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Art. XXX.— SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE, 
ASTRONOMY. 
I. Astronomical Observations by Dr Others . — Comets that fi- 
nish their course in a short period, do not appear to differ in 
form, shape, or nature, from those that require a long time to 
complete their motion around the sun. Their external aspect does 
not agree with that of the newly discovered planets. Although 
the late Schroter pretended that he observed a considerable 
nebulous envelope around the asteroids Ceres, Pallas and Juno, 
Gibers is not convinced of its existence, and is rather inclined to 
consider the appearance as a deception, arising from the imper- 
fect nature of the object-glass, as he could not discover any such 
nebulosity, although he used the most perfect dioptric instru- 
ments. Olbers considers the greater number of double stars to 
be suns , which are not only apparently but also in reality com- 
paratively near to each other, and that describe regular orbits 
around their common centre of gravity. He says that he has 
never observed any nebulous covering in Gassendus, in Possi- 
donius, or indeed in any other part of the moon, nor in general 
any change in the lunar spots, which could not be referred to 
the different angles of illumination, and the relations of libra- 
tion. Nor can he give any opinion as to the traversing furrows 
in the circular mountains ; and he adds, “ I must acknowledge, 
that, in regard to the beds of rivers, buildings, &e. said to 
have been observed in the moon, I fear that a lively imagina- 
tion may have frequently seen more than is shewn by the tele- 
scope.” 
METEOROLOGY. 
2, Fall of Meteoric Stones.— Many meteoric stones fell in 
the vicinity of Arenazzo, a village in the Papal dominions, in 
the month of March. The largest stone weighed 12 lb. Be- 
fore the fall, loud thunder was heard. The large aerolite, weigh- 
ing 12 lb., was carried to Bologna, where it is preserved in the 
Observatory. 
3. Account of a St Elm's Fire seen in Poland. — Captain 
Bourdet gives an account of an electrical appearance he ob- 
