2S4 Scientific Intelligence. [March, 



sible. These two explanations, far from being incompatible, may 

 liave concurred to produce an effect which has excited the curiosity 

 of mathematicians and astronomers. 



It may be dreaded that the new hypothesis will somewhat dimi- 

 nish tlie importance of the comets ; and that it is similar to the 

 opinion of the ancients, who considered comets as temporary col- 

 lections of vapour, which were speedily dissipated and destroyed. 

 Hence the astronomers long considered them as unworthy of being 

 scrupulously observed. All the difference is, that Aristotle places 

 the comets below the moon, while according to the hypothesis of 

 Herschel, they are formed beyond the planetary system, and they 

 last a much longer time ; since it is only in their perihelion, that 

 they are liable to lose a portion of their substance. But if they 

 become invisible to us, that is the same thing, as far as we are 

 concerned, as if they ceased to exist. Notwithstanding these re- 

 flections, which must be considered as mere conjecture, there is 

 little doubt that the first comet which appears will be followed with 

 as much zeal as ever ; that intrepid calculators, not satisfied witli 

 the parabola, which is always sufficient for the first appearance, will 

 endeavour to find an elipse, notwithstanding all the uncertainty 

 under which such a problem labours, and that if neither of these 

 curves will represent the orbit they will have recourse to the hyper- 

 bola, the very rarity of which will give it a new value. 



{To he centinued.) 



Article XIV. 

 SCIENTIFIC intelligence; and notices of subjects 



CONNECTED WITH SCIENCE. 



I. New Geological Society. 



A Society has been established at Penzance under the name of 

 the Cornwall Geological Society. Davics Giddy, Esq. M. P. is 

 President. Among the members are Sir Christopher Hawkins, 

 Sir John St. Aubyn, Rice Price, Edward Stackhouse, John Haw- 

 kins, William Rashlcy, William Carnc, John Williams, Esquires, 

 Much important geological information may be expected from a 

 society of enlightened men, situated in the most interesting county 

 in England in a geological point of view. Many curious facts dis- 

 covered in the mines in that country have been lost for want of such 

 a society. 



II. Coloured Halo round the Moon. 



On Tuesday the 1st of February, about a quarter past eight in 

 the evening, there was a very large and brilliant halo round the 

 moon. It was by far the finest 1 ever saw. Immediately round 

 tlie moon's disk there was a circular space which had the appear- 



