The New York Herald Newspaper, July 2, 1874, Page 3

“THE COMET COME. Her First Appearance Last Evening. A Brilliant Three Engagement. Weeks’ Scientific Sketch of the Celestial Visitor. What May and May Not Follow the Apparition. Diagram of the Cometary Position. GLIMPSES OF COMET HISTORY. ‘The comet has come and might last nigntat nine ‘e’clock be seen with the naked eye. The phenom- enon will be more clearly witnessed this evening and from night to night for three weeks to come it ‘will grow on the curious interest of the public. In former days, before science had laid about her with ®@ club and demolished ten thousand of the empty fancies that formed the staple facts of the world, ‘@ comet was a dreadful thing to see. It wae sup- Posed to be some wild, erratic creature cut loose trom her moorings in tne celestial depths and Bwaying her tall around like an Arctic whale, threatening misery and death to all within its reach. Though anybody ‘who desires can see to-night, from the top of a four atory house, yet better still from the top of a seven story, s comet coming full tilt towards this planet of ours, nobody seems afraid. The general cry is, “Let hercome!” The curtosity to see this most ‘Anteresting visitor from the starry heavens is Working itself up to a pitch of intensity. She has ‘deen travelling, no doubt, for an incalcuiable time, exiting herself at many remote points of ‘the heavens. COMETARY CHARACTER. To Professor Parkhurst the public in former years ‘Were indebted for much concerning the natare and history of comets. The present visitor was dis- covered, or, rather, rediscovered, by Professor Swift, ana Professor Parkhurst, in his enthusiasm, Delieves it will prove the most wonderful and in- structive comet in the history of the world. Of the real nature of these everlasting travellers of the universe no exact conclusion has been reached, but still science has contrived to throw a vast deal Of light on the comet and the character of her tall, which seemed to be the greatest puzzle of all. ka NATURE OF A COMET’S TAIL. Professor Peirce, when Professor of Astronomy in Harvard, in 1850, calculated the tall of Donati’s comet. In a communication to the Astronomical Journai in that year he sald:—‘Each particle of Matter which composes the tail of a comet 1s sup- posed to move in a hyperbolic orbit, and with the sun in the focus of the opposite branch, and un- der the influence of a repulsive force emanating from the sun and decreasing by the law of the square of the distance. The mntual action of the particlesis neglected, as well as the action of the comet itself, and even the effect of any explosive force at the moment of expulsion from the planet. The radius of the comet’s spnere of action is also neglected in the first approxima- tion, 80 that the particle at the instant of leaving the comet moves in the hyperbola, which is tan- ential tothe path of the comet, with a velocity sdentical with that of the comes.” AN ENORMOUS CAUDAL APPENDAGE. Professor Parkhurst, as far back as a week ago, eomputed the position and probable apparent mag- mitude of the tail He did this in order to learn ‘whether it would be long enough to extend beyond Whe earth’s orbit. He concluded its length to ve 8,000,000 miles, and assuming an increase of length ol one-tenth each day, he reached the astounding result that upon July 20—but fortanately, alter the Declaration of Independence had been read to @ rapturous ana patriotic people—the tail of that unconscionable comet would post-ively strike the earth—perhaps strike Chicago and cause a panic 4m insurance. Parkhurst had some lew doubts about this and he entered into some further obser- vations. He is now, however, contirmed in the opinion that we shall either beso near the tail as siderap ie part of the heavens, or, if ite curvature ‘be not too at, shall be cdthpletely enveloped within it, He thinks {it too ear! whether the phenomenal spectacie oe to the hours of daylight in Ame: 4 SORE DISAPPOINTMENT. ‘If we cannot see this celestial peacock of the one everlasting tail we care nothing for her. She may go back and coqguet with Jupiter; but if she can- Bot let an eager public see her lustrous candle aprendage by the light of the moon better her tail ‘Was cut of and she was sent to,wander in the “Milky Way. THE SIGHT THIS RVENING. This evening at half-past nine o'clock the comet will be easily seen vy the naked eye in the north- western sky, With & tail about five degrees in length. Central Park will necessarily be crowded. By keeping outside the umbrageous obscuration of the trees and looking in the directton of the Hudson River north, and probably in the direction of the les Wi the great gun of the heavers will be observed, im the Pointers to the Pole Star At will be necessary to keep @ sbarp lookout at an elevation between the two, Draw a triangle, with the Pointers and the Pole Star for the points of the base, and near the apex it may be possible to find this lustrous fugitive, who is on her travels south. Ina few weeks from now the head will have reached the horizon in the northwest at the Pt ecennese while the tall will extend to the ie DONATI'S COMET. According to Professor Parkhurst Donati’s comet had a retr 6 motion, and when the earth met it and the tail was most brilliant it was placed tmeas! at right ai with tue line of vision. On the other hand, he continues, this comet, distance 1s little to determine may not be This red lane of the Equator), in conse- ence of which the tall, which is now nearly at bt angles with the lune of vision, will gradu- turn towards us, still apparen' pointing mearly in the same direction. It will be remem- dered that Donati’s comes was curved like a sol- @ter’s plume; bat Coggia’s is now and will remain nearly straight, because the curvature will be ai- from us, and therefore imperceptible. An- other striking DIFFERENCE FROM THE TAILS of comets generally is that it will be so foreshort-* ened as to be remarkably wide at the end. On ay 16 the tail will extend far beyond the Pole and develop a new characteristic, tapering off rap! the end. Within three or four days atver the i6th fhe tail will have become go ex- pane in the neighborhood of the Pole ag to fill a rge part of the northern heavens, Yet tt will mot be a rayon ed object, because it will be so faint as to look rather like an immense cloud or a pew Milky Way than what it really ts, By this time we,shall have solved the question