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years ago ; but, upon hearing that read on the fame 
lubjedt from Mr. Coftard, it put me in mind of it, 
and I hope it will be an acceptable illuftration and 
confirmation of that famous piece of hiftory, the 
eclipfe predicted by Thales the Milefian; which hap- 
pened in the 6 03 year before the Chriftian asra. 
I fhall recite the hiftory of this matter, as con- 
cifely as I can, from the hiftorians and writers, tho* 
they all miftake the year. But this fhews the ad- 
mirable ufe to be made of aftronomy in afcertaining 
matters of hiftory. 
The great king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, was 
now bufy in executing the vengeance, which God 
had made him the inftrument of, upon the nation of 
the Jews, for their incorrigible wickednefs and folly. 
Their king Jehoiachin was carried away captive to 
Babylon, and kept in prifon 37 years together, till 
he died. 
At this time there was a fharp war between the 
Medes and Lydians, of which Herodotus give us an 
account. Halyattes, father of the famous Crcefus, 
was now king of the Lydians. 
After the Medes had conquer’d all the upper or 
northern part of Alia, from the old pofleflors the 
Scythians, they again extended their borders to the 
river Halys in Lefler Afia, the boundary between 
Cappadocia and Armenia, or between the Lydians 
and Medes. It was not long before there happened 
a war between thefe nations, which continued for 
five years together, with various fuccefs. 
In the fixth year they engaged each other, with 
the utmoft of their ftrength ; intending to make that 
battle decifive of the quarrel, that was between them: 
5 but, 
