С
IT E
D/D
VENUS
EARTH
MARS
JUPITER
SATURN
F
GEORGIUM SIJUS

COMETS:
THEIR
GENERAL PROPERTIES
AND
EFFECTS ON LARGE BODIES,
WITH
THEIR INFLUENCE
ON THE
Health and Actions of Mankind;
DEDUCED FROM REASON, THE NATURE
OF THINGS,
AND
EVIDENCES OF HOLY WRIT.
For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn.
unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth,
with her encrease; and set on fire the foundatiens
of the mountains. Deut. xxxii. 22.
PHILADELPHIA:
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR.
.........
1811:

10
Disirict of Pennsylvania, to zvit:
BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the thirteenth
day of November, in the 36th year of the independence
of the United States of America, A. D. 1811, John
S. Jenckes, of the said district, hath deposited in this
office, the Title of a Book, the right whereof he claims
as proprietor, in the words following, to wit:
“ Comets: their general properties and effects on
large bodies, with their influence on the health and
6 actions of mankind, deduced from reason, the nature
" of things, and evidences of holy writ."
“For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn
“ unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth,
ss with her encrease; and set on fire the foundations
6 of the mountains.” Deut. xxxii. 22.
(6
In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United
States, entitled, “ An Act for the encouragement of
learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and
Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies
during the times therein mentioned.” And also to the
Act entitled, “ An Act supplementary to an Act, enti-
tled, “ An Act for the encouragement of learning, by
securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the
authors and proprietors of such copies during the time
therein mentioned," and extending the benefits thereof,
to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical
and other prints.'
D. CALDWELL,
Clerk of the District of Pennsylvania.

COMETS, &c.
I. THAT this, or some other Comet will pro-
bably consume our earth with fire.
1. From their density are capable of being heat-
ed to an amazing degree of intensity.
2. Their revolution being exceeding ecliptical,
(and irregular) are obliged to pass very near the
sun.
3. Comets in their perihelion, may lose a part
of their projectile force, by resistance of the solar
rays or atmosphere, and thus by their increasing
gravitation towards the sun, may fall into her bo-
dy, or missing that, fall within our earth's orbit.
4. From analogy, concurrent phenomena, and
the nature of things.
II. Comets like other heavenly bodies, within
the sphere of their action, influence the state of
health and conduct of men.
III. This, or some other Comet will probably
consume this, our earth, with fire.
Definition 1. From their density they are capa-
ble of being heated to an amazing degree of inten-
sity.

Axiom 1. Thus a solid foot of iron is much
miore dense, than a solid foot of feathers, saw-
dust, or even lignumvitæ; and a solid foot of gold
is more dense than either: this is what we mean
by density. The iron and gold are each capable
of receiving and retaining a greater quantity of
heat than an equal bulk of the feathers, saw-dust,
or wood, without being consumed by their own heat.
Comets are much more dense than the most so-
lid parts of our earth; "some of them are heated
in every period to such a degree, as would vetrify
or dissipate any substance known to us. » Sir Isaac
Newton computed the heat of a Comet that appear-
od in 1680, when nearest the sun, to be 2000 times
hotter than red hot iron, and being thus heated,
it must retain its heat for more than 20,000 ye:rs.
AX. 2. Since the uttermost intensity of heat any
body is capable of retaining, without destroying its
present form, will be as its density, and since none
of the planets or visible stars, do ever throw out
such brushes of light, or fiery tails, although nearer
the sun, is it not self-evident, that Tailed Comets
are far more dense than those, and not only capa-
ble, but absolutely do receive and retain far greater
quantities of heat than any other known body.
Def. 2. Comets, like other planets, are regula-
ted by the general laws of gravity, so as to describe
equal areas in proportioned times, by radii drawn
from the common centre, having one of their focii
in the sun; they move round the sun in very long
ovals. (See Plate.) There have been many Comets
observed by the ancients as well as by the moderns,
but the number of those whose orbits are settled
with sufficient accuracy, to ascertain their identity
when they may appear again, is only sixty-three.

5
" Their motions in the heavens are not all in
the order of the signs, or direct, like those of the
planets ;" but the motions of an equal number,
perhaps are retrogade : Those whose motions are
in the order of the signs, move much slower just
before they disappear, or retrogade, if the earth is
then between them and the sun; and, vice versa,
they move more swiftly in a contrary order of the
signs, or retrogade, if the earth is between them
and the sun, when they are about to disappear.
All those hitherto observed "have moved through
the etherial regions, among the orbits of the planets.
without suffering much sensible resistance in their
motions ; which sufficiently proves, that the plan-
ets do not move in solid orbs”. Of all the Comets,
the exact periodical return of three only have been
ascertained, which return periods are found to be
at intervals of 75, 129, and 575 years; and of those,
that which appeared in 1680, is the most remark-
able.
This comet at its greatest distance from the sun,
say at C. or F. is about eleven thousand two
hundred millions of miles; while its least distance
from the centre of the sun, say at D. or E. is only
about four hundred and ninety thousand miles, be-
ing less than one third part of the sun's semi dia-
meter from his surface.
In that
part
of its orbit nearest the sun, as at D.
or E. it flies with the amazing velocity of 880,000
miles an hour; but this velocity gradually lessens
as it recedes from the sun, till it arrives in its ap-
helion, viz. at C. or F. where its motion is sluggish
when compared with its velocity near the sun.
This increased velocity or swift motion of comets
in general must be principally owing to the repul-
sive power of the sun's heat, when they arrive at
A 2

