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If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds - -Author: Bernard de Fontenelle - -Translator: Elizabeth Gunning - -Contributor: Jerome de la Lande - -Release Date: October 18, 2021 [eBook #66559] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Tim Lindell, Tom Cosmas and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was - produced from images generously made available by The Internet - Archive/American Libraries.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CONVERSATIONS ON THE PLURALITY OF -WORLDS *** - - - -Transcriber Note - -Text emphasis denoted as _Italics_. - - - - -[Illustration: FONTENELLE.] - - - - - CONVERSATIONS - - ON THE - - _PLURALITY OF WORLDS_. - - - ══════════════ - - BY - - BERNARD DE FONTENELLE, - - One of the Forty belonging to the French Academy; - and Secretary to the Academy of Sciences. - - - ══════════════ - - WITH NOTES, - - AND A CRITICAL ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR'S WRITINGS, - - BY - - _JEROME DE LA LANDE_, - - SENIOR DIRECTOR OF THE OBSERVATORY AT PARIS. - - - ══════════════ - - Translated from a late Paris Edition, by - - MISS ELIZABETH GUNNING. - - ══════════════ - - London: - - PRINTED BY J. CUNDEE, IVY-LANE; - SOLD BY T. HURST, PATERNOSTER-ROW. - - 1803. - - - - - - CRITICAL ACCOUNT - - OF THE - - _Life and Writings of the Author_, - - BY - - JEROME DE LA LANDE. - - ══════════════ - - -Whenever I have entered into conversation with any sensible woman -on astronomy, I have always found that she had read Fontenelle's -Plurality of Worlds; and that his book had excited her curiosity on -the subject. As it has been so much read already, it must continue to -engage attention: I therefore thought it would be useful to point out -its faults; to add some observations, without which the reader would -be led into error with respect to the vortices; to make known the late -discoveries; and to shew what numbers, before our author, had written -on the plurality of worlds. But I have made no alterations in the text; -the reputation of Fontenelle renders him respectable, even in his -mistakes. - -The Astronomy for Ladies, which I have published as a substitute for -this book, would be more instructive, but less amusing; therefore, as -it will be but little read, I shall endeavour to supply the defects of -Fontenelle's work, by adding to the original some ideas more exact than -his own. - -M. Codrika has translated it into Greek, with explanations taken from -my Astronomy. - -M. Bode has translated it into German; and his translation has already -gone through three editions: the last is that of 1798, Berlin, in -octavo, Bernard de Fontenelle, _Dialogen ueber die Mehrheit der -Welten_. - -When Voltaire published, in 1738, his Essays on the Elements of Newton, -he began with these words: "Here is no Marchioness; no imaginary -philosophy." It was supposed that he here alluded to Fontenelle; this -he contradicts by saying: "so far from having his book in view, I -publicly declare that I consider it one of the best works that ever -were written." (Mem. de Trublet, p. 135). - -This book has been printed a hundred times; the handsome edition of -Fontenelle's Works, in folio, published at the Hague in 1728,[1] with -figures by Bernard Pickart; the still more beautiful edition of the -Worlds alone, edited by Didot the younger, in 1797, in folio, are -master-pieces of typography; but in them nothing is found but the -original work; therefore I consider our edition far preferable. - -[Footnote 1: That edition does not contain the account of the bees, -which is in the present edition.] - -I shall here give a short account of the author of this work. - -Bernard le Bovier[2] de Fontenelle was born at Bouen, February 11, -1657. He died January 9, 1757. - -[Footnote 2: Lebeau writes the name le Bouyer, from the family name, in -the Mémoires de l'Académie des Inscriptions; but it is pronounced le -Bovier. (Mem. p. 19.)] - -The first efforts of his genius were directed to poetry: at the age of -thirteen he had composed a Latin poem: about the year 1683 he devoted -himself to literature and philosophy. In 1699 he began l'Historie de -l'Académie des Sciences, which he continued with great success during -forty-two years. Few persons have contributed more to the progress of -the sciences than he has done, by accommodating them to every capacity, -and inspiring by his panegyrics, a love of study. For my part, I feel -a pleasure in acknowledging that I am indebted to him for the germ of -that insatiable activity of mind I have experienced ever since the -age of sixteen. I could find nothing in the world like the Academy of -Sciences, and ardently wished for the happiness of seeing it, long -before I had any idea of the possibility of one day belonging to it. - -In 1727 he published his Elemens de la Géométrie de l'infini; this -was merely the amusement of a man of genius who had heard a little of -geometry, and chose to hazard his opinions on the subject. - -We may find an eulogium on our author in l'Historie de l'Académie des -Sciences for 1757, in the Mémoires de l'Académie des Belles-Lettres, -and in a work written entirely on the subject, published by Trublet in -the year 1761, entitled Mémoires pour servir à l'Historie de la vie -et des Ouvrages de Fontenelle. In