LAMPA DIFORMIS.-(See figs. 3, 4, 5.)

JACULIFORMIS LUNATUS.—(See fig. 6.)
ENSIFORMIS.-(See figs. 7, 8.)

COMETA MONSTRIFERUS.-(See figs. 9, 10.)

From this introductory sketch, it will be sufficiently evident, that there is no class of bodies in the universe, concerning which there has existed so much groundless prejudice and apprehension, as comets; nor is this feeling peculiar to the earlier ages,-about the latter part of the year 1828, an impression generally prevailed that some baleful influence was connected with a comet then about to appear, of which it had been affirmed that it was the most likely of all others to come in contact with the earth this was the comet of Encke. The German and French philosophers also predicted that the comet of Biela would, in the year 1832, breathe desolation on the human race, and, by its shock, reduce this beautiful world to its original chaos. In this country notices appeared in the public prints relative to a comet, said to be visible, and those who possessed telescopes were directed to the place in the heavens were the monster was to be found; every one, who saw it, wondered that it remained stationary; it would, indeed, have been a wonderful phenomenon if it had moved, for this fancied comet proved to be the nebula in the girdle of Andromeda, the position of which, in the heavens, was as permanent as that of any of the fixed stars! At length the expected comet did appear, but only dimly seen with the telescope: it passed the earth's orbit, crossed the paths of Venus and Mercury, mingled its mysterious cloud-like form with the solar rays, and disappeared.

Both of these Comets,-the comet of Encke, and the comet of Biela, will return this year, and cross the earth's orbit, the former in the Spring, and the latter in the Autumn, and the only antidote to any terror, on this account, is an investigation of the nature of these bodics, and the paths which they pursue, a task which it is proposed to attempt in the present volume of Time's Telescope, and from this investigation, it is presumed, that it will abundantly appear, that comets are "harmless visitants," and not baleful omens, or agents destined to destroy our beautiful world.

It was a world as fresh and fair
As e'er revolved round sun in air;
Its course was free and regular,
Space bosomed not a lovelier star.
The hour arrived-and it became
A wandering mass of shapeless flame,
A pathless comet, and a curse,
The menace of the universe;
Still rolling on with innate force,
Without a sphere, without a course,
A bright deformity on high,
The monster of the upper sky!

LORD BYRON's Manfred.

A TABLE

OF THE

SUN'S RISING AND SETTING, RIGHT ASCENSION, DECLINATION, AND EQUATION OF TIME.

MARCH.

SOLAR PHENOMENA.

The sun enters Aries at 11 min. after 2 of the afternoon of the 20th of this month.

Conjunctions of the Moon with the Planets and Stars.

March 2nd, with Jupiter.......

4 morning.

11 night.

1 afternoon.
3 morning.

4

10

midnight.

3 afternoon.

1 morning.

PHENOMENA PLANETARUM.

Mercury in conjunction with Jupiter at I in the afternoon of the 8th of this month. Greatest south latitude on the 9th. Superior conjunction with the sun at 45

с

min. after 10 of the evening of the 19th. Ascending node on the 28th.

Venus in her descending node on the 5th. In conjunction with Uranus at 7 in the morning of the 12th, difference in declination 18'; with μ in Capricornus on the 17th, difference in latitude 4'.

Phases of Venus.

The proportions of the bright and dark phases of this planet are as follow::

March 1st.-Illuminated part 9.3869

Mars in conjunction with 813 Mayer, difference of latitude 3'.

The Asteroids.

Hrs. Min

Vesta, 1st day. Right Ascension 8 12. N. Declin. 25° 53'