whether the tall 18 hollow or has @ radiated structure, or what is its constitution. ore way in witch ur ese i nt ase the way in whic! 1 end it is not sate Ph to speak with defintteness; for although if the were straight we should be almost certainly near the middie of it on July 20, yet its curvature ‘will probably delay it two or three days and even ‘until the earth has beyond its path. The comet will then disappear to us; but then the in- habitants of the southern hemisphere, who may be ignorant of the CAUSE OF THE LUMINOSITY of the evening sky, will see it gradually rise and pass away, and will be amazed by the sudden ap- pearance of a comet of extraordinary size and un- ‘usual brilliancy, which will burst upon their vision as unforeseen as the at comet of 1861, The gradual diminution and final disappearance of the comet will be so nearly the converse of what we m, shall have witnessed here that it needs no descrip- tion. will, of course, leave us a portion of its atmosphere when it departs, but, probably, mot enough to affect the barometer, ‘or to comé ‘within the cognizance even of scientists, But there may, be, by possibility, one permanent effect of ectentific interest and curiosity. If the earth should not entirely escape the moon will also probably be involved, and it will also retain a por- ‘ion of the cometary substance. As the amount Of the atmosphere upon the moon’s surface is now ‘80 Rinall, if, indeed, there is any at all, that it 1s Onrecognizable by the nicest astronomical scru- tin; perhaps iter the age of the comet we Ind thas setorth the moon will have an here of ater or less density, which will be recites avoek Waren con of ocoultations cl f 08 18 A Papi is Rafely out of the way, Wanait expedition will nov be inter: across the ecliptic that it will fill a con- | fered with by the great comet of 1874, To-night, BD, . a ee an wers men trom Long Isiand, Jersey, Staten Isiand ana various other suburban retreats sre crowdin: into town. The giasees they use, made out o! finger beer bottles, are polished for the occasion, e price will be raised irom five cents on moon- lignt to fifteen cents on comet nights. Two looks at the comet for twenty-five cents. BRRGH'S DESIGN ON THE COMET. Mr, Bergh has ® plan for the capture of the comet which illustrates at once hia enterprise and humanity. He intends to send Professor in @ balloon, with @ barrel of galt the comet’s tatl, and if Wise only strikes “the eastern current,” iarewell to our celestial visitor, She will come down by the run and on being duly stuffed by Mr. Bergh, will be subsequently presented to the Geographical Society. Y LOCAL RFPECT OP THE PHENOMENON. What the effect of this close approach of the comet to New York may cause on the approaching fall elections it is imposaibie to tell, the supposi- tion is it will make our Jocal political cauidron boil with an increased intensity. it will help the lager beer saloons and the evening papers. fe will make tenement houses mteresting. Tne roois of these tall hives of humanity will be sought by the gay and fashionable and scientific and amid the cool Mapping ol clothes lines laden with household dinen an observation of the comet may be taken with much comiort. How it may affect Wall atreet 4s not so much the L wie as how it will affect the price of opera glasses? Western Union is most apt to be stirred. vometa and electricity are closely connected and some day we may tind tele- graphic connection with Boston stopped, which Would be the most deplorable thing that could happen us. Wild cat bonds should revive under the influence in the heavens, Should the comet lose her balance and fall on her head, striking anywhere in the neighbornood of the City Hall Mayor Havemeyer wil certainly re- sign and tne diflerence between Comptroller Green and Commissioner Van Nort wi) be wider than ever, HISTORY OF PREVIOUS COMETS. In view of the two celestial visitors whose pres- ence ispow visiple to the naked eye every fair evening in the heavens, it is not inappropriate to take a glance backward and review vrieny te Nis- tory of the Most remarkable of these phenomena as it has passed down to us through the long vist & ofages, It may be here noted that the first of the present comets, which was detected by Professor Lewis Swift, of Rochester, on the 8th ult., was previously discovered at Marseilles, France, on the 17th of April last, and bas been called Coggia’s comet, Coggta being the name of the discoverer. It is now approaching the earth and sun with a con- stantly accelerated velocity, arriving at perihelion (nearest the sun) and perigee (nearest the earth) about the first of August. It was at first situated, at one o'clock in the morning, directly beneath the polar star, and about twenty- five degrees from it. It was visible all night, but will soon be only in the early hours of evening, setting in the northwest, Professor Swift saya the comet will be brightest in the evening of August 3, being then 245 times as bright as at the time of discovery, and, as the moon will be absent, it will be subjected to spectroscopic analysis under circumstances more favorable than may occur again in many years. A cometary display may then be expected which may rival the transit of Venus in popular as wellas in scientific interest. It will then be about five degrees from Denabola, the brightest star in Leo, COMETS OF THE PRIMITIVE AND LATER PERIODS. But to proceed to the history of previous re- markable comets, as we gather it from vartous authentic sources. In the primitive ages comets were regarded with GREAT DREAD, as miraculous appearances. One hundred and thirty years before Christ, at the time of the birth of Mithridates, a comet made its appearance whose magnitude must have been far beyond any- thing subsequently seen, as its splendor is satd to have surpassed that of the sun. In the years 248, 324 and 899 of the Christian era, remarkable comets also appeared. EFFECTS OF COMETARY SUPERSTITION. The Emperor Charles V. was so much affected | by the appearance of the comet of 1556 | that be resigned his impertal throne, be- Neving the comet to be @ warning from God that he should do so. In 837 all Europe was filled with consternation at the appearance of ; the comet of that year. Special masses were cele- brated in the churches, and the people were uni- versally filled with consternation and fear. They belleved some terrible visitation of Almighty wrath was impending