About eleven o'clock there was a little rain, and it grew
dark. Between one and two he was obliged to light a large
candle to steer by.... Between nine and ten at night, he
ordered his men to take in some of the sails, but it was so
dark that they could not find the way from one mast to the
other."
Thoughts Turned to the Judgment
This writer commented as follows concerning the feelings awakened by the
event:
"Various have been the sentiments of people concerning the
designs of Providence in spreading the unusual darkness over
us. Some suppose it portentous of the last scene. I wish it may
have some good effect on the minds of the wicked, and that they
may be excited to prepare for that solemn day."
The _Independent Chronicle_ of June 22, 1780, printed a letter from Dr.
Samuel Stearns, who had been appealed to because of his knowledge "in
philosophy and astronomy." First, he disposed of one suggestion that had
been made:
"That the darkness was not caused by an eclipse is manifest by
the various positions of the planets of our system at that
time; for the moon was more than one hundred and fifty degrees
from the sun all that day.
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