On the Solar Eclipse predicted lij Thales. 357 



known meaning of ihese marks in his Mineral Maps, which 

 are so anxiously expected. 



In examining" the direciions and dips of the Strata, it is 

 hoped (bat Mr. A. will be particularly careful todiscriminate 

 in all cases, between the Jolin or stratula of thick beds, or 

 of nnstraiitied ma3ses{or thi-ir accidental parallel fissures), 

 and tlie regular strata-seams or partines of the strata : which, 

 it is thought, could not always have been done by M. De 

 Luc, in his 2d and 3d volumes of Geological Travels in 

 England, in so invariably staling the dip of the strata to be, 

 lo or from, and never across the numerous valleys and 

 combes, he describes, as his theory of their formation re- 

 quires. K 



LXVr. On the Solar Eclipse which is said to have been pre- 

 dicted by THALhs. By Francis Baily, E^q.* 



J- HERE is probably no fact in ancient history that has 

 given rise to so many discussions, and to such a variety of 

 opinions, as the solar eclipse, which (according to Herodo- 

 tus) is said to have been predicted by Thales ; and which, 

 owing lo a verv singular coincidence, put an end to a fu- 

 rious war that raged between Cyaxares king of Media, and 

 Alyattes king of Lydia. 



According to the account given by that celebrated his- 

 torian, " the contest had continued during five years, 

 with alternate advantages to each party: in the sixth, there 

 was a 5077 of nociiirnul comJ'ut. For, after an etjual for- 

 tune on both sides, and whilst the two armies were en- 

 gaging, the daii suddenly became night. Thales, the Mi- 

 lesian, had predicted this phaiuomenon to the lonians ; and 

 had ascertained the lime of the year in which it would hap- 

 pen. The Lydians and the Medes, seeing that the night 

 had thus taken the place of the dav, desisted from the com- 

 bat ; and both parties became desirous of making peace." 

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• From the Philosophical Transactions for 18il, part ii. 



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