Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-03-13
We find the following colcctanca the Norfolk Herald;
lvEy.S
oriStoSs % rHE ASTRONOMERS.
[ Prom the Philadelphia Enquirer. ]

The Comet seen bv thousand Of eur citizens for nigh,
OF Two past subject 81 inquiry and conversation many
circles IL - TO be hoped that 1T our scientific men,
and especially some Of Professors the High School, who
nave had opportunities viewing this wonderful
from the observatory, will furnish particular As
TINS comet came TO US unhcradcd doubts expressed
Its identity with the which have heretofore
been in the day time; but presume that those VIII
nave studied the subject thoroughly and whohave compared
observations with the authenticated works up
ON the subject, will be able arrive definite concu:
| sion.
Among the extraordinary comets which have M.
! peared the following be noticed:
The Comet of 1850, which by Q
tronomers ot Europe. This remarkable for it, very
near approach TO the According Sir Isaac Newton
the velocity ct this comet when the sun, $50
600 miles an hour Mr. HALEY that In passing
through It's Southern node. tins comet within 10000
miles OF the orbit o the earth and he marks-had the
earth been III that part of it, orbit the node
comet elr mutual graNiiation must have caused change
the plane OF the cart croft and IN the length year
and It 80 large body, with rapid notion were 10 strike
the earth, the shock ht reduce this beaut frame =, it,
original chaos. Modern observations, however render
these Conclusions doubtful The nucleus this comet was
computed T. be about times large mcon and
tail extended over OF - deg To the near
approach OF TINS comet to the earth, Sir Winston attributed
the Deluge the Noah. This superstition how
ever, dscredlici by other astronomers Ualcys well
hn'"n comet appeared IL l6S, and exhibited ta 30 de-
grccs m length II rcappoaved in l7S according 10 pre-.
dsction, and again 1885. remarkable comet arpesr,d
IN liza On tue evening Janv 23i the diameter of IT.
nucleus nearly equal t Jupiter it,
above l6 degrees tom body On the 18th of Feb'y the
tai was divided into two Sauchcthe eastern about de-
length approached the Mars At Its greatest
length, 1t computed equal third part he distance
toihe earth from the sun IT. tail visible for long
after its body beneath the horizon extended ~ deg
or 80 deg above the horizon hours before sunrise An.
other comet appeared IN June, l770 and visible for
long umv. LtNc ascertancd that IL described an elipse
around the sum- OF which the only three
times the diane ct the earths orbit Although frequent
~ looked Tor, It mas no; since been seen
Encke- Comet discovered at MarSpi,s Noy 9Th
ISIS EncSe ascerancd thatit only 1900 day. to travel
through the whole extent OF s elliptic orbit reapPearrd
IN ISIS - - aud IS, and occupied the places assigned
by the astronomer whose It bears II l. very small
IT. light Is feeble, and 1t has tail Gambarts Comet
makes IL entire revolution round the ycars
Ii predicted that would cross the plane of the earis
orbit, on the 18th October, 1882, little before midnight at
point about $50 miles within the orbit Of the earth Ii
actually made rs appearance about the specified and
created great alarm. AraEu published a a the
me To- i popular tear, showing that the % OF Oct.
1892 poruuof the orbit might be included within
the nebu!y OF the comet, hut that the earth would
arrive AZ tlt same point al IT. orbit until tho morning Of
TIC 5Jh % November, than month after and that
consequently the earth would be 50 GOOO Of BRUSH miles
distant from tie Comet lie adds that I'll the Comet in
stead of crossing the plane the ecipc on the 2g, uf DC
obcr, had not arrived thero until the morning the 3y
November, II would undoubtedly have mingled s ututrs.
phoTe with c..s, and perhaps have struck u.s." Tie
'-Fh considered M moFc danger, danger there be- from
this aud that Enckc, than any other. EEcke's
comet cosse the Orbit Of the earth 60 the
OF century The comet 81 1907, visible in the
ming, dapFcacdtJ the naked like dim star
. with o. uiu ui light side Of a..
