The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-20 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR Or THE SUN.

Sin,—My attention has just been called to the London
.Review of the 13th inst., wherein it appears that at least
one other observer has remarked the alteration in the curve
of the comet's tail and its double curvature, to which I
alluded in my letter of the 6th. _

It seems now to be generally admitted that the earth
passed through the tail ; but, without in the least doubting
that fact, I may be permitted to question whether it was
the cause of the great brightening of the northern sky on
the night of Sunday, June 30, as has been suggested.
The tail was certainly not directed towards the earth at
that time ; and if the brightness should be ascribed to any
cometary matter left behind in our atmosphere, which it
was capable of illuminating after the tail had passed away,
then it might be objected that the effect ought to be visible
over the entire sky, and not confined to the apparent neigh-
bourhood of the comet.

The dimmed sunlight of Sunday evening, observed in
some localities, has been attributed to the same cause ; but
it must be remembered that a comet's tail does not obscure
even the stars, which, in fact, shone with increased bril-
liancy through that of the comet of '5B.
No doubt, the observations were interesting, and are
worthy of study ; but to refer to the comet's tail, a dark-
ness in the day, and a brightness in the night—phenomena
which thus reminds us of a celebrated miracle of the
ExoDus—may show, perhaps, a too hasty conclusion in
our present state of knowledge. There is, I should say, no
reason why those different effects should not have proceeded
from simple atmospheric causes, unrelated to each other
and to the comet, though concurrent with the appearance
of the latter.

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
JOHN BIRMINGHAM.

Cecil-street, Strand, July 19.

Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam-
bridge and the Princess Mary, attended by Lady Geral-
dine Somerset and Captain Cost, have left the Duchess's
residence at the Ambas:Ador's Court, St. James's Palace,
for Baden-Baden. The Duchess of Hamilton has placed
her chateau at the Duchess of Cambridge's disposal during
her Royal Highness's sojourn at that watering-place.

The Right Hon. the Speaker will give his cus-
tomary dinner on Wednesday next to the principal officers
of the House of Commons at the New Palace, Westminster
—the usual prelude to the close of the session.

The Earl and Countess of Derby leave town in a
f3w days for Knowsley-park, near Prescott, for the season.
Lord HERRERT.—Accounts have been received
in town from Spa of the safe arrival of Lord Herbert. His
lordship had experienced no fatigue by his journey, and felt
somewhat stronger.. Should his lordship improve in health,
he will remain some weeks with Lady Herbert at Spa.

TUE BISHOP OF DURHAM.—A telegram was re-
ceived yesterday morning by the relatives of the Bishop of
a more favourable tenour, and hopes are entertained of his

recovery.

COMETS.—The present comet has puzzled a few
of our savants, who predict its appearance as something
ominous. The first comet was noted by Nicephorus, whose
splendour eclipsed the noonday sun, and occupied a fourth
of the heavens, 135 A.c., a remarkable one seen in England
in the reign of Edward the Third, 1337. Tycho Brahe ex-
plained their return, 1577 ; one visible from November 3d,
1679, to March 9th, 1680 ; orbits proved by Newton to be
parabolical, 1704 ; a brilliant one, 1769 ; one more bril-
liant still, September, October, November, 1811;
another appeared, February 28, 1823. Biela's Comet, so
called from its discoverer, an Austrian officer, February
28, 1826 ; one of three whose re-appearance had been pre-
dicted, it having a revolution of six years and thirty-eight
weeks ; its second appearance was in 1832, when the date of
its nerijaelion. was November 27. Its third appearance was
in 1839, and its fourth in 1845. Encke's comet, discovered
November 26, 1818, by Mr. Pons, named after Professor
Encke for his ascertainieg its orbit. It has appeared ac-
cording to the law predicted, its revolution being three years
and fifteen weeks. Halley's comet is also called the Great
comet; he proved that this comet of 1682, was the same
which had appeared in 1456, 1531, and 1607. He then was
the first to fix the identity of comets. Halley's has a revo-
lution of seventy six years. It appeared in 1369, and was
at its perihelion, March 23. It appeared again, 1835.
There is a map of the stars extant in the Royal Library,
Paris, which gives the stars 600 years before Christ, and
contains 1,460 stars correctly laid down.—Era.
THE SECOND FETE AT CREMORNE GARDENS.—
For the second fete at Cremorne Gardens on Wednesday
next, we understand that tickets may be obtained without
the preliminary necessity of securing vouchers, in order
that the funds for the charity may be enlarged by the ad-
mission of those who may be desirous of aiding in a work
of benevolence, but who are not personally known to any
of the distinguished ladies who kindly undertook the
troublesome office of ladies patronesses. That the oppor-
tunity will be extensively appreciated we do not doubt,
from the numerous applications for tickets on the last
occasion, which we understand were unavoidably refused in
the absence of the necessary vouchers. A series of amuse-
ments at an early hour will again be organised for the
younger branches of families, for whom family tickets, ad-
mitting children at half the general charge of admission,
are to be issued. A large attendance, in consequence of
this arrangement, is expected, and the interests of charity
will be proportionately benefitted. We omitted to remark
in our notice yesterday of the aristocratic fete, that the
elegant plate, the beautiful furniture, and the costly deco-
rations of the ladies patronesses' private room and of the
supping saloons, which were so much admired on this oc-
casion, were kindly supplied by Messrs. Hancock, of Bru-
ton-street; Messrs. Druce, of Baker-steet ; Messrs. Amott
and Gale, and Messrs. Copeland, of Bond-street; the rare
plants and shrubs wore obligingly lent by Mr. Bull and
Mr. Vietch.
THE POTATO DlSEASE.—Complaints with regardto the reappearance of the potato disease continue to be
made in Lincolnshire. In places where the land is damp
In
v
shaded by trees it is said to be making rapid r g
aplattinests. are,
Norfolk, Suffolk, or Cambridgeshire
complaints
however, put forward on the subject, aro
are soft and watery in too many cases whenu brought to
table.
THE TRUE GEN
ntleman. It was found in an
is called the portrait of a
Gloucestershire,true
written and framed, and
TLEMAN.—The following sketch
old manor house in
ofa
tapestried sitting room
hung over the mantelpieceo servant, the world's master,
oars
study his recreation,
man; virtue is his business,•
his brethre,
and his own
:
"The true gentleman is .
his rest, and happiness his reward ; God is his
contentment
Christ his Saviour, the saints
Father, Jesus
him his fliends • dev • is •
and all that need , devotion his chaplain,
chastity his chamberlain, sobriety his butler, temperance
his cook, hospitality his housekeeper, providence his
steward, charity his treasurer, piety his mistress of the
house, and discretion his porter, to let in or out, as most
fit. Thus is his whole family
is the true master of the house. He is necessitated to take
the world on his way to Heaven; but he walks through it
as fast as he can, and all his business by the way is to make
himself and others ha T
Mr. aka him in two words—a
Man and a Christian,"