92. "Some Account of the Earthquake that shook New-England" (1727) BY REVEREND COTTON MATHER Cotton Mather, most voluminous of colonial writers, was for many years minister at the North Church in Boston. - Bibliography: Barrett Wendell, Cotton Mather; Tyler, American Literature, II, 73-89. See also Contemporaries, I, No. 148. - For other extracts on New England life, see Contemporaries, Ï, ch. xxi. THE Night that followed the Twenty ninth of October [1727.] was a Night whereto NEW-ENGLAND had never in the Memory of Man, seen the like before. The Air never more Calm, the Sky never more Fair; every thing in all imaginable Tranquillity: But about a quarter of an Hour before Eleven, there was heard in BOSTON, from one end of the Town to the other, an horrid rumbling like the Noise of many Coaches together, driving on the paved Stones with the utmost Rapidity. But it was attended with a most awful Trembling of the Earth, which did heave and shake so as to Rocque the Houses, and cause here and there the falling of some smaller Things, both within Doors and without. It cannot be imagined, but that it gave an uncommon Concern unto all the Inhabitants, and even a degree of Consternation, unto very many of them. This first Shock, which was the most Violent, was followed with several others, and some Repetition of the Noise, at sundry times, pretty distant from one another. The Number of them is not entirely agreed; but at least Four or Five are allow'd for ; The last of which was between Five and Six of the Clock in the Morning. How far this Earthquake extended thro' the Countrey, we are not yet informed; But that it extended Scores of Miles, we have already a certain Information. And what added unto the Terrors of it, were the terrible Flames and Lights, in the Atmosphere, which accompanied it. The Vessels on the Coast were also made sensible of it, by a shivering that siezed on them. When the greatly affected People, had a little Opportunity to look about them in the Morning, the Pastors of the Old North-Church, directed the Bells to be rung, that such of the People as could and would, might assemble immediately unto some seasonable Exercises of Religion. The Pastors of the New joined with them in sending up unto Heaven, the Supplications which the solemn Occasion called for. And the Pastors in the other part of the Town, made a speedy and hearty Appearance, and most affectionately united in a Concurrence with them. The Assembly that came together, did more than croud and fill the most capacious of our Meetinghouses; And as there was a multitude of serious Christians, who are acquainted with Real and Vital PIETY, so the whole Auditory expressed a Devotion which was truly Extraordinary. [Cotton Mather], The Terror of the Lord. Some Account of the Earthquake that shook New-England, in the Night, between the 29 and the 30 of October, 1727 (Boston, 1727), 1–2. 93. A Protest against a Wicked Newspaper (1721/2) BY REVEREND DOCTOR INCREASE MATHER Increase Mather was for many years minister at the Old North Church in Boston, and was also president of Harvard College. - Bibliography: Winsor, Memorial History of Boston, II, ch. ix, 396; Tyler, American Literature, II, 67-73. See also Contemporaries, I, No. 135. A1 DVICE to the Publick from Dr. Increase Mather. Whereas a wicked Libel called the New England Courant, has represented me as one among the Supporters of it; I do hereby declare, that altho' I had paid for two or three of them, I then, (before the last Courant was published) sent him word I was extreamly offended with it! In special, because in one of his Vile Courants he insinuates, that if the Ministers of God approve of a thing, it is a Sign it is of the Devil; which is a horrid thing to be related! And altho' in one of the Courants it is declared, that the London Mercury Sept. 16, 1721, affirms that Great Numbers of Persons in the City and Suburbs are under the Inoculation of the Small Pox; In his next Courant he asserts, that it was some Busy Inoculator, that imposed on the Publick in saying so; Whereas I myself saw and read those words in the London Mercury: And he doth frequently abuse the Ministers of Religion, and many other worthy Persons in a manner, which is intolerable. For these and such like Reasons I signified to the Printer, that I would have no more of their Wicked Courants. I that have known what New-England was from the Beginning, cannot but be troubled to see the Degeneracy of this Place. I can well remember when the Civil Government would have taken an effectual Course to suppress such a Cursed Libel! which if it be not done I am afraid that some Awful Judgment will come upon this Land, and the Wrath of God will arise, and there will be no Remedy. I cannot but pity poor Franklin, who tho' but a Young Man it may be Speedily he must appear before the Judgment Seat of God, and what answer will he give for printing things so vile and abominable? And I cannot but Advise the Supporters of this Courant to consider the Consequences of being Partakers in other Mens Sins, and no more Countenance such a Wicked Paper. Boston Gazette, January 29, 1721/2; reprinted in Joseph T. Buckingham, Specimens of Newspaper Literature (Boston, 1850), I, 53–54. 