month; and M. Thuis, of the said establishment, noticed it on the 21st and 22d. From the observations which they communicated to the astronomers at Paris, M. Burckhardt determined the following orbit, which he presented to the class of mathematical and philosophical sciences of the National Institute, on the 5th of this month: Passage to the perihelion, 25th September, three, A. M.; distance of the perihelion 0,6158; perihelion 291° 4′; nucleus 267° 47′; inclination 48° 4′; movement direct. These hints, says M. Burckhardt, will be sufficient to calculate the route of the comet, but it may be discovered without any trouble, as it is distinguishable by the naked eye as soon as night has closed. It is now (September 25th) to the left of Arcturus, between the stars of the boreal crown and those of Libra to the west. Its motion is one degree per day towards the north, and rather more than a degree towards the east. This comet was also seen on the 28th at Vezoul, and M. Flaugergues perceived it on the 26th at Viviers. It seemed to him like a white nebulous spot, very brilliant, and similar to a star of the second magnitude. It was surrounded by a nebulosity of about six minutes in diameter, and had a tail about a degree and a half in length. It is the opinion of the Institute that this comet is different from any with which we are acquainted.

A letter from Munich, dated October 8, says:

"On the 1st inst. a comet was observed in the north-west of the horizon; it is large, and rather pale. Its tail appearing direct to wards the earth, prevents a correct judgment being formed of its length. Yesterday, at 7 o'clock in the evening, that phenomenon again appeared. In the last century three comets were seen, one in 1709, one in 1740, and the other in 1768.

On the evening of the 11th September, was felt at Nieuwied, and

its environs, a strong shock of an earthquake, accompanied with some very remarkable circumstances. The noise, which was heard at the moment of the commotion, resembled the rattling of carriages proceeding with great velocity. The fishermen on the Rhine saw numbers of fish thrown out of the water. The wind suddenly ceased, the sky became suddenly thick with clouds, and towards midnight a shock again occurred, which was followed by a third, about three in the morning. On the preceding day there was a sharp frost, which in many places congealed the water. No lives were lost by the event.

Launch of earl Stanhope's new invented vessel.-Yesterday the launch of this curious constructed vessel, invented by earl Stanhope, took place in the pond in Kensington gardens, opposite the palace, where it was brought in an unfinished state last week from Mr. Keating's, carpenter, in Castlestreet, Oxford-street. The workmen were ever since busy in completing it, and had not entirely finished it before three o'clock yesterday afternoon. It is thirty feet long by seven wide: it has a round bottom, both ends being sharp something like a weaver's shuttle. The sides were painted yellow, with the port holes on the sides; and windows at each end, painted to imitate real. On each side, towards each end (as it was made to sail either way without putting about), were three gills, which opened out, or closed, by means of pulling an iron rod on the deck, which was cased with copper in such a manner as to render it water-proof: instead of the bottom being pitched outside, it was covered with a composition, an invention of the noble earl's, which, as soon as spread on quite hot, became so hard that a chisel could not cut it, and it had the quality of resisting any force by its being elastic, so as

to answer the purpose of copper covering. His lordship's country seat is covered with the same composition instead of lead. The launch, and the experiments to be tried, were expected to take place between eleven and twelve o'clock, at which hour there were between three and four hundred persons present, among whom were several ladies of distinction, and many naval officers; but being informed that she would not be ready to be launched before three o'clock, most of the company dispersed; some returned to town, others strolled through the delightful and romantic walks in the gardens; and others went to take some refreshment in the town of Kensington. At the hour of three o'clock, the crowd began to re-assemble in great numbers. About a quarter past three it was launched into the water, by means of rollers placed on deal planks. Previous to being launched, there was a temporary ladder fixed to one end, in order to ascertain which answered best, that or the gills. As soon as it was launched there was one ton and a half of ballast taken on board; his lordship and a lieutenant of the navy, and some sailors, &c., went on board; having no sails, they rowed up and down the pond, then twice round; the men at the oars kept pulling regularly; when it was found that the gills beat the rudder in velocity, and turned coastways with greater ease, having the advantage of returning back without pulling about ship. After the first trial there was another ton of ballast taken on board. After being an hour on the water the second time, during which his lordship marked down his remarks, about 5 o'clock the masts were put on board, the canvas spread, with the union jack at the mainmast head: she then sailed most majestically with a light wind, and nothing could possibly make a grander ap pearance. She returned with the other head foremost, without put ting about. The spectators were

highly gratified at the sight, which made amends for the disappointment in the morning on account of the delay. His lordship, after trying several experiments in rounding, tacking, and keeping to a certain point, landed about six o'clock, and expressed his perfect satisfaction, and confidence in having succeeded in his design; the benefits and advantages of which are numerous, and are as follows:-that there is one-third of the expence saved in the construction of a seventy-four; that on account of being rather flat-bottomed, it will carry more tonnage; it will navigate in very shallow water, and over breakers or sunken rocks, without the risk that a ship without a keel runs; on approaching any rock or coast, it can immediately retire, without loss of time in putting about; does not require half the sails, all of which can be worked by the men on the deck, without going aloft; the composition which covers it is infi nitely cheaper than copper, and answers the same purpose; it can sail nearly against the wind, by working the gills; with many other advantages with which we are as yet unacquainted. Several experienced officers expressed themselves very warmly in favour of it. The next trial will be in the presence of some of the lords of the admiralty, &c.

On Monday, December the 14th, between break of day and sunrise, a terrestrial meteor was seen from Poughkeepsie, in the state of New York, flaming across the heavens in a direction from N. W. to S. E. Apparently it was as large as the moon at full, inconceivably light, and travelled with amazing velocity, leaving a luminous train behind. The light occasioned thereby, when it crossed the zenith, was nearly equal to mid-day. A ridge of heavy, dark clouds lay along the south and east, behind which it passed when it had arrived within about 30 degrees of the horizon, illuminating the cloud, for a moment, in all its

parts. Within about four or five minutes, a heavy explosion was heard, from the region of the heavens where it disappeared, resembling the discharge of cannon.

On the 17th of October, 1788, about six or seven o'clock in the evening, a meteor of similar description passed over this and the New England states, first appearing in the S. E., and exploding in the W., about 30 degrees above the horizon.

On Monday, December 14, about break of day or a little after, the weather being moderate, calm, and the atmosphere somewhat cloudy and foggy, a meteor or fire-ball, passing from a northern point, disploded over the western part of Connecticut, with a tremendous report. At the same time several pieces of stony substance fell to the earth in Fairfield county. One mass was driven against a rock and dashed into small pieces, a peck of which remained on the spot. About three miles distant, in the town of Weston, another large piece fell upon the earth, of which

a

mass of about thirty pounds weight remains entire, and was exhibited the same day at town meeting. A small mass has been sent to Yale college, and examined by a number of gentlemen. It was immediately perceived by professor Silliman to contain a metal; and on presenting it to a magnet, a powerful attraction proved it to be iron.

This is, we believe, the first instance in the United States, in which the substance of this species of meteor has been found on the earth, though it has been often in Europe. Fortunately the facts respecting this wonderful phenomenon are capable of being ascertained and verified with precision, and an investigation will, we understand, be immediately commenced for the purpose.

Gentlemen who may have observed it in distant parts of the state are requested to favour the public with their observations. It is desirable to ascertain the course or direction of the meteor; the point of compass in which it appeared at different places; its general appearance and velocity; the manner of its explosion, and the time between the explosion and the report.