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Story
May 14, 1823
The Alexandria Herald
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
In 1715 London, a Mahometan envoy from Tripoli doubts astronomers' precise prediction of a total solar eclipse, believing God would not reveal it to unbelievers like the English. When it occurs exactly as foretold, he claims the knowledge comes from the devil.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
MAHOMEDAN AND ECLIPSE.
About the year 1715, when Dr. Halley's scheme and other astronomical schemes of the great solar eclipse, which foretold the precise time of the beginning and ending of that eclipse, and that it would be total, was cried about everywhere in London, there happened to be a Mahometan envoy there, from Tripoli, who at first thought people distracted for pretending to know so very exactly when God Almighty would totally overshadow the sun, which his own Mussel-men were not able to do. He concluding thus, that God Almighty would never reveal so great a secret to us unbelievers, when he did not reveal it to those whom he esteemed true believers, However, when the eclipse came precisely as those schemes had foretold, he was then asked by lord Forfar, what he now thought of the matter? His answer was, that they must have their intelligence from the devil; that he was sure that God would never correspond with such a wretched set of unbelievers as the English astrologers were.
About the year 1715, when Dr. Halley's scheme and other astronomical schemes of the great solar eclipse, which foretold the precise time of the beginning and ending of that eclipse, and that it would be total, was cried about everywhere in London, there happened to be a Mahometan envoy there, from Tripoli, who at first thought people distracted for pretending to know so very exactly when God Almighty would totally overshadow the sun, which his own Mussel-men were not able to do. He concluding thus, that God Almighty would never reveal so great a secret to us unbelievers, when he did not reveal it to those whom he esteemed true believers, However, when the eclipse came precisely as those schemes had foretold, he was then asked by lord Forfar, what he now thought of the matter? His answer was, that they must have their intelligence from the devil; that he was sure that God would never correspond with such a wretched set of unbelievers as the English astrologers were.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Providence Divine
Deception
What keywords are associated?
Solar Eclipse
Mahomedan Envoy
Tripoli
Dr Halley
Lord Forfar
Divine Revelation
Devil Intelligence
What entities or persons were involved?
Mahometan Envoy
Dr. Halley
Lord Forfar
Where did it happen?
London
Story Details
Key Persons
Mahometan Envoy
Dr. Halley
Lord Forfar
Location
London
Event Date
About The Year 1715
Story Details
A Mahometan envoy from Tripoli in London initially believes it impossible for English astronomers to predict the exact timing of a total solar eclipse in 1715, as God would not reveal such to unbelievers. When the prediction proves accurate, he attributes the knowledge to the devil after questioning by Lord Forfar.