t, at first,
seemingly rapid; nor was its appearance of very unusual character. It
was of a dull red, and had little perceptible train. For seven or eight
days we saw no material increase in its apparent diameter, and but a
partial alteration in its color. Meantime, the ordinary affairs of
men were discarded and all interests absorbed in a growing discussion,
instituted by the philosophic, in respect to the cometary nature.
Even the grossly ignorant aroused their sluggish capacities to such
considerations. The learned now gave their intellect--their soul--to
no such points as the allaying of fear, or to the sustenance of loved
theory. They sought--they panted for right views. They groaned for
perfected knowledge. Truth arose in the purity of her strength and
exceeding majesty, and the wise bowed down and adored.

That material injury to our globe or to its inhabitants would result
from the apprehended contact, was an opinion which hourly lost ground
among the wise; and the wise were now freely permitted to rule the
reason and the fancy of the crowd. It was demonstrated, that the density
of the comet's nucleus was far less than that of our rarest gas; and the
harmless passage of a similar visitor among the satellites of Jupiter
was a point strongly insisted upon, and which served greatly to allay
terror. Theologists with an earnestness fear-enkindled, dwelt upon the
biblical prophecies, and expounded them to the people with a directness
and simplicity of which no previous instance had been known. That the
final destruction of the earth must be brought about by the agency of
fire, was urged with a spirit that enforced every where conviction;
and that the comets were of no fiery nature (as all men now knew) was a
truth which relieved all, in a great measure, from the apprehension
of the great calamity foretold. It is noticeable that the popular
prejudices and vulgar errors in regard to pestilences and wars--errors
which were wont to prevail upon every appearance of a comet--were now
altogether unknown. As if by some sudden convulsive exertion, reason had
at once hurled superstition from her throne. The feeblest intellect had
derived vigor from excessive interest.

What minor evils might arise from the contact were points of elaborate
question. The learned spoke of slight geological disturbances, of
probable alterations in climate, and consequently in vegetation, of
possible magnetic and electric influences. Many held that