6.
the narrowest part of their ellipsis as at D. E. We
believe that this repulsive power of the sun is so
great, as frequently to cause them to retrogade out
of their regular tract when they are about attaining
their perihelion, or nearest distance to the sun:
erFor the motion of the comet from C. towards D.
is uniformly accelerated till its arrives near D.
where it often appears to meet with resistance, and
often retrogades within and without its regular or-
bit, as though it was beaten back; but the moment
it has attained its perihelion (or the point D.) the
same power which retarded its progress hither,
now hurries it off with incredible velocity afore-
said, viz. 880,000 miles an hour. And thus it runs
out an astonishing distance into empty spacem-there
sto lose a part of its acquired heat; and again to
return, at stated periods, to receive a fresh supply;
and will thus continue till its accumulated heat;
being astonishingly greater than its waste, will
cither consume itself, or some other body, less ca-
pable to resist its heat.
The comet of 1680 being heated by the sun 2000
times hotter than red hot iron, and from its magni-
tude and great density is capable of retaining its
heat 20,000 years; but its revolution being only
575 years, it must come round or appear to us
again with nearly all its first heat; and if we allow
the sun now, on its second appearance, to act upon
it with the same degree of heat as at first; its in-
tensity, or absolute heat must be sufficient to vi-
trify or consume any substance known to us. At
any rate, after deducting one fortieth of its first
heat for the 575 years it would be cooling (which
would be nearly proportional to the 20,000 years)
it would then be three millions nine hundred thon-

2
sand times hotter than red hot iron. One would
be apt to conclude that this amazing degree of heat,
or even its first heat in 1680, would be sufficient to
destroy our globe, but our astronomers say, “ that
our earth was out of the way when this comet last
past near her orbit, for it was observed that the
comet in one part of her orbit approached very near
the orbit of our earth at that time: so that in some of
its future revolutions it may have very fatal effects."
6 But the orbit of the present comet falls with-
out the earth's orbit. The elements of the orbit of
this comet differ from those of all the comets,
whose orbits have been calculated ; as may
be seen by examining the tables of La Lande and
Vince, or that of Rees's Cyclopædia, under the
article Comet. This comet is therefore one that
has been before unknown to astronomers. The leasť
distance of this comet from the earth is about one
hundred millions of miles. The least distance of
the comet from the sun one hundred millions of
miles."
Def. 3. Comets in their perihelion" may lose a
part of their projectile force by resistance of the
solar rays, and thus by an increasing gravitation
towards the sun fall into his body, or, missing that
fall within our earth's orbit, and thus destroy this
globe.
Ax. 1. The matter, or element of heat, like
electricity and magnetism, possess both an attrac-
tive and a repulsive power: or the power being the
same, their modus operandi under different circum-
stances will be different.
* Let asits first heat, b=its proportional loss for
575 years, (=its second involved heat : then a 2000
- 50–1950=its heat at its second appearance. Not
€ 2000 xa1950=3900000sits second absolute heat.

8
1st. Thus the blazes of two candles at a certain
distance will repel each other; but at a distance
less than this they will attract; at a distance still less
than either, they will not only attract each other,
but incorporate and form one uniform blaze.
2d. The same electric matter which we call vi-
treous and resinous or positive and negative, or
pluss and minus, when once excited by friction or
heat in a substance, will first attract another sub-
stance not yet exerted, say a pithball, but this same
pit hball assoon as it is saturated with the fluid
will be repelled: this, however, holds only where
the bodies are proportioned to each other in quan-
tity and quality.
3d. The north and south ends of two magnetized
bodies of equal size and power will repel each
other; but diminish the size and power of the one
and the larger needle or magnet will now reverse
the poles of the smaller, and attract or draw it to
itself, if the smaller needle is placed within the
sphere of the larger needle's attraction.
Ax. 2. Upon this principle, perhaps, all pheno-
inena in a great measure depend: viz. That every
body, or particle of matter attracts, or repels,
every other body, or particle, in proportion to the
quantity and quality of matter it contains, under a
given form.
Upon this principle also, the mutation, or change
of matter, from one form to another, can be easily
and rationally accounted for.-" That the heavenly
bodies, do not consist of any such pure matter
which can privilege them from the like change and
corruption, as these inferior bodies are liable unto,
the Scripture puts out of doubt.”_" For the hea-
vens and earth shall passaway before one jot or tittle
of my word shall fail.” Again, the powers of the

9
heavens shall be shakened. Matt. xxiv. 29. I will
shew wonders in the heavens & in the earth, blood,
and fire & pillars of smoke--The Sun shall be turn-
ed into darkness, and the Moon into blood, before
that great and terrible day. Joel. ii. 30. 31.
" That there have been alterations observed
there in the heavens) witnes those comets, which,
have been seen above the Moon, as also, those
spots, or clouds, that encompass the body of the
Sun; amongst which, there is a frequent succes-
sion by a corruption of the old, and a generation
of the new."
If our Globe, moving in its orbit, from B, to-
wards D, and the Comet, moving in its ecliptic,
from C, towards its D. should both arrive at D, D
at the same time ; one of three things, must most
certainly happen : viz. Either our globe would des-
troy the comet, or the comet would destroy our
globe, or one or both would be thrown out of their
orbits. It may be asked, which of these three re-
sults would be most likely to take place?--I an-
swer, It is presumed the comet would either destroy
our globe, or be itself thrown into the body of the
sun.--In either case, both our globe and the comet
would suffer a material change by coming in contact
as at D D. But this change on our part, would
depend much on the greater quantity of matter and
degree of heat, the comet contained more than our
Globe, (Def. 3d. Ax. 2, p. 8.)
But a comet, according to sir Isaac Newton,
may fall within the body of the Sun from the pow-
er of his heat alone:-For when the comet, ar-
rives within the solar rays in its perihelion (say
at D. or E, the power of the Sun's heat over that
of the comet, may destroy its projectile force;
and its regular motion, being thus weakened, a

