the disgusting rather than interesting detail of his proficiency in the art of torture, it may be at once said, that he HAS destroyed wonderfully! And he prospered to a great extent, by reason of the transgression of those against whom he was sent. And he practised all means, within the scope of insidious craft and open violence, to vanquish utterly the Church Militant. And he destroyed THE MIGHTY in the entire extinction of an empire that had swayed the sceptre of the East for more than 1000 years: And he destroyed the HOLY PEOPLE in malignant and endless persecutions of the most faithful and zealous evangelists within his power. "And through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand." While Mohammedanism was weak a modest countenance and plausible honour was its disguise. It acknowledged Christ to be a prophet greater than Moses;-it pretended to favour many of his doctrines, and to imitate some of his examples:-but as soon as the Grand Seignior had secured to himself a full means of despotism, he threw off his diguise, and commenced his career of blood without mercy. When it is seen that men, without experience or moral deserts, are raised, by the sole favour of the prince to the most elevated trust-that one smile can prefer to the high post of honour, or one frown consign to perdition-it is not so much a matter of wonder that craft HAS prospered in his hand; and that, estimating the present population of the earth at 800 millions, 220 millions should have embraced the tenets of a religion founded in an appeal to the gusts of sensual gratification. "And he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many." Here we are assured that, in standing up against the Prince of princes, this his offcast tool shall be broken wITHOUT HAND; which seems to import a fate somewhat different from that of dynasties whose des tiny had been to assail, overpower, and destroy one another. The Ottoman empire then may be doomed to perish, at its appointed time, perhaps, by internal rebellion-perhaps, by pestilence-perhaps, by famine-perhaps, by earthquake -perhaps, by tempest-by thunderings, and lightnings, and the fury of raging elements! We are not told exactly how the fiat is to be executed, but his end we see is settled. Religion, both natural and revealed, has proofs abundant of the pre-ordination of Providence in the administration of mundane affairs. We who live in these latter ages have also before us the whole course of occurrences from the beginning: and it only requires a calm perusal of what historians, even the profane, have recorded, to see that all the changes and revolutions that have ever happened to nations came from an unseen hand. Those states which have been greatest have arrived from very small beginnings to their height --figured for their time-and then one after another, as they had acted their respective parts in the drama of Providence, died each to nothingness. matter by what agencies the Prince of princes may be transacting his purposes, they must be done! and what power soever shall seek to arrest the force of those engines he employs, stands up against him, and SHALL BE BROKEN! No An anxiety must naturally prevail concerning the time when the breaking of this Antichristian tyranny may be looked for. In these speculations the aphorism Discipulus est prioris posterior dies, (the day that comes A sovereign, whose common titles, as be- behind is the scholar of that which goes before shown, aim to magnify him to co-fore,) is a useful memento: for it is often by equality with the Ruler of the universe, the light of time that knowledge is improved; what farther evidence of his haughtiness and that things which had been long in deep of heart can be required. And by peace here a clue, but to wind to the end of it has obscurity are discovered. Daniel has left us HAS he destroyed many; for it is one of the fundamental principles of his policy to regard no pacific relationship, when the enlargement of his power, which has been made paramount to all moral obligations, was his object, and when he could effect his will with impunity. "He shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without been hitherto found difficult. 