these memoirs a particular critique -shews us the various merits of Fontenelle's works: there is also an -article by Trublet in the edition of Moréri, published in 1759. - -I have remarked in the twentieth book of my Astronomy, that in every -period of time it has been believed that the planets were inhabited, on -account of their resemblance to the earth. The idea of the plurality -of worlds is expressed in the Orphics, those ancient Grecian poems -attributed to Orpheus (_Plut. de Placitis Philosoph. l. 2, cap. 13_.) -Proclus has preserved some verses in which we find that the writer -of the Orphics places mountains, men, and cities in the moon. The -Pythagoreans, such as Philolaüs, Hicetas, Heraclides, taught that the -stars were all worlds. Several ancient philosophers even admitted an -infinity of worlds beyond the reach of our sight. Epicurus, Lucretius, -and all the Epicureans were of the same opinion; and Metrodorus thought -it as absurd to imagine but one world in the immensity of space, as to -say that only one ear of corn could grow in a great extent of country. -Zeno of Eleusis, Anaximenes, Anaximander, Leucippus, Democritus, -asserted the same thing: in short, there were some philosophers who, -although they did not consider the rest of the planets inhabited, -placed inhabitants in the moon; such were Anaxagorus, Xenophanes, -Lucian, Plutarch, (_De Oracular. defectu. De Facie in orbe Lunæ_,) -Eusebius, Stobius. We may see a long list of the ancients who have -treated on the subject, in Fabricius, (_Biblio. Græcæ, t. 1. cap. -20_.) and in the Mémoire de Bonamy (Acad. des Inscriptions, tom. ix.) -Hevelius appeared as firmly persuaded of this opinion in 1647, when he -talked of the difference between the inhabitants of the two hemispheres -of the moon: he calls them _selenitæ_, and examines at length all -the phœnomena observed in their planet, after the example of Kepler -(_Astron. Lunaris_.) It was maintained at Oxford, in certain themes -which are mentioned in the News of the Republic of Letters, June 1784, -that the system of Pythagoras on the inhabitants of the moon was well -founded: two years afterwards Fontenelle discussed this subject in his -agreeable work. There are farther details of the different astronomical -opinions at the end of Gregory's book. For the objections, we may refer -to Riccioli. (_Almagestum, tom. 1, p. 188, 204_). In 1686 the Plurality -of Worlds was adorned by Fontenelle with all the beauties of which a -philosophical work was susceptible. Huygens (who died in 1695) in his -book entitled Cosmothéoros, published in 1698, likewise enters largely -into the subject. - -The resemblance between the earth and the other planets is so striking, -that if we allow the earth to have been formed for habitation, we -cannot deny that the planets were made for the same purpose; for if -there is, in the nature of things, a connection between the earth and -the men who inhabit it, a similar connexion must exist between the -planets and beings who inhabit them. - -We see six planets around the sun, the earth is the third; they all -move in elliptical orbits; they have all a rotatory motion like the -earth, as well as spots, irregularities, mountains: some of them have -satellites, the earth has one satellite: Jupiter is flattened like our -world; in short there is every possible resemblance between the planets -and the earth: is it, then, rational to suppose the existence of living -and thinking beings is confined to the earth? From what is such a -privilege derived but the groveling minds of persons who can never rise -above the objects of their immediate sensations? - -Lambert believed that even the comets were inhabited. (Systême du -Monde, Bouillon; 1770.) Buffon determines the period when each -planet became habitable, and when it will cease to be so, from its -refrigeration. (Suplèmens, in 4to. tom. 11.) What I have said of -planets that turn round the sun, will naturally extend to all the -planetary systems which environ the fixed stars; every star being an -immoveable and luminous body, having light in itself, may properly -be compared with our sun. We must conclude that if our sun serves to -attract and enlighten the planets which surround it, the fixed stars -have the same use. It is thought that the sun and fixed stars are -uninhabitable because they are composed of fire; yet M. Knight, in a -work written to explain all the phœnomena of nature, by attraction and -repulsion, endeavours to prove that the sun and stars may be habitable -worlds, and that the people in them may possibly suffer from extreme -cold. M. Herschel likewise thinks the sun is inhabited (Philos. Trans. -179. p. 155, et suiv.) - -Some timid, superstitious writers have reprobated this system, as -contrary to religion: they little knew how to promote the glory of -their Creator. If the immensity of his works announce his power, can -any idea be more calculated than this to exhibit their magnificence and -sublimity? We see with the naked eye, several thousands of stars; in -every part of the firmament we discover with telescopes, innumerable -others; with more perfect telescopes, we still find a multitude more. -We compute, from the number seen through Herschel's telescopes in one -region of the sky, that there are a hundred millions. Imagination -pierces beyond the