The Olden Time Series, Vol. 6: Literary Curiosities | Page 7

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.
SATURDAY MORNING, AUGUST 1, 1829.
DR. HOLYOKE. The Medical Society of this District have rendered an

appropriate tribute of respect for the memory of their venerated
associate, the late Dr. E.A. HOLYOKE, by publishing an elegant little
volume, containing a memoir of the deceased, prepared by a
Committee of the Society, and a few of his writings. We have selected
from the latter