Astronomy. — Meteorology. 235 



'Wi^ry slow. Its right ascension increasing only seven minutes in 

 twenty-four hours, and its declination, in the same time, not di- 

 minishing more than from thirty-three to thirty-five minutes. 

 The observations of M. Blanpain embrace but a very small arc. 

 M. Nicollet has, however, deduced from them a parabolic orbit, 

 which, though only a mere approximation to correctness, may 

 enable observers for some time to trace pretty exactly the course 

 of the comet. According to his calculations, it would pass its point 

 nearest to the sun on the 3d of March last, at fifteen minutes past 

 eleven. Its perihelia! distance will be equal to 1* 12567, that of the 

 earth to the sun being taken for unity. 



The inclination of its orbit to the ecliptic = SS** 38' 



Longitude of the ascending node = 68 5 



Longitude of periheliuii), calculated by the orbit = 187 32 

 Its heliocentric movement is direct. 



As yet, there is nothing very interesting in its physical ap- 

 pearances. In the first days of January it resembled a small ne- 

 bulous body, not of any determined form, and of a very feeble 

 light. On the 18th it appeared sensibly augmented, both iii 

 size and brilliancy. 



PHYSICAL PHjENOMKNA, 



The storm of the 23d of February, from the effects of which 

 our shores were exempted, spread its ravages over the greatest 

 part of the continent. At Turin, it was attended with two shocks 

 of an earthquake. Genoa, Savona, Alanco, and San Remo, were 

 thrown into the greatest consternation for two days by repeated 

 concussions, and several houses were partly demolished at Alazzes, 

 but happily no lives were lost. At Antibes, in Provence, the 

 whole day (the 23d of February) had been very tempestuous.— 

 About four minutes past seven in the evening, a most tremendous 

 rush of wind took place^ and was followed by an instantaneous 



calm. 



