180 Scientific Intelligence Astronomy, 



April 5. — Patrick Small Keir, Esq. formerly V. P. in the 

 chair. — Mr Mark Watt read the remainder of his paper on the 

 lunar compass. The Rev. Dr Scot read a memoir on the shefi- 

 fon of Moses, Gen. xlix. 17, or the adder of the English trans- 

 lators ; and the Secretary read a notice by Thomas Johnston, 

 Esq. Hill Top, near Wetherby, of the great oak of Cowthorpe, 

 in Yorkshire, illustrated by a drawing. 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 



ASTRONOMY. 



1. On the Comet of 1832, which some predict is to destroy 

 our Earth. — Some German journals predict the appearance of a 

 comet in 1832, which must destroy our globe, and this has been 

 copied and commented on by the journalists of other countries. 

 In a letter dated May 12. 1828, addressed to the French 

 Academy of Sciences, the author, M. G***, a professor in Paris, 

 ventures to put the question to the Academy, whether it does not 

 consider itself bound in duty to refute as speedily as possible this 

 ridiculous assertion. " Popular terrors," he observes, " are pro- 

 ductive of serious consequences. Several members of the Academy 

 may still remember the accidents and disorders which followed a 

 similar threat, imprudently communicated to the Academic des 

 Sciences, by M. de Lalande, in May 1773. Persons of weak minds 

 died of fright, and women miscarried. There were not wanting 

 people who knew too well the art of turning to their advantage 

 the alarm inspired by the approaching comet, and places in Para- 

 dise xvere sold at a very high rate. The announcement of the co- 

 met of 1832 may produce similar effects, unless the authority of 

 the Academy applies a prompt remedy, and this salutary inter- 

 vention is at this moment implored by many benevolent persons. 

 As it is extremely probable that the Academy will make no re- 

 ply to this letter, we shall here enter into some details which 

 will shew how destitute of foundation these popular errors are, 

 which M. G * * * dreads. The comet which is to appear in 

 1832, is the comet of six years and three quarters, of which the 

 orbit was calculated in France, by one of our most distinguished 