extent of vision, beholding multitudes of unknown -worlds, infinitely more in number than those which are visible to our -sight; and ranges unrestrained in the boundless space of creation. - -Our only difficulty with respect to the inhabitants of so many millions -of planets, is the obscurity of the final causes, which it is difficult -to admit when we see into what errors the greatest philosophers have -fallen; for instance Fermat, Leibnitz, Maupertius, &c. in attempting -to employ these final causes or metaphysical suppositions of imagined -relations between effects that we see and the causes we assign them, or -the ends for which we believe them to exist. - -If the plurality of worlds be admitted without difficulty; if the -planets are believed to be inhabited, it is because the earth is -considered merely as a habitation for man, from which it is inferred -that were the planets uninhabited they would be useless: but I -will venture to assert that such a mode of reasoning is confined, -unphilosophic, and at the same time, presumptuous. What are we in -comparison of the universe? Do we know the extent, the properties, the -destination, and the connexions of nature? Is our existence, formed -as we are, of a few frail atoms, to be considered any thing when we -think of the greatness of the whole? Can _we_ add to the perfection -and grandeur of the universe? These ideas are expressed by Saussure, -who in speaking of a traveller to Mont-blanc says: "if, during his -meditations, the thought of the insignificant beings that move on the -face of the earth offers itself to his mind, if he compares their -duration with the grand epochs of nature, how great will be his -astonishment that man, occupying so small a space, existing so short -a time, can ever imagine that his being is the only end for which the -universe was created." - -From these considerations d'Alembert, in the Encyclopedia, (art. World) -after examining the arguments for supposing the planets inhabited, -concludes by saying: _the subject is enveloped in total obscurity_. - -But Buffon affirms that wherever there is a certain degree of heat, the -motion produces organized beings; we need not enquire in what way, but -imagine these to be the inhabitants of the planets: if that should be -the case, we may conclude it highly probable that they are inhabited, -notwithstanding the preceding objections. - - _LA LANDE._ - -1802. - - - - - _LINES ON FONTENELLE._ - - [Illustration] - - - Muse! if thou canst, this picture's truth excel; - Strive to pourtray the _soul_ of Fontenelle: - Him, to whose works, with wit and judgment warm, - Indulgent Nature, gave a magic charm.-- - 'Twas his to strew with flowers the toilsome road, - Which leads to Science in her dark abode; - And while he touch'd the pastoral reed, to prove, - That courtly pomp, must yield to rural love. - A Lucian rising from the silent tomb, - 'Twas his, to pierce through Error's doubtful gloom; - And, with resistless eye, at once to dart - Full on the hidden secrets of the heart.-- - Union divine!--in Fontenelle we find - A glowing genius, and a gentle mind! - - - - - _PREFACE_ - - BY - - BERNARD DE FONTENELLE. - - -_I find myself nearly in the situation of Cicero, when he undertook to -write in his own language on philosophical subjects, that, till then, -had never been treated of but in Greek. He tells us that his works -were said to be useless, because those who delighted in philosophy, -having taken the pains to study the books written in Greek, would not -afterwards think of examining his Latin ones, which were not originals; -and that persons who had no taste for philosophy, would neither care -for the Greek nor the Latin._ - -_To which he answers, that exactly the contrary would happen; that the -unlearned would be allured to philosophy by the facility of reading -Latin works; and that the well-informed, after studying the Greek -authors, would be pleased to see how the subjects were handled in -Latin._ - -_Cicero might with propriety speak in this manner; his superior genius -and great celebrity assured him success in this untried project, but -I have not the same advantages to inspire me with confidence, in a -similar undertaking. I was desirous of representing philosophy in a -way that was not philosophical; I have attempted to compose a book that -shall neither be too abstruse for the gay, nor too amusive for the -learned. But if what was said to Cicero should be repeated to me, I -could not venture to answer as he did: possibly in attempting to find -a middle way which would accommodate philosophy to every class, I have -chosen one that will not be agreeable to any. It is very difficult to -maintain a medium, and I think I shall never be inclined to make a -second attempt of this nature._ - -_I should warn those that have some knowledge of natural philosophy, -that I do not suppose this book capable of giving them any information; -it will merely afford them some amusement, by presenting in a lively -manner what they have already become acquainted with by dint of study. -I would also inform those who are ignorant of these subjects that it -has been my design to amuse and instruct them at the same time: the -former will counteract my intention if they here expect improvement, -and the latter, if they here only seek for entertainment._ - -_I