The Monthly Anthology, and Boston Review

cafion. At the fame time we must exprefs our acknowledgments to the ingenious author of a pamphlet, which, to the extent of its circulation, in a great degree accomplished the defired purpose. It was written, we understand, by Mr. ANDREW NEWELL, a young printer of Boston, whofe predilection for aftronomical studies has prompted him to affiduous application to that fublime branch of fcience, and whofe advances therein are faid to be refpectable.

A number of gentlemen in Boston, who had furnished themfelves with proper inftruments, agreed to meet on the morning of the 16th at the house of Mr. Benjamin Buffey, in Summer street, for the purpose of observing the eclipfe. Their obfervations, as communicated by their committee of arrangements, are as follow.

Mean duration, by the three observations, 2h. 44' 413.

The watch was found to be 14" flower than Prefident Webber's clock, with which it was compared in the afternoon. Adding 14′′ to each of our obfervations, they may be confidered as having been made by the clock used by the Prefident; allowance thould be made however for the fmall difference of longitude between Bofton and Cambridge,and for the poffible variation in the rate of going of the watch, between the time of our obfervations and the comparison made with the clock at Cambridge. The Prefident has not yet finished his obfervations for the correction of his clock. When they shall be completed, and, together with his obfervations on the eclipse, shall be communicated, the ufe and value of our observations will be better determined.

"Our obfervations were made in Mr.Bu fey's garden with three achromatick telefcopes, which we shall diftinguish by the numbers 1, 2, 3. No. 1 magnified about 45 times; No. 2 was furnished with a double object glafs, and magnified about 70times; the magnifying power of No. 3 was fmall, but it gave a clear and distinct vifion. The time was determined by an excellent watch with a second hand. Obfervations of corresponding altitudes for adjufting our time were omitted. Suitable inftruments on which we could rely were not readily to be obtained,and it wasnot found-nomenon convenient to pay the requifite attention, without which fuch obfervations would have been nugatory or delufive. We therefore determined to confider PrefiIdent Webber's clock, at Cambridge, as ~ our standard, and to compare our watch with it immediately after our obfervations fhould be finifhed.

The gentlemen at telescopes No. 1 and 2 were placed near to each other. Their obfervations correfponded, excepting as refpects the end of the eclipfe. By telescope No. 1 and 2:Beginning, Beginning of total ob

fcuration of the fun,

10h. 3' 21"

11. 22′ 31",
11. 27' 09′

End of the fame,

End of eclipfe by No. 1,

12. 48′ 01′′

Ditto, by No. 2,

12. 47′ 59′′

The

In this vicinity, and probably throughout New-England, this interefting phewas obferved under very favourable circumftances. The day was remarkably fine. Not a cloud obfcured any portion of the hemifphere. air was dry and clear, and the heavens, before the obfcurations, were in a robe of brighteft azure. The wind was northweft in the morning, but shifted to northeaft after the eclipfe commenced,and continued easterly until its completion. The thermometer, expofed to the open air, in the fhade, on a north wall, fell eleven degrees. No dew fell. This was ascertained by placing on a board a piece of foft paper, twelve inches fquare, which was accurately weighed before the commencement of the eclipfe and immediately after the emerfion of the fun. No difference in the weight was perceived. There was a fenfible chilliness, however, in the air, and fome of the company found an outfide garment very comfortable. The mercury in the barometer ftood at 30,2 from 8 o'clock, until 2 in P. M.

Venus appeared in the fouth-west, about 15 minutes before the total obfcuration, and was vifible more than 20

minutes after the appearance of light. Our fituation was not favourable for noticing the stars. From a comparison of the accounts of different perfons in our circle, with reference to a celestial globe, it appeared that Aldebaran, Capella, Caftor, Procyon, and two of the stars in Orion were noticed.

A little before the total obfcuration, a deep dark fhade, resembling an approaching thunder ftorm, was observed at the westward. As the eclipse went off, a fimilar appearance was noticed on the eastern side of the horizon. The departing light of the fun was supportable to the naked eye. It was otherwise with the first returning light, which was extremely vivid and inexpreffibly rapid in its accefs. The portion of the fun which first re-appeared, was, to the naked eye, of a globular form, and feemed like a ball of fire.

