Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-03-31
MONTPELIER, MARCH 81, ts43.

century, and two in the fourteenth century, be-
cause the attention was only directed towards
those whose long tails rendered them remarkable.
We can only discover those whose perheliOn is
nearer to the sun than ours. There are perhaps
more than 100000 comets which approach nearer
the sun than Uranus and Of which we shall new
or have any knowledge about.
Formerly, they attributed misfortunss TO these
stars. Science has nj last done away with these
terrors, MS much that the events never accorded
with the predictions. The comet Of 1864, in the
Constellation Of the Crow, would cause The death
of all soveregns: however, the year went by
without any of them dying. The two comets Of
l403, ornanIented with aigres, did not bring any
other evil than the death Of the Duke Of Milan:
those which have been recently seen during the
time OF SO many events, have not been accused OF
having produced them. We have reason to he
thank al Tor the abundant harvest which aecoinpa-
MED that OF 1911.
In the annunro of 1892, Mr.. Argo, after hav-
ing exposed with general cearness the general
theory Of comets reviewed those which offered
the most interest, terminated the examination by
several questions. We will finish thus chapter by
giving The analysis OF the consequences that this
learned philosopher drew from his reflections.
LIST. Comet, can it moderate perceptIby the
course OF he Seasons, change the Temperature,
etc. The author proved 10y facts md arguments
that this is impossible.
3D. Cnn Comet strike against the Earth or a.
ny other Planet I'VE may bet 70 millions against
one that such an event would not take place in a
very considerable lapse OF time, although 1t is not
absolutely impossible that such an event should
he realized III IN Indefinite duration.
81. Do We find smOug the astronomical phe-
nomena any reason TO suppose that comets ever
fail into the sun or into the stars ?-This event is
in itself entirely possible but there s nothing in
the astronomical annals, nor in actual observation,
which authurses us to think that ii has ever taken
| place. The opinion OF Newton s, that the sun is
maintained by c"Inels that IL nbsorbs and takes
! from them their foundation that of Button, who
explains the existence Of our planetary system in
| an analogous manner, is not more probable. This
philosopher pretended that n comet, IN grazing in
its course the solar system had carried away with
| il particles whitene' with heat, which divided IN.
| to animated globes of different velocity, and
| which hud been projected al different distances
Mr.. Arsgo proved Il at this ingenious system is
nhimissible However, the comet OF 1850, which
was only the sixteenth part Of the solar diameter
from iss perheiion, " ud end sooner nr Inter by
falling the sun by the effect OF attraction, which
in diminishing the centrifugal force, approaches
the comet to the sun,
4th. The earth, can il pass through The tail OF a
comet What would be the consr qu0nces OF sue Il
an event? The dry fog OF 1888, aud that OF 1881
were they accustomed 10y the tail ofa comet The
ditfused matter OF comets has frequently entered
into our atmosphere but we cannot REASONABLE y
attribute to this cause any Of the mnladles, any
OF the physical facts which have happened to us
This event is without danger 10 the earth W,
can, without our pcrceiying il, traverse the tail o
Il comet, and il certainly is not Il come, which pro
duced those dry iogs.
5h. The deuge, was it occasoned by comet
Mr.. Arago after having exposed MIR. h!ston'
system, completely overthrow il; il il be not pro
we'd that comet has not struck the earb, an,
changed lis movement in space, we know. at eas!
that the effects OF ihe shock, would not explain
those geological facts which are attributed to tn
deluge.
9Th. Siberia, has it ever experienced sudden
change of climate through the influence ola con,
Ell e--JSere is nothing TO establish he idea that
comet has ever had any part in the ply steal reyo
lutions that our globe has experienced and Q
which we have 70 many traces under our eyes.
9Th. is It necessary 10 recUr to the action OF
comet to account for the rigorous climate of tn
|, North of America HALEY believed that this aC
lion suficed for reason Tor this physical fact
but tnis theory is in all points insufficient, and NJ
meteorological phenomena can prove that the a.
is OF the earth had changed position by a shoe
: | from comet.
9Th The depression Of the soil in great POI
, ZION OF ASIA has it been produced by shoe
from comet ?-Ihis vast region Gu tIvated All
inhabited is much below The level Of the ocear
, $4,000 square leagues are thus sunk dow
!, MIR. de llumbolt has proved that This sinking
, owing 10 the elevation of the surrounding coui
try, which contains the highest mountains on II
! earth.
9th. The MOON has been a comet ?-Mr. A
J ago has showed us that the absence of atmosphe
is more against this hypothesis than in its favor.
n 10Th. Ceras, Pallas, Juno und Vesta, are the
Y the fragments of Il large planet that a comet h
Z broken into pieces? This opinion is founded pr
f cpally upon the existence ofimmense atmosphere
. Of Ceres and Paas the beuIns OF the com
might have given rise 10 these ntnospheres: b
= Vesu appears 10 he enlirely without il, which re