will reap the happ3' 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 Tracft of excellent Land lies between No. IV and Croitm- Point.

Almanack For 1763

I am informed of above Twenty Townships granted in these Parts which will soon be peopled. The Hon. Benjamin Franklin, Esq., in his Observations concerning the increase of Mankind, &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, " 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 himself 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 : Townships to be colledled into new Governments and Colonies, extent of Territory large enough for a Kingdom !

A Table of Increase upon half a Million Inhabitants in the four New-Eiigland Governments for the present Period of doubling. By inspecfling which may be seen the Number of Inhabitants in New-England for each Year.

^ 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, he 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.

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,^ " 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 conducted them through every Stage of their increase ; and in our

Airman Ack For 1 763

Memories are many recent Instances of the Interposition of Providence ; witness the Destruction of Duke d'Ajiville 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 gradnally unfolds and opens more and more to our View.

IVotes 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 were "born in the Dark of the Moon." The monthly verses are varied with Natural Astrolog}-, 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 Chronolog}' of Remarkable Events is ingeniously construdled ; 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, Mone}-, 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."

The Almanack For 1764

Boston: Printed and Sold by i?. & S. Draper, in Newbury street; Edes & Gill, and Green (2f J^ussell, in Queen-street ; and T. & J. Fleet, at the Heart and Crown in Cornhill. Sold also by the Booksellers.

AMERICA ! thy Int'rest understood, There are blest Omens of thy future Good : What though the Lancit the vital Fluid spills, It keeps the Body free from greater Ills.

Your general Acceptance of my Performances, has encouraged 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 Parenthesis 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 produced Men of greater Genius and Abilities of Mind : Astrology was formerly professed and practised b}- Men of the greatest Capacity, Learning, Honor and Prudence, Men that were conversant with the Person of Princes and great Men. The Astrologers often hit upon Things very surprizing ; for the Story is not fabulous of Sptirina, how he cautioned Julius Ccesar to beware of the Ides March, the Time upon which Cccsar was slain in the

A1,Manack For 1 764

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 manycurious Things lost that will be republished to future Generations. Ivook back a few Years and see with what Contempt, and as impious we treated those among the Ancients, who instituted 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 Electricity by our Countryman yea by our Bostonia?t the Hon. Benjamin 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 worth)' Author of those new Discoveries justly had in the greatest honor by all the polite and enlightened Nations of Europe - EnroU'd amongst the first Discoverers of curious Things when the full Harvest of his fame is ripe, may the American Bards upon the Glassychord^ chant forth his honor for Generations to come. ASTROLOGY has a Philosophical Foundation : the cselestial 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 Astrologiciafi, his Sentiment was, that there was Truth in the Art and Science of Astrology, altho' it ever was lash'd and despised by the great and learned Men of this Age ; he shew me 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 Midshipman with him, and after signal Vidlories 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 before 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 Monthl}^ 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.

A'^ 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 anj- further Alterations of Stages, they may be communicated to the Author free of Charges, they being so beneficial to Travellers.

Almanack For 1 764 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 Perspiration will be determined ; if eight Pounds in one Day are taken in by Meats and Drink, five Pounds will be discharged insensibly by Perspiration. The different Constitutions, Sexes, Ages, Countries, Seasons, Distempers, 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 oflf 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 Daj-s 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 Objedls that are not frequent, presenting themselves, prevents that perfect Blank in the Mind and Relaxation which are necessary to produce quiet Sleep and due Perspiration. Tossing and Dreams are Evidences of bad Perspiration. To sleep a Nap at Noon, after Dinner, ma}^ serve good Piirposes 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 obstrudled 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 Perspiration will be lessened to a Degree incompatible with a State of Health. It is an ill Ciistom 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 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.

cC 9 h An old Politician gets into Power, whilst Temerity and Discord 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 1 764. 35 1

cf (^ % These planets shed their kind Influences into the hearts of Princes and Governors, vvhich drop in a<5ls of love and kindness upon the people.

AUGUST. A cT 5 Now Mercury pours oil on the tongue of the Orator. n T? S Bungling thieves set up their trade, to the scandal of their brethren.

