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.

Notes 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 Deo-we 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

1

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 Acquaintance, 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 determined 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.' If this shall find Acceptance perhaps it may encourage me to serve my Country this Way for Time to come.

New Milford, August 1, 1749.

R. SHERMAN.

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 SOL 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 concerning Phœbus 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.

a

Nam 11ilford July 1484759

Pr & Revived your Lattet this day and return You thanks for the papers you sent In clasedee find that there was Confiderable Mistakes in the Calculation of the 2 Lunar Eclipfes which, my loft letter which was ourfond my miflaked in taking out the mean motion of the Sun for the Radical year and yo New Sert inclosed (then) with the rest of the Exfiffes dart (with the Ime Cobulated them for the Meridian

& Sent to you

by

ん

in

have

of New London. which of rection 4 hours and 52 mm Waft from London I have also sent one of my Almanacking Expect to go to Newillaven will enquire of our in August next and of Clap about the Comet you mentioned and will write to you what stelligence of a can get from him about to the first opportunity __

am

your very humble Serut Proger Sherman

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, 18 d. O. T. Single.

Perceiv'st thou 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:
Autumn 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 READER, .

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 portend Discord and Difference amongst Persons of the highest Rank and Quality; and threatens the European Nations with a Quarrel: But what may affect North America most is, it is quite

probable that there will be an open Rupture between the Governours 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 Ears any Way that Custom leads: Whilst Astrology was caress'd by Princes and great Philosophers, and the Professors 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,
Level the hoary Grove, the tot'ring Buildings rack.

FEBRUARY.

Now hoary Winter shivers o'er the Plains,

And binds the frozen Floods in adamantine Chains;