10
with us.
inutual attraction of the heat of the two bodies
(like that of the blaze of the two candles) would
take place, and added to the increasing gravitation of
the comet, from the loss of its regular moving force,
would fall into the body of the sun.-That there is a
constant mutation, or change of the form ofmatter
by the destruction of the old forms, and consequent
generation, or creation of new ones!*_For all that
is born must die—all that is formed must decay
and pass away into new forms: In proof of this doc-
trine, hear the opinions of the most eminent an-
cient astronomers and philosophers :
" That it is probable there may be such meteors,
belonging to that world in the Moon as there are
One argument whereby I shall manifest
this truth, may be taken from those new stars
which have appeared in divers ages of the world,
and by their parallex have been discovered to have
been above the Moon, such as was that in Cassi-
opeia, that in Sagittarius, with many others be-
twixt the Planets. Hipparchus in his time, took
especial notice of such as these, and therefore fan-
cied out such constellations in which to place the
stars, shewing how many there were in each aste-
rism; that so afterwards, posterity may know,
whether there were any new star produced or any
old ones missing."# Now the nature of these
Comets may probably manifest, that in this other
world (i. e. in the moon.) There are other me-
teors also; for these in all likelihood, are nothing
* There can be no final loss of matter-a Nucleus
--the materia prima, has and will remain Ad. Infl-
nitum.
# Wilks. Vol. I. p. 90.
Adamod cotton

11
else but such evaporations caused by the sun from
the bodies of the planets."
Thus we may perceive, that the ancients held
the idea, that new bodies might be produced, and
old ones destroyed or missing.
But there were others who opposed this doc-
trine of the corruptability of the heavens. Thus
Cæsar la Galla: He endeavoring to confirm the
incorruptability of the heavens, and being there, to
satisfy the argument which is taken from these Co-
mets, he answered it thus :' “ Aut argumentum
desumtum et paralaxi, non est efficax, aut si est,
efficax eorum instrumentorum usum decipere, vel-
ratione astri, vel medii, vel distantiae, aut ergo
erat et in suprema parteæris, aut si in caelo, tum
for san factum erat ex reflexione radiorum Saturni
and Jovis, qui tunc in conjunctione fuerant.”.
That is, either the argument from the paralax is not
efficacious, or if it be, yet the use of the instru-
ments might deceive either in regard of the star,
or the medium or the distance, and so this Comet
might be in the upper regions of the air; or it it
were in the heavens, then it might be produced,
by the reflection of the rays of Saturn and Jupiter,
who were then in conjunction.-
• Others think that there are not any new Co-
mets, but some ancient stars that were there be-
fore," &c." Others there are, who affirm these
to be some new created stars, produced by ex-
traordinary super-natural power. I answer, true
indeed it is possible, they might be so, but however,
it is not likely they were so, since such appearances
* Clavius in Sphaeram Cap. I. Plin. Nat. Hist.
L. 2. C. 26. Vide Wilkins. Math. et Philos. L. I.
Prop. xii. p. 91, 92 and 95.

12
might be solved some other way; wherefore to fly
unto a miracle for such things, were a great injury
to nature and to derogate from her skill.–Mara-
culum est ignorantia asylum; a miracle often
serves for the receptacle of a lazy ignorance, which
any industrious spirit would be ashamed of; it be-
ing an idle way to shift off the labour of any further
search.—Some there are, who think that these Co-
mets are nothing but the exhalations from the earth,
carried up into the higher parts of the heavens. So
Peno, Rothemannus and Galilacus. « But this
is not possible since by computation it is found,
that one of them is 300 times bigger than the whole
globe of land and water."
Others have thought, that they did proceed from
the body of the Sun, and that that planet only is
cometatum officina, unde tanguam emissarii & ex-
ploratores emitterentur, brevi ad solemredituri,
i. e. the shop or forge of comets, from whence they
were sent like so many spies, that they might in
some short space return again. « But this cannot
be, since if so much matter had proceeded from him
alone it would have made a sensible diminution
in his body."
Once more from the same authority: “That
this* may likewise be confirmed from the appear-
ance of the Comets; concerning which there are
three things commonly granted ; or if they were
not, might be easily proved: viz.
1st. That there are divers Comets in the air,
betwixt the Moon and our Earth.
2d. That
many
of these Comets do seem to rise
and set as the stars.
* The diurnal revolution of our Globe, which the
author was maintaining against Aristotle and Ptolomy
and other ancient Philosophers.

13
3d. That this appearing motion is not properly
their own; but communicated unto them from
somewhat else.
But now this motion of theirs cannot be caused
by the heavens: and therefore it must necessarily
proceed from the revolution of our earth.
But we will not digress any farther, for fear,
some one might say, fictitia ista ad fugam re-
perta.
We will have now done with quotations, ex-
cept a few from the Scripture, and give our own
independent of the opinion of others.
But it may be asked, that although it is grant-
ed upon all hands :
1st. That Comets do exist in great numbers :
2d. That they are most solid compact dense bo-
dies :
3d. That they are heated to an astonishing de-
gree :
41y. That their motions are very irregular ;
yet how do you prove that this Globe may be de-
stroyed by their heat?---We answer:
(Def. 4.) From reason, from analogy, from
concurring phenomona and the nature of things.
( Ax. 1st.) That every particle of created mat-
ter is corruptible, is perishable, is mutable, or
changeable, is self evident.
Not that we believe, that there can be an anni-
hilation of the Materia Prima; or in other words,
that there can be a final loss of matter, but that
matter is constantly changing its present form:
For the moment a thing begins to exist under a
given form, it, at the same time begins to change
that form.
Does not the same functions, or natural powers
which raises man from infancy to manhood, wear
B

