• There is a concurrence of natural phenomena, which in
popular acceptation " account " for some recent visitations, if they do not actually stand in the relation of cause and effect. Violent storms in this quarter of the world were succeeded by an extraordinarily mild opening of the spring : March, which, they say, comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, came in like a lamb—boiled lamb, so soft and warm, from the first. Earthquakes occur in different regions : the perennial seats of earthquake, Southern Italy and the West Indies, are much shaken : our own quiet land trembles, and Lancashire, it may almost be said, has its earthquakes every week, on Fridays. The earthquake last week actually forced open a window ; was taken for a thief in the night ; for ague ; and made watchmen fancy they were actually doing what shamefaced ladies sometimes wish to do, "sink into the earth." About the same time, the Londoners and Parisians discover the presence of an enor- mous comet, forty or fifty degrees long. We are not aware that, at this day, it " with fear of change perplexes Monarchs"—the King of PRUSSIA is a living instance to the contrary. Neither does it " from its horrid hair shake pestilence and war," for peace is stronger throughout the world than it has been for a long time. The Penny Magazine has lent a deathblow to the terrible in the sublimity of comets ; politicians ascribe more pestilent virtue to Lord PALMERSTON'S " horrid hair" ; but, having had an earth- quake, there is a satisfaction in seeing a comet, because, as the saying is, it " accounts for it," though perhaps without know- ing it.
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