The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-08 00:00:00

TILE COMET.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Bnl,--The present comet appears to me to ex-
hibit some peculiarities which I have not seen
hitherto noticed ; and I think it right to describe
Thera, so that my observations may be either con-
firmed or found erroneous before that body disap-
Pears from the earth.
The tail, on Sunday evening, seemed slightly
curved in the direction of the comet's motion—that
18, outwards towards the left of the observer; and
la this it agreed with the general rule which was
60 well illustrated by the comet of '5B ; but since
then it has become curved the other way, and has,
In fact, more than one curve, as I shall describe
below.

Last night the tail increased in breadth to a
place a little beyond a line between Gamma of the
Lesser, and Eta of the Great Bear. Here the
great breadth ceased ; but the right side oC the tail
Was prolonged in what might be called a hetero-
cereal fashion, like a narrow beam, for 60 degrees
farther to the limits of Ophiucus. The length of
the first curve was about the same as the distance
between the stars Alpha and Beta of Ursa Major.
here there was an indent, or short curve inwards,
and then, again, a long outward curve, very slight,
but, I think, plainly perceptible, to the end.
The border of the tail was sharply defined on
the right only, which was in accordance with the
general rule relating to the direction of curvature ;
but the curvature itself, as I have already stated,
thEfered from the usual direction indicated by the
motion of the comet.

If my observations are correct, they must show
that the curving of a comet's tail, and its superior
definition on one side, must be attributed to some
other cause besides the motion, or at least the direct
Motion, of the body.
Mr. Hind, in his letter appearing in the 7smes
'lf this day, alludes to the probability of the earth's
having passed through the tail of the comet in the
Course of last Sunday, and suggests that the bright-
"67B of the northern heavens in the evening of that
t day may be attributed to the proximity of come-
aary matter. This brightness was very evident,
:a in my first communication I called it " the
Phenomenon
twilight of summer," believing it to be a
ell°lllenon which I am accustomed to see at this
timeti,,_. of the year in two degrees, or so, of more
northern latitude.—l remain, Sir, your obedient
servant, JOHN BIRMINGHAM.
U •
eoll-street, Strand, July 6.

fir• Edwin
James, Q.C,, has taken his final leave
not °lib, of his Marylebone friends but of England. He
eht4. barked for Quebec last week in the Great Eastern, on
I tLwaY to New York, to seek a new fortune in the United
-"e8. Rumour says, with what truth we know not, that
kifhis departure Mr. James was married to a rich
dew, whose income was settled to her own use.—Record.
I,;I\TOW York harbour is defended by 12 forts, car-
ja'tqc 1,025 guns; 2 additional forts are now building to
337 guns, and works have been proposed for 602 more
Rune This does not include floating batteries, which might
acie:asilY constructed in large numbers and used to great
.4rltage.—ifechanics' Magazine.
fifth phis, which has a population only one-
So 11'4 of London, has more than 20 steam fire-engines.
One s
of them are self•propelling, but those drawn by
c"eare
v preferred. In from three and a-half to five
tainutes they can be prepared for active service, and in
st
se.en minutes they can raise power sufficient to throw
reams over 200 feet.-11fechanics' Magazine.
Tn-p.
the
tAvSE.CON.D
Op . Ja.INGSWOOD MURDER.—APPREHENIION
MAN.—lire understand that the second of
r _ 0 foreigners, supposed to be implicated in this mur-
'ine been apprehended at the village of Great Driffield,
Baia
te East Riding of Yorkshire. The London police are
(Imo: have traced the man to Hull, and from thence to
pers
on Dave traced the man to hull, and from thence to
persons rifileld, where he was taken into custody. Two
2 have passed through Hull from London for th
arpose of identifying the man.