14
him down from this highest point of perfection to the
grave?-Do not the same functions, which produce
and carry on animal life and its motions, destroy
them? Can we behold any part of creation perfectly
stationary?-Is not this Globe constantly change-
ing its present form?
To say nothing of Inundations-Earthquakes and
fiery Eruptions.-Are not the largest mountains
wearing and washing down by the action of run-
ning water, and forming Vallies, Flats and Islands
on the margins of rivers? Aye, have not these
large rivers cut their passage through the largest
mountains, and have gradually worn their beds
through solid rock down to a level with the val-
lies? Are not these flats, ilsands and sand banks,
frequently torn away and borne down with the
mighty torrent into the ocean, there forming new
islands and sea coasts, causing the ocean to recede
from one place, to overwhelm and drown another
Will any one, who impartially surveys the tract
of country between the ridge of blue mountains
back of Easton and the sea coast, say
that that,
land is not aluvial, or made land---and was not once
covered with the ocean? We think not.
In all these, and innumerable other great chan-
ges, there has been no loss of matter. These
changes have been slow, gradual and almost im-
perceptable--but are not less certain for all that.
* Beginning at Long Island, thence N. W. ward,
including York-Island, the lower part of the Jersies,
Philadelphia and north of it, quite to the foot of said
mountains, thence along the foot of that range taking
Delaware State, to the Tangiers on the Chesapeake;
in fine, through all the southern states between the sea
shore and that
range
of mountains.

15
And no doubt, such changes are constantly ta-
king place among the heavenly bodies, in propor-
tion to their magnitude, their quantity and qual-
ity of matter-and hence new globes and worlds ori-
ginate, are formed upon the destruction and ruin
of the old ones.
Nor does this appear inconsistent with the tenor
and language of the Holy Scriptures. “For all
old things shall be done away, and all things be-
come new.”. “ The heavens shall pass away, &c."
(Ax. 2d.) From concurring phenomena and the
nature of things.—Thus the most remarkable comets
have always been attended with terrible storms,
gales of wind, hurricanes, tornadoes, fiery erup-
tions, earthquakes and blazing Comets, and other
notable facts almost exactly corresponding, viz:
Famine, plague, pestilence, crusades, murders,
wars, &c.
Now, when we take a retrospective view, and
carefully compare the periods of the most notable
events, which have taken place in the different a-
ages of the world, with the periods of the appear-
ance of Comets, we shall find them very unfriend-
ly messengers to mankind. We shall then find,
that nature is uniform in all her appearances and
operations—chat when the larger bodies of matter
are much agitated, our globe participates of the
general commotion-The ocean is troubled with
terrible hurricanes--The earth quakes and moun-
tains send forth torents of fire!!The health, dis-
position and actions of mankind sympathize and
partake of the general disorder. And when we
consider that there has been 450 other Comets dis-
covered, and each possesing the same property of
receiving and retaining heat from the sun and when
ye further consider, that more than one of these co.

16
22
mets may appear at the same time, and each being at-
tracted by the others heat, and our globe happen-
ing to be in that part of its orbit, which is nearest
to such Comets (as at E, E, or D. D. See Plate.)
it must be evident, that our earth, would be melt-
ed and consumed by their increasing joint heat.
66 And I will shew wonders in the heavens
blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke, Joel ii. 30 31.
The sun shall be turned into darkness and the
Moon into blood, before the great and terfible day
of the Lord shall come."
Again, we have the strong evidence of scripture
to suppose that this globe, or world, shall not
again be destroyed by a deluge or flood; and God
get his rainbow, as an evidence of this covenant.
But the same God has declared, by the same scrip-
ture, that this world shall be consumed by fire
Thirty passages of holy writ, might be quoted to
this purpose; but he that will believe the whole,
will believe one, and he that will deny one, will
deny the whole.
But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom
and Gomorah, it rained fire and brimstone, from
Heaven and destroyed them all. Luke xvii. 29.
The Lord Jesus, shall be revealed from Heaven,
with his mighty Angels, in flaming fire, taking ven-
geance on those that know not God. Thes. i. 8.
And the first Angel sounded: And there follow-
ed hail and fire mingled with blood !! Rev. viii. .7
And, thus I saw the horses in the vision, and they
that sat on them, having breast-plates of fire and Ja-
cinth and Brimstone!!! By these the third part of
men were killed, by the fire, by the smoke and by
the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths!!
Rev. ix. 17. 18. Thus we see, God executes his
righteous judgments, by the use of natural means,

17
visibly evident to our senses; for the purpose uo
doubt, of inviting, or awing us into compliance with
our greatest good and these, his judgments, are
often exhibited to our view, a long time before
they are really executed.
And what would appear a more natural and easily
discovered sign than that ofangry fiery comets, wa-
ving their fiery tails, over our guilty heads! These
most commonly precede others, which are more
sudden, but less general signs of destruction, viz:
Fire bursting forth from the earth and conse-
quent earthquakes : These destroy only a certain
portion of the earth and its inhabitants, for their in-
dividual or national wickedness ; whilst those (the
Comets) at the same time are a general warning,
to all the inhabitants of the whole earth. And
when earthquakes, and burning mountains, and
the sword, and the pestilence, and famine, and
plague, will not serve to correct the wickedness of
the people; then God no doubt, will hurl his fiery
Comets, down upon our little globe, and melt,
and purify it, and all of us, by fire !!
Does any one doubt this state of things, let him
awake from a stupid lethargy, look about him, let
him look back into times of old ? and then reason
from analogy--from the nature of things---he will
then find, that like causes produce like effects, that
whenever he discovers any great and unusual phe-
nomena in the heavens, or in the earth, he may
be sure man will participate---man will be disor-
dered---man will add to the general calamit -if
the earthquakes, and fire, destroy their thou-
sands, he will try for his ten thousands, by assas-
sination, crusades, and Holy wars. But shali man
plead this in excuse, that because these larger
bodies appear disordered, and bear swift dem
B 2

