NOTES.

NOTE I. (p. }

189.)

THE computation of time by the Christian æra was introduced by Dionysius, a Ro man abbot, AD! 561.7 The era of Diocletian, commencing with the reign of brose, and others, until the time abovementioned, when Dionysius, unwilling to number the years from the reign of a persecutor, introduced the reckoning from the Incarnation of Christ. This event (the Nativity being fixed 25 December) was placed 25 March. An old writer, quoted by Alsted, among other reasons for the preeminence of that day, mentions the Incarnation:

“... DEUS hâc descendit ab astris
Virginis in gremium.'

He also observes, that the vernal equinox was formerly on that day b }

1 hâc quoque quondam

Aureus equales se sol referebat ad ortus."

It was on that day, in the time of Julius Cæsar.“ Equinoctium : sol in Ariete. Tempore Cæsaris 25 Martii." Monkish writers assign various reasons for commencing the computation of the year on that day; but it was doubtless chosen, at the introduction of the Christian æra, from a regard to the Incarnation.

20

Anacronisms have been occasioned in American history through the inattention of historians to a circumstance attending the old style. It was customary to give a double date from the 1st of January to the 25th of March. Thus, February 8, 1721, was written February 8,172 The omission of the lower figures, in transcribing or quoting, would cause an error of one year. Such omissions sometimes incur. Similar errors have arisen from inattention to the mode of reckoning the months of the year, used in the early periods of New England. Instead of being called January, February, March, &c. they were called the first month, second month, third month, &c; yet March (not January) was called the first month; April, the second; May, the third &c. Thus, for the 29th of May, our ancestors wrote Mo. 3. 29.

Τ

The following thermometrical tables are taken from Drayton's “View of South Carolina”. 59" [11,esmidlɔɔ

The greatest and least height of Fahrenheit's Thermometer, in the shad761 red air; taken in Charlestown, S. Carolina, for the years

1750 1751 1752 1753 1754 1755 1756 1757 1,2758137591

highest

medium of rain in inches

89.50 194 46935112 73 90 49 92

Spring 85 27,841 308732 |81|34|84|22|81| 27|79| 45 178/25 (85 |29:71|31| 6 09 Summer196|52|94|67|101|60|91| 59|93|54|90| 53,961 49 Autumn 9144 91409655 90 44 8814887 3390 41 43 9045 16 90 Winter 232376 1881 32 76 28 75 31 70 2671 27 25.79 28 6 01 1962594231011891 28 932290 2796 169025 94 25 93 27 42 03

Year

75 31 77

* Historians“/strangely differ in regard to the year of the introduction of the Ghristian era. Prideaux places it in 527; Blair, in 516; and Priestley, in 360. I rely on Beda, who expressly says (Opera Hist. p. 28.): 567. Dionysius Pasebales scribit circulos, incipiens ab anno dominica incarnationis DXXXII, qui est annus Diocletiani CCXLVIII" The authority of Bedz is the more to be regarded, because be took the Christian æra from Dionysius, and used it in all bis writings; and, by that recommendation of it, occasioned its adoption and use in Great Britain, and the western parts of Europe.

The

greatest and least height of Fahrenheit's thermometer in the shaded air; taken in Charleston, S. Carolina, for the years

Year

|90| 28|93|30|89|30|91|34|92|29|89|17|88 22 188 31

NOTE III. (pp. 464, 467.)

THE Definitive Treaty was signed at Paris, 3 September, by John Adams, David Hartley, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay. By Article I, his Britannic majesty acknowledges the United States of America to be free, sovereign, and independent States; treats with them as such; and for himself, his heirs and successors, relinquishes all claim to the government, property, and territorial rights of the same, and every part thereof.By Article II, the boundaries of the said States are declared and described from St. Croix in Nova Scotia to Canada, by the lakes and the river Missisippi to East Florida.—By Ar ticle III, it is agreed, that the people of the United States shall continue to enjoy, unmolested, the right to take fish of every kind on the Grand Bank, and on all other banks of Newfoundland, also in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and at all other places in the sea, where the inhabitants of both countries used at any time heretofore to fish.-By Article IV, it is agreed, that the creditors on either side shall meet with no lawful impediment to the recovery of the full value, in sterling money, of all bona fide debts heretofore contracted. -By Article V, it is agreed, that congress shall earnestly recommend it to the legislatures of the respective States, to provide for the restitution of all confiscated estates, belonging to real British subjects, &c.By Article VI, it is agreed, that there shall be no future confiscations, &c.-By Article VII, it is agreed, that there shall be a mutual, firni, and perpetual peace, and that his Britannic majesty shall, with all convenient speed, withdraw all his armies, garrisons and fleets from the United States.-By Article VII, the navigation of the Missisippi, from its source to the ocean, is forever to remain free and open to the subjects of Great Britain and the citizens of the United States.

158932

159841

Henry IV 35

Philip II 9

takes pos-5 Sextus V

10 the Great 1 Philip III session of 7 Clement VIII

The preceding Table gives a view of the European princes, concerned in the discov ery or colonization of America. It notices the years of their accession only; but the intermediate years may be easily reckoned. There is no deviation from this plan, excepting in the column of Popes, where the accession is not uniformly given.

EXPLANATION OF THE TABLE.

A. D. 1492 was the 8th year of Henry VII of England, the 10th year of Charles VIII of France, the 19th year of Ferdinand of Spain, the 12th year of John II of Portugal, and the 1st year of Pope Alexander VI. The whole table is to be used correspondently to this example.

A. D. PRESIDENTS OF THE
UNITED STATES.

1789 George Washington
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson

1797
1801

Samuel Huntington
Thomas McKean

John Hanson
Elias Boudinot

Thomas Mifflin

Richard Henry Lee
Nathaniel Gorham
Arthur St. Clair

Cyrus Griffin.

Few occurrences, since the peace of 1783, require detail. The rapid progress of the useful and ornamental arts, during this period, cannot easily be shown, in a chronological work. Little else has been attempted, than to mention the societies, formed to promote those arts, and the principal improvements. To some persons this recital may appear too minute; to others, too general. The one however may recollect, that Annals record facts, which History, in its more stately forms, will not condescend to notice; the other, that there is a minuteness, below which even the annalist may not descend. "Nerone," says Tacitus, "secundum L. Pisone consulibus, pauca memoria digna evenere, nisi cui libeat, laudandis fundamentis et trabibus, quis molem amphitheatri apud Campum Martis Cæsar adstruxerat, volumina implere: cum ex dignitate populi Romani repertum sit, res illustres annalibus, talia diurnis urbis actis mandare."

INDEX.

The numeral letters refer to the volume; the figures, to the page.]

Allen, Ethan, taken prisoner and sent to Army, assembled (A.D. 1775), ii.328. state