The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-30
EvE'G, DEC. 80, 1872.
A REMARKABLY PROPHECY.


We recently had before us a copy of
an old almanac, printed in Boston in 1858,
entitled :" An Astronomical Diary, by Ma
thaniel Ames," which contained an inter-
estlng and most remarkable article on
"America-its Past, Present and Future"
portions Of which we copied at the time of
perusal, and now transfer to our columns
as singularly prophetic of our times. We
have no means of knowing who the writer
of the article was, except that it is appa-
rently the production of the author of the
Astronomical Diary, who seems to have
accompanied this edition of his work with
many acute and ingenious observations
upon the political and other topics of the
day.
Unless our recollection be at fault the
author of this old almanac was DIR. Ma
thaniel Ames, of Dedham, Mass, the
father Of Fisher Ames, the most eminent
and deservedly distinguished man of his
times. This DIR. Amcs was man Of
remarkable acuteness and wit, and is said
to have added to great professional skill a
superior knowledge of national philosophy,
astronomy and mathematics. He died as
early as 1854. while Fisher, his youngest
son, was still in his infancy.
The article must have been written in
1857, when the whole country west of the
Appalachian chain of mountains was in the
hands of the French. In fact, at that
time, their line Of Notifications was com
plete from Nova Scotia to the Ohio river,
SO that the whole of that vast region over
which the Imagination of the writer took
Its prophetic sweep, was to become
bloody field of contest before the bright
visions OF his soul could be realized. But
his mind seems not to have shrunk from
the struggle, or to have INDUCED in any
fearful forebodings as to the result that was
about to follow. In writing under the
head of the ''Present of North America"
he says: sat this time two mighty kings
contend for this inestimable prize" refer-
ring to the "Garden of the World"
as he calls the country lying west
of the Appalachian mountains). "Their
respective claims are TO be measured
by the length of their swords"
Further on, under the same head, in speak
ing of the numerical strength and division
Of the colonies, he says: ''But our num-
bers will avail nothing until the colonies
are united; for, whilst divided, the strength
Of the inhabitants is broken, like the petty
kingdoms of Africa. If we do not Join
hand in hand in the common cause against
our cxultipg foes Chose who had establish
Cd their extensive Gordon of military posts,
but fall to disputing among ourselves, it
may really happen as the Governor of
Pennsylvania told the Assembly: we
shall have no privilege to dispute about,
nor country to dispate in.'"
II was at this time and under these ex-
traordinary circumstances, that the follow
ing most remarkable article was written
aud we copy what the writer says under
his third or last head entire, as being the
most prophetic piece of political forecasting
to be found in the writings of our colonial
times. We italicize the concluding sentence,
the more successfully to rescue it from the
corroding tooth Of time to which the writer
committed it nearly a hundred and twenty
years ago. Here is the prophecy:
THIRDLY-oF THE FUTURE STATE OF
NORTH AMERICA.
Here we find u vast stock of proper materials
for the art and ingenuity of man to work upon
treasures of immense worth, concealed from
The poor, ignorant, aboriginal natives The Gu
rious have observed that the progress of human
literature, like the sun, is from the east to the
west; thus it has travelled through Asia and
Europe, and now is arrived at the eastern
shore of America. As the celestial light of the
Gospel was directed here by the finger of GOD
it will doubtless finally drive the long long
night of heathenish darkness from Anerica. so
arts and sciences will change the face of nature
in their tour from hence over the Appalachian
mountains 10 the western ocean /; and as they
march through the vast desert, the residence of
wild beasts will be broken up, and their obscene
howl cease forever; instead (which, the stones
andstrees will dance together at the music of Or
phebs, the rocks will disclose their hidden gems,
and the inestmable treasures of gold and silver
be broken up Huge mountains of iron ore will be
discovered, and vast stores reserved for future
generations. This metal, more useful than gold
or silver will employ millions of hands, not only
10 form the martial sword and peaceful share,
alternately, but an inflnity of utensils improved
in the exercise of art and handicraft among men.
Nature, through all her work., has stamped
authority on this law, namely That all fiji
matter shall be improved TO its best purposes"
Shall not then those vast quarries, that TEEN
with mechanic stoae-those for structure be
piled into great cities, and those for sculpture
INTO statues to perpetuate the honor OF renown-
cd heroes even those who shall now save their
country. OF We unborn Inhabitants Of Americdi
should this page escape its destined co1fGgrdtion
at The gears end, and these alphabetical letters re-
main te9t6te-lohen your eyes behold The sun after
no has rolled the seasons round for century to
come goL aetH knO0 that Ia Aaao Donlini 1858, a0e
dreamed Of your ttmeSI