18
struction before them, that he must also necessa-
rily kill and destroy all before him, commit more,
sand greater wickedness, because these signs and
bearthquakes, and Comets, are ordered and sent
for the punishment of his very crimes?
Were man inert matter, wholly incapable of vo-
lition, of willing and chosing and acting freely,
then he might plead this fatal necessity, and cry
out O God! I cannot help it-I must-I am obli-
ged by fatal necessity, to obey the impulse to cheat,
to rob, to murder and destroy my fellow creatures,
because thou destroyeth man by thy righteous
judgments, for these very crimes which he is com-
Smitting: 0 what a solecism--what inconsistency--
Knoweth thou not, O man, that, thou art a free
agent? That God hath endowed thee with the
faculty of perception, with the free uncontrolled
power of volition? That thou mayest as easily dis-
cern, and choose the good and avoid the evil, as
to choose the evil and avoid the good. And for
this purpose doth thy God, visit thee, with his
inviting providences for thy good on one hand,
and threatens, and will actually punish thee, for
thy evil ways, on the other; by his thunder, by
this lightning-his earthquakes his Vesuvias, and
lastly, by his mighty fiery Comets.
But, we have already anticipated the second ge-
neral division, of our subject; which was to prove
how Comets more immediately influence the health
and conduct of mankind.
II. Comets, like other heavenly bodies, within
the sphere of their action, influence the state of
health and conduct of men.
Ax. 1st. Since every body, or particle of mat-
ter, attracts or repels each other in proportion to
the quantity and quality of the matter it contains,

19
( See p. 8. Def. 3. Ax. 2.) so likewise will every
body, or particle of matter influence, alter and
change each other, in proportion to the quantity
and the quality of the matter it contains: And
by allowing the matter of heat (Calorique or An-
ticrouin) to be the most predominant quality, the
most active agent in matter, then attraction and re-
pulsion will represent all the phenomena-all the
motions--all the action and disposition of matter,
men and things.
Ax. 2d. For without heat, there can be no fluidity
--without fluidity, there can be no motion, and with-
out motion there can be no phenomena--matter if it
could thus exist, would remain in its concrete, so-
lid, immoveable, eternal state of rest; but by al-
lowing heat (per se) as the Primum Mobile of
matter,* then attraction and repulsion, as the ef-
fects of heat, would exhibit all the phenomena, in
the motion of matter, in different directions.
Postula. Hence, the largest and most solid dense
bodies possessing the largest quantity of heat
(Anterouin) will be the most powerful, in all their
motions and will influence, change and even de-
stroy other smaller, less dense-less heated bodies,
in proportion as the former are larger--more dense
and more heated than the latter. Hence, the mo-
tions of a man, or any other animal will be pro-
portioned to the size, the firmness, the solidness,
and the density of their original stamina—their
passions will be strong, vigorous, acute and ac-
tive--they will powerfully attract other men and
animals, which possess less heat and vigor; but,
they will as powerfully repel the same weaker men
Primum Mobile--the first mover, the first na-
tural cause of motion.

20
and animals, if their strong vigorous exertion
are not equally met; or their fiery ambition is no
equally saturated.
Hence, love and anger, may be considered as
nothing more than attraction and repulsion per-
sonified.- And hence, those men and other ani-
mals, which possess the most heat, with the most
strong and vigorous constitutions, will always go-
vern and controul, regulate, master and command
at pleasure, the less heated,—the cold plegmatic
the weak and sluggish.-Hence also it is, that the
puny and weak-mind men and animals, are always
slaves, or subservient, to the stong-ininded bold
and vigorus men and animals.
It is presumed, that the same law holds good
with inert matter-with the heavenly bodies; with
this difference only, they possess not volition-
free will, but they act upon each other from a pow-
er inherent in all matter-a Nisus-a Vis Inertiae.
But this power, which any one body of matter has
over any other body, so as to alter, change, influ-
ence or destroy its present form, will be (as before
stated) proportioned to ist magnitude and quality
(i. e.) proportioned to its bulk----and solidness----
and quantity of heat: Thus the Sun, being the
most solid, dense, tranparent and most heated*
body among the planets from these powers, or
properties he elects, chooses, and poises him-
self in the center of the Solar system where
he commands, regulates, influences and keeps
* It matters not, whether the Sun be a body of fire,
or whether it being a transparent body, its luminous
rays, emanating from it, and their swift motion thro'
a dense atmostphere, heat is thereby gener ted: For
his effect and influence on other bodies will be the
Same,

21
all the other planets in motion, and at the same time
at a proper distance from each other; by attracting
those, which repel him, and repelling those which
attract him: That is, the Sun attracts the colder
bodies and thus brings them within a suitable dis-
tance of himself, till their heat is raised to a de-
gree sufficient to repel him ; and vice versa he repels
the heated bodies to a suitable distance, till their
acquired heat is reducnd to a degree sufficient to at-
tract and be attracted by him.-And the les-
ser planets, Mercure, Venus, Earth, Moon, Mars,
Jupiter, Saturn, Georgium Sidus, &c. with their
respective Moons, all attract and repel each other,
also, in proportion as they, respectively, are more
or less dense and heated, and contain a greater or
les quantity of matter.
Thus the Moon influences our globe and no doubt
our globe also influces the Moon The Periorrhæ
is as common to them, as it is to the human ani-
mal; indeed this reflux of humours and fluids,
from the habit of the body, from the smaller into
the larger emanatories appears to be governed and
observe lunar periods.-The flux and reflux of the
ocean, and of the air and of animal fluids-The
spring, or high tid s always happen on the full and
change of the Moon; at the same time, a greater
flow of animal fluids fill and distend the vessels-
a turgescence of the Venal and arterial system-
more pleasurable sensation is introduced into the
system.--witness that ruddy blush~that hilarity
that flow of spirits, now all hands are open free and
jolly, about the full and change the amorous in-
tercourse—the V******lorgasm--the Catamenia,
et Partio, onis, vel partus, s, m.--But, now
mark--on the wane, or quarters of the Moon, the
tides nip and fall, the muscles and vessels of the