need not say that of all philosophical subjects I have chosen that -which is most calculated to excite curiosity: surely nothing ought to -interest us more than to know how our own world is formed; and whether -there be other worlds similar to it, and inhabited in the same way: but -let no one be disquieted if unable to answer these enquiries; they who -have time to spare may examine such subjects; many have it not in their -power._ - -_In these Conversations I have represented a woman receiving -information on things with which she was entirely unacquainted. I -thought this fiction would enable me to give the subject more ornament, -and would encourage the female sex in the pursuit of knowledge, by the -example of a woman who though ignorant of the sciences, is capable of -understanding all she is told, and arranging in her ideas the worlds -and vortices. Why should any woman allow the superiority of this -imaginary Marchioness, who only believes what she could not avoid -understanding?_ - -_'Tis true, she gives some attention to the subject, but what sort of -attention is requisite? Not such as will laboriously penetrate into an -obscure thing, or a thing that is spoken of in an obscure manner; it is -needful only to read with sufficient application to render the ideas -familiar. Women may understand this system of philosophy by giving it -as much attention as they would bestow on the Princess of Cleves, in -order to understand the story and see all the beauties of the work. I -do not deny that the ideas contained in this book are less familiar to -the generality of females than those in the Princess of Cleves, but -they are not more abstruse, and I am convinced that on a second perusal -they would be perfectly understood._ - -_As I did not wish to establish an imaginary system that had no -foundation, I have employed true philosophical arguments, and as many -of them as were necessary to establish my opinions; but fortunately the -ideas connected with natural philosophy are in themselves beautiful, -and whilst they satisfy the understanding, give as much pleasure as if -formed only to charm the imagination._ - -_To such parts of my subjects as did not possess these beauties -I have given extraneous ornaments; Virgil has done this in his -Georgics, where he renders a dry subject interesting by frequent and -agreeable digressions: Ovid likewise in his Art of Love has pursued -the same plan, although the matter of his poem was far more pleasing -than any thing he could add to it: he seems to think it tiresome to -speak constantly of one subject--even of love. I have more need of -embellishments than he, yet I have used them sparingly. I have only -given such as the freedom of conversation authorised; I have only -placed them in parts that I thought required them; I have inserted most -of them in the commencement of the work to accustom the mind by degrees -to the objects I wish to present to its attention, in short, I have -derived them from my subject, or formed them as much as possible to -resemble my subject._ - -_I did not venture to give any opinions on the inhabitants of the -different worlds, since they must have been entirely chimerical; I -have endeavoured to express all that might reasonably be imagined, -and even the conjectures that are added are not without foundation. -Truth and fiction are in some measure blended, but always so as to be -distinguishable from each other: I do not undertake to justify such a -composition; the union of philosophy and amusement is the chief aim of -this work, but I know not whether I have adopted the right method._ - -_It only remains for me now to address one class of persons; they are -perhaps the most difficult to satisfy, not because my reasoning is -inconclusive, but because they feel themselves privileged to disregard -the best arguments: I am speaking of scrupulous people who may imagine -religion is endangered by placing inhabitants any where but on the -earth. I respect even an excessive scrupulosity when it arises from -piety, nor would I willingly hurt the feelings of any one from whom I -differed: but by rectifying a little error of the imagination we shall -find that this objection cannot affect my system of giving inhabitants -to an infinite number of worlds. When you are told that the moon is -peopled, you immediately figure to yourself men like ourselves, and -then a variety of theological difficulties occur. The posterity of -Adam cannot have colonized the moon; therefore the inhabitants of that -planet are not descendants of our first parents; now it would be a -difficult point in theology to account for the existence of men who had -any other ancestor. No more need be said; every imaginable difficulty -is included in this, and the expressions that would be necessary for a -more full explanation are too worthy of reverence to be employed in a -work containing so little of the serious as this. The objection then -turns on the existence of men in the moon, but it is the objectors -themselves who talk of men as its inhabitants; I have asserted no such -thing: I say there are inhabitants, and I likewise say they may not at -all resemble us. What are they then?