| 475 ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENON.
The "Glaneur du Haut Rhin," of the 21st ult. gives the following on the phenomenon observed at Colmar on the 21st:-"The same event was observed in several parts of Alsace, and also of Switzerland. Two violent detonations took place in the region of Vosges. They were accompanied by a bright light. The doors and windows of the houses in the villages of the valleys and lower Vosges were greatly shaken, but on the plain they were much less so. At Colmar, the phenomenon was considered by many persons to have been a peal of thunder preceded by a flash of lightning; but the duration was much longer than any such flash, and produced a species of scintillation in the fog. The shock there was feeble compared to what was felt at Berghheim, Riquewihr an other communes at the foot of the Vosges. In the valley of Munster, the light inflamed the whole of the horizon, and was equal to the light of day, and the shock was very strong. In the valley of Girogmagny the shock was also strong, and the light effaced the light of the candles. At Belfort, the light was seen through the fog in the direction of the north, and had all the appearance of lightening, but the weekly journal of the town does not state that any noise was heard or any shock felt. The light was also seen at Delemont, in Switzerland, but here there were two flashes with two corresponding detonations. The town, enveloped in a dense fog, was suddenly illuminated as by a gleam of the sun in August. This brightness occurred twice within two or three seconds. The Helvetie, from which we borrow this account, makes no mention of either detonation or earthquake. These data are too incomplete for us to decide upon the cause of the phenomenon; but from the wide circle in which it was observed, and the time which elapsed between the flash and the shock, it may be presumed that it came from a great height above the horizon." The Federal of Geneva noticed that in the same day, and at the same hour, a meteoric light was seen of such brightness that those who were on the heights above the town say, that all Fribourg appeared to be on fire. The journal adds, that it must have extended very widely, as it was perceived at Berne and in the Jura.-Galignani.
THE JEWS.
"The statistics of the Jewish population are among the most singular circumstances of this most singular of all people. Under all their calamities and dispersions, they seem to have remained at nearly the same amount as in the days of David and Solomon-never much more in prosperity, never much less after ages of suffering. Nothing like this has occurred in the history of any other race; Europe in general having doubled its population during the last hundred years, and England having tripled hers within the last half century, the proportion of America being still more rapid, and the world crowding in a constantly increasing ratio. Yet the Jews seem to stand still in this general movement. The population of Judea, in its most palmy days, probably did not exceed, if it reached, four millions. The number who entered Palestine, from the wilderness were evidently not much more than three; and the census according to the German statistics, which are generally considered to be exact is now nearly the same as that of the people under Moses; about three millions. They are thus distributed:-
In Europe, 1,916,000, if which about 658,000 are in Poland and Russia, and 453,000 are in Austria.
In Asia, 738,000 of which 300,000 are in Asiatic Turkey.
In Africa, 504,000, of which 300,000 are in Morrocco [Morocco].
In America, North and South, 15,000.
If we add to these about 15,000 Samaritans, the calculation in round numbers will be about 3,l80,000.
This was the report of 1825-the number probably, remains the same. This extraordinary fixedness in almost universal increase, is doubtless not without a reason-if we are even to look for it among the mysterious operations which have preserved Israel a separate race through eighteen hundred years. May we not naturally conceive that a people thus preserved without advance or recession; dispersed yet combined; broken yet firm; without a country, yet dwellers in all; every where insulted, yet everywhere influential, without a nation, yet united as no nation, ever before or since; has been appointed to offer this extraordinary contradistinction to the common laws of society, without a cause, and that cause one of final benevolence, universal good, and divine grandeur?"
The Comet.-Sir James South has received a letter from professor Schumacher, stating that the comet recently discovered by M. Faye in the constellation of Orion, actually belongs to our system. In a postscript to his letter, the, professor says that its period is six years and 219 days. It is much to be regretted, says Sir James South, in a letter to a contemporary,
(page 475) |