22
human animal, and other animals shrink--their
countenances look more meagre and peaked--
their motions now are more languid, with less heat,
with pale faces--their dispositions are more sour--
they are more circumventing and treacherous;
or else they are more captious and snarling.
If then the little pale faced moon has such power-
ful influence on vegitation, on the tides, on the
wind and weather, on the actions, on the health
and disposition of men and other animals; what
shall we think of the influence of such incompara-
bly larger--most solid--most dense and astonish-
ingly heated bodies--the comets? Think ye such
bodies will not influence the actions, and the
health, and the dispositions of mankind?
If we reason from analogy and a comparison of
things, we cannot doubt, unless we doubt the evi-
dences of our own senses.
Beginning with a period about the birth of
Christ, from that time forward, witness the exact
concurrence of extraordinary phenomena, with ex-
traordinary human events.
Witness the state of the Roman empire, then the
mistress of the world.--At that period they were
at peace with all nations of the earth.--No famine
no plague, no earthquakes, no fiery eruptions from
mount Vesuvius, no fiery comets no wars.
The temple of Janus was shut by Augustus, hea-
ven and earth were at peace with each other; uni-
versal tranquility prevailed, and Jesus Christ made
his first appearance upon this our world!! But
now mark the general change, and the concurrence
of events, both with heaven and earth, men and
things:

23
59.
A. D.
After Christ, Tiberius reigns--Ser-
31. janus is put to death--comets appear ho-
vering over the city--mount Vesuvius e-
mits and sends forth her smoke, fire and
brimstone--Now wars begin again to rage.
33. The Lord and Saviour of mankind is ac-
cused, condemned and stretched upon the
bloody cross between heaven and earth and
between two theives, there he was scourged,
and tortured and finally put to an ignomin-
ious death--Wandering - stars and blazing
comets appear--the Sun is darkened!! The
earth groans and trembles and quakes !!
Bloody Nero imbrues his infernal hands
in the innocent blood of his own mother!!!
Now more comets appear--Vesuvius sends:
forth his vengeance in smoke and fire and
brimstone.
61. The Romans defeated by the Britons.
64. Bloody Nero persecutes the christians--
The Jews eko crucified their Lord and
Saviour, are now massacred by Florus who
also murders St. Peter and St. Paul.
70. Titus Vespasian takes and destroys Je-
rusalem and 100,000 Jews.
79.
Another eruption of fire from mount
Vesuvius--an earthquake.
Another blazing comet--a dreadful per-
seution of the christians at Rome.
412. Another dreadful eruption of mount Ve-
suvius, its smoke and fire seen at Constanti-
nople--a terrible comet frightens the inha-
bitants--another horrid massacre.
002. A
great massacre of the Danes by Ethel-
dred, king of England.
1095. The first crusade to the holy land by Pe-
ter the hermits

24
1147. The second crusade excited by St. Ber-
nard; another blazing comet appears--
more earthquakes, hurricanes, plague, fa-
mine wars.
1186. The great conjunction of the sun and
moon and all the planets in Libra, happen-
ed in September.
1189. The third crusade under Richard I.
and Philip Augustus.
1202. The fourth crusade from Venice, wars
and tumults.
1282. Sicilian
vespers,
when 8000 French were
massacred-another terrible earthquake.
1520. Massacre at Stockholm, by Pope Chris-
tian II. and bishop Trollo.
1576. Massacre at St. Bartholomews, at Paris,
a league against the Protestants begins in
France, A. D. 1640. Forty thousand Eng-
lish massacred in Ireland. 1712 a blazing
comet, frightens the people of London.
1715. Civil war, insurrection and rebellion,
in England, Scotland, &c.
1743. Another remarkable comet.
1756. Lisbon destroyed by an earthquake, and
most of its inhabitants--another remarkable
comet about this time.
1760. Transit of Venus over the Sun 6th June.
1665. The plague rages in London and carries
off 68,000 persons.
1666. The great fire in London destroys 13,000
houses and 403 streets.
1680. The great comet appeared and alarmed
the inhabitants, from its near approach to
the earth: It was visible four months and
six days: This was the comet, which sir
Isaac Newton calculated to be 2000 times
hotter than red hot iron.

