COMETS. 117 



It is evident that these artistic efforts are not true to nature, however true to such wild 

 and distorted descriptions as the following, from the " Exempla Cometarum" of Rossen- 

 burg, a contemporary of Newton: "In the year 1527, about four in the morning, 

 not only in the Palatine of the Rhine, but nearly over all Europe, appeared for an 

 hour and a quarter a most horrible comet, in this sort. In its length it was of a 

 bloody colour, inclining to saffron. From the top of its train appeared a bended arm, 

 in the hand whereof was a huge sword in the instant posture of striking. At the point 

 of the sword was a star. From the star proceeded dusky rays, like javelins or lesser 

 swords, as if imbrued in blood, between which appeared human faces of the colour of 

 blackish clouds, with rough hair and beards. All these moved with such terrible sparkling 

 and brightness, that many spectators swooned with fear !" 



Before we finally take leave of the comet of Halley, some notice may be bestowed upon 

 his claim to the distinction of being the first to foretell the precise periodical return of 

 one of these bodies. This has been disputed, and assigned to Newton, on evidence 

 recently detailed in one of the leading journals, but which certainly cannot be admitted 

 to invalidate his pretensions. It is affirmed that previously to the appearance of the comet 

 of 1736, Colonel Guise told "Whiston that Sir Isaac Newton had said in his presence, that 

 " though he would not say he was sure of it, nor would publish it, he had some reason to 

 believe that a comet would return about the latter end of 1736." Another witness also, 

 Mr. Howard, is cited, as having heard him make a similar remark ; and upon being 

 questioned concerning it, it is stated that " he seemed to draw back, as sorry that he had 

 said so much, but still could not deny that he had such an expectation." Whiston 

 therefore says : "As far as we yet know, Sir Isaac is the very first man, and this the 

 very first instance, where the coming of a comet has been predicted beforehand, and has 

 actually come according to that prediction, from the beginning of the creation to this 

 day." Thomson seems to fall in with this idea in panegyrising the great philosopher: 



" He, first of men, with awful wing pursued 

 The comet, through the long elliptic curve, 

 As 'long innumerous worlds he wound his way, 

 Till to the forehead of our evening sky 

 Ileturn'd, the bla/ing wonder glares anew, 

 And o'er the trembling nations shakes dismay." 



This is all the evidence that can be arrayed in favour of Newton ; and obviously its 

 hearsay source, with the dubious tone of the testimony reported, cannot weigh a feather 

 in the scale against the claims of Halley, whose prediction was the result of careful 

 comparison, and as such boldly published to the world. 



The next most remarkable comet of modern times appeared about the middle of 

 December, 1743, and continued visible during the spring of the year following. 

 On the 1st of February, according to Chizeaux, it was more brilliant than Sirius, 

 the brightest star in the heavens. On the 8th it equalled Jupiter, and was visible 

 in the presence of the sun at the beginning of the next month. By selecting a 

 convenient situation many persons saw it at mid-day without glasses. Several 

 instances of similar brilliancy are on record. Justin mentions a comet which appeared 

 at the birth of Mithridates, and overcame the brightness of the sun by its splendour ; and, 

 however this may be an exaggeration, there are many well-attested cases of these bodies 

 being seen by broad daylight. The Caesarian comet, two others in 1402, with one in 

 1532, were thus visible. The fine comet of 1577 was seen with the naked eye by Tycho 

 Brahe before sunset. On account of its brightness and peculiar form the comet of 1744 

 excited great attention and interest. It exhibited no train until within the distance of 



