| « September 1858 » | ||||||
| Diary Entries in Blue | ||||||
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
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| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | ||
7th Tuesday – I went to Newport. In the afternoon a thanksgiving at Littletown Chapel for such a delightful Harvest. In the evening I went to chapel, there were four speakers They had some cards to distribute to help to repay the debt of the chapel which is £50.0.0 Miss J W took a card.
8th Wednesday – Ryde town regatta. I have not heard any of the particulars.
9th Thursday – Isle of Wight races on Bowcombe Down.
10th Friday -
11th Saturday - I went to Newport. In the afternoon Julia went to Newport Mr. J H and Miss D came home with her. We saw the comet* for the first time.
*This would have been Donati's Comet one of the brightest and most visible comets of the 19th century; it was discovered by Giovanni Donati on June 2, 1858, brightened to magnitude -1 in September 1858, reached perihelion on September 30, came closest to Earth (0.5 AU) on October 9, and was last seen on March 4, 1859. Around the time of closest approach the Earth, the comet developed a prominent dust tail, up to 60° long and curved like a scimitar, for which it is best remembered.
Please go to Appendix 9 to view an image of the comet.
