Astronomy. 479 
searcely fail to think of something analogous to electrical attrac- 
d repulsion. Bessel also, in his memoir upon Halley’s 
d upon Hankel’s numerous and very careful researches upon 
the determination of atmospheric electricity according to an a 
lute standard (nach absolutem Masse), leads to the remarkable 
no 
*M. Faye assumed, for explanation of the peculiar appearances of a comet’s 
train, a repulsive force as existing between bodies at a high temperature, and as 
an effect, or one of the modes of action, of heat, a cause whi cannot be regarded 
N ge awe the ph f Donati’s comet, 
oO in di ing the phenomena 0 
assume al rton, in 1859, in discussing DP Odes the art 
agrmape distinctly the adequacy of this force to produce the observed effects, and 
; St the rationale of its action. He says, “I conceive the telescopic pucleus of 
comet to consist of an atmosphere of aqueous vapor, OF of a va 
i i more or less cov 
ern i 
in the condition of ice. In the ease of the teles- 
a 
eine . by the sun. * * * * It is these electric discha fae : 
~~ lve, disengage the particles of aqueous vapor, or ne ous matter so-called ; 
impel them off with a certain velocity.” This Journal, May, 1859, p. 100.—a. W. W. 
