Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-03-26
TIE COMET.

sons Royal Navy calculations and pre-
dictions as to the appearance and effects
of HALLEY's celebrated comet, which,
according to theory, is to return this
year to its ps,igse and perihelion, ,or points
nearest to the Earth and Sun. Accord
ing to Lieut.. NJ. it will make its appear
ance between May and August, in the
constellation Ursa Major, Uhe Great
Bear, "and bo far more splendid than
that Of 1911, and brilliant as full
moon" There is some misapprehen-
sion, wo conceive, in this part Of the
statement. In the American Almanac of
the present year, (IS35) its able editors,
R.T. Paine, and Professor Farrar, speak
ing Of the return Of this comet, observe:
"but as from some unknown cause the
light Of these bodies seems to be con-
stantly diminishing, it is doubtful whe-
ihcr it will be visible to the naked eye,
or indeed without the assistance Of ve-
ry powerful telescope"
Halley's comet was the first whose
return was predicted by astronomers, and
its temperance in 1859, according to
the prediction of DIR. HALEY, "conclu-
sively proved it to be composed Of mat
ter-and to obey, like the planets, the
laws Of gravitation." This comet, hav-
ing appeared in the spring of 1859, its
estimated period Of about 76 years will
have been completed, and its return due
in the autumn Of this year. 1t will ac-
cordingly be nearest the earth on the 7th
Of October, when its distance will be a
bout 90 millions Of miles, or somewhat
less than one fourth Of our distance from
the sun.
ENcKE's comet, which returns at in
tervals of 8 years and Is weeks, will al
so approach its perihelion during the pre-
sent year, but will probably not be visi-
bic to the naked eye. .
Another Of the celestial phenomena
which render the year 1885, very re-
markable-will be the transit Of JMercu-
~ over the disc Of the sun. This will
take place, it is predicted, Saturday,
Nov. 18th. "Whether the planet can be
seen during the transit, without the aid
of telescope, is doubtful: but viewed
through that instrument, it will appear as
a very small, round, dark body, passing
across the suns disc.
For most Of the above facts we are in
dcbted to the able "preliminary observa-
tions" of the American Almanac, 1885:
a work Of the first reputation for ability,
and usefulness, and which ought to bo
in the hands of every individual who has
the means to purchase it.
THE APPROACHING COMET From the
Falmouth Eng. Packet. Lieut.. Mori-
son of the Royal Navy, has published a
most interesting work upon this magnifi-
cent phenomenon, which is expected to
be seen in the course of this year 1895,
between the month of May and August,
in the Constellation OF Ursa Major-Lt.
Morrison states that it will be far more
splendid than the one in 1911, and bril-
liant as n full moon; that its tail will ex-
tend over 40 degrees, and when the
head Of the comet reaches the meridian
its tail will sweep the horizon. The au-
thor contends that the electric and at
tractve powers of the comet will have
very serious effects upon our atmosphere,
in producing inundations, earthquakes,
storms, and tempests, volcanic eruptions
and epidemic diseases. In support of
the theory, he refers to the different ap-
pearances Of this comet for the last six
hundred years, showing that in the COM
ct years the phenomenon prevailed to a
great extent. The author says:
'Relying on the correctness Of our
principle of geometry influence, we ven
ture TO predict the summer Of 1885 will
be remarkable for intense heat which
may be expected to destroy the harvests
in some parts Of the world. That year
will be noted for earthquakes, volcanoes,
and other similar phenomena. The end
of 1885, or early in 1886, may be ex-
peeted to be remarkable for one or more
extensive earthquakes. The winters of
1886 or '37, will bring a frost such rs
has not been cqualed for at least 90
years. The parts Of the earth which we
anticipate will suffer most, arc situated
to the North Of Asia, and some parts of
the Southern hemisphere, such as Chi
na.-Those parts Of the earth in the vi
cinity of volcanoes aie always subject to