over the earth. Louis L, King of France, acting upon the counsel of the Pope, founded many convents and churches in or- der to appease the offended Deity. Many of these estabtisnments still exist. In ROMAN CATHOLIO COUNTRIES the custom of ringing the cathedral bells at noon originated at the time of Halley’s comet in 1456, Pope Calixtus ITI., who then wore the triple crown, under the belief that the comet was a demon come to subvert his throne, ordered ail the bells in Chris- tendom to be rung—a ceremony that was believed to be & sure specific against the devices of the Evil One. THE SNEEZING DISTEMPER, In the year 590 an epidemic raged all over the Continent of Europe, and many thousands per- ished. This visitation was ascribed to the infu- ence of a comet which appeared in the same year. An extraordinary feature of the disease was that the patient was seized with a fit of sneezing from which he frequently died. Always after that time, when any one sneezed inordinately, his friends exclaimed, “God biess you!’? That custom has continued for nearly thirteen hundred years in Many European conntries. In the year 1006 & comet ts described as present- | ing A FRIGHTFUL ASPECT, exhibiting an enormous curved tail in the form of @ scythe. The appearance of the comet of 1456 spread consternation throughout Europe. The same comet returned again in 1551 and tn 1007. In 1682 a comet appeared which, by its brilliancy and jwittness, excited yniversal_ terest, Sir Isaac rea wise ekdinined fla dean wit tiie clostat atten: tion, and was led, py the general motion of bodies in free space as well as by his own particular obser- vations, to conclude that the orbits of cémets mast, like those of the planets, be ellipses, having the sun in one focus, but far more eccentric, and having their aphelions, or greatest distances from the sun, far remote in the regtons of space. The idea thus thrown out oy Newton, as also the ob-.4 servations upon comets made by Tycho Brahe, were taken up by Dr. Halley, who collated the eb- servations made touching the appearance and aspect of comets from the primitive ages down to his own time, and found, with put few exceptions, that they had passed within less than the earth’s shortest distance from the sun, some of them witiin less than one-third of it and others about, one-half. He examined with much care the comet of 1682, and discovered & wonderful resemblance between it and the comets of 1456, 1531 and 1607, The time of the appearance of the comets had been nearly at regular intervals, the average Period being between seventy-five and seventy- six years, Their distance from the son when in perihelion varied but little from each other. The inclination of their orbits to that of the earth had also been nearly the same—between seventeen and eighteen degrees—their motions being all ret- rograde. Dr. Halley came to the conclusion that the comets of 1456, 1531, 1607 and 1682 were reap- pearances of one and the same comet. He pre- dicted that its reappearance would ‘be in the year 1757 or 1758, and its actual reappearance inthe beginning of 1759 established the fact that they were regular and permanent bodies obeying the general laws of matter. Halley could not expect to see his prediction fulfilled; and, although he lived to the age of eighty-four, he died sixteen years befure the comet returnea.@ As the time of its expected return approached the Mathematicians Clairnt, d'Alembert and Euler be- gan to compute the retarding influences of the plan- ets Saturn and Jupiter. Clairut was the most suc- cessful, showing that Saturn would delay the return of the comet between three and four months, and Jupiter about seventeen months, 80 that the comet would not come to tts perthelion till April 13, 1759, A revision of his computation made the date April 2. The comet actually reached its perihelion on March 13, This 18 considered one of the most brilitant triumphs in the history of astronomy. Halley’s comet returned again in 1835, the fifth anthentt- cated return within one day of the time calonlated by Pontecoutant and Rosenberger—another most astonishing approximation to astronomical trath, Bih ‘ NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1874—TRIPLE SHEET. COGGIA’S COMET. tee ee get ‘avagd tvaqgwao + POINTERS. NOTE.—Tne position m we nortnWw: diagram, of the Comet Coggia, between nine an past nine, this evening, may be ascertained by this . @ COMET, This comet recedes during its seventy-five years to @ distance irom the sun greater than that of the Planet Neptune. Several comets are well known to have orbits lying wholly within THE SPHERE OF NEPTUNE’S DISTANCE, One was first examined in 1818 by Encke, and identified with the comet that had been seen in 1805, 1705 and 1786. Ite return has been observed ever since at periods of thirty-three years. Encke’s observations upon it enabled him to identify it with the one described by Michalar and Messien in 1786; also with the comet discovered in 1795 by Miss Herschel, and the one of 1805, Encke predicted its reappearance in 1822, and his prediction was realized by its being discovered on the 2d of June of that year by Thomas Brislure, and its return was noticed again in 1825 and 1828. This comet is celebrated for having revealed, as many astronomers think, the existence of @ resisting medium in the inter- Planetary space. Herschel and others dissent from this view of Encke, and attribute the change m this comet's motion to the gradual loss Of its Besides the comet of 1759, of which, as we have already stated, there have been five authenticated returns, there are several others, of which some- thing like a return may be traced at LONG INTERVALS, One of these passed its perihelion at about eight o'clock on the morning of the 6th of July, 1264, and again at a little past eight o’clock on tlie even- ing of the 2ist of April, 1556—a period of about 202 Years, Another appeared in 1552 and again in 1661—a period of about 129 years. The return of that comet should have been in 1790. In that year three comets made their appearance, but neither of them resembled the one of 1661. While the periods of most of the comets examined are com- aratively short, those of others have been ascer- ed to extend many thousand years. The GRRAT COMET OF 1811 remained visible for upwards of two months, and ‘was considered one of the most brilliant of modern times. Alter @ careful investigation M. Arge- lander, a noted French