The comet OF loll j. regarded the remarkable
} OF modern times. The nucleus $4,000 miles IN
DIAMETER and 1t was visible the naked eye for
man hf'c months IN succession. The greatest length Of
tie tail the 18th Of October, estimated al 10000
miles It's period oi revolution II calculated at 5000
tiauey's comet 10y the last time in 1885 1t
was visible 20 the naked eye and the the
TAI was estimated T. be about thirty grecs egnih-
CursscatJns observed IN the tai Tho appearance
OF this comet, says Dick, predicted BY
ASTRONOMERS ana IN position nearly agreeing with
tHse which previously calculated, that COM
ct, IN general are permanent bodies connected with the
solar system, and very considerable change in
t cons u'ut"n lakes place wtle reversing the distant
parts OF Tci' orbits We cannot better conclude
ucie than IN giving remarks the influence Of com
cts, from the pen 1t Professor Dick.
"In all the works OF iho Deity, admit that
ms g0odRess i displayed, although may not be able
10 ''ace the mstc OF anon; for may lay
down an axiom, that whatever wisdom and omninJtencc
are exhibited throughout to Divine economy, there Is
also display O.! cen,ErrHrs which appears TO be
prominent design o a,. 'ne WORKS Of God, Comets have
long been considered objects OF and omcns
81 lnpeEGlns ceIamlt'- but there be question
that they intimately connected with system of
beneyoence, solar ruGiatons aud their benign
influence ON our globe aud the other planets. 1t
boel cOHacurel ana; may probably supply
~ Ihc other planets aud iuyigJr-te the vital principle of our
atmosphere; that they may the with fresh fuel
Ond repair tie consumption his lights or that they may
be the agents tor dispensing the electric fluid through the
planetary regions; and although there lille probability
that such cOncctues accprdant with fact yet may
be admitted that may produce physical influence
OF beneficial throughout the solar system
/ Bot what conceive q b. one Of the main de.
signs o! the Creator DO the formation Of such number
OF -peUuu lilnI thty habtltDus
ynads on'eectual beings, TO whom the Almighty displays
his pericc tons Qpecunr manner, whom he hes.
lows the riches Of hs bUrcice1ce. Whatever be the
intention % those which destitute Of nucleus
this, ~ all probability, l' chief design Of those which
large aud which invested with solid neuceus; and
the Arguments which formerly brought forward
prove that the planets inhabited might be adduced
proof " tue iuinD bil.y uf comets. II this position be
admitted, then si contemplate ,hC approach Of
comet not o. au object oi rrJr hnrbnger Of evil, but
splendid world. cd" different construction from ours
conveying millions ui happy beings O. survey new region
ting power, and celebration l0iuor strains the
dcrs Of OmHIFotcucc. Viewing the comets In this light
what immense population must bo cYutaiucd within the
limits y the solar svstcin which for the
-iDns O such number Of these bodies and what
incacuabe number Of beings Of all ranks people the
| @idc-cN'end'i uns crsc ?"
PulsrtLrurA, March, ., l5ia.
| To he Editor III Phii4ielDbiq Gosefics
Dear Sr:-Pcnsc find room IN your columns for the en-.
closed letter ir,n Professor Alexander Of Princeton Col.
lsre, y. J. will add that Professor Kendall and myself
with Professor Alexander iu believing that Llgucrs
Comet visible ~ the beet elescopcl having
swept over oil the spic. within =" n aotun place with
great with the Telescope Of the High School Ob-era-
tory. The Comet seen 10y Professor Alexander scen
here by many persons last evening. II will Of be
carefully watched Tor this evening.
Your respectfully,
SEARS &. WALKER
PEiycEr,v, Tuesday, March :, 1913.
Ny Dear Sir presume tue conspicuous Comet which
y now visible, hardly have escaped your notice. II
sh'.td ii osf evening 81 some 10 degrees long, shortly
after sunset ic the south Di the point where the
sun bad Disappeared. HAD moreover. shmpo of ~ the
evening hDUrIt b. said o. have been hy daylight.
have looked L1gIic- Comet. but appear BE-
% pc.og beyond iho reach II my Telescope. Should tho
Grt mentioned body be- visible in hs day time, meridian
DhsriYti.Jus will ut cuurc Doe available.
III l.f HfrIl rlrI lff