--I have never seen them; I do not -speak from acquaintance with them._ - -_Do not consider it a subterfuge, to rid myself of the objection, -when I affirm that the moon is not peopled by men; you will see that -according to the idea I entertain of the endless diversity of the works -of nature, it is impossible such beings as we, should be placed there. -This opinion is supported throughout the book, and it is an opinion -which no philosopher can deny: I think, therefore, on this ground, the -following conversations will be objected to only by those who have -never read them. But will this consideration suffice to deliver me -from the fear of censure? No; it rather gives me cause to apprehend -objections from every side._ - - _FONTENELLE._ - - - - - CONVERSATIONS - - ON THE - - _PLURALITY OF WORLDS_. - - -TO MR. L----. - -You desire me, dear Sir, to give you a particular account of the manner -in which my time has been spent whilst at the Marchioness of G--'s[3] -in the country. To obey your injunctions strictly, I shall be obliged -to fill a volume, and what is still more formidable, a volume of -philosophy. - -[Footnote 3: The lady here mentioned was Madame de la Mesangire of -Rouen. She was a beautiful brunette; but in compliance with her desire -to be concealed, the author has spoken of her in the following pages, -as having a fair complexion. The park belonging to her residence, is -described in the "First Evening."] - -You expect to be entertained with a history of splendid feasts, -hunting, and card-parties; and you will hear of nothing, but planets, -worlds, and vortexes:[4] for the discussion of these latter subjects, -formed our principal amusement. Fortunately _you_ are a philosopher, -therefore I have the less reason to dread raillery from such a quarter; -on the reverse, I may even hope for your congratulations, on having -rendered the Marchioness sensible to the charms of philosophy: we could -not have made a more valuable acquisition; for youth and beauty, in -every cause holds such power, that if wisdom herself were desirous of -being welcomed by mortals, and would assume the form of this lovely -woman, surely with such an exterior, and such fascinating eloquence, -she could not fail to attract every heart. - -[Footnote 4: The Vortexes of Descartes, occupied the attention of the -learned, for nearly a century; but this hypothesis was superceded by -a discovery of the laws of attraction. Although Newton's famous book -on principles was published in 1687, Fontenelle always retained his -educational prejudice in favour of the Vortexes. A few years before his -death, he consulted me on a little work he had some time since composed -on the subject. I endeavoured to dissuade him from making it public; -but Falconet was afterwards weak enough to do so. The book is entitled -"Theory of the Cartesian Vortexes, with Reflections on Attraction." The -author's name was never affixed to the work.] - -Notwithstanding all this, you must not expect to be transported with -admiration, whilst I repeat the conversations I have held with her -ladyship: my genius should be equal with her's, to relate what she -said, in her own delightful manner. Conscious of inability, I must -relinquish the attempt, and leave you to discern through the recital, -that rapidity of apprehension, which characterizes the mind of the -Marchioness. From the wonderful quickness with which she comprehends -the most abstruse subjects, I consider her already learned: at least, -I may be allowed to say, that after a little study, she might attain -the heights of science; when many, who spend their lives amid the dull -disputes of vast libraries, remain for ever in the deepest ignorance. - -Before I recount our various conversations, perhaps you may expect some -description of their scene; some picture of the romantic country, under -whose shades the Marchioness is enjoying the autumn. If so, you will be -disappointed: so many people have exercised their talents on this gay -species of writing, that I shall dispense with the ceremony, and merely -say, that on my arrival I had the pleasure of finding myself the only -visitor. - -The two first days were passed in relating the news of Paris, which -I had just quitted. When that subject was exhausted, an evening walk -in the park, suggested the discussion of those learned topics, the -commencement of which you will find in the next page. - - - - - _FIRST EVENING._[5] - -[Footnote 5: This first book has been translated into a variety of -languages; it is the best eclogue that has been composed in the last -fifty years: the descriptions and imagery it contains are perfectly -suited to the style of pastoral poetry; indeed many of the images would -not have disgraced the pen of a Virgil. - - _Dubos. Reflections on Poetry and Painting._ -] - - - ═══════════ - -THE EARTH IS A PLANET WHICH TURNS ON ITS AXIS, AND GOES ROUND THE SUN. - - ═══════════ - - -After supper we went to take a walk in the park. We felt the fragrant -breeze of evening peculiarly delightful, as the heat had been intense -during the day: the silvery rays of the moon, gleaming through the -foliage, formed an agreeable contrast with the darkened shadows of -the landscape. Not a cloud intercepted or veiled the smallest star. -Every orb appeared a mass of pure gold, rendered more brilliant by -the rich blue of the sky. The beauty of the scenery produced a gentle -reverie, from which, had not the Marchioness been with me, I should -not have been