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AN ALMANAC OF 1776

By J. NEILSON BARRY

It is a small volume, only three inches by five, with a worn leather cover, and pages yellow from age. The printing is old fashioned, small, having the long "s" similar to an "f." The title page gives the information that it is "Gaine's Uni- versal Register, or American and British Kalendar for the year 1776," and that it was published by H. Gaine of New York.

It is a storehouse of information in regard to the various officials of that year, which was so momentous in the history of this country, and there are many things which throw light upon conditions in the Colonies at that period.

The book was the property of Hon. Abraham Ten Broeck, a member of the General Assembly of New York, representing the Manor of Van Rensselaer ; that he was a patriot is shown by notes which he made on the blank pages of the calendar, which also contain memoranda of his business transactions of that year.

The data are given in the most matter-of-fact way, without any indication of the turmoil of excitement at that time, yet the printed explanation for the lack of information regarding the Province of Massachusetts Bay has reference to the Revo- lution then in progress. "The present unhappy state of this Province prevents us from being as particular in our account of it as we cou'd wish we do not know who is in, or who are out of, office ; when the melancholly differences that now sub- sist between the Mother Country and her Colonies, are hap- pily terminated, we shall with Pleasure present the Public with as correct and copious Lists of the officers of Government as can be possibly obtain'd."

The calendar for July states that that month was to begin on Monday. The Fourth, which has since become so famous, was on Thursday, and the prediction for the weather was "Cloudy and it may rain about this time."

Among the manuscript notes are :

August 27th "Battle of Long Island."

September 15th "Regulars landed on York Island."

September 16th "Battle of Harlem."