Martinsburgh Gazette

Beginning of the Eclipse, 4 34 afternoon
Total darkness,	5 56
End,	7 24
Duration,	2 50

From the Harper's Ferry Free-Press.

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN—

On the 27th of June, 1824, at 34 minutes past 4 o'clock in the afternoon, will end the present Chaldean period, and leave us for the space of two hours and fifty minutes in sublime and pleasing astonishment, as night will be realized and the stars visible, if our atmosphere be free from clouds The writer of this article has undertaken the agreeable task of making calculations relative to the different phases and aspects of this great Eclipse: they are made for the meridian of Harper's Ferry, in latitude 39 29' N. longitude 78 5' W. of Greenwich, and are as follows:

The return of this phenomenon being variable, in consequence of the retrocession of the lunar nodes, which is 19 degrees and 20 minutes every year. By means of this variation, it is seldom seen in any country more than twice in an age. It will not be visible in Europe, but will to the American continents, and part of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

In this instance of Eclipse, the Moon's inhabitants on the side next the Earth [if any such there be] will see her shadow, like a dark spot, travelling over the Earth's surface about twice as fast as her equatorial part moves from West to East, for the space of about five thousand miles, the breadth varying according to the Sun's obliquity.

P. S. Since the above was written the calculation has been pursued, and the following results obtained:

The next total eclipse will occur on the 9th of July, 1842, at 16 minutes 44 seconds past 12 in the morning.—It will be invisible to us of course.

The succeeding total eclipse, however, will be visible in United States, and will happen on the 20th day of July, 1860, at 59 minutes 28 seconds past 7 o'clock in the afternoon.

Washington County, Md March 17, 1823.