An essay towards the history of the principal comets that have appeared since the year 1742 ; including a particular detail of the return of the famous comet of 1682 in 1759, according to the calculation and prediction of Dr. Halley / compiled from the observations of the most eminent astronomers of this century ; with remarks and reflections upon the present comet ; to which is prefixed by way of introduction a letter upon comets, addressed to a lady by the late M. de Maupertuis. Written in the year 1742.

  • Charles Burney
Date:
1769
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay towards the history of the principal comets that have appeared since the year 1742 ; including a particular detail of the return of the famous comet of 1682 in 1759, according to the calculation and prediction of Dr. Halley / compiled from the observations of the most eminent astronomers of this century ; with remarks and reflections upon the present comet ; to which is prefixed by way of introduction a letter upon comets, addressed to a lady by the late M. de Maupertuis. Written in the year 1742. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    kv fori Comet that has appeared in difguife, like • ]V[r> ,ayes’s army. T’le war in the weftern parts of Europe, which ( continued from the year 1688 to 1697, has been <*. tie moft obilinate and deftrudlive of any re¬ ts corded in hiftory ; and yet no Comet has ap- c peared, either immediately before or after; but “ on the contrary, one has been feen in September, u 1698, when Europe was already freed from this war, and was on the point of eftablifhing a laft- “ ing peace between the Chriftians and Turks.— 4t A Comet therefore has appeared between two treaties of peace, which have put an end to the “ ravages of war, in all parts of Europe, and u greatly changed the general fituation of affairs 41 for the better: A Comet which reftores thofe <c happy times, in which the temple of Janus is fhut.” (Penfees div. fur la comete de 1680). But fuperftitious people love to be frightened, and will be as angry with any one who endeavours to reafon them out of their fears, as the inhabi¬ tants of Neuf Chat el were lately with one of their pallors, who, though in other refpedls an orthodox and devout Chriftian, yet could not reconcile to his belief the eternity of hell torments.—He would allow them to laft a hundred thoufand years, with all his heart,—but that would not fatisfy his flock,— they profecuted, perfecuted, and pelted him. When the king of Pruflia, their fovereign, hearing of it, • and moreover that the minifter was a worthy, well- meaning man, ordered them to defift, and fuller him to refume his fundlion. But this enraged them ten times more,—they furrounded the good man’s houfe, and would certainly have fent him to the other world, to enquire into the true ftate of de*