ALMANACK

(Probably from the Arabic particle al and man ach, to commit; whence Al JManach, The Diary.) An annual publication containing a calendar of the days' and months of the year, the ecclesiastical feasts, the time of the sun's rising and setting, the age of the moon, the solar and lunar eclipses. To these (the most e ential matters) are frequently added information on various subjects of astronomy, chronology, meteorology, the tides, statistics, lists of posts, offices, public institutions, ., according to the views or fancy of their respective authors. Almanacks correspond in some respects to the Fasti of the Romans, and are of very ancient date. The first printed almanack appeared in 1474, and was drawn up by Regiomontanus, nearly, at least so far as regards the calendar, in the form now used. Till within a few years, the numerous almanacks published in England were little creditable to the taste or morals of the country. They had for a long time been monopolised by the Stationers' Company. This monopoly was at length broken through by the publication of a new almanack under the superintendence of the Society for the diffusion of Useful Knowledge; and since that time the more exceptionable ones have entirely disappeared, and their place been supplied by others which abound in useful and valuable information. The removal of the heavy stamp duty of fifteen pence per copy, to which they were subjected till 1834, has been attended with all the advantages which usually result from the exercise of free competition. The Nautical Almanack is published by order of the board of the admiralty for the use of seamen, and contains a copious list of astronomical phenomena at sea, and of the elements which are used in finding the longitude. This work is also a very complete astronomical ephemeris, showing the instants of time at which the planets and principal stars daily pa the meridian of Green wich; the sun's right ascension, ind the logarithms of his distances; the moon's place at mtervals of three hours, . . For a more particular account of works of this kind, see Calendar, Ephemeris. [s. 47]