25
1764.
Great famine and pestilence in Italy.
1766. April 21st, a spot, or macula of the Sun,
more than 3 times the bigness of our earth.
--French and English war.
1773. A remarkable comet or blazing star, ap-
peared August 15th, attended with terrible
hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes: this
comet heated the atmosphere to such a de-
gree, that people, in common, ploughed in
February, and in this month apple and peach
trees put forth their leaves and blossoms
and
young peaches and apples began to set.
1775. War with England and America.
1779. A terrible eruption of mount Vesuvius,
broke out August 8.
1780. Dreadful hurricane in the West Indies.
1783. Another remarkable comet---Earthquake
in Calabria Ulterior--Sicily and Messina
destroyed.
1784. Earthquake in Turkey-12,000 persons
destroyed, and hail stones as large as hens'
eggs fell at Iram in the Pyrenees.
1790. French revolution--1798, Dreadful re-
bellion in Ireland.
1792. Plague in Egypt, which carries off three
hundred thousand souls.
1793-4.
Ditto in Philadelphia, in '95, plague in
New-York, it rages in all the great cities in
Europe and America, accompanied with
universal war, America only excepted.
1799. A plague at Fez sweeps off 247,000 in-
habitants---A dreadful slaughter of the Rus-
sians by Bonaparte, at the town of Fried-
land.
Another dreadful slaughter by Bona-
parte in the battle of Marengo:
1800.
с

26
1803-5. Yellow fever in Philadelphia, (Rush
Phil. pict.) and other large cities.
1805. Volcanic, or meteorric substances in
large masses fell in different parts of the
state of New-York, Vermont and Connec-
ticut, supposed by some to have fallen from
the moon -- Total eclipse of the sun, blazing
meteors shooting about this time.
1807. In August, another comet, or blazing
star appeared, attended with influenza uni-
versally in the autumn, coughs, pleurisies,
&c. in the winter, which was open and va-
riable, &c.
1808-9. Typhus malignant fever, or spotted pu-
trid fever, carries off its thousands.
1810. The European war of extermination con-
tinues--the French massacre the Spani-
ards at Tarragona.
But say nothing of the massacre of millions of
innocent men, women and infant children, in the
civil war in France, by the wild fury of the revo-
tutionists, and by a rapacious, sanguinary soldiery.
1811. The present Comet made its appearance
in the month of February.
From the Salem Gazette, 11th Oct. 1811.
Elements of the orbit of the comet now visible,
calculated by Nathaniel Bowditch.
The geocentric longitudes and latitudes of the co-
met, used in finding the elements of the orbit, were
deduced from distances of the comet from Actu-
rus, Lyra, and Doube, observed at Cambridge, by
professor Farrar, and at Nantucket by the Hon.
Walter Folger, jun. By combining the observa-

27
tions of Sept. 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 23, the ele-
ments of the orbit, were found by the method of
La Place, and corrected by the observations of
Sept. 6, 15 and 23.
The perihelion distance, (say at D. or E. See
Plate) 1,052. The mean distance of the earth from
the sun being 1.
Time of passing the perihelion (D. or E.) Sept.
6, 1811, at eighteen h. Greenwich time--Place
of the Perihelion, counted on the orbit of the co-
met, 2 signs, 21 degrees.
Longitude of the ascending node, 4s. 18d.
Inclination of the orbit to the ecliptic 74d,
Motion, retrograde.
These elements will require some corrections,
(perhaps two or three degrees) to be determined;
when a greater number of observations or a longer
arch of the orbit shall be made. The observations
made early in Sept. were liable to a small error,
from the uncertainty of the refraction, the comet
having been observed near to the horizon.
p.7.) By a certain apparatus, the following esti-
mate of the apparent course of the comet and its
distance from the earth were made.
In the month of February 1811, the comet was
near to the eastern part of the constellation Argo.
Its motion was then West, inclining to the North.
It passed a few degrees to the eastward of the
great dog, and its direction then became nearly
North, being stationary in longitude in the month
of May. It passed near to the eastern part of the
lesser dog early in June, inclining rather towards
the East. On the 16th of July it passed the as-
cending in the longitude of about 4 signs 8 de-
grees and then moved North Easterly towards
the feet of the Great Bear, where it was first sect,
after the conjunction with the sun, Sept. 6th.
(See

28
On the 5th of Oct. it was near the right hand of
Bootes, it will be at its greatest North latitude a-
bout the middle of Oct. near the right efoot of Her-
cules, after which it will begin to mov towards the
ecliptic, through the left knee of Hercules, towards
the Eagle, the Dolphin, the Winter Bear, &c. It
will be near the Eagle about the first of December.
It is to be observed, that the apparent positions thus
roughly estimated, are liable to an error of two or
three degrees. The orbit of this Comet falls with-
out the earth's orbit, (See p. 7.)
The distances of the Comet, from the earth ex-
pressed in parts of the sun's distances from the
Earth, estimated as 10, were found in Feb.
1811, to be 30, in June when visible at the Cape
of Good Hope and other places south of the equa-
tor, 23; on the 6th of Sept. 27. About the mid-
dle of this month (Oct.) it will be at its least dis-
tace, 13; after which, it will increase and in the
month of Dec. it will be about as far distant as in
June. In the latter part of January and February,
1812, the distance will be above 30, and the lati-
tude of the comet will then be small, and as it be
nearly in conjunction with the sun, it will probable
be then invisible. Its least distance from the earth
is about 120 million of miles. Its least distance
from the sun 100 millions, (See p. 7.)
The tail of the comet has been observed to be 10
er 12 degrees in length, which would make its real
length, nearly equal to half its distance of the earth
from the sun.
If the comet should continue to approach our
earth for three months longer, at the ssme rate it has
neared us, for three months past, it would perhaps
consume every living creature, if not the globe itself.
Again from the observations of Mr. Wood.