94. The People's Favorite Literature (1744) BY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN In colonial times the almanac was a household authority, to a large extent taking the place of books, which were few and costly. Of all the almanacs Franklin's became the most noted, on account of the author's personal reputation. — Bibliography: for Franklin, see No. 68 above; as to almanacs, see James Parton, Benjamin Franklin, I, 227-240; Tyler, American Literature, II, 120-130; Channing and Hart, Guide, §§ 25, 32.See also a diary kept in an almanac, No. 95 below. Courteous Reader, TH -- HIS is the Twelfth Year that I have in this Way laboured for the Benefit of Whom? of the Publick, if you'll be so goodnatured as to believe it; if not, e'en take the naked Truth, 'twas for the Benefit of my own dear self; not forgetting in the mean time, our gracious Consort and Duchess the peaceful, quiet, silent Lady Bridget. But whether my Labours have been of any Service to the Publick or not, the Publick I must acknowledge has been of Service to me; I have lived Comfortably by its Benevolent Encouragement; and I hope I shall always bear a grateful Sense of its continued Favour. My Adversary —n J————n has indeed made an Attempt to out-shine me, by pretending to penetrate a Year deeper into Futurity; and giving his Readers gratis in his Almanack for 1743 an Eclipse of the Year 1744, to be beforehand with me: His Words are, "The first Day of April next Year 1744, there will be a GREAT ECLIPSE of the Sun: it begins about an Hour before Sunset. It being in the Sign Aries, the House of Mars, and in the 7th, shows Heat, Difference and Animosities between Persons of the highest Rank and Quality," &c. I am very glad, for the Sake of these Persons of Rank and Quality, that there ΑΝ Almanack For the Year of Christ 1744, It being LEAP-YEAR, And makes since the Creation By the Account of the Eastern Greeks By the Jewish Rabbies Wherein is contained Years 7252 6943 5753 5693 5505 The Lunations, Eclipses, Judgment of the Weather, Spring Tides, Planets Motions & mutual Aspects, Sun and Moon's Rising and Setting, Length of Days, Time of High Water, Fairs, Courts, and observable Days. Fitted to the Latitude of Forty Degrees, and a Meridian of Five Hours West from London, but may without sensible Error, serve all the adjacent Places, even from Newfoundland to South-Carolina. By RICHARD SAUNDERS, Philom PHILADELPHIA: Printed and sold by B. FRANKLIN. is no manner of Truth in this Prediction: They may, if they please, live in Love and Peace. And I caution his Readers (they are but few, indeed, and so the Matter's the less) not to give themselves any Trouble about observing this imaginary Great Eclipse; for they may stare till they're blind without seeing the least Sign of it. I might, on this Occasion, return Mr. J— -n the Name of Baal's false Prophet he gave me some Years ago in his Wrath, on Account of my Predicting his Reconciliation with the Church of Rome, (tho' he seems now to have given up that Point) but I think such Language between old Men and Scholars unbecoming; and I leave him to settle the Affair with the Buyers of his Almanack as well as he can, who perhaps will not take it very kindly, that he has done what in him lay (by sending them out to gaze at an invisible Eclipse on the first of April) to make April Fools of them all. His old thread bare Excuse which he repeats Year after Year about the Weather, "That no Man can be infallible therein, by Reason of the many contrary Causes happening at or near the same time, and the Unconstancy of the Summer Showers and Gusts," & will hardly serve him in the Affair of Eclipses; and I know not where he'll get another. I have made no Alteration in my usual Method, except adding the Rising and Setting of the Planets, and the Lunar Conjunctions. Those who are so disposed, may thereby very readily learn to know the Planets, and distinguish them from each other. I am, dear Reader, Thy obliged Friend, R. SAUNDERS. The COUNTRY MAN. Happy the Man whose Wish and Care A few paternal Acres bound, Content to breathe his native Air, In his own Ground. Whose Herds with Milk, whose Fields with Bread, Whose Flocks supply him with Attire, Whose Trees in Summer yield him Shade, Blest, who can unconcernedly find Hours, Days and Years slide soft away, |