Literary and Philosophical Intelligence, 
«57 
ISll.] 
Rot near so broad in proportion. The comet of 1807 had an exceedingly ricb 
golden radiant light in its nucleus. The nucicHS of this appears, and I presuma 
therefore is, much larger, but not sparkling. It has some resemblance t® 
Saturn. 
I presume the present comet to be pretty nearly in its perigee at present, havintj 
long past its perihelion. Its perilielion distance, I venture to suppose, was mora 
than 80 such parts as our earth is 100. I presume I am subject to correction of 
astronomers, that its ascending node was in about \QP or 15° of This evening 
it was most beautifully luminous; tlie nucleus seemed more clear and definite. I 
can hardly think it less, in apparent diameter, than with which I compared itj 
but allowance must be made for its being magnified by the surrounding coma, as 
indeed Mars must be by his very dense atmosphere. Train at about eight in the 
evening, nearly 10° at least. It was visible as early as seven minutes before seven iti 
the evening. At midnight it was full twelve degrees, and of a more golden light 
near the head than ever. 
Beneath is a very faint, rude, sketch of the comet, which may, however, give 
some idea of the curvature, and of the shape of the train. The denser atrao- 
sphere very luminous round the head, with a small clear central light; t» 
which I should almost vetJture to assign a diameter of 40" or of a minute of"*, 
degree. 
At no time, either in this or tlie comet of 1807, has any appearance struck ma 
of violent combustion ; and scarcely any thing that would give the slightest suspicion 
of the atmosphere being other than steadily illuminated by a mild, benignant^ asA 
perpetually cloudless, light. 
f 
"T-!- ' -’-•-*- T" '-- 
i "I iO 
Sc ala Gmdaum. 
Cometa?, 17 S. styl. Nov. 1811, Trostunae, per Telescopium cujus area 8'% rki, 
rudis quffidam adumhratio, 
Stellifi qu 33 in Carda apparent, indicandi taatum causa, et non ad Situm Distan- 
siamijue accuratb positas sunt. 
^rostotif SepCember 17, 1811. 
Capel Lofft* 
* By our last Number, it was seen at Jamaica early in June, in the loins of the Unicorn; 
the ascendins node was therefore about 14® of Leo.-—R. P. 
The 
* I " 
