512 COMET. 



By these means many hitherto untrodden lands may 

 sp.eedily be adapted to the purposes of colonization, and 

 reclaimed from their present unprofitable state. In a 

 country like Australia, where the proportion of bad 

 land predominates, it is almost necessary, in the first 

 instance, to force settlements by means of convict 

 labour. A number of buildings is always a cheer- 

 ing sight to a settler on his first arrival, and gives 

 him encouragement to exertion ; whereas, if the 

 country wears its natural arid, desolate, uninviting 

 appearance, dejection and despondency ensue. 



During our stay in the Derwent, perhaps one of the 

 most splendid comets that has ever appeared, illumi- 

 nated the southern hemisphere for several nights. 

 We did not see it untilthe evening of the 5th of March; 

 but it was observed on the ^nd at Launceston ; 

 and by a ship at sea, off Cape Leeuwin, on the 

 27th of February. Several observations were made 

 with it, when the nucleus, which was of a deep red 

 colour, somewhat resembling the planet Mars, was 

 visible.* The length of the tail (on the 5th) 

 measured forty degrees ; but was afterwards ten 



* On the evening of the 5th its right ascension was found to 

 be about Oh. 13m. Os., and dechnation about 13o 0' S. The follow- 

 ing evenins: it was observed to have had a motion of above three 

 degrees and a half in the direction of the constellation Orion ; the 

 right ascension being Oh. 26m. Os., and the dechnation 12" 50' S. 

 On the following night it was found to have had a further motion 

 in the same direction, and with much the same velocity. Its 

 position, shortly before setting, was as follows : right ascen- 

 sion Oh. 41m. Os., declination 12" 30' S. 



