Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Discovery, Observation

    Claims that 'Bela' (a reference to the comet discovered by Wilhelm von Biela), though 'palmed off upon the scientific public as a bran new comet', is actually 'one of our old celestial acquaintances'. Accordingly, will be more suspicious about announcements of 'new' comets and recommends that James South and other astronomers learn to distinguish tails 'floating about' in their heads from real comets.