astronomer, fixes its riod of revolution at 2,888 years. The periodic me of the return of the comet of 1807 was fixed by Bigsel at 1,546 years, ‘BIELA’S COMET ¥ was discovered February 27, 1826. Its orbit was eompaee by Gambart at Versailles, and Clansen at Altons, and it was found to be identical with the comet of 1805 and 1772, ita period being abdut six and three-quarter years, Its return in 1846 attracted @ good deal of attention on account of its having been discovered at the Washington Ob- servatory on January 12, of that year, that what had hitherto appeared as single body was actually composed of TWO DISTINCT AND SEPARATE COMETS. The same discovery was made by several Euro- pean Observers on the 15th of that month. These two parts pursued their way independently of each other and without any influence on each other that can be detected by our measurements, Professor J. 8. Hubbard has shown that the second nucleus was observed at Cambridge, England, ax weeks beiore it was known to be in existence, the primary nucleus being then probably faint and nearly invisible, as it was subsequently discovered that both nuclel are subject to sudden changes in visibility. PAYR’S COMET Was discovered in 1843, and made tts second ap- pearance in 1851, its third in September, 1858. A comet was discovered by DONATI, at Florence, June 2, 1858, During the tnird week in August its tail began to be developed, a series of nebulous envelopes being formed avout the nu- cleus, blending together on the side opposite the sun and streaming out its tail. eile 4 the first week in October the nucleus was as bright as Aro- turus, near which it passed, and bore a train of great brilliancy more than ‘twenty degrees in length. It approached to a distance from the sun jess than that of Venus ana receded to an incaicu- lable distance, so that it is not known whether it has boon seen at any previous approach to the rth, Among the comets MOST REMARKABLB elther for great splendor or enormous real dimen- sions in recent times must be mentioned those of 1780, 1807, 1811, 1815, 1819, 1825, 1843, 1847, 1858 and 1861. Among the most remarkable phenomena oe by individual comets we may mention - ax TAILS of the great comet of 1744, and the division of Biela’s comet into two distinct comets, each hav- Ing coma, nucleus and tail. At the return of Biela’s comet in 1852 both comets were still visible in the same telescopic field of view. The periheiion passage of 1859 took place (if at all) under circum- stances unsavorable for observation. The return of 1865 should have been readily observable, but the comet was not seen, nor has it since made its appearance, unless oue of the bodies now attract ing 80 many eyes heavenward should have some connection with it, In Fegara to the non-appear- ance of Biela’s comet Sir John Herschel asks:— “Can it have come into contact witn some asteroid as Bali undiscovered, or peradventure plunged into and got bewildered among the RING OF MRBTEO! which astronomers more than suspect?’ The recent discovery of the fact that the November and August meteor systema follow in the track of two comets (the November meteors following the telescopic comet November 1, 1866, and the Augast meteors lollowing the conspicuous comet of 1862) has led to some INTERESTING SPECULATIONS respecting the nature of cometa and meteors. Schiaparelli, to whom the discovery is in part due, considers the meteors to be dispersed portions of the comet’s original substance—that is, of the aub- stance with which the comet entered the solar domain, Thus comets would come to be regarded as consisting of a multitude of relatively minute masses, Others, however, regard comets as chiefly gaseous, and the meteors as due to the solidifica- tion of portions of the gaseous coma which have been swept off by the repulsive action wifich forms ita tall. Four comets examined by Dr, Hug- gins, of Englana, showed spectra indicative of seousness, 80 far as the nacleas and the righter part of the coma are concerned. The outer part of the coma seems <to shine in parc by reflecting solar light. Two of the comets thus exami have ai trum singularly like one of the spectra ol carbon, Yet astronomers say it is difficult to understand how carbon can be present in the form of luminous gas under the conditions actually Kerby ES the case of these comets. The pe cende: Ber Va tions by Dr, Huggins on Encke’s comet have been confirmed by Professor Young, of Dartmouth Col- lege. The motion of Encke’s comet, observed on many successive returns, seems to indicate the ex- istence of a resisting mediam; but Sir John Her- schel has sugges: another explanation, and Professor Asaph Hall has shown in the American Journal Science and Arts, a for December, 1871, that if resistance is actually in question’ such rematance affects Enck comet im an ex- ceptional manner, for ovher well known odio comets show no traces of its effecta—all thé cometa having @ period of not ezcsoning travel in the same direction around the Planets. Among comets with periods eighty years long five-sixths travel in the direction as the planets. COMBTARY STATTATICE. All My! Keel oa ye ea been ob- served have le their progress a different parts of the solar ayevomn—twenty.cct have passed within the orbit of Mercury, lorty- seven Within that of Venus, fifty-eight within thi of the earth, seventy-three within that of and the whole within that of Jupiter, According to Arago, more than 7,000,000 of them have come within the orbit of Uranus. THE NATURE OF COMETS, Fd pong of the tail, is a matter of great uncer- taluty. The nucleus obeys the laws of gravity, un- infleticed by the motions of the tail. The material of the tail Arst moves toward the san and is then Tepelled irom it, The evident polarity leads to the natural conjecture that the is electricity itself. Bessel has computed the form of the tail, allowing each particle to move foward by tnertia, and by a repulsive force from the sun inversely propor- tioned to the square of the distance. ie curve thus computed agrees well with the observed form of several noted comets’ tails, Professor Peirce, of Harvard University, was led by the comet of 1858 bo the same calculations and results, and pub- Ushed them before he was aware that he had been anticipated by Bessel. TUE SUPERSTITIOUS FRARS of primitive ages have im this century been re- Placed by the unfounded fear of the BARTH’S COLLISION with acomet. This was notably the case in 