easily roused; but in the company of so interesting a -woman I could not long abandon myself to the influence of the moon -and stars. Do you not think, said I, addressing myself to her, that -the charms of a fine night greatly exceed those of the day? Yes, she -replied, the splendour of day resembles a fair and dazzling beauty, -but the milder radiance of night may be compared to a woman of less -brilliancy of complexion, and more sweetness of expression. You are -very generous, resumed I, in giving the preference to the brunette, -whilst you are so fair. It is however true, that an unclouded sun -is the most glorious object in nature; and it is equally true, that -the heroines of romance, the most beautiful objects imagination can -depict, have almost invariably been represented with fair complexions. -Beauty, answered my companion, is nothing, unless it interests our -feelings. You will not deny that the finest day never had the power of -inspiring so delightful a reverie as you were falling into just now in -contemplating the loveliness of the evening. You are right, said I, but -the loveliest night I ever beheld, with all it's shadowy beauty, would -fail to give me such enchanting sensations as the contemplation of the -fair face of the Marchioness de G----. I should not be satisfied with -your compliment, she replied, did I even believe you sincere, since the -brightness of day, with which we have been comparing fair women, has -so little influence on your heart. Why do lovers, who undoubtedly can -judge of what is most touching, address all their poetic effusions to -the night? To the ear of day they neither confide their transports nor -their sorrows--why is it so entirely excluded from their confidence? -Probably, I answered, because it is not calculated to inspire that -delicious sentiment, at once impassioned and melancholy, which we feel -in the stillness of night, whilst all nature seems to repose. The stars -appear to move with more silent progress than the sun: every object -that decorates the heavens is soft, and attractive to the eye: in -short, we resign ourselves more easily to reverie because we feel as -if no other being was at that time enjoying the pensive pleasure that -expands our soul. Perhaps, too, the uniformity of day, in which the sky -presents no other object than the sun, is less favourable to the wild -and pleasing illusions of fancy than the view of innumerable stars, -scattered with sportive irregularity, over the boundless space. I have -always felt what you describe, said she, I love to see the stars, and -am almost inclined to reproach the sun for hiding them. Ah! cried I, I -cannot forgive him for concealing so many worlds from my sight! Worlds! -she exclaimed, turning to me with surprise, what do you mean? Forgive -me, said I, you touched the wildest chord of my imagination--I forget -myself in a romantic idea. And what is this romantic idea? enquired -the Marchioness. Ah! replied I, I am half ashamed of owning it:--I -have taken it in my head that every star may be a world. I would not -positively assert the truth of my opinion, but I believe it because it -affords me pleasure; it has possessed my mind with irresistible force; -and I consider pleasure a needful accessary to truth. Well, said she, -since your whim is such a pleasant one, make me a partaker of it; I'll -believe any thing you chuse about the stars, provided it contributes -to my happiness. Ah! madam, I replied, 'tis not such an enjoyment as -you would find in seeing one of Molière's comedies: it is an idea which -can only give delight to the understanding. What! exclaimed she, do you -think I am not susceptible of pleasures which depend only on reason? I -will convince you of your mistake. Teach me your system. No, answered -I, I will not subject myself to the reproach of having talked of -philosophy, in such an enchanting walk as this, to the most interesting -woman of my acquaintance. No, seek for pedants elsewhere. - -For a long while I attempted, in vain, to excuse myself; I was at last -obliged to yield: I insisted, however, for my reputation's sake, on a -promise of secrecy. Every objection being removed, I wished to begin -the subject, but found the commencement extremely difficult; for, with -a person who was ignorant of natural philosophy, it was necessary to -converse in a very circuitous manner, to prove that the earth was a -planet, the other planets similar to the earth, and all the stars so -many suns which enlightened a number of worlds. I once more assured her -it would be much better to talk on such trifles as other people, in our -situation, would amuse themselves with. In the end, however, to give -her a general idea of philosophy, I pursued the following plan. - -All philosophy, said I, is founded on two things; an inquisitive mind, -and defective sight; for if your eyes could discern every thing to -perfection you would easily perceive whether each star is a sun, giving -light to a number of worlds; on the other hand, had you less curiosity, -you would hardly take the trouble to inform yourself about the matter, -and consequently remain in equal ignorance; but the difficulty consists -in our wanting to become acquainted with more than we see: besides, it -is out of our power to understand much of what is even within the reach -of our sight, because