1823—A Comet much mentioned by Spanish writers. While it shone over Spain, South America and the Mediterranean, the French overran Spain and reinstated the Spanish king. Revival of the Spanish Inquisition and bloody persecutions of the revolutionists. War of Independence in Central and South America. Bloody war of Greek Independence. 1835-6—Halley’s Comet. New York City all but destroyed by fire. Zulu massacre of Boers at Weenen. Mexican massacre of Americans at the Alamo. Wars throughout South America. 1843—Another famous Comet seen all over the world during the Spring of that year. Especially brilliant in the Southern Hemisphere and in India. War in India on the part of the British against Afghanistan, Beluchistan, Scinde and against the Sikhs. 1848—Encke’s famous periodic Comet. Bloody revolutionary risings and civil wars in France, Hungary, Bohemia, Austria, Germany, Italy and Poland. 1858-9—Donati’s Comet. This Comet, which appeared to be charging straight down from the zenith, and had a curved tail, was observed from June 1858 to April 1859. It was seen at its brightest in the South, in Italy, Mexico and in the Far East. While it shone over the Far East there were bloody wars between the British and the risen people of India; between the British and the Chinese, who objected to having opium thrust upon them; while Japan was in the throes of revolution and civil war. In Mexico the standard of revolt against the clericals was raised by Juarez, thus plunging Mexico into civil war and war with France. Immediately after the disappearance of the Comet war broke out in Italy between the French and Italians on one side and the Austrians on the other, ending in the bloody Battle of Solferino. _Civil War Comets._ 1861—“First Civil War Comet.” The brightest Comet of the nineteenth century. Sir John Herschel, the great English astronomer, said of this Comet: “It far exceeded in brightness any Comet I have before observed, those of 1811 and the recent splendid one of 1858 not excepted.” The Comet was first seen by a layman, and appeared at its brightest during the Summer months in North America. Its coming was heralded as a token of the great Civil War which broke out then in America.