A luminous ring surrounded the moon after the fun was totally hid. From the accounts given of former total eclipfes of the fun, this appearance was expected; but in brilliancy and magnitude it seems to have exceeded any of which we find an account. In the eclipfe of 1715, abovementioned, Dr. Halley computes the luminous ring to be about "a digit, or perhaps a tenth part of the moon's diameter." We were not prepared to measure the breadth of the ring, that appeared at this time, but fhould judge it to be at least double the dimenfions of that recorded by Dr. Halley. The light was of a pale white, and the ring was, externally, irregular. Vivid corrufcations, of a reddish or purple colour, were feen with the glaffes, proceeding from the moon's edge. One of our company, at one moment, counted fix of these lucid pencils, iffuing from different parts of the orb of the moon, at irregular distances, and with smaller illuminated points between them, in form and difpofition refembling the points on the card of a common compafs. The darkness was not fo great as expected. It was found neceffary however to make use of a lanthern to ascertain the time precisely by our watch. If we were to judge from the number of stars that appeared, the light must have been greater, than at the time of full moon; this light, however, did not wholly proceed from the luminous ring above mentioned, which though bright, and exhibiting a strong contraft to the dark body of the moon,

Vol. III. No. 6. 25

which it inclosed, did not cast any fenfible fhadow. A crepufcular brightness appeared all around, in the lower parts of the hemisphere, at the time of total obscuration of the fun. Dr. Halley notices a fimilar brightness round the horizon in the eclipfe of 1715, and gives a fatisfactory explanation of it. "So much of the fegment of our atmosphere," he obferves, "as was above the horizon, and was without the cone of the moon's fhadow, was more or less enlightened by the fun's beams, and its reflection gave a diffuse light, which made the air feem hazy, and hindered the appearance of the stars." This brightness he remarked as more diftinguishable in the fouth-east. The fame remark was made here, by those, most favourably fituated to notice this appearance.

During the total obfcuration, some of the company remarked, that the moon, with its furrounding glory, appeared nearer to the eye, than the fun or moon ufually appear. The exhibition was wonderfully magnificent and fublime, and infpired one univerfal sentiment of admiration and awe, which we shall not attempt to describe. We feemed to be in the more immediate presence of Deity, while this interefting fpectacle was exhibiting in his auguft temple. The morning was ushered in with the ufual hum of bufinefs, which gradually diminifhed as the darkness advanced. One uninterrupted filence at length prevailed. A fresh breeze, which had prevailed, now fubfided, and all was calm; the birds retired to reft; the rolling chariot and the rumbling car were no more heard; the axe and the hammer were fufpended. Returning light reanimated the face of things. We feemed as in the dawn of creation, when God faid let there be light, and there was light, and an involuntary cheer of gratulation burst from the spectators, especially the youthful groups in the streets, and on the furrounding hills.

The committee, in pursuance of their commiflion, proceed to report fome particulars, that escaped their perfonal obfervation. The cows on the common, we are told, difcovered fenfible marks of agitation--fome of them left the ground and proceeded homeward, the rest gathered round a perfon, who was croffing the common at the time, and followed him with apparent anxiety, as if foliciting protection.

We have heard, from feveral perfons,

a remark, of a fingular appearance in the fhade of trees. The figures of namerous little crefcents were obferved in many places. We first heard them mentioned by fome gentlemen in the gov. ernment of the College, who affifted Prefident Webber in his obfervations at Cambridge. The fame thing was obferved by feveral perfons in this town in yards and gardens, and in the mall. A gentleman at Plymouth, with whofe letter we are favoured, remarks a fimilar appearance there. They were called by fome, the fhadows of the leaves. This feems to be incorrect. They appeared as lucid fpots, of a faint, white light, and their direction and figure varied with the different phafes of the eclipfe. It has been fuggefted, that they were the image of the fun, produced by its rays, thining through the interstices of the leaves, on the principle of the Camera Obfcura. This explanation and appears fatisfactory, and from the best accounts we can procure of the direction, they exhibited an inverted image of the fun, as they should do if produced on the principle above mentioned. It has been afked indeed, if this folution be correct, why does not the entire image of the fun appear in fimilar fituations to daily obfervation? The fact is, that it does thus appear, though it may not have been obferved, of which any perfon may be fatisfied, who will examine the fhade of trees, on a smooth furface, when the fun is near the meridian. Faint light spots, of a circular form, are very perceptible. They were ftronger and more diftinct during the eclipse, from the deep furrounding fhade. Several perfons have remarked the diftinct and well-defined fhade of objects, when the fun was nearly obfcured. It feemed to them that a profile might be taken as perfectly as from a fhade thrown on a wall by means of a lamp. We do not find, however, that this appearance under the leaves of trees has been before noticed on fimilar occafions.