1832, When it was predicted that the comet of that year woud cross the earth’s track and great fears wero entertained o1 @ collision. But there i# no evidence that such collision ever occurred, either with the earth or any other pianet. The motion of the earth in its orbit 1s more than 1,500,000 miles in @ day, and ag Clairut, with all his care, did not come nearer the truth—remarkable as his calcula- tions were—than nineteen days in retura of Halley’s comet, and his followers, with all the additional light they possessed, did not come nearer than nine days of its reappearance at the point nearest the sun on its last return in 1835, and as this comet will not return again till the earth would tn its rapid course around tie sun be within nine days far enough removed trom tho inQuence 01 the comet to be out of the way of all harm, no immediate danger of collision with the celestial velocipede need be apprehended, THE COMET OF 1858, called Donatis, occupied the attention of the New that year. It was expected, according to the cal- culations of astronomers, that {t would reach its culminating point on the evening ot the 9th of Oc- tober, and extensive arrangements were accord- ingly made to take a telesoupio view of the iuter- esting event, A local paper thus describes the ob- servations :— “Heavy looking cumbrous clouds at first almost overspread the sky, witha strong reserve in the western horizon—symptoms rather ior astronomical observations general! examination of the comet in partici tune, after all, proved favorable. The clouds be- gan to clear away as the nignt camo on, and by seven o'clock the prospect was as bright as could be desired, There, amid a bright constellation of rs, the Most prominent object of them all was the comet, with its tail lengthened out to its great- est extent and becoming fainter ana broader as it reached its eeeetaly till ite dim and uncertain light fuded away until it was lost in the darkness. It was, in fact, almost impossible to see the end of it, for there was no distinctly defined line Beswiiied: {t could pe marked by the eye or even by the tele- scope, The reporter facetiously concluded a report of his observations by remarking, as @ curious anomaly, that, ‘although tue comet rejoices in a fall nat ,caudal appendage nas been denied the tar.” SCIENTIFIO REPORT, Harvard University issued an interesting docu. ment scientifically describing the event of 1868 We gather from its pages that this celes! visitor Was some 240,000,000 miles from us at the time of its discovery in June, ana It was then travelling at the rate of 65,000 miles an hour. This velocity con- stantly increased as the grand phenomenon ap- proached the sun; and, like the swelling dimen- sions of the massive P antasmagoria, it seemed daily to an ae in bulk as we surveyed its filmy outiines, [ts maximum velocity was nearly 130,000 miles an hour, exceeding the speed oi the pinee Meronry. This was at its perihelion point. ‘ifty-two millions of miles seem to have been the measure of its distance from us Uctober 11, or some 4,000,000 miles nearer to the earth than it ap- proached the sun. The difference between its aphelion and its perihelion velocity seems to be the duterence between 480 ard 28,000 miles in an hour. The difference between ita remotest and its nearest solar distance ts 14,244,000,000 miles, or nearly signe times the distance of the planet Uranus. This immense reach, however, would hardly carry it to another system, when the near- est fixed star ts billions of leagues from us. its Period re orbital revolution is about twenty or wenty-five centuries. The size of its nucleus varied a8 well as its speed. That ranged from 2,00) miles diameter when abont 140,000,000 miles Irom us, and only 500 miles when jess than one- third that distance, The intensity of Its light was deeper at its smaller phase. Tnat nucleus evolved @ number Of luminous envelopes, which in aggre- [es jormed @ beautiful amphitheatre to the spec- lor at the Cambridge refractor. To smaller [cert the length shrunk to 10,000,000 and the readth narrowed to 1,500,000 miles. Faint stream- ers also darted from or Mashed forth occasionally at an inconcelvable rate of velocity, sometimes to the remoteness Of 50,000,000 miies. THE "WAR COMET” OF 1861 sprang 80 suddenly upon the people in this lati- tude, and with such unexampied brillancy and magnitude, as to astonish our sclentfic men and frighten the timid. The civil war, then just inau- gurated, must have something to do ‘with it, of course. But unheralded and uninvited it burst forth with all its heavenly beauty demanding UNIVERSAL ADMIRATION, On the night of July 3 @ light baze partly cov- ered it, but a8 the night advanced it grew more brilliant apd the wavy tail lengthened itself and became beantifuliy defined against the dark viue of the sky. The nucleus did not appear of that Magnitude, according to the description in the ae that many declared it to be, being 01 at of a star of the second magnitude. It seemed to attain its greatest size and bright- ness a8 the email hours of the morning ap- proached, the nucleus visibly increasing in #1ze ond the tall throwing its ri till further towards the zenith, The opinion generally expressed was that i¢ was not equal to Donatl’s comet, while many considered it the same one on its revurn, and ridiculed the idea of its not being seen since 1566, AN surmises were, however, subsequently set at reat by the discovery that it was THATCHER'S COMET, discovered on the 4th of April, 1861, at Mr. Rath- erfora’s observatory, in New York, by Professor A. FP, Thatcher, of this city. According to @ report made at the Cambridge Observatory (Jnly 5, 1861) the comet appears have ‘passed ita ascending node between the 27th and 2th of dune iD, Hoy berg 270 degrees, the longitude of the earth then being 277. Toe inclination of its orbit to that of the earth was 86 degrees, or very nearly the greatest possible. On the 2sin of June the distance of the earth from the head of the comet appears to have been only about 12,000,000 miles, and that from the tail considerably ‘less. The comet sent off its envelopes once a day, or four or five times these concentric arches were congiom- erate, and formed @ hood, halo or brilliant bow over thé nucleus. Indeed, the halo appeared Jarger than & semioir in net anentiré circle, It certainly cl dark axis prevented ite further penetration or progress towards the formation of a periphery, On