objects appear to us very different from what -they are. Thus philosophers pass their lives in disbelieving what they -see, and endeavouring to conjecture what is concealed from them; such a -state of mind is not very enviable. - -In thinking on this subject, nature always appears to me in the same -point of view as theatrical representations. In the situation you -occupy at the opera you do not see the whole of its arrangements: -the machinery and decorations are so disposed as to produce an -agreeable effect at a distance, and at the same time the weights and -wheels are hidden by which every motion is effected. You behold all -that is passing, without concerning yourself about the causes; and -so perhaps do all the other spectators, unless among the number some -obscure student of mechanics is puzzling himself to account for an -extraordinary motion which he cannot understand. You see the case of -this mechanical genius resembles that of the philosopher studying the -structure of the universe. What, however, augments the difficulty -with respect to philosophers is, that nature so conceals from us the -means by which her scenery is produced, that for a long time we were -unable to discover the causes of her most simple movements. Figure -yourself, as spectators of an opera, the Pythagorases, the Platos, -the Aristotles; all these men whose names are so celebrated. Let us -suppose them viewing the flight of Phæton, rising on the wind; ignorant -at the same time of the construction of the theatre, and the cords -by which the figure is put in motion. One to explain the phenomenon, -says, _it is some hidden virtue in Phæton which causes him to rise_; -another replies, _Phæton is composed of certain numbers which produce -his elevation_. A third says, _Phæton has a love for the top of -the stage; he is uneasy at any other part_. The fourth thinks, _it -is not essential to the nature of Phæton to rise in the air, but he -prefers flying up to leaving a vacuum at the top of the stage_. Such -were the ridiculous notions of the ancient philosophers, which to my -astonishment have not ruined the reputation of antiquity. After all -Descartes and some other moderns appear: they tell you that _Phæton -rises in consequence of being drawn by cords, fastened to a descending -weight, which is heavier than himself_. It is no longer believed that -a body can have motion, unless acted upon by another body; that it -can rise and descend without a counterbalancing weight; thus, whoever -examines the mechanism of nature is only going behind the scenes of -a theatre. If that be the case, answered the Marchioness, philosophy -is a very mechanical affair! So much so, I replied, that I am afraid -it will fall into disrepute. In short, the universe is but a watch on -a larger scale; all its motions depending on determined laws and the -mutual relation of its parts. Confess the truth, have you not hitherto -entertained a more exalted idea of the works of nature? Have you not -considered them with more veneration than they deserve? I have known -some people esteem them less as their knowledge encreased. For my part, -said she, I contemplate the universe with more awful delight now I -find that such wonderful order is produced by principles so simple. - -I know not, rejoined I, how you have acquired such rational ideas, -for, to say the truth, they are not very common. The generality are -affected only by the obscure and marvellous. They admire nature merely -because they consider it a sort of magic; something too occult for the -understanding to reach: to them a thing appears contemptible as soon as -they find the possibility of explaining its nature: but you, madam, can -reason so clearly, that I have only to draw aside the veil, and present -the world to your inspection. - -What we behold at the greatest distance from our earth is the azure -heaven, that immense arch to which the stars seem firmly to adhere. -They are called fixed, because they appear to have no other motion than -that of their sky, carrying them from east to west. Between the earth -and the remote firmament are suspended, at various distances, the sun, -moon, and the other five stars, denominated planets; Mercury, Venus, -Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.[6] These planets not being stationary at one -point in the heavens, but having unequal motions, vary with respect -to their relative situations; the fixed stars, on the contrary, always -bear the same local relation to each other. The chariot, for instance, -that you may distinguish, formed of those seven stars, has always had -that configuration, and is likely to retain it; but the moon sometimes -approaches nearer to the sun; sometimes retreats farther from it; the -same is observed of the other planets. Such were the observations made -by the Chaldean shepherds whose continual leisure enabled them to give -so much attention to the heavenly bodies as to form the rudiments of -astronomy, for we learn that that science took its rise in Chaldea,[7] -as Geometry was first studied in Egypt, where the inundations of the -Nile destroyed the boundaries of different possessions, made the -inhabitants desirous of exact measures by which they could again -separate their own lands from those of their neighbours. Thus astronomy -is the offspring of idleness, geometry