The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-12-25
ARemarkabIe Prophecy.

We recently ran across the copy Of an
old almanac, printed in Boston III lIoS,
entitled Astronomical Diary, By Ma
thanel Ames," which contains II most
Interesting Article on "AmcrlCa-lts Past,
Present and Future" and one singularlv
prophetic of our times. Unless our rec
objection be at fault, the author of this
old almanac was DR.. NathanSl Amcs, Of
Dedham, Massachusetts, the father OF
Fisher Ames, one Of the most eminent
and deservedly distinguished men of his
times. This DR.. Ames was a man of re-
markable acuteness and wit, and Is
said to have added to great professional
skill superior knowledge of natural
philosophy, astronomy and mathomatlc>.
He died as early as 1894, while Fisher,
his youngest son, was still in his infancy.
The article in question must have been
written in 1857, when the whole country
west of the Appalachian chain of noun
tains WAS in the hands ofthe French, and
we copy what the writer says under his
third and last head entire, as being de-
cidcdly the most prophetic piece Of Po-
liriCal forccasting to be found anywhere
in all the writings of our colonial times.
Here is the prophecy:
TuIRDLY-oS THE FUTURE STATE OF
NORTH AMERICA.
Here we find vast stock of proper
materials for the art and ingenuity Of
man to work upon--trcasures OF I'm
mcnSc worth, concealed from the poor,
ignorant, aboriginal natives! The curl
Gus have observed that the progress Of
human literature like the sun, i from the
east to the west; thas it has Travelled
through Asia and Europe, and now Is
arrived at the eastern shore Of America.
As the celestial light ofthe Gospel was
directed here by the finger of God it will
dou ptless finally drive the long, lorg
night of heathenish darkness from Amerl-
ca So arts and sciences will change the
face Of nature in their tour from hence
over the Appalachian mountains to the
Western ocean; and as they march
through tho vast desert the residence OF
wild beasts will be broken up and their
obscene howl cease forever, instead OF
NHlCU tue stpHcs hiiN e'NCS WI No''N'
together at the music of Orpheus, the
rocks will disclose their hidden gems,
and the unestimahle treasures oi
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 hsnds, not only to form the
martial sword and peaceful share
alternately, but an infnitv Of
utensils, improved in the exercise Of
art and handicraft among men. Nature
through all her works has stamped au-
thoritv on this law, namely, that all 1T
matter should be improved 10 lis pur-
poses." Shall not then, those
vast quarries than TEEN with me-
chanic stones-those for siruC;urr
lie piled into great cities and those for
sculpture into statues TO perpctuate the
honor of renowned heroes, even those
who shall now save their country. q
We unborn in habitants of Amtr.eai should
this page escape its destined conhagra'
ton q, the years end and these slphs.
hctical letters remain legible, when your
eye. behold the sun after ne has roilet
the seasons round for a century 10 come
YOU will know that in in Ammo Domini
1857, We dreamed of your times!-Ner
Haren Register. ..r..