The Salem Observer.
ANOTHER OLD ALMANACK. In our last we gave an account of an
old Almanack for the year 1703. Since then we have seen
another some sixteen years older, printed for the year 1687.
It was bound in with an old account book that formerly
belonged to the Rev. Thomas Barnard, a minister of Andover,
from 1682 to 1718,--the great-grandfather of the Rev. Thomas
Barnard, D.D., the first minister of the North Church in
this city, who died Oct. 1, 1814, in the sixty-seventh year
of his age, also an ancestor of Capt. Edward Barnard, of
this city. We insert the title page and other extracts
therefrom, which we trust will impart the same interest to
our readers as we derived from its perusal.
It is prefaced by the following:
Novemb. 24th, 1686. I have Perused the Copy of an Almanack
for the Ensuing Year, Composed by John Tulley, and find
nothing in it contrary to His Majesties Laws, and therefore
Allow it to be Printed, and Published by Benjamin Harris,
Book-Seller in Boston.
EDWARD RANDOLPH, Secr.
The following is the title:
Tully 1687. An Almanack for the Year of Our Lord MDCLXXXVII.
Being the third after Leap-year, and from the Creation 5636.
The Vulgar Notes of which are Prime 16--Epact 26--Circle of
the [Symbol: Sun] 16--Domin: Letter B. Unto which is annexed
a Weather Glass, whereby the Change of the Weather may be
foreseen. Calculated for and fitted to the Meridian of
Boston in New-England, where the North Pole is elevated 42
gr. 30 m. By John Tulley. Boston, Printed by S. Green for
Benjamin Harris; and are to be Sold at his Shop, by the Town
Pump near the Change. 1687.
Then follows "A Table of Kings," from William the Conqueror,
1066, to James 2d, 1685, closing with the lines--
Now may we look on Monarchy and sing,
In health and peace long live great JAMES our King.
And concluding with the "Weather Glass," &c., &c., which
follow:
_Prognostica Georgica_: Or the Country-man's Weather-Glass.
Prognosticks of Tempests. The obscuring of the smaller stars
is a certain sign of Tempests approaching, the oft changing
of the Winds is always a forerunner of a storm.
Of Winds. The resounding of the Sea upon the shore, and
murmuring of the Winds in the Woods without apparent Wind,
shew wind to follow; shooting of stars (as they call it) is
an usual sign of wind from that quarter the star came from,
Redness of the Skie in the morning is a token of Winds, or
Rain, or both: if the circles that appear about the Sun, be
red and broken, they portend wind: if thick and dark, Winds,
Snow, or Rain: The like may be said of the Circles about the
Moon.
Of Rain. If two Rainbows appear, they are a sign of Rain: If
the Sun or Moon look pale, look for Rain: if a dark Cloud be
at Sun-rising, in which the Sun soon after is hid, it will
dissolve it, and Rain will follow: if the Sun seem greater
in the East than commonly, it is a sign of Rain, if in the
West about Sun-setting there appear a black Cloud, you may
expect Rain that night, or the day following, if in the
winter time thick white Clouds appear in the South-east near
the Horizon at Sun rising, they portend Snow, a day or two
after: If black Clouds appear there, it is a sign of Rain.
Of Fair Weather. If the Moon look bright and fair, look for
Fair Weather. Also the appearing of one Rainbow after a
storm, is a known sign of Fair Weather. If Mists come down
from the Hills, or descend from the heavens, and settle in
the valleys, they promise fair hot weather: Mists in the
Evening shew a fair, hot day on the morrow: The like when
mists rise from the waters in the evening. Much more might
be added, but I would not tire the reader.
It appears by the following that the first form of
government, under the King, was accepted by the people in
1686.
May 14, 1686. Arrived from England, His Majesty's Commission
to divers worthy Gentlemen, to be a President and Council
for the management of his Majesty's Government here, and
accordingly on the 25th of May, '86, the President and
Council being assembled in Boston, the exemplification of
the Judgment against the Charter of the Late Governour and
Company of the Massachusetts-Bay in N E together with His
Majesty's Commission of Government were publickly read, and
received by persons of all conditions with general
Acceptance.
It will appear by the following advertisement that a market
was then first appointed by authority to be kept in Boston.
Advertisement. There is Appointed by Authority a Market to
be kept in Boston, and a Committee is ordered to meet and
state the place, and days, and other circumstances relating
to the good settling thereof: Of which a more particular
Account may be speedily expected.
This Almanack was published only 67 years from the
settlement at Plymouth, and 59 from that of Salem.
In the eyes of the old New England people the almanac stood next to the
Bible in importance. Almost the only knowledge we have of many events of
those early days has been obtained from diaries kept in interleaved
almanacs. It is true, important facts are often found recorded in
connection with trifling or quite unimportant matters.
* * * * *
The venerable Dr. Holyoke, of Salem, president of the Massachusetts
Medical Society, who died in March, 1829, at the age of one hundred
years and eight months, wrote a letter, a few months before his death,
in answer to a request that he would furnish some particulars of his
mode of living. Dr. Holyoke was through life noted for being remarkably
temperate in all things. After his death it was reported that some
physician said (perhaps in fun) that if Dr. H. had not been in the
habit of using intoxicating liquors he might have lived to a _good old
age._
We give here a copy of this interesting letter.
Salem.