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 everywhere 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.
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