6 "Then I heard, (says the prophet) one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot ?" And he said unto me, "UNTO two thousand and three hundred days, It has been already said, that the great integral body of an empire was, in holy prophecy, commonly symbolised by a beast; and the members of such empire each by a horn: so that, on a diminished scale, the mind might obtain a comprehensive view of the vast subjects alluded to. In order, therefore, to have one feature of the prophecy comport with another, it has been usual to signify periods of time by some minuter portion of duration; and thus days have been made the symbol of years: the 2300 days here mentioned are, therefore, 2300 years. But no era is stated distinctly from which these 2300 years are to be reckoned. Taking the literal expressions of our English Bible for our guide, it seems that the vision is purposely to show the rise and effect of those powers in the Grecian dominions which should produce conspicuous vicissitudes in the religion of the country; and more particularly of the consequences resulting from the rise and power of the little horn. Now it will be recollected, that the first scene of the vision presents the ram STANDING STILL before the river Ulai. We are next told of his pushing westward, &c. and it seems to me reasonable that this movement should be taken for the era at which the 2300 years are to commence, for it brings us directly to the particular spot pre-ordained to become the seat of the little horn. This movement, or pushing, is that celebrated march of Xerxes at the head of his co hort of three millions against Greece, which took place in the year 480 before Christ. There would then have expired 479 years before the Christian era, to which, if we add 1821, the years since the birth of Christ, we have 479+1821-2300 and, consequently, if our chronology be correct, and our epoch true, we are to look for the cleansing of the sanctuary in 1822. But, upon concluding my comment, I ought to remark to you, that though the clause " THEN shall the sanctuary BE CLEANSED," seems to imply the entire cleansing, yet I am of opinion that it ought to be read, THEN shall the cleansing of the sanctuary BE; that is, shall begin, without assigning it, as the other reading seems to do, a period of completion. Thus then, if my view of this important prophecy be well taken, the "cleansing of the sanctuary has just begun in THE REVOLT OF THE GREEKS." Weigh this conclusion well, my honest Coz. and keep in mind those dismal times of which it is, peradventure, the near precursor: I have now led you very circumspectly through the maze of this surprising vision; and having taken so close a view of every point, I trust you will think with me that not one trait appears but what is strikingly copied after, as it were, the life. If so you think, Sir Willon, how think you of the warning it presents? How, of the many fateful portents that, combined, hang round the world? That great voice from the throne of the temple of heaven-is it, think you, about to cry, IT IS DONE!• Secluded as you know I am from the bustle of men, it is very possible that my reflections may cause more serious apprehensions than the signs of the times demand: the world is perhaps more devout and watchful than I imagine: but, if you find it as I suspect, I am sure you will not fail in your duty of admonishment, so that all who please may snatch the moment whilst they can, and begin to purify their hearts from all envy, hatred, and malice; and store them largely with faith, hope, and charity; (that is, if they have a multitude of sins they seek to cover, and credit the denunciations proclaimed by Heaven,) in order that they may be of the number that escape---in order that, WHEN He who has said, "Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me," cometh, they may be found WATCHING, and worthy of the reward.-And now unto ALL who need it, be grace; and unto ALL who seek it, be glory; commending the whole Body-politic of the world to the Mercy of its Almighty Ruler and Judge, I have only to add devout salutations to my distant kindred, and to assure you of my ardent solicitude for the success of your honest enterprise in the cause of truth and reason, begging your constant command of the best services of, My true-hearted Godson, Clay-Ross Arctos, • Rev. xvi. 17. END OF THE EPISTLE. † Ibid, xxii. 12. h. m. h. 15 59 6 75 56 6 52 6 m. 13 5 19 5 46 6 14 25 5 39 6 24 1 Full Moon Lunar Periods. 7th Day, 46 min. past 3 aftern. h. m. d. m. sets S 2011 4M 01 M9 6 4 40 347 9 3 25 26 359 26 3 14 11 58 9 29 5 25 115 27 59 38 51 20 38 57 53 3424 40 SATURN. Declin. Culmina. m. d. m. m. h. 1 Mo 5 No26 6 30 o 6 18 0 60 Declin. Culmina. rises Declin. (Culmina. sets Declin. (Culmina. sets h. md. m. h. m. h. m. d. m. h. m. h. m. d. m. h. m. h. 1 8 A 1013 13 3 A15 8 A5911 NII 6 N55 6 A31 48 1511 52 3 12 8 46 11 12 3 47 O 57 7 78. 1910 36 3 10 8 3411 13 3 35 O 45 7 16-3 78 19 3 22 O 34 7 12 5 54 O 56 3 3 8 711 25 3 90 23 7 19 5 36 2 59 7 5211 35 2 550 11 7 27 5 17 2 55 7 381L 47 2 4280 07 35 5 59 2 50 7 23 12 28 11 A49 7 42 2 45 7 712 10 8 24 9 13 8 27 7 16 8 30 6 19 8 33 5 22 8 34 3 25 8 35 2 32 19 2 47 5 28 6 17 34 5 31 6 22 5 34 5 5 4 42 O 10 5 37 5 39 21 19 20 7 new 31 267 39 27 51 24 281 43 26 44 295 38 24 12 10 4 429 0 A 16309 1120 22 6322 1315 26 1710 25 5 54 I -39 7 59 1 53 53 334 49 9 42 27 2 Notable Aspects. 1. Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn, on the Meridian of London, at 30 min. past 6 in the afternoon. 1. Venus in the Head of the Dragon, or the Ascending Node of the Moon. 4. Conjunction of Mercury and Georgium Sidus in the Tropical sign Capricorn. 4. Moon in Perigee, or that point of her orbit least distant from the Earth. 10. Quartile aspect of the Sun and Saturn from Aries and Capricorn.-Mars for a few days at this time apparently stationary. Appulse of the Moon to Regulus, a star of the first magnitude in Leo." 12. Quartile aspect of the Sun and Jupiter from the signs Aries and Capricorn. 13. Conjunction of the Moon and Mars in Virgo, 31 min. past 1 in the afternoon. 14. Opposition of Mars and Venus from the signs Virgo and Pisces. 16. Moon in Apogee, or that point of her orbit farthest distant from the Earth. 18. Appulse of the Moon to Antares, a star of the first magnitude in Scorpio, 34 min. past 7 in the afternoon, 20. Sun enters Aquarius, the 11th sign of the Zodiac, 4 min. past 1 in the afternoon. 22. Superior conjunction of the Sun and Mercury, 11 min. past 7 in the afternoon. 23. Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury, 1 min. past 6 in the inorning, in Aquarius. FORECASTS FOR FARMERS, past GENERAL REMARK.-Most people are interested some way or other in the weather, and though all are more or less solicitous about atmospheric changes that are to happen; yet the interests of the farmer are most seriously involved in them: the following prognostications of the weather are, therefore, designed chiefly to assist in forecasting field business. Those who may have regularly compared the variations during the last year, with the predictions of Sir W. L. B. in his New Prophetic Almanack, will have no reason to doubt the efficacy of those rules by which his Meteorological Prognostications are deduced. He thinks it nevertheless necessary, upon presenting the Public with his Monthly Presages for another year, to introduce this general remark. It must be universally known, that nothing has baffled the efforts of Science more than the precarious nature of the atmosphere, especially in Great Britain, where all attempts to foretel its fluctuations have failed: nor have the most experienced Meteorologists of the present day, with the assistance of all ages, been able to lay down any systematic rules to guide our speculations on this subject. The fact is, there are many extrinsic causes that operate to produce partial changes in our weather; otherwise, the positive laws of Nature ever continue to act uniformly in the production of pluvial phenomena. It is the modifications of the effects of these constant laws, by contingent causes, which occasions the perplexity. It would not be consistent here to discuss the qualities of these peculiar affections. What I am desirous now to impress upon my readers is-that although there cannot be adopted one universal rule for shewing beforehand, for any length of time, what weather is to happen throughout any extensive country, yet may almost certain deductions be derived, regarding some periodical changes, that are very general; and more or less cogent in proportion to the direct force of the original cause, and the interposition of counteracting causes. Whenever, therefore, predictions of this sort are confidently made in the New Prophetic Almanack, the reader may rest assured that they have not resulted from casual reasons: and whoever will regularly compare them with the Atmospheric phenomena of the current seasons, will find them verified at least five times out of six; and they have for several years together proved themselves authentic nine times out of ten. Timely Marnings and aaholesome Precepts. Preliminary Note.-Before I proceed to my regular series of Astrological observations deduced from the succession of Signs presented throughout the year, it is due to the science upon which these judgments are built, to remark how fully that part of the current year which has already expired has confirmed the predictions recorded in my last Almanack. It would be incompatible with the nature of prophecy, as well as impious presumption, to allege in direct terms the import of astrological aspects, how significant soever they might seem, be cause human perception is very defective, and liable to err in its application of these mysterious omens. Bearing this remark in mind, could, let me ask, any interpretation of Celestial Prefigurations be more strictly applied than those contained in my compendium of Political Prophecies of 1821 Three months before the disturbances at Naples, and six months before the insurrection of the Greeks, those events were foretold in my predictions; as also the im portant |