tronomer, BENJAMIN
WEST, Esq; of Providence, State of Rhode-Island.

_At the same Place may also be had, just published;_

The Remarkable Captivity and Redemption of

ELIZABETH HANSON,

Wife of Mr. _John Hanson_ of _Knoxmarsh_ at _Kecheachy_, in
_Dover_ Township, who was taken Captive with her Children
and Maid-Servant, by the _Indians_ in _New-England_, in the
Year 1724.

IN WHICH ARE INSERTED

Sundry remarkable Preservations, Providences, and Marks of
Care and Kindness of Providence over her and her Children,
worthy to be remembered.

_The Substance of which was taken from her own Mouth, and
now published for general Service._

THE THIRD EDITION,

Also, an entertaining Narrative of the cruel and barbarous
Treatment and extreme Sufferings of

Mr. JOHN DODGE,

During his Captivity of many Months among the _British_, at
_Detroit_.

IN WHICH IS ALSO CONTAINED,

A particular Detail of the Sufferings of a Virginian, who
died in their Hands.

_Written by himself; and now published to satisfy the
Curiosity of every one throughout the_ United States.

THE SECOND EDITION.

*** All the above Books, with a Variety of other small
Books, &c. will be sold to Shop keepers, Travelling-Traders,
&c. at the very lowest Rate, if they purchase by the
Hundred, Groce or Dozen.

* * * * *

In these sceptical and agnostic days it may sound a little strange, and
perhaps to some seem quite absurd, that the authorities of Harvard in
1791 felt obliged publicly to deny that Gibbon's History was used as a
text-book at the University. But with the exception perhaps of Tom
Paine, no one in this country had then ventured to assail the literal
interpretation of the Scriptures. Probably the masses of the people
then believed that "Joshua commanded the sun and moon to stand still,
and they obeyed him," that Jonah was swallowed by the whale, and that

"In Adam's fall,
We sinned all."

Of course there were exceptions. Therefore, although Gibbon might be an
able writer, it was not safe for young men to study his works, simply
because he had thrown doubt or derision on the Christian miracles. So
when it was reported that a growing liberality of sentiment was being
manifested at Cambrid