The so-called devout astrologers who had made use of Arago’s announcement to their own advantage, when upbraided by those whom they had warned, did a skillful kind of “hedging,” by stating that events announced by a comet might be postponed for one or more periods of forty years or even as many years as the comet had appeared days. Consequently, one which had appeared for six months would not produce any effect, evil or otherwise, for 180 years.[5] Thus these wise soothsayers allowed a wide margin for possible results. To give an idea of the filmy structure of the comet, the cause of such unnecessary alarm, it was described by Sir John Herschel, who observed it on September 23, 1832, as a round hazy-looking object without a tail. It was moving in the direction of a small group of faint stars, which were undimmed when overtaken by the comet, so that it resembled a fog-like mist sprinkled with stars, this veil of cometary matter being estimated by Herschel as fifty thousand miles thick. Yet, only a month later, the remote prospect of a collision with this celestial cobweb caused a panic in Europe! The comet was first seen on August 23, 1832, but owing to its excessive faintness was not generally observed till two months later, when at its nearest to the sun. This occurred during the month of November, within twelve hours of the time predicted by an astronomer named Santini. At its next return, in 1839, the comet was not well placed for observation, as it was too near the sun, and therefore lost in the glare of its light. As computations had shown that the comet was traveling in an orbit requiring six and two-thirds of a year, it was due to return in 1845. The first to bid it welcome was an astronomer at Rome named De Vico, on November 28 of that year. Two days later it was observed by Dr. Gallé at Berlin, but it was not generally seen until December. It appeared as a single comet on November 28, but on December 19 it was seen distinctly pear-shaped, and ten days later it amazed all observers by splitting in two. This marvelous transformation was first detected by two Americans, Mr. Herrick, then librarian at Yale College, and Mr. Francis Bradley, a clerk in the New Haven City Bank. The two were watching the comet on January 29, 1845, taking turns in looking through a telescope which had been erected in the Athenæum tower.