Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-07-23

icns ot the voices of persons, who were whs- pering in the opposite extremity of the apart mcnt; and an air, played by musical snuff box, in room separated by an entry from the one where we were sitting, fell on our ear as clearly as if 1t were placed upon a table by our side.
 Haiiey's Comet, ,orthc Coniet of 1S34-There are few comets that arc visible to the naked eye, and on this account the comet, whose re- turn figures among the calculated memora blia of the year 1884, is entitled to an early and special notice. So far as modern obser- vatons reach, this comet was seen for the first time in the year 1465, and it approached to distance of Il l,700, coo miles from the sun on the 9th of June in that year. It came near the earth, and under favorable circumstances; presenting itself with peculiar splcndor and remarkable briliancy; travelling with tail extended over third portion of the frma- ment, and affording spectacle of far greater beauty than it ever exhibited since those times. Its next appearance was in 1531; and on the 18th day of August, it was at a dis tance of 21,60O,000 miles from the sun.- The period of its revolution was, therf re, as- certained to be seventy-five years, two months and seventeen days. Calculating each Of it's revolutions at seventy-hvc years, the re- turn of this comet might have been predicted for the year 1906, or 1907; and, in fact, it did return in 1907. It approached nearest the sun | on the 26th of October, when it was 1l,75O,- 900 miles distant from it. The period of its revolution had consequently been seventy-six years, two months and one day--onc twelve month longer than the preceding; whence it is obvious, that it's progress had been disturb ed by some planet, or other strange body. It was of considerable magnitude, its head be- ing of the size of the planet Jupiter; but its light was weak and nebulous it had d long tail, and this was also feeble in its rays as if overspread with vapors.
 The revolutions of this comet having been of 75 or 76 years duration, it followed that its return would occur Tn 1882 or 1883. This calculation was confirmed by its r-eappear- ance in 1882, when its nearest approximation to the sun took place on the 14th September, on which day it was distant from it II, $50, 900 miles. It was now for the first time observ- ed with any degree of accuracy, by Haley, from whom it has consequently been denomi- hated "Halley's Comet" This astronomer compared the results of his several observa- tions with those made on the comets of the year 1907 and 1531, and found them closely to correspond with one ancther; from which he was led to infer, that the three appear anceS belong to one and the same body. On this occasion, its revolution amounted tp "A years, ten months and eighteen days-giving a mean duration of seventy-hve years and half. Haley predicted the return of the coInet in the year 1759. At first, however,
 1t seems as if the event would not realize the prediction, as the comet Was tardy in appear
 ing; but to the delight of every astronomer, it became visible at last, and put an end to the doubt which had hitherto existed as to the durable nature of such badies as comets. It attained it's solar elevation on the 18th of M rch, when its distance from the sun was 1l,650,0C0 miles, and was of infLricr size to what it had been on it, last appearance. Its tail was but lightly illuminated, and not dis. cern ble except when the sky was clear; on which acc unt no precise judgement could be frmed of it's length.
 The weakness of its irradiation was princi- pally owing to its unfavorable position. Its last revolution had been seventy-six years and six monts It may reasonably be asked, why the comet consumed whole twelve month more in it's revolution than was natural to it To this it may 5e answered, and upon very accurate calculation, that it first display ed itself close upon the planet Jupiter, which influenced and retarded it's movement. Hence
 
 Haley had foretold. The return of the CO., met in our days ought to take place in the year 1884, but it is possible it may be 50 far influenced by Saturn and Uranus, as not to make it's appearance before 1885, or even 1856. Numberless calculations have already been formed on this event and we must leave it to time todetermine which of them are cor rect. Neither can we predetermine what will be the degree of its brlliancy, or the ex- tent of its tail these are matters which seem todepend on circumstances beyond the sphere of our present knowledge haher 6y Or Hartman, cf Berlin.
 An enthusiastic young sailor, extracts from whose journal are published in a Barnstable paper, glowingly describes the island of Juan Fernandez, where Selkirk was so long mo- march of all he surveyed.' He saysi it appears more like the garden of Eden, than any place he ever heard of. The valley is surrounded by hgh,. steep, and craggy mountains, which forni noble contrast to the garden below,