29
m.
Set at
Richmond, Virginia 8th, Oct. 1811.
SITUATION AND APPEARANCE OF THE COMET:
Ursa Major.
Polar Star. deg.
Alpha
38 00
Lyra
37 20
Ursa Maj. Epsilon
41 00
Right ascension
211 30
Declination
51
00
Longitude 6 signs
Latitude
57 30
Distance from the sun 58 00
Progress in its orb from 21st. Sept. to 5th Nov. 2.
21deg. 30m. be at the rate of 1deg. 30ms. in
24 hours. Amplitude 83deg.
h 00 m 26 morning
Rose at
2 15 do.
About the 2d. of Dec. allowing its mean velocity
or motion to be 2 deg. in 24 hours, it will cut
the ecliptic in 25 deg. of Aquarius.
The tail of the comet at present measures 14deg.
Wherefore upon the supposition that the comet's
distance from the earth is equal to that of the Sun's
distance from the earth: Its tail would extend
ver 24,730,888 miles.
If the present distance of the comet was one
half the sun's distance the length of the tail would
be only 12,366,444. If the comets distance was one
fourth the sun's distance, the length of the tail would
be then 6,182,723 miles in length. From the co-
met still increasing, as likewise its apparent mag-
nitude it still continues to approach the earth.
Now let us mark and carefully compare the con-
curring phenomena, since this Comet first appear-
ed, and we shall find them almost exactly agree-
ing with those of former Comets, in all the cir-
cumstances aforesaid. (See p. 23--1) 20. First,
witness the Boar which happened at Plymouth, in

30
the summer past. The sea all of a sudden reced-
‘ing from the shore, leaving the shipping high and
dry; then with a perpendicular height of 5 to 8
feet, returning, and rushing with white foaming
fury, bearing all before it! threatening the affright-
ed inhabitants with pale death and destruction.-
Next witness the scene, in the Azore Islands. Be-
hold the inhabitants quietly enfolded in the silent
arms of sleep, suddenly starting up, with harkee!
What means that distant, dismal, rumbling, thun-
der? Ah me! how the earth trembles—my very
bones quake Hear the piercing shrieks !-Lord
save me Lord help me, or I die!!Behold,
now the mountains louring-—now bursting forth in
black volumes of smoke, fire, and brimstone!
the huge rocks from their lofty summits hurled
into the foaming ocean beneath, or on the tottering
village fall, crushing the stately buildings, and the
owners, in the ruins buried !!!-See the lava down
the mountain side, in rivers flowing, enveloping
the village low in one deluge of liquid fire and
brimstone ; or the trembling survivor, before the
flaming lava flying to the relentless ocean for pro-
tection—when, oh! to his utter astonishment, he
beholds the angry ocean boiling and spouting suf-
focating smoke, fire, and sulphur; and the pearly
rocks, grown white by age, from the bottom, with
violence are thrown miles into the heavens!!!-
See that new island of sand and shells, and comby
rocks, from the bottom emerging—now on the
surface appearing—now it rises-now it sinks !
see in yonder place it appears !!! Witness the
terrible hurricanes, tornadoes, and monsoons, in
the East and West Indies, and in every quarter of
the globe this present year. Inquire at the insu-
rance offices; examine the marine lists, &c. &c.
Ask the intelligent sea captain, whose locks have

31
whitened by service, who have recently survived
with the skin of their teeth ;-ask such, for those
melancholy accounts and effects of tremendous
gales, hurricanes, and tornadoes; and they will
tell you, such rugged and disastrous times, at sea,
they never before experienced; or, view the melan-
choly shattered condition of shipping daily arriv-
ing-see their jury masts, to broken stumps secu-
red; their quarter and weather boards to pieces
dashed; their decks, by the board, clean swept, by
the boisterous ocean.--Listen to their sad tale, of
being on their beam ends, like a feather blown, and
of vessels passed at sea, with their bottoms up; and
of others foundered, and with water filled, but floate
ing, with their decks just a-wash ; behold three
miserable survivors out of twenty, who for nine
dismal days and nights, to the wreck clinging--
the raging, briny ocean, over them rolling; their
only food the dead carcases of their fellow suffer-
ers, whom the relentless ocean had washed to
death !!! But if thou still doubt the Comet's
influence on the wind, weather, men, and things,
next witness the extraordinary heat, of the summer
last; especially, about the 4th of July. The me-
dium height of the thermometer being from 96 to
98°. Is not the autumn unusually warm? Do not
our November nights possess the warmth of com-
mon summer evenings? And without the spirit of
prophecy, may it not safely predicate an open winter
ensuing, and comfortable ploughing in the month
of Feb. &c. as in 1680. Next, behold the havoc
made, through the southern States; Buildings
from their foundations, by the tornadoes, with vi-
olence blown, and plantations, islands, flats, and
villages, by torrents of rain, and sea unusually
high, everflown, or inundated.

32
In fine, when thou hast carefully compared the
periods of those notable comets of former times,
with their concurring phenomena, and if heavy gales
of wind; hurricanes and tornadoes and torrents
of rain and extraordinary heat, and these attended
with earthquakes and fiery eruptions, and blazing
shooting meteors, and these again, always accom-
panied with famine, pestilence, plagues, mas-
sacres, crusades, &c. or universal, and inveterate
wars. I say, if when thou observeth the univer-
sal phenomena of the heavens and earth, men and
things, almost exactly corresponding in point of
time, with the appearance of former comets, thou
wilt as certainly observe them now, corresponding
as exactly in all the circumstances, with the appear-
ance of the present comet. For when we further
consider, that, materiality--that all the visible
world, and the heavenly bodies, consist of matter
only, but divided into many parts, which consti-
tute and make up the universal whole, and that
man is but one of those parts ; it must be self evi-
dent then, that whenever any of those larger bo-
dies of matter suffer, or undergo any material
change, that man, as being but one of those parts,
must likewise suffer, must undergo material changes
in the state of his health, in his dispotion, in his
actions, in his general conduct; he will sympathize,
he will participate in the general disorder, his pow-
er of volition only can regulate, can restrain his
actions within the bounds of propriety. Whoever
doubts this state of things, must be a sceptic in-
deed !--inust doubt not only the evidence of his
own senses, must deny that nature is uniform in
all her operations, that like causes, produce not
like effects; but must also deny the most positive
declaration of the word of Ged.
Tenakes dohesh
02
1911
Je