“DEAR FEMALE FRIEND:—­

“I have thought of you every day since I saw you last, and of my promise in respect of composing some verses for your amusement, but I am very much indisposed, and have been ever since that time.  I have a constant pain in my head, a palpitation in my flesh, and I may say I am attended with a complication of disorders, at this present writing, so that I cannot with any pleasure or delight, gratify your curiosity in that particular, at this present time, yet I say my will is good to oblige you, if I had it in my power, because you gave me good advice, and edifying language, in that piece of poetry which you was pleased to present unto me, and I can but love and thank you for the same; and if ever it should be in my power to be serviceable to you, in any measure, your reasonable requests, shall be armed with the obedience of,

                    “Your sincere friend and well-wisher,
                                             “BENJAMIN BANNEKER.

     “MRS. SUSANNA MASON.

     “N.B.  The above is mean writing, done with trembling hands. 
     B.B.”

With the use of Mayer’s Tables, Ferguson’s Astronomy, and Leadbeater’s Lunar Tables, Banneker had made wonderful progress in his astronomical investigations.  He prepared his first almanac for publication in 1792.  Mr. James McHenry became deeply interested in him, and, convinced of his talent in this direction, wrote a letter to the firm of Goddard & Angell, publishers of almanacs, in Baltimore.  They became the sole publishers of Banneker’s almanacs till the time of his death.  In an editorial note in the first almanac, they say,—­

“They feel gratified in the opportunity of presenting to the public, through their press, what must be considered as an extraordinary effort of genius; a complete and accurate Ephemeris for the year 1792, calculated by a sable descendant of Africa,” etc.

And they further say,—­

“That they flatter themselves that a philanthropic public, in this enlightened era, will be induced to give their patronage and support to this work, not only on account of its intrinsic merits, (it having met the approbation of several of the most distinguished astronomers of America, particularly the celebrated Mr. Rittenhouse,) but from similar motives to those which induced the editors to give this calculation the preference,—­the ardent desire of drawing modest merit from obscurity, and controverting the long-established illiberal prejudice against the blacks.”

The title of his almanac is given below as a matter of historic interest.