226 COMET. 



with recording a description of the great 

 comet that appeared about this time 

 that is, in the year 1811 which the 

 comet of 1858 brought fresh to my 

 mind. 



Living then at Portsmouth, I used 

 frequently indeed most nights during 

 the months of its appearance, that 

 is, September and October to walk on 

 the Platform, now called the Saluting 

 Battery, in company with the friend I 

 have before spoken of, to view this 

 strange and brilliant object. I have a 

 perfect recollection of its appearance and 

 position in the heavens, though I cannot 

 state in what constellation it was first 

 seen. It was about 30 degrees above the 

 horizon at 9 o'clock, and, from where 

 we viewed it, was directly over the Isle 

 of Wight ; consequently it would be a 

 little to the westward of south. I cannot 

 better describe it, than by comparing it, 

 in shape and size, to a large rod. The 



