Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-09-28

cal influence of truth, took the responsibility tt
answer the dictates of mercy in this case, wher
the bare record was conclusive of guilt!
Such is the narration as far as can recollect
its truth is indubitable, as all the actors in thu
scene are now living with the exception OF the
principal.
MEMBER OF THE MISSISSIPPI BAR.
New Orleans, Dec. 8, 1857.
The Comet.
Those who look upon the small nebulous stal
now visible can hardly realize the terrific ap
pearance of this same object when, in 1854, II
approached the sun with tail one hundred de-
grees IN length! Its tail came streaming up IL
the morning several hours before its head, and
when its nucleus was in the zenith the train
stretched below the Western horizon. Its train
was first very broad, but it decreased in width
extending enormously in length. 1t is said to
have disappeared Oct. Sd, on the day of the
death of Pope Urban ~. 1t was, of course
thought special forerunner of that event.
This comet had appeared before in 975, and
also in S95 and 104 as mentioned BY Chinese
annualists. This would give it q period OF about
292 years. In 975 its tail was 40 degrees in
length, and its nucleus or head was so bright as
to be visible in the daytime. It's next appear.
ance, after 1864, was in 1866, in the month Of
February It's aspect was very similar to the
present one, being somewhat paler than the
planet Mars and with train four degrees in
length" 1t has been known as ''the great COM
ct of Charles "" because it appeared in the
year in which his abdication took place. The
Emperor (Charles " of Spain) considered it an
omen of his death, although he survived it some
v,or, Eobr;o;un h;o ootrnnnnoar mammal ont
its path, describing its course Through Virgo
and Bootes, past the pole of the heavens INTO
Oepheus and Cassiopedia."
What rendered this comet particularly inter-
estng was its near approach to the earth, being
on the 18th Of March only seven millions OF
miles distant. The orbit of the comet of 1854
computed by Pingre and Dunthome, while that
of 1855 was computed by Hally, and afterwards
by Hind, of the Southville Observatory, Regents
Park, England. 1t was found that the two or
bits agreed, and Pingre concluded that they
were the same, and that they would return a.
gain in 1S4s. 1t was accordingly expected at
that time, and its non-appearance stimulated
some 10 re-examination of the previous calcu-
lations Mr.. Barber found that the attraction OF
the outer planets, Jupiter, Saturn and Herscbell,
had retarded it. Mr.. Hind predicted Its appear
ance in 1858, after making allowance for the
disturbances. The excitement and crude specu-
lation relative to its anticipated near approach
to the earth last year is still in everybodys men,
ory. There is no necessity of repeating that
were comet to strike the earth it could not
penetrate the earth's atmosphere, on account of
the superior density of the latter. But the in
clination of the comet to the earths orbit being
SO great, (36 degrees,) there could scarcely be a
possibility of "brush" from its tail at any
time. 1t is interesting to consider this object in
the light of traveller, like Won Humboldt. A
Journey of two hundred and ninety two years IS
no small tramp"
In 975 it saw the earth in the midst of the
dark ages, Basil and Constantine VIII. reigned
over the Eastern Empire. In England, the hor-
rid murder of Edward, the martyr, by his step.
mother, Elfrida, had just been contaminated
The Norwegians were making discoveries in
Greenland, and soon after descended upon this
continent
In 1854, on its next visit, it witnessed the first
regular parliament in England, and the success OF
the Pope in his struggle fer temporal power over
Italy The Crusades had begun to tell in their
effect upon the culture of the age.
In 1866 it found America discovered and
greedy Spaniards rioting in wealth and blood at
the ancient capital of the Aztecs and in the Pc
ruvian cities. Queen Elizabeth had just been
established in England, and Montaigne, Scaliger,
Jerome Cardan, Tasso, Camoene, Cervantes,
Philip Sidney, were all in the flower of their
vigor, and the worlds greatest genius, Shakes.
peare, was just learning to walk.
In 184S its visits may very reasonably be sup.
posed to have been postponed in order to witness
the completion of the Atlantic cable scheme
Viewed in this light we may consider it spe'
ciaI indication of good will on the part of that
illustrious luminary.
The best catalogue of comets known is that oi
Matuan-lin, Chinese Astronomer, whose col
lection extends from 613 years before Christ to
A. D. 1914, over two thousand years. There
have been recorded about seven hundred in all
of which the orbits of one hundred and eighty
have been calculated by astronomers. The pc
riodic revolutions vary from three years to sew.
eral thousand years. Some approach in their
Perehelion so near to the sun as to be heated tc
white heat, as some suppose.
Although the number of comets is 30 large
there are comparatively few which appear tc
the naked eye; only about fourteen in century
But to the telescope, hardly year passes with
out the observation of one or more. In 1S4(
four were seen, and in 1S4S there were eight.
| Sir Isaac Newton first calculated the orbit O.
comet and demonstrated that they moved ir
elliptical paths. Before that time it was gener
ally supposed that they moved in parabolas ant
never returned to the solar system after leaving
| it.
The name 'comet" is derived from Greel
word (kome) meaning hair, and it was supposed
that they "shook war and pestilences from thei
horrid hair."-St. Louis Republican.
Col. BENTON ON THE LITTLE GrANr.-Colone
Benton, in conversing with friend, gave tn
following summary view of the prospects of Mr.
Douglas:
''The Little Giant" said he, sis in too great
hurry to be great man. He forgets that gi
ants don't wear seven league boots now -a-days
and that the first Office in an elective govern
ment cannot be taken by storm. His ambition
is much beyond his ability, for, although fluen
speaker, his ideas don't bear the proper proper
ton to his words, and though he runs fast, h
carries little weight. He thinks he can bestrid
this continent with one foot on the shore of th
II - o. ifo Dnt I,