234: Profefir Wit.11AMs's Account of ax 
IV. Ar Account ofa very uncommon Darknefs, in. the States. 
of New-England, May 19, 1780. By SAMvuEL WiL- 
. LIAMS, 4..M. Hollis Profeffor of Mathematics and Philofo- 
_ phy in the Univerfity AG ea eS iS ke fils - 
WHE beft method to promote the knowledge and fcience 
CR ^ of nature, is to proceed by way, of obfervation and. ex- 
| periment. The general couife, productions, and laws of na- 
tare, fhould:be carefully and fteadily attended to: and when, 
any new phenomena appear, all the circumfUitices-as fects, 
relating to them, fhould be particularly noted and collected. 
In this way we fhall be moft likely to arrive at the knowledge 
of their caufes : or, at leaft, we fhall prepare thofe materials 
which may enable pofterity to determine, with certainty and 
precifion, on what at prefent may be but imperfectly under- 
ftood. à 
With this view, I fhall endeavour to lay before the Society, 
as particular an account as T cäntollet, of the uncommon 
darknefs which took place in the ftates of New-England. 
The time of this extraordinary darknefs, was May 19, 1780, 
Tt came on between the hours of ten and eleven, A. M. and 
continued until the middle of the next night ; but with differ- 
ent appearances at different places. As to the manner of its 
approach it feemed to appear firft of all in the S. W. T he 
wind came from that quarter, and the darknefs appeared to come 
on with the clouds that came in that direGion. The degree to 
Which the darknefs arofe, was diffétent in different places. In 
moft parts of the country it was fo great, that people were un- 
able to read common print—determine the time of day by their 
es clocks, 