the 101 of Oopober train extended over 60,000,000 miles in length, and exhibited @ spread of 10,000,000 Wo and one-nal! minutes, but witn @ mood glass it Re to this Comet @ Boston paper remarked that, though i haa been far tnferior in brilitancy to that of ovat in Task pec ik was's large noe commoasee ® large one compare with others, Only te om ONM TN STx of the comets which ere observed ever become . Yisible to the aked eye, and during the oreaont ard to the | York papers upon its appearance in October of | | | couimry not more than half @ dozen have appeared which have been jarger than Tuttie’s, This comet attracted a great deal of attention irom European astronomers. COMET OF 1864, was first discovered at Bishop’s Observatory, ‘fwickenham, England, on the Sth of July, 1864, OY Professor J. R. Hind. ‘On the 30th it was distinctly Visible to the naked in the constellation Taurus, and became each night @ more conspicuous object, its approach to the earth ery rapid. The real diameter of the nebulosity surrounding the Ducleus was upwards of 110,000 miles. We have no account of this comet being seen in this part of the world. COMET OF 1868, known as Brorsen’s, was seen at the Vassar Col- Jege Observatory 00 the evening of the 19th of April, 1868. its approximate position was right ascension 3h. 44m., declination about 24 deg. 45m, Jt couid be seen with ap inetrument of low power, appearing like a hazy star, just skirting the north- ern border of the beautiful group of the Pleiades, and moving im 4 northeasterly direction. REAPPBARANCE OF ENCKR’S COMET. The Superintendent of the Naval Observatory at Washington reported, under date of August 14, 1868, that mncke’s comet was observed there that | inorning by Professor Hall. it was near the place predicted by Messrs, Becker and Von Asten. At three A. M. August 13, fifteen hours mean me, the comet's right ascension was 6b. 59m., an declination 30 deg. 52m. COMET OF 1871 was first seen by Lewis Swilt, of Marathon, N. Y., | on the 16th of April, 1871. It was reported to Pro- fessor Hough, of the Dudley Observatory, at Albany, | Who made an observation on the evening of the | i 1st, be.og delayed by unfavorable weatner, Then | te Approximate position was 3h. 30m. right ascen- sion and 46 deg. 6m. north declinat.on. The right ascension was increasing 3tu. 208. and the deciina | tion diminishing 30m. datiy. COMET OF 1873 Was seen in Sai Francisco on the evening of the » 18th Oi June, 1872. It appeared a littie to tue south west of the zenith, and was moving rapidiy and | |, Somewhat irregularly. of the earth. ‘The nucieus appeared to Le a star of ‘he first magnitude and the tail Was wavy. I. was in sizht for six minutes, The planet was luminous and rose-colored at the time, THB COMBT Hoax OF 1872 will be remembered as the occasion of considera- bie excitement among the peupie of this locality, a8 upon the 12th day of August, in thas year, it had | been predicted by @ French philosopher named Plantaneur that the world would be burned up and everything smashed into smituereens by a pro- digious comet that was to create ruin and havoo | throughout creation. But the day came and passed without a single human being yan split into as- teroids or @ single shanty the subject of a confa- gration. COMET OF 1878 was discovered at Paris on the 2th of August in that year. It was aleo observed by Professor Hall, at the Washington Oogervatory, om the 25th of the same month, It was described as a bright tele- scopic object, apparently approaching the sun. Ite motion was toward the southeast. ‘this comet was an object of special interest, since, according to the calculations of Mr. Schuloif, of Vienna, 1s has @ period about the sun of a little less than six years. ‘The comet announced by telegraph as dis- covered at Marseilles on July 27 was the same as ‘that discovered at Milan, Italy, July 3. COMET OF 1874, ‘NO. 1. Professor Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, received by telegraph on the morning of February 21, 1874, the announcement from the Academy of Sciences of Vienna, of the discovery of @ comet in right ascension, 20h. 42 min., of declination plus 24 deg, 61 min.; faint motion southeast 234 deg. This concludes the list of prominent comets of ancient and modern times, and leaves us {free to discuss the merits of comet No. 2, 1874, which Is now making ite rapid transit through the starry highways of the heavens, as well as of comet No. 3, 1874, which is also beginning to put in ap ap- pearance among the heavenly bodies. AMUSEMENTS, Niblo’s Theatre. “Ivanhoe, or Rebecca the Jewess,” was put on the boards at this theatre last night. The author has not been very happy in his dramatization of Sir Walter Scott’s novel, and the interest of the Piece is not sufficiently great to enchain the atten- tion of an audienve even under the most favora- ble circumstances, The play makes a large demand for dramatic talent, and, unforiu nately, the supply at the disposal of the company 1s scarcely equal to the occasion, Miss Ione Burke's rendering of the role of the Jewish heroine was tne only piece of acting that deserves special mention. This lady filled a very untnankiul part with more than ordi. nary success. The management deserves the credit of having produced chis piece with care. ‘The scenery, dresses and decorations are new, or renovated, and several very beautirul and spirited tableaux have been prepared at the end of the acts. These, indeed, form the chiel attractions of the performance, and are notable examples of the skill of modern scenic artists in presenting real- istic sensational pictures on the stage, Booth’s Theatre. A performance was given at this house last night for the benefit of the ushers and attachés of the theatre during the past season. The evening's entertainment was opened with the comedietta, “A Morning Call,” Mr. W. HK. Pope as Sir Edward Ardent and Miss Annie Weafer as Mrs. Chillington. | Mr. Pope sustained the dificult part of Sir Edward with his usual ease and finish, This was followed by “Romeo and Juliet,’ with Miss Lillie Eldridge as Juliet and Mr. J. W. Norton as Romeo. Miss Eldridge’s performance of the celebrated heroine was @ surprise to ber many friends in front of the curtain. From the young and timidly modest détmante they knew her year or two ago she suddenly burst out into a graceful, polished actress. Her reading of the part was marked by many beauties, and showed a clear