Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-01-22

generally do, and invariably carry them
lselves behind, while in fact they are some
times seen 10 change their directions in a
few hours. We must then be content to
remain at present in ignorance of the
character Of these bodies. -s
Another most remarkable character
peculiar to comets is their exceeding light
ness, il having been demonstrated that in
no instance do they ever exert any attrac-
ton. A comet was observed in the 18th
century to enter the immediate orbit Of
Jupiter, but without in tho slightest degree
affecting the motion Of the planet; the on
ly effect observed was upon the comet,
(which was thrown from its orbit, and at
+ its next periodical return, was seen in a
new orbit. In 1879, however, il again
encountered the planet and rushed into
the midst Of his moons; in fact It must
have touched the moons Of Jupiter, but
evidently with no injurious effect. Of the
supposed influences Of comets, the world
invariable hears an infinite deal Of sage
speculation. Nocomet ever appears con-
spicuous in the heavens but some peculiar
influence is ascrlbed TO it; thus il It &C.
ours at the time Of great floods,'ihe comet
is responsible for it; If at a season Of un-
usual drought, the comet is the cause; if
in winter of excessive cold, who is TO
blame but the comet? and should it appear
at time When we are melting with heat,
still the comet is the hapless cause. So
whether il is wet or dry, hot or cold, nc
unofending comet which happened TO
manifest itself at the time, is held uncon-
ditionaIly responsible for it. Yet is there
nothing in reason or the laws Of nature to
justify such an inference. But there is
another mode in which the question can
be examined. Arrago has enjoyed access
10 tables Of meteorological observation in
Europe, from which he has been enabled
to ascertain that the variations Of the waa-
Their have limo case apparently influenced
by comets; that in fact weather has pre-
vailed, as cold and as hot, as wei Land as
|dry, at seasons which have been unmark-
ed by the appearance Of comet, as those
| in which the most brilliant of these bodies
have blazed through our system within
view Of the inhabitants Of the earth. But
the influence of the comet has not been
limited TO the weather, in the opinions Of
that portion Of mankind who have specu.
lated on the subject Scarcely any man
Hesitation Of disease Of yirulent or cpl.
demic character in any part Of the globe,
has occurred, but it has been readily at
tributed TO any unfortunate comet that
CHANGED 10 be within the range Of vision.
Indeed some Ia or Is years ago a physi
clan Of London of some eminence, named
Foster, published treatisc, in which he
labored, and certainly with considerable
Ingenuity, 10 prove that all the diseases
which the inhabitants Of our planet were
heir 10, had each and seyerally emanated
from its own particular comet. This was
not so difficult task as il might al first
appear, for Arrago has shown by obser-
walton that upon an average, two new
comets are discovered every year. There
fore, If disease happened 10 make its
appearance 10 January, il was only neces-
sary to find a comet within a few months
either before or after that period, to find a
cause for the disease; so that 10 fact this
ingenious gentleman was sometimes most
perplexed 10 find disease for the comet.
At the tine Of the great plague in Lon
don, a come, was discovered as the imme-
date cause, but we have no explanation
Of the remarkable fact that while this ma
lignant body visited Ia, city with its
wrath, iiIeft'the vilDage Of Hammersmith,
in he suburbs, e,dreIy unscathed. One
year he searched annals Of human misery
10 find disease for a particularly brilliant
comet in vain; but after long search, he
ascertaiced that during that year par
sicuIafly fatal epidemic had prevailed a.
mong The cats Of Westphalia, and Of
course this comN was at once set down
as exclusively hostile to Westphalian cats.
Il has been mentioned by an eminent
philosopher, Vision, that the Deluge was
caused BY comet. His theory was as
follows: A diagram was here exhibited to
illustrate tho subject. He supposed the
earth 10 have been, prior 10 The delage,
covered with solid crust beneath which
there existed an ocean Of subtcrranean
water aud that the close proxiori,y Of a
comet raised a tide not oaly in tho waters
on the exterior Of tho earth, but also IN
the subierrancan ocean, lie contends
that rain could not have fallen ia aulIi
Gent quantities 10 have produced delugc.
bot with the aqueous matter Of The tail Of
the comet, and tho Writer'S under the earth
breaking through, il was Sufficient 10
suhmefga tho wi0le land. In support q
this theory Vision quotes scripture, und
snys We have The proof IN ths words thai
a,he windoss u heaven we're opened.
ard TIC fountains Of the great deep were
hnhen up" l'e then asserts that PIE.
sIpiniion 81 Tho aqueous matter d ne
lalI 81 he comel hook plsce. and Ne work
l Al ihn del,laa aaa comnInio. lie Ellihnr