New-York daily tribune., 1843-03-10

appear. mean the eQu0tity o. the rotations OF
the Moon, and The hbrations Of the three first
Satellites Of Jupiter.
1t is easily seen by the formula contained in the
fifth chapter, as we'll as in the preceding chapter
that iha shock Of Comet of one -thousasdet OF
the mass of the Moon, must have caused very SEN
sbs alterations in the real librations OF the Moon
and of the Satellites.
We NAV rest assured, az to the true influence OF
Comets Astronomers have reason TO fear any
injury from them to the exactness of their Astron-
omcal tables.
The COMET OF 1343.-Mr. Editor: This day,
Feb. 2S, comet of great brilliancy has been seen,
visible through the day without the aid of glass,
and its brilliancy almost equal to that of Venue.
It's situation is very near the eastern limb of the
sun; its tail appears about g in length. 1t may
be the comet announced some three months since
in Europe; it was then traversng the constella-
ton Draco be it that or another it is OF bril-
liancy. There are but three record of sufficient
brilliancy to be in the day season. The first
was 43 wears before Christ, and is called hairy
star :" it was seen with the naked eye in the day
time. The second was in the year l4O2, and II
was so brilliant that the light of the sun, at the
end Of March, did not hinder people seeing 1t at
midday both its nucleus and It's tail were to use
the language of the day, :" two tathoms long. =
The third appeared in Feb. ls,. 744, and nearly
euua!led Venus in splendor and many persons saw
it AT mid day without glasses. 1t may yet prove
that the comet of to-day is the same as that OF
1902 Three observations only are necessary to
calculate its orbit, the clements of which, if prev-
ously registered will enable astronomers to decide
whether the comet under consideration hes ap-
peared not
Of 5O4 comets that have entered the solar sys-
tenn "a have passed between Mercury and the
Sun, 47 within Venus, SO between Venus and the
Earth 73 between the Earth and Mars, and 3U2
between Mars and the orbit OF Juplter, and no
casually has occurred to primary or satellite. lhe
comet of l770 passed through the system OF Jupi-
ter without producing the slightest effect; stiil
many people are alarmed at the appearance OF
these erratc bodies, these rail cars OF the stellar
regions, the mystery OF whose office and destiny
makes their astronomy of intense interest.
With reference to the danger of 4 comets strlk-
ing the earth, we here add that the comet Encke,
whose period is only l,207 days; and nearest the
earth of al! the comets known, cannot come IN
collision short of period of 2l9,OCOOOO of years,
which calculation is based upon Astronomical iscts'
New Bedford Mercury.
V.1Ir, OF THE CoLyMBIA RIvER.-Ine fol-
lowing beautiful description of this fertile valley
il extracted from Senator Benton's late speech on
the British Treaty:
al do not dilstc upon the value and extent OF
This great country. A word suffices to display
bo,h. Ia extent il is larger than the Atlantic Por-
,ion of the old thirteen United States in climate,
softer; in fertility, greater; in salubrty superior
in posi,ion. better---because fronting Asia, and
washed bv a tranquil sea. In all these partlcu-
lars the western slope of cur continent Is Tar more
happy than the eastern. In its conhguraton II Is
inexprcssiblv fine and srand-a vast obong square,
with natural boundaries, and single gateway into
the sea. The snow capped Rocky Mountains en-
close il on the cast an coast cn tue west
a frozen desert on the north and sahdy P!alhs oN'
the south. All its rivers, rising on the segment
| of a vast circumference run TO meet eacu Quiet ~
the centre and then tisw together mo TIE ocean,
through gap in the mountain where the neatS y,
summer and the colds of winter are never felt, ana
where northern and southern diseases are equally
unknown. This is the valley OF t.se Cciumoia-a
country whose every advantage IS crowned oy tue
advantage of its confguration-by the union OF ali
It's parts the inaccessbity of It's borders, and lis
single :ntrogression to the sea- Such country Is
| formed for union, wealth and strength. IL can
have bst ors=sapital, and that Will be heoes
but ose commercial emporium, ana lnaI VIII oN
Tyre, queen of cities.
| AN INTELLIGENT DoG.-A friend OF ours IN an
Eastern city relates the following anecdote OF hls
Newfoundland dog. On a certain Sunday, after
church, the family were all assembled IN the
| drawing.room, and evety member Of 1t, with one
exception, occupied in reading. The dog alter
making reconnaissance OF the party, Proceeaeo
Of his own accord to the library, and taking dowr
book from the shelves, returned and presented II
"a the individual who was unprovided with tha
Convenient instrument for whiiing away the long
Quarter of an hour before dinner Troy wing
RHODE ISLAND STEAMBoArs.-NessTs.Ea Ea'soTs
Now tha. the days are becoming considerably
lonyer it would much accommodate the travelling
pnbIic, If the propretors OF The above mentioned
boats, and indeed of all the East River evening
boats would make arrangements 20 ieave T, .'e"
York at instead of O'Clock, +. NJ hey car
do it and get through Hurl Gate before DARK.
U On the morning of the 4th fire broke ou ~
in The store in Charleston occupied oy fisue. -,
Winthrop, Esq The store was entirely cohsua.e.
and another damaged About 40 bales OF cotton
in a great measure destroyed. The store burned
contained large quantity of Madeira wine ah'
West India preserves, on which there is an 'hsH'
So