un- derstanding aud appreciation of the great master. In the balcony scene and the one following with the old nurse, she was exceedingly natural and poetic, throwing into the role that exquisite charm youth alone can give. In the fourth act the iull Power of the actress was brought out, and she Showed herself quite equal to the requirements of the situation. The “Baby Hlephant,” by Bryant's minancels and ‘Barney Beeron” wound up the Masical and Dramatic Notes. The New Park Theatre reopened last night with the entertainment of the Morton Brothers, the | well known English tllustonists, | The Carrolla have resumed their remarkabty | clever sketch of “The McFadden Family,” to the great delight of the Bowery boys. Mr. George W. Hows, a well known /ittérateur, | has entered the fleld of dramatic authorship. His first contribution is a romantic, emotional drama, entitled “Two Lives.” OBITUARY. Charles Henry Warren. This venerable gentieman and much respected citizen of Maine, whose death was announced in the telegraphic despatches of yesterday, was born in Plymouth on the 29th of September, 1798, and was the grandson of James Warren, the third president of the Provincial Congress, whose wife was Mercy Otis, the sister of James Otis, of the Revolution, The deceased in boyhood days at- tended the common school tn his native town and subsequently entered Harvard in 1813, graduating in 1817. Adopting the profession of law he soon acquired prominence. In 1832 he was appointed District Attorney for the five southern couuties of the State and remained in ofice until 1839, He was also a judge on the Common Pleas Bench until 1844, when he moved to Boston, in which city, how- ever, his practice at the Bar was of short duration, Jn 1846 he was chosen President of the Boston and Providence Railroad Company, in whico office he continued until 1867, when gradnally failing health induced him to resign, The year 1871 saw him back again iu Plymouth, where he resided ‘until death called him away from fhe large circle of relatives and iriends, by whom he was honored, respected and loved, John 8S. Wright. Mr. John 8, Wright, a descendant of one of the earliest settlers of New Sngland, and a merchant well Known in the business world, especially in Boston, where for more than balf a century he oc- cupied a high and honorable position, dted at his residence in Brookiine, Mass., on Monday last, Deceased was the son of the late Dr. Bben Wright, an eminent physician, and was born at Plainfield, Vt., on the 30th of June, 1788. He first started in business at Thetiord, Vt., where he was associated witn the late George Peabody, the renowned banker. He went to Boston In 1824, where he was engaged for several years in the management of one of the city banks, In 1832 he commenced business in the dry goods trade, having become a member of the firm of Parks, Wright Co, This firm continued @ number of years. Throughout his business career he was prompt and assidnots in his duties, rarely absent from his oMce, and was honorable in all nis dealing& Success re- warded his honorable exertio id hfs wish that he might die in harness has been gratified, George B, Upton, of Boston. Boston, July 1, 1874. George B. Upton, a prominent Boston mer~ chant, dted of cancer in the stomach to-day, aged e@bout seventy years. B. @. L, Strave, er QuenKo, July 1, 1874, Hon, #. G L. Strave, United States Consul at hig port, whose term of office had just expired, tied fast'oyoning. Mr, ‘Strave had been promoted vo the legation at Leghorn. Italy, At length it disappeared, | having apparently ascended out of the atmosphere | 3 “OFFICER SHAW COMMITTED. The Story of the Robbery of Jame McKenna Told Over Again—Mrs. Biech< off Still Positive in Her Opinion—A Model Policeman— What Officer Osborne, of the Twentieth Precinet, Would Do. The examination in the case of OMcer William Shaw, of the Twentieth precinct, accused of rob- bing James McKenna on tne night succeeding the 234 of June, was concluded yester day before Judge Morgan at Jefferson Market. Colonel Spencer, by permission of the Districy Attorney, appeared for the prosecution, and, ag soon as the proceedings had commenced, asked that the testimony of Mr. McKenna and Mrs. Bischoft be taken down in writing. To this Counselloz Goldie objected, contending that it was merely an informal hearing and bis clent had not as yet been committed. On consent of Judge Morgany the counsel for the defence proceeded at once td call his witnesses, Mr, McKenna took the stand on 4 re-cross« examination. He was positive as to having felt for nis pocketbook twice alter he was first awak- ened by the officer, Several other questions of minor import were asked, but his statements va- ried in nothing from those made the two previous days. Mrs. Bischof, of No, 261 West Twenty-eighth treet, was also cross-examined again. Her testi- mony was also the same a8 on the previous days, and she was positive as to seeing the officer come vo Mr. McKenna three different times and each time act as if feeling over him, Mrs. Bischoff had evidently made up her mind on the case, and sha could not be shaken in the least in her testimony. Thomas Clyson and Murtagh Linnon, two men employed tn Wilson’s Itvery stable, were called, They both remembered seeing Mr. McKenna om tbe evening in question. He came in with a wagon which he had hired there about half-past one, an@ they went with him to Nicholas Judge’s liquor store, on the corner of Twenty-eighth street and Eighth avenue, to take a drink. “What did you drink?” asked counsel of Thomas Clyeon. “A giass of ginger ale, sir,” answered the wit- ness, “Did you drink any wine?” continued counsel, Voice of Mr. Nicholas Judge (from the rear of ths room), “That boy never drinks any liquor.” Clyson and Linnon further stated that they re- tired to bed alter leaving Mr. Judge’s, and were aroused about three o’ciock by Mra. Bischot!, who called their attention to Mr. McKenna and OmMicer Shaw. At the time they were aroused McKenna ‘was telling Officer Shaw that he bad been robbed of $2,000, and the officer told mcKenna to go through him if he thought he (Shaw) had it. Edward Lucy, a trackman, was the next wit- ness. Lucy was hitching up his horses on the other side of the street, He testified that he saw McKenna and tho officer standing near each other; McKenna went toward Eighth avenue, and Oficer Shaw crossed over and asked Lucy if he knew McKenna; Lucy replied that he did, and the oMicer said, Well, he’s a damn too}.”” Mr. Lucy was pro- ceeding to relate some other remarks of the omMcer’s concerning McKenna, but this evidence ‘was ruled out. Nicholas Judge. northeast corner of Twenty- eighth street and Eighth avenue, testified :—Mr. McKenna came into my place with two o! Wilson's stable men about balf-past one; he had twa small bottles of wine, and he handed me a $6 bill to pay for them, and I gave him $2 change, “Was he druuk ?” asked counsel lor the defence. “He wasn’t 80 drunk that he could not take ca of himself; he had a littie {n, like any other gentie- man once in a while.’