From the 19th of August to the present time that brilliant comet, which was
first seen by M. Klinkerfues, at Goettingen, on the 10th of June last, has
been distinctly visible here, and among the ignorant classes its appearance
has caused no little alarm. The reason of this we shall briefly explain.
During the past fifty-five years the Maltese have grievously suffered on
three different occasions; firstly, by the revolution of 1798, which was
followed by the plague in 1813; and lastly, by the cholera in 1837. In
these visitations, all of which are in the recollection of the oldest
inhabitants, thirty thousand persons are supposed to have perished.
Mindful as these aged people are of these sad bereavements, and declaring
as they do that they were all preceded by some "curious signs" in the
heavens which foretold their approach, men's minds have become excited,
and, reason as one may, still the impression now existing that some fatal
harm is shortly to follow will not be removed.
A few of the inhabitants, more terrified than their neighbours, have
fancied the comet's tail to be a fiery sword, and therefore predict a
general war in Europe, and consequent fall of the Ottoman Empire. But as
this statement is evidently erroneous, we still live in great hopes,
notwithstanding all previous predictions and "curious signs," that the
comet will pass away without bringing in its train any grievous calamity.
By the following extracts, taken from some leading journals of the day, it
will be seen that the Maltese are not alone in entertaining a superstitious
dread of a comet's appearance. The Americans, Prussians, Spaniards, and
Turks come in the same list, which perhaps may be increased by your
correspondents:
"The Madrid journals announce that the appearance of the comet has
excited great alarm in that city, as it is considered a symptom of
divine wrath, and a presage of war, pestilence, and affliction for
humanity."--Vide _Galignani's Messenger_ of August 31, 1853.
"The entire appearance (of the comet) is brilliant and dazzling; and
while it engrosses the attention and investigation of the scientific,
it excites the alarm of the superstitious, who, as in ancient times,
regard it as the concomitant of pestilence and the herald of
war."--Vide New York correspondence of _The Sun_, Aug. 24, 1853.
"The splendid comet now visible after sun-set on the western horizon,
has attracted the attention of every body here. The public impression
is, that this celestial phenomenon is to be considered as a sign of
war; and their astrologers, to whom appeal is made for an
interpretation, make the most absurd declarations: and I have been
laughed at by very intelligent Turks, when I ventured to persuade them
that great Nature's laws do not care about troubles here below."--Vide
Turkish correspondence of _The Herald_, Aug. 25, 1853.
"The comet which has lately been visible has served a priest not far
from Warsaw with materials for a very curious sermon. After having
summoned his congregation together, although it was neither Sunday nor
festival, and shown them the comet, he informed them that this was the
same star that had appeared to the Magi at the birth of our Saviour,
and that it was only visible now in the Russian empire. Its appearance
on this occasion was to intimate to the Russian eagle, that the time
was now come for it to spread out its wings, and embrace all mankind in
one orthodox and sanctifying church. He showed them the star now
standing immediately over Constantinople, and explained that the dull
light of the nucleus indicated its sorrow at the delay of the Russian
army in proceeding to its destination."--Vide Berlin correspondence of
_The Times_.