annusmirabilis

I thought it was 1666 - at least according to Dryden's poem. And certainly 1665 was a year of wonders. Why 1759?

4042Albert, you are overestimating me. :) (Albeit politely.) However, I don't think it's too much information - just enough to be interesting.

I have read them both, though (alas, in these evil days!), seen neither performed.

Try brackets instead of parentheses, and your touchstones will work.

LOL. Cole Porter?

Our language-sharing with the Restoration era can be equally fraught and amusing....whatever country we're from! :)

Aak! How horrible. I apologize for my indecent mistake. :( (Hangs head in shame.)

The Gershwins would never forgive me.... it's almost enough to make me glad they're dead!

I like your parentheses, but ... brackets work really well. :)

It's unfortunate that I missed part of the discussion between Eurydice and Foxhunter, since Foxhunter's messages are now deleted. So my comment might be nearly one year too late. Forgive me if it was already discussed here.

When I discovered this group, I thought at first that 1660 was this annus mirabilis because of the Restoration. 1666 seemed to me incorrect because of the many disasters in that year. But I was wrong. (My mistake came from the fact that, unconsciouly, mirabilis meant to me happy events, whereas it actually refers to remarkable events.)

You might be interested to know that 1757 was another annus mirabilis, this time more favorable to the English. Look what I received a couple of months ago about a commemoration:

It now appears unfashionable to be jingoistic about the successes in our military history with the press and the historical societies paying scant attention to the fact that 2007 is the 250th anniversary of the annus mirabilis. 1757 was the year in which Wolfe captured Quebec, the XXth foot (The Lancashire Fusiliers) gained a great victory at Minden and Admiral Hawke destroyed the French fleet in Quiberon Bay ending any hopes the French may have had of invading Britain. After a disappointing start, Pitt the elder was appointed to supervise the military aspects of the Seven Years War which some historians call the First World War. Clive was successful in India, the Keppel brothers captured Havana, whilst in the East, Manila was taken from the Spaniards. In the West Indies, St. Lucia, Martinique, St. Vincent and Grenada were captured with Britain becoming the world power.

I couldn't find anything about 1759, a date probably mentioned by Foxhunter's first message in this thread. Another annus mirabilis two years later? But it is also stated that 1809 was an annus mirabilis because of the many historical characters—including Kit Carson—born that year.

12>

Thanks to Foxhunter & shame on me! I thought I could rely on the text I received, & I realize that everything is wrong in it! The loss of Quebec (I'm speaking of a loss because I'm French of course...), Minden, & Quiberon all happened in 1759, not 1757. Admiral Keppel—but I couldn't find out if they were two brothers—seized Havana in 1762. Most of the West Indies islands listed were under Bristish rule as of 1762, as well as Manila. The only correct event seems to be Clive's success in India, which indeed happened in 1757.

I think the author of these lines made a confusion with Admiral Byng's execution in 1757 & its 250th commemoration in March this year. But this is another story.

BTW, before reading these lines, I absolutely never heard of the Quiberon Bay battle in French history classes... Strange enough... 2009 will be anyway a year to commemorate—but not in France.

PS 13> Johnson himself was known for slightly deforming citations. You are forgiven.

i am not sure if this is kosher or not, but where else to post this info?

I have a three volume almost miniature set of the Complete Works of John Dryden, published in leather with fleur de lis imprinted in gold, in very good condition. I have no use for them and would like to sell them. They were published in 1777 and 1778 at The Apollo Press at the Watkins in Edinburgh and have no outstanding deficienciesk, just the natural leather rubbing of a 230 year old set.
I have no idea what they are worth, but $210 american sounds good to me.

anyone interested?
my email address is:

www.writer@andyray.net
or visit my LT profile and leave a message there.

i have other old stuff like that, too, but these are really wasting time in my house.

Sounds beautiful, though I've no money spare. It's nice to see the conversation revived here, in my absence!

#11You might be interested to know that 1757 was another annus mirabilis, this time more favorable to the English.

Hello again, Pepys.

Oddly enough, I've just been reading up on "1757 and all that". (The scratch of a Pen, for one.)

New York State has been promoting 2007 as the 250th anniversary of 1757:

I'm from the Mohawk Valley, so many of these events (e.g., The Last of the Mohicans - which is subtitled "A Novel of 1757") are local history for me.

The authors of some interesting books on the 18th Century in general and the Seven Years War in particular are booked next month for a conference/symposium at a local college:

October 19-21
William Johnson Symposium
"Agents of Change in Colonial New York: Sir William Johnson’s World"
Fulton-Montgomery Community College, Johnstown, NY

Second annual symposium featuring tours of historic sites, receptions at historic sites, 18th century style dinner, exhibits, book signings and presentations by scholars. This year features authors Alan Taylor, Fintan O’Toole, Colin Calloway, and Timothy Shannon.

Bob,
I realized when having a look at the Web site you've just mentioned that your skull is shaved. I imagined you with hair...

Well, that's an old photo....