The Origin and Economy of Energy in the Universe

Excerpt from The Origin and Economy of Energy in the Universe

Seventeen hundred and fifty-eight was a year of eager expectation and watchfulness for astronomers in particular and for mathematicians and scientists in general, all the world over. Halley's comet, the return of which for that year (1758) was for the first time, in the history of astronomy, predicted by Halley himself, many years before, was impatiently expected. Great results were at stake. Not only the curious demonstration of the great, almost prophetic, power of the human mind, but a greater result than this: no less than a positive verification and proof of the great theory of the great Newton - the theory of Universal Gravitation, which at that time had some opponents.

No wonder, then, that, in the language of Sir John Hershel, "all the astronomers furbished up their telescopes, and all the mathematicians set to work to calculate," as the time of the predicted return drew near.

But although "all the astronomers of Europe were looking out for it, eager to seize it on its first coming within the range of human vision" - still - "they were all disappointed of their prize. It was carried off by a Saxon farmer of the name of Palitsch, an astronomer of Nature's own creating, who was always watching the heavens - without telescopes, without knowledge - simply from the profound interest their aspect inspired him with. He, it was, who first caught sight of it on the 13th December, 1758." (See Familiar Lectures on Scientific Subjects, by Sir John Hershel. Comets.)

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