SEPTEMBER. 13 % 'i 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. }? % denotes Peace and harmony amongst states. May the Indians which have broke league have no peace till the Murderers of Capt. Campbell ' at Detroit are delivered up.

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 imperfect 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.

First, of Tobacco, a Native of America, called Tobacco by the Spaniards from Tobago, an Island in the West hidies, where it grovi^s in Plenty ; the Indians called it Petuni. Strange that a Plant which by its venemous qualities at first affects the Senses in so disagreeable manner, should be in such Vogue and Ksteem 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 Wise and Good, Inspir'd by thee, dull Cits adjust the Scale Of Europe's Peace, when other Statesmen fail ; By thee protedled, and thy sister Beer, Poets rejoice, nor think the Bailiff near.

The medicinal Virtues of Tobacco are many, but it should not be used wantonl)' ; for though it is good in cold watry Constitutions, in hot cholerick Habits it is the reverse. The incomparable 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 I^iquor. 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 plentiful 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 Snuflf. 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, nothwithstanding they are in another Box, take Syiuff 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, ser^^e the Beau instead of Ideas ; when the Jest goes round, and the Laugh is put upon him, instead of a smart Repartee, he gravely pulls out his Box, and says -

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 Pu^XH, allow'd by Fate, To Drown the Pilot of the State ; Maudle the Gown-Mayi's holy Looks ; And make the Lawyer burn his Books ;

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 Daj^s of Yore. That you may know what Pmich was an Hundred Years ago, I shall give j-ou a Receipt vsrbatim 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.

Yet modern Punch bids fair to cheat the Drunkard into Temperance ; tor he may sooner hurt his Bell}- 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.

and the Glory of the World will be transplanted into America : But the Study and Pradlice 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 takeii 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 b}^ : But the Art of Husbandr}' 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 5'ou a Description of one Species of Mamo'c, of great Utilit}' 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 Agricidture (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 distinguish 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 Axy. - 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 dr5% 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 m}' Countrymen maj' be upon the Look out, in order to make Discoveries of this important Article of Manure. Another Year perhaps I may give 3'ou some further Hints upon this

Earth produces Grass spontaneously ; a great Mistake this, for the Seeds of Grass are strangelj^ 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 Neponset River iu Dedham, called Fowl Meadoiv, b}' the 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 great Crops on the hard Land, Banks of Rivers and Brooks, and Meadows that can be flooded and to produce great Crops of an excellent Kind. Fla^idcrs produces the Seed in the greatest Perfection ; Doctor Garditier 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

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, whereb}^ 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.""

Notes on 1764. - Trouble with the Indians attributed to " Old Nick," constitutes the thread of the title page verse; a short lecture on Astrologyis directed to the " Kind Readers," and is laudatory, not only of the

' 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.

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-Makijig in the colony appears this year, and is the first trade announcement to appear in Aims' Almanack.

The predictions in the weather column, as noted in the preliminary discourse on the subject, are deduced from Astrological obser^^ations 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 bowl.

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, zuithout 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' have gained beyond his 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.

" 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 Taver^i in which the Almanacks were written ; where " Physick " was dispensed, where the jovial, hearty, grand old landlord had " welcomed the coming, sped the parting guest."

A hostelry, where the mail coach on His Majesty's service had regularly stopped, where the horses were changed, and passengers either alighted for a stay, or to step iu 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 antiquarian Students as one could ever desire to meet.

No wine needed in that company to make the conversation "go." It woit 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 Englander.

I saw the spot where the old tavern stood, but "modern evidences" only existed to identify its location, with the exception of the " Fisher Ames Elm" the mute witness of its latter days.

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.

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 :

The following letter written to Dr. Nathaniel Ames, Jr., will show how the almanack business was transacted, and the desirability of such publications : -

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 j-our'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 ^6 los 4j^d^awful money. And the offer I now make is that 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.

Richard Draper The Almanack For 1765

Boston : Printed and Sold by R. and 5". Draper, in Newbury street ; Edes and Gill and Green and Russell, in Queen street ; and T. &./. Fleet at the Heart and Crown in Cornhill. Sold also by the Booksellers. Price : 3^'. d,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.

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, xdz. 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