Why does "cal 9 1752" produce incorrect results?

Bob Goudreau goudreau at larrybud.rtp.dg.com
Thu Nov 29 05:49:33 AEST 1990


In article <1990Nov28.011932.19555 at thyme.jpl.nasa.gov>, kaleb at thyme.jpl.nasa.gov (Kaleb Keithley) writes:
> 
> In the waning days of the Julian calendar usage in North America, if
> ships could make the Atlantic crossing in less than two weeks, you
> could mail a letter from London and have it arrive in New York
> before the day it was sent.

Not likely, since 1752 was when the entire British *Empire* (not just
its colonies) switched to the Gregorian system.  Most of the rest
of Europe had switched at various earlier times.

So your "time-travel" effect wouldn't have worked between England and
North America.  And anyway, the same effect could be achieved with
far less effort simply by crossing the English Channel from France
(Gregorian) to England (Julian).

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