APPENDIX IV - A Catalogue of Comets Recorded, but not with sufficient Accuracy to enable their Orbits to be calculated

Summary

The following Catalogue, it is almost needless to say, is founded upon that most valuable one of Pingré's, but this is the first time that a catalogue of the kind has been printed in such a full tabular form,—a great convenience for purposes of reference.

Our Catalogue ia comprised in 29 octavo pages, whereas Pingré's extends to no less than 300 quarto pages: to his work, therefore, the reader who desires to know more of any of the following comets is referred; its value is greatly enhanced by the copious references to his authorities which he gives: would that English authors, generally, would take a hint in that respect! Pingré's Cométographie was compiled almost a century ago; since his time, however, numerous and important accessions have been made to our stock of knowledge, more especially by E. Biot, who has translated several Chinese chronicles and catalogues of stars and comets, not previously properly understood, in some cases not understood at all. Hind's valuable Catalogues in the Companion to the Almanac, for 1859 and 1860, have also been consulted.

It is wholly impossible to give a list of the authorities; the last column in the Catalogue will afford an idea of the number. Pingré gives references to all the works in which mention is made of any fact; we, of course, have only been able to give one or two of the chief.