? Counsel—Did you see much money with him? Mr. Judge—i ‘did not see anything but the $5 bill; he took that out of his vest pocket. A BAD MAN TO MEET. Officer Usborne, ol the Twentictn precinct, was the next witness called. Oficer Osborne’s beat crosses that of Officer Shaw’s at Twenty-eighin street and Bighth avenue, ¥ “Do you remember seeing Mr. McKenna on last Wednesday night?” asked Counsellor Goidie, “Yes, sir; lsaw him in Eighth avenue, between Twenty-uinth and Thirtieth streets, about half- | past two; I was looking in a restaurant, and, hear- | ing footsteps beiind me, I turned around and saw three men commg down the avenue together. | Mr. McKenna was in the centre. “Did you know the other two?” “1 know them to be hanging around those cor- ners jor ten years or more and I thought they were cueer coinpany for a man like him to be in.¥ Colonel Spencer—Do you know Mr. McKenna? Officer Osborne—I know him by signt. Colonel Spencer—Do you know these two men | you speak of? Do you know anything positive against their character ? Omicer Osborne (in a swaggering manner)—No ; only they have been hanging around ths corners ever since I knew anything about them. Colonel Speucer—When did you first hear of this ° ‘0! ry? Omicer Osborne—About four o'clock that morn- ing. Goione! spencer—Wnere ata you hear it? OMicer Osborne—On the corner of Twenty-eightn Street and highth avenue. Mcer Shaw came there about four o’clockK and we met, He said something to me about a black and tan dog he saw up the street, andI told him | didn’t care anything about dogs, He then told me there was some drunken man on his post accused hum of stealing $2,000 irom him. Colonel Spencer—What did you say ? Officer Osborne (wickedly)—I said uf any man would say that tome I would first stave his head 1n and then lock him up. 1 colonel Spencer (inquiringly)—Would you do t m OfMicer Osborne (closing his teeth firmly to- gether)—Yes, sir, and quick, too, Colonel Spencer—You mean to say that you would batter his brains out and carry the balance of his frame to the station bouse ? Oficer Osborne ogi beet ah ra 1 wonld. Colonel Spencer—Did Officer Shaw say anything else to your Officer Osborne—He said that this man that was robbed had given nim $160 to geta drink. I told Shaw if it was me 1 would have chucked it tn nis face, When he spoke about the $160 he had it rolled up in his hand, Colonel Spencer—This ts the $1 50 that Mr. Poe gave the officer to get @ carriage Jor m Oficer Osborne—Well, I don’t know what he gos it for. That’s what he told me. y Colonel Speacer—That will do, You can go. And Officer Osborne took his seat amoug his con- Jreres, muttering, ‘Well, 1 guess Speacer got as ‘good as he sent that time.” Private Watchman Snyder was calied. Snyder was lying on a stoop on the corner of Seventh avenue and Twenty-cighth street, He saw OMmcer Shaw and McKenna coming up Twenty-eighth street together about haif-past three. McKeana went up Seventh avenue and the officer went down Twenty-eignth street towards Eighth avenue. Snyder was asked if he was notasieep. He an- swered that he might have been hegre | but he had a dog named ‘Cap,”’ and no one could come within 100 feet of him but that dog would bark, and the dog barked on the night tn question when Officer Shaw and “is McKenna came towards Sev- enth avenue together. This havi2g finished the testimony for the defence, counsellor Goldie proceeded to sum up. He reviewed the case throughout, ac- counting for eaco moment of time between one and four o’clock that the complainant had spent in Twenty-cighth street on that eventful morning for him. He laid P igianed stress on the fact that his client, OMcer Shaw, had tried to wake him up three different times and did his best to get rid of McKenna as the following was his (Shaw's) “day off.” Counsel rurther sad that as the neighborhood was one of the worst in the city, abounding with thieves, McKenna could have been robbed jn moment of time while the officer’s back was turned. Colonel Spencer—Judge, if this ts such a terribley Reighborhood does it not show tie uimost bege ligetice on the part of this oMcer, who abandone: & comparatively belpless man three diferent times and left him to the mercies of these harpies that my learned friend speaks of? The oMcer saw a valuable gold watch and chain on his person. ‘The watch and chain were not taken, though the money was, I think tht important case, Your Honor, and I think this man ought to be held. It demands a full and clear investigation. After a short deliberation Judge Morgan decided to hold Omicer Shaw, and he was accordingly heid for trial at the General Sessions in $2,500 ball AN IMPORTANT ABBEST. Joun Henry was arrested last evening, by Detec- tives Lyon and King, of the Ten precinct, charged with being concerned In fhe robbery of Captain Vanderbilt's house, on Staten Isiand. The ca ptare was made while the officers were walking along the Bowery. They saw Henry carrying a bundle, and, supposing he had gomé stolen prop- erty init, they took him, Events tarned in their mination of the bundle brought to favor, or tigi» porta ot property stolen from Mr. of the Vanderbit, After the arrest of Henry the oficerg received information that led to a discovery of ii more of the goods, taken at the same time, In @ house at No, 102 Canal street. Henry will be ar- raigned at the Essex Market Police Court this morning. ¢ STABBING AFFRAY, ; Joseph Buwasa was stabbed in the back of the neck last night by Angelo Fenando during an altercation at No. 45 Crosby street, where both lived. The wound being slight, tne man was not sent to the hospital. POUND DROWNED. An unknown man was found drowned last night At the foot of Kighty-ninth street, Bast River. The body 1s supposed to have been a long time tn the water, agit was mach decomposed, It waa | removed to the Morwue.