87 



and other original sources. By John Hill Burton, Esq., Ad- 

 vocate. 2 vols. 8vo. — By the Author. 

 Natural History of Now York. 10 vols., 4to. Geological Map of 

 New York, published by Legislative authority in 1842. — By 

 the Governor and Secretary of State of New York. 



Monday, 16M March 1846. 



The Right Rev. BISHOP TERROT, Vice-President, in the 

 Chair. 



The following Communications we read : — 



1. On the Personal Nomenclature of the Romans, with an 



especial reference to the Nomen of Caius Verres. By 

 the Rev. J. "W. Donaldson, Author of the New Cratylus. 

 Communicated by Bishop Terrot. 



2. On the appearance of the Great Comet of 1843, at the 



Cape of Good Hope, with illustrative Drawings. By 

 Professor C. P. Smyth. Communicated by the Secre- 

 tary. 



This comet attracted much attention from its excessive brightness 

 at and near its perihelion passage, as well as from the length and 

 form of its tail. The drawings were intended to represent these 

 particulars, and the changes which* occurred during the time that the 

 comet remained visible from the Cape Observatory. 



It was seen for a short time, but not generally, before the perihe- 

 lion passage, which took place on the 27th February 1843 ; and it 

 ceased to be visible by the naked eye towards the end of March, 

 though it could be discerned with the telescope till the 19th April. 



After passing the perihelion, this object was seen on the 3d March, 

 about a quarter of an hour after sunset. The head then glistened like 

 a star of the second magnitude, and had a well-defined planetary disc, 

 about 20" in diameter, having an envelope of rays, the brightest of 

 which came out like wings on both sides. The tail, which was 40° 

 long, was in form bifid ; its two sides were very narrow, bright and 

 straight, the space between the sides almost as dark as the neigh- 

 bouring sky. There were also two faint streamers on either side of 

 the tail. 



On the 4th March, one of the streamers had disappeared, and the 

 space between the central streamers had become less dark. The 

 planetary disc was also less defined. 



On the 9th March, the planetary disc had disappeared, in place of 



