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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 March 2012
The great comet of 1811 ; the comet wire–Prejudices and conjectures–Remarkable comets and telescopic comets –Comets are continually traversing the heavens.
In former times when a new comet Avas seen to project upon the sky its vaporous star and plume of light, the first question in the mouth of everyone was, What great calamity does God announce?
Even at the present day people may be heard enquiring what the comet signifies ; but the greater number of enquirers are far more occupied with the physical effects likely to accrue, than with the supernatural import of the apparition. Do you think we shall have a warm and dry summer? is the question of some. Are we to anticipate foggy weather, heavy rains and inundations? ask others. It announces an abundant harvest, or a superior quality of the year's wine, is gladly remarked by those who have-not forgotten the comet and the good wine of the vear 1811
In a word, people readily believe that the passage of a comet within sight of the earth must be followed by certain consequences of a nature to influence not only the climate, temperature, and vegetation of the latter, but likewise the health of animals and man, for I have forgotten to say that the influence of comets upon the production of epidemics and other maladies was formerly an article of popular belief.
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