COMETS. 



121 



by the public mind, with the same cause ; and this has literally been the case, for " a cold 

 winter," and " meteors in Germany," are referred to the comet of 1680, by a writer in 

 1829. The following table, given by Arago, is valuable upon this point : 



From this table, it is clear that no conclusion can be drawn, to the effect that cometary 

 appearances have any influence in raising the temperature. In 1828 and in 1831 no 

 comets presented themselves, and the temperature was nearly at its maximum. In 1808 

 there were four, and it was nearly at its minimum. 



There was no inconsiderable amount of superstitious fear blended upon this occasion with 

 the natural feelings of wonder and admiration that were excited. As the great comet of 

 1680 had been deemed a manifest presage of the revocation of the edict of Nantes, the 

 persecution of the French protestants, and the long wars that ensued, so was the beautiful 



and transient visitor of 1811 abused in a similar manner. It was widely regarded as the 

 herald of some awful terrestrial occurrence, and the particular event intended was not 