of interest; and if we enquire -into the origin of poetry, we shall probably find that she is the -daughter of love. - -[Footnote 6: In 1781, M. Herschel discovered a sixth. Astronomy by -Lalande, third edition, 1792, Vol. 1, Art. 116.] - -[Footnote 7: Perhaps in Ethiopia. Astronomy, Art. 260.] - -I am glad, said the Marchioness, you have given me this genealogy of -the sciences; astronomy is the only one that will suit me: geometry, -according to your account of it, requires a more selfish heart than -mine; and I have not susceptibility enough to attempt poetry with -success; I have, however, as much leisure as can be needful for the -study of astronomy; it is another favourable circumstance that we are -in the country, leading a pastoral life. Do not mistake madam, answered -I, talking of planets and fixed stars is not all that constitutes a -pastoral life. Was the conversation of the shepherds, in the golden -age, confined to astronomy? Ah, said she, but it would be dangerous to -conform one's mode of life to their's. No, that of the other shepherds -you mention appears preferable to me; therefore let us converse, if you -please, in the Chaldean style. After this disposition of the stars was -remarked, what followed? The next thing, I replied, was to imagine the -arrangement of the different parts of the universe; that is what the -learned call making a system. But before I explain to you the first -of these systems, give me leave to premise that we are all naturally -disposed to the same sort of madness as a certain Athenian of whom you -have heard, who had taken it in his head that every vessel which went -into the port of Pyreum belonged to him. We chuse to believe that every -thing in creation is destined to our service; and when we enquire of -some philosophers the use of such a prodigious number of fixed stars, -of which a smaller proportion would have been sufficient for all the -offices they appear to perform; they coolly answer, they were made to -gratify our sight. On this selfish principle it was for a long time -supposed that the earth was motionless in the midst of the universe, -whilst all the heavenly bodies were created for the sole purpose of -journeying round, and distributing their light to her. Next to the -earth they placed the moon, after the moon, Mercury, then Venus, the -Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn; beyond all these the firmament of fixed -stars. It was imagined that the earth was stationed exactly in the -middle of the circles described by these planets which extended in -proportion to their distance from the earth, and that consequently -the most remote planets required a longer time to perform their -revolutions, which certainly is true. But, interrupted the Marchioness, -I can't see why you should disapprove such an arrangement of the -universe, it appears to me sufficiently commodious and intelligible, I -really feel quite satisfied with it. I have taken pains, answered I, -to represent this system in the most favourable point of view; if I -were to explain it exactly as it was conceived by Ptolemy the author of -it, and his disciples, you would be quite shocked. As the motions of -the planets are irregular, being sometimes quicker, sometimes slower; -going sometimes in one direction, sometimes in another; now nearer to -the earth, then at a greater distance from it; the ancients figured -to themselves an endless number of circles intersecting each other, by -which they endeavoured to understand the great variety of movements. -The confusion, however, caused by such an infinity of circles was so -perplexing that, at the time no better system was known, one of the -kings of Castile,[8] a profound mathematician, was daring enough to -say, that if the supreme Being had consulted him when he created the -world, he would have given him some good advice. We are filled with -horror at the impiety of this expression, but it serves to shew us how -absurd must have been the hypothesis which could prompt it. The advice -this man wished to have given, undoubtedly regarded the suppression -of so many circles, which did but prevent the planetary motions from -being understood. Probably he would likewise have expunged from the -system two or three superfluous firmaments, supposed to be above the -fixed stars. The philosophers, to explain some particular motion of -the heavenly bodies, placed, beyond the heaven that bounds our view, -a sky of crystal, which communicated this motion to the lower sky. -Was a new movement discovered? they had nothing to do but to form -a second crystal firmament. In short skies of crystal were made -without any trouble. Why did they always chuse crystal? enquired the -Marchioness; would nothing else have answered the purpose as well? No, -answered I, it was necessary to have a substance, at once transparent -and solid, for it was Aristotle's opinion that solidity was essential -to the dignity of their nature, and as this was believed by a great -man, nobody thought of doubting it. But since that time comets have -been seen which, being higher than was formerly imagined, must have -broken all the crystal of these skies, in passing through them, and by -that mean, thrown the universe into confusion; it was therefore found -necessary to change the matter of which these firmaments were composed