The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-01-09 00:00:00

THE COMET.
•
The otter Cooiet *as observed for the first time
on the mit of September, at Jamaica. The fol-
lowing 'mount of it is extracted from The Jamaica
Mercury, of tke 10di of October :
" The following is the promised communication
respectinj the Comet; it is made by a Gentleman
-lebsturing under severe indisposition, and conse-
quently with many disadvantages ; w s shall, how-
ever, be glad to receive any further observations his
health may enable him to make; and be obliged by
those of any other scientific observer :
Mr. Oameasott—ln the many observations that
I have been able to take of the Comet, winch con-
tinues to excite public curiosity, 1 heve,found no
reason to retract or alter any opinion which I had
stated in my short and hasty email' ui cation to y o u on
the subject;of the 2dtb ult. except with regard to
the circumstances of het being, at that time, od a
rapid descensiou to the jikerre of her orbit, nearest
the Sun ; it since, however, appears more clearly to
have already been down to that fonts, and having
performed bar revolution round the Sun, at a dis-
tance of no more than twice the diameter of the
earth from his centre, had ascended to that part of
her extremely eccentric ellipses, which bee between
the orbits of Vertus end the Earth. In confirma-
tion of iny having been perfectly correct in stating
her place to kave been between the orbit. of those
two planets, 1 was very much gratified in learning
from two or three intelligent friends, since you heard
front me, that at 7 o'clock, on the evening of the
214 ult. they clearly and distinctly observed a
regular eclipse of Venus ; an (elect which every
man, who has the smallest smattering in astro-
nomy, must know, conld haie been produced by
uo other known opaque body ill the Heavens, than
by our Moon or a Comet; said that it could not
have been by the Moon is evident, because she
' happened not to be within our hemisphere at the
time, nor did she rise until ten o'clock that night :
so that no fact can be more clearly demonstrated,
than that the Comet was not only between the
Earth and Yours (the planet nearest to us) but in so
direct a line between them, as to intercept, in part,
the view of bne from the inhabitants of the other.
Since that time she has farther ascended in her
ellipse!, and having crossed the Earth's orbit, is
now wit bin the sphere thereof, whence she will rise
between our orbit and that of Mars, mutt so on, ali-
bi she is without the noel' of our view ; which,
however, I do not think will he before the month of
Jakitary or February in the ensuing year. The
nucleus or body of this Comet is not large, her
diameter being in proportion to that ef the Earth, only
ass to 14, but her tail is immensely long; for, by ob-
servation the last evening, it appeared to extend
above two degrees from the nucleus ; and which,
allowing the sun's parallax to seconds, must have
been above d,07e,000 miles in length ; her place
among the Constellationsthe last evening was on the
loweredgeoftite northeruscaleofLibro--herobliqtre
ilescension en it des. 40 min.—her Western ampli-
tude 10 deg. go min.—her time of coming to the
meridian, 2 h. 5 m.anci• her time of setting 8 h.
itr A'ifiery of the above particulars, kept for
the six pret;eding even)ogs,- I can fundsh you with
for assertions when you may probably cie better
able to atfird it a gave in roar %Prefer:l ; for, el-
though it may uses be materially interesting to your
renders here, yet to your 'mathematical corn:upend-
eids and fields ahr;ma it may be applied to useful

pnrpneel„ whidt they will he ittideratatio I. ,
satarday, 341 of Out+ , d 07. 'luut`a, "

The following v.-tract of a letter from Philadel-
phia. dated Oct. in, front, a most respectable.
Merchant, long retired from business; to an inti-
mate friend in this country, contains sentiments
that ought to be felt and acted up?" by every true
Englishman at this crisis ; and also shews that they
'dens& early and correct views of Eurleas putitice
in that country, We can vouch for its authenti-
city. The writer 60C1114 also of opinion, that it will
be first knower on this side the water, whether war is
to take place between Great Britain and America:
" Since the recent pence made by Bruit and Prus-
sia, with France, to which may be added, the pros-
pect .of Russia alal Sweden, with Denmark, being
all engaged in hostilities with Great Britain ; I
feel myself incompetent to form an idea of the
course of action that 'Great Britain will pursue.
Coahtions, I conceive, are at en end. Great Bri-
tain has not a friend lett on tile Continent, that can

be of any efts -Went senrice to her, or on whom she
can depend for aid and friend:hip. Portugal exists
only on sutfenuwe, and will be shortly blotted out
from the Illap of Europe. Thus situated, what
can England do, is the question ? She cannot—
she ought not to make a 13eace with Prance—if she
sutlers herself to be caught in this snare, her fate is
waled—she would shortly cram to exii4 as a nation.
have no doubt bat tempting offer" will be made
her by France, bearing the appearance both of
honour and advantage but let her beware of be-
ing seduced by them; they would lead her to ine-
vitable rain. Let her remember, that she com-
inands on an element, where the United World
consult meet her, nor contralti sr check her power.
Let her exercise it with firmness and resolution,

united with snood policy, dignity, and prudence,
and it may work a revolution in the world, as fa-
vourable for her interest. and perhaps more so;
than all the mighty armies of France has done for
her. Let her risk every thinf upon it, to the very ex-
istence of the nation. If this course is not pursued,
I consider all as gate. A three years peace would
destroy her for ever! present.situation is un-
precedented in the annals of het history—it i. pe-
rilous, it is awful: lel her not despair ; hut ra-
ther common fresh mirage Lind -determination to
brave every danger, cirri *ye.. She mu,t cairn-
late on a iivere couflict. and a long season of trial,
In/thing -hurt of this can preserve her national ho-
neut. or independeoce. means which she
poesesnes, under the direction of wise councils.
union, bravery, and national virtue, may preserve
her from sharing in the prevailing de.truction of
vorrontwling swim's : but if she li•tens to the syren
rake of peace, in the present prostrate state of
Europe, she will only have a short temporary re-
pose-under the opiate and awake from the lethar-
gy under expiring convulsions. With the most
ardent wishes for her safety and welfare, I will con.
elude with the lively *ye, that (Ind will bless hoer
councils with sound wisdom, and the people .with
irtue and tirMlit iS to support than."