HALLEY'S COMET FROM THE NORMAN 



POINT OF VIEW 1 



By W. B. BRODRICK 



For the past few months Halley's comet has been subjected to a 

 regular literary siege. It has been attacked from the scientific 

 point of view, the semi-scientific point of view, the historical 

 point of view, the popular point of view, and the sensational point 

 of view ; but so far as I can discover no one has dealt with it 

 in the manner here proposed — that is, from the Norman point of 

 view. The subject appears to lend itself quite naturally to the 

 following divisions : I. The Introduction— slightly astronomical; 

 II. The Review — mainly historical ; III. The Conclusion — partly 

 speculative. 



I. Introduction — Slightly Astronomical 



" The expected return of Halley's comet. . . ." Such was the 

 properly guarded, if somewhat sanguine, language used until 

 recently by astronomers when speaking of the forthcoming 

 periodical visit of this member of the solar system to perihelion, 

 or the neighbourhood of the sun — a visit instinct with interest 

 to every astronomer and student of the fascinating mysteries of 

 the heavens, and of peculiar, personal, even vital interest to all 

 who claim to be of Norman blood. 



Comets are mysterious bodies, and although the resources of 

 modern science and the patient investigations of those who have 

 made a special study of this branch of astronomy have added to 

 the knowledge of their movements and their nature, astronomers 

 to-day are compelled to admit that what they know about comets 

 bears but a very small proportion to what remains unknown. 



It has now been ascertained that many comets, of which 

 Halley's comet is one, are periodic and members of the solar 

 system — members, that is, of our sun's family. The rest of the 

 family consists of the steady-going planets, who maintain the best 



1 An address delivered to the Jersey Society in London on December 14, 

 1909. 



492 



