made observations on three different days, and has thus been able to determine all the elements of the orbit of the former. The result is, that it is not the expected comet. A year of grace is still given, and astronomers have yet a short period of anxiety and suspense before them. But even though the great comet should not appear in 1861, it is not to be inferred that astronomical observations are fallacious. It may return, but it may be so dimmed in its lustre, or so overpowered by the sun's rays, that it may escape detection. The return would certainly establish the identity, but the non-appearance would not necessitate the conclusion that astronomy has been at fault.
For about a week, it was doubtful whether Marguerit was to retain his laurels, as it was maintained by some observers, that his comet was merely one that had been discovered on the 17th of April by M. Eumker of the Observatory at Hamburgh. The observations at the Paris Observatory have conclusively settled the matter, by shewing that the orbits are quite different. The new comet will therefore stand in the history of astronomy, as the comet of Marguerit, or Comet III. of the year 1860.
It may at first appear singular that comets should so long retain their prophetic character, seeing that the event must have so often falsified the prediction. But in this, as in many other cases, the belief of the prophecy often brought about the event. It was so in the case of Charles Y., whose resignation of his