We wish for further observations on this fubject, and that other explanations may be offered, if what is here fuggested be not fatisfactory.

We have taken fome pains to collect accounts from other places of obferva

tions on this remarkable eclipfe. We were particularly defirous of ascertaining the northern and fouthern limits of the thadow. At Newport, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard, the eclipfe, we are informed, was not total: but it was total at New-Bedford, at Rochester, at Wareham, and at Falmouth, on the northern fide of the Vineyard found. It was not total at Portland, nor at Biddeford ; but it was fo at Kennebunk, between Biddeford and Portsmouth. If this information be correct, the breadth of the fhadow was about 120 miles, and enveloped the entire territory of Maffachufetts proper, excepting Martha's Vineyard

and Nantucket.

Some perfons, who were on the water in the harbour, noticed, during the total obfcuration, particles of congealed mist, resembling fnow, flitting through the air. The fame appearance is faid to have been noticed at Gloucester, on Cape Ann, but we have no accurate information on the fubject. At Plymouth, the fishermen in the bay obferved the luminous appearance of the spray of the fea, which is frequently apparent in the night on the ocean. Dr. Halley intimates fome appearances of alarm among the fife, during the eclipse of 1715. We have not heard any fimilar remark at this time.

No fpots were feen upon the face of the fun. The luminous drops, which are mentioned by many astronomers as very apparent in former eclipfes when the fun is reduced to a fmall thread of light, were noticed by fome observers; by others they were not feen. Some small inequalities were observed, by some of our company, on the lower edge of the moon; but they could not be perceived by others. Some perfons have remarked, that the luminous ring round the moon, at the time of total obscuration of the fun, was smaller and of a fainter light on the upper fide, than on any other part of her circumference.

Some further particulars, which we have not leifure at prefent to digest, may be the fubject of a future communication. Boston, June 20th.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE

OF NEW PUBLICATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES FOR JUNE, 1806.

Sunt bona, funt quædam mediocría, funt mala plura.-MART.

NEW WORKS.

POETRY.

The Enchanted Lake of the Fairy Morgana. From the Orlando Inamorato of Francesco Berni. 8vo. pp. 68. 874 cents, boards. New York, I. Riley & Co. Original Poems. By Thomas Green Feffenden, Efq. author of Terrible Tractoration, &c. 12mo. pp. 204. Philadelphia, printed at the Lorenzo Prefs of E. Bronson.

The Knight and Quack: or a lookingglass for impoftors in phyfick, philofophy, and government. An allegorical poem. By David Hitchcock, author of the Shade of Plato. pp. 28 quarto. Fr. 25 cents. Hudfon, H. Crofwell.

The Quinteffence of Univerfal History; or, an epitomial history of the Chriftian æra a poem. By William Scales. 12mo. pp. 24. Massachusetts, printed for the purchasers.

HISTORY.

Vol. 3d of the Hiftory of the rife, progrefs, and termination of the American Revolution; interfperfed with biographical, political, and moral obfervations. In three volumes. By Mrs. Mercy Warren, of Plymouth, (Maff) Boston, printed by Manning & Loring for E. Larkin. 8vo. pp. 412.

ASTRONOMY.

A Description of the great Solar Eclipfe, that will take place on the 16th inft. reprefented in every particular, from beginning to end, with an explanation of eclipfes in general, and also the causes on which they depend. Price 25 cts. NewYork, Brifban & Brannan.

Darknefs at Noon; or the great folar eclipfe of June 16, 1806, defcribed and represented in every particular. Written in a style, adapted to every capacity. By an inhabitant of Boston. 12mo. Boston, D. Carlisle, and A. Newell,

LAW.

Reports of Cafes, argued and determined in the Supreme Court of Judicature of the state of New-York. By William Johnson, Efq. counsellor at law. Vol. I. Part I. February term, 1806. 8vo. pp. 160. New-York, Ifaac Riley & Co.

The Trial of the Boot and Shoemakers of Philadelphia on an indictment of com

bination and confpiracy to raise their wages. Taken in fhort hand, by Thos. Lloyd. 8vo. 75 cents. Philadelphia.

Report of the Trial of Dominick Daley and James Halligan, for the murder of Marcus Lyon, before the fupreme judicial court, on the fourth Tuesday of April. By a member of the Bar. Northampton, Mas. W. & S.Butler. 8vo. pp.88.

CONVEYANCING.

The American Clerk's Magazine, and complete practical conveyancer. Containing the most useful and neceffary precedents, with obfervations and refe rences to the laws, &c. with a variety of other useful inftruments in writing. The whole adapted to the ufe of the citizens of the United States, and more particularly to thofe of the ftate of Maryland. By a Gentleman of the Bar. 1 vol. 12mo. pp. 350. Price 1,25. Hagerstown, Mar. Jacob Dietrick.

DIVINITY.

Mr. Merrill's defenfive armour taken from him; or, a reply to his Twelve Letters to the Author, on the mode and fubjects of Baptifm; in which the liberties and privileges of Chriftians are refcued from the bondage which close communion baptifts would impofe on them. By Samuel Austin, A. M. Worcester, Ifaiah Thomas, jun.

The Chriftian Monitor, No. II, con taining obfervations on the life and character of Jefus Chrift. Boston, Munroe & Francis. 12mo. pp. 200. price 30 cts.

An Effay on Truth: containing an enquiry into its nature and importance; with the caufes of error, and the reasons of its being permitted. By And. Fuller. 8vo.pp.30. Bofton, Manning and Loring.

Letters addreffed to the editor of A Collection of Effays on the subject of Epifcopacy. By the author of " Mifcellanies." 8vo. pp. 40. Albany, Backus and Whiting.

Seemingly experimental religion inftructors unexperienced-converters unconverted--revivals killing religion---misfionaries in need of teaching, or, war against the gospel. By its friends. Being the examination and rejection of Thomas Ledlie Birch, a foreign ordained minifter, by the Rev. Presbytery of Ohio,

eafion. At the fame time we must exprefs our acknowledgments to the ingenious author of a pamphlet, which, to the extent of its circulation, in a great degree accomplished the desired purpose. It was written, we understand, by Mr. ANDREW NEWELL, young printer of Boston, whofe predilection for aftronomical ftudies has prompted him to affiduous application to that fublime branch of fcience, and whofe advances therein are faid to be refpectable.

A number of gentlemen in Boston, who had furnished themfelves with proper inftruments, agreed to meet on the morning of the 16th at the house of Mr. Benjamin Buffey, in Sumner street, for the purpose of obferving the eclipfe. Their obfervations, as communicated by their committee of arrangements, are as follow.

"Our obfervations were made in Mr.Buf fey's garden with three achromatick telefcopes, which we shall distinguish by the numbers 1, 2, 3. No. 1 magnified about 45 times; No. 2 was furnished with a double object glafs, and magnified about 70times; the magnifying power of No. 3 was small, but it gave a clear and diftinct vifion. The time was determined by an excellent watch with a fecond hand. Obfervations of corresponding altitudes for adjusting our time were omitted. Suitable inftruments on which we could rely were not readily to be obtained,and it was not foundconvenient to pay the requifite attention, without which fuch obfervations would have been nugatory or delufive. therefore determined to confider Prefident Webber's clock, at Cambridge, as our standard, and to compare our watch with it immediately after our obfervations fhould be finished.

The gentlemen at telescopes No. 1 and 2 were placed near to each other. Their obfervations corresponded, excepting as refpects the end of the eclipfe. By telescope No. 1 and 2:Beginning, Beginning of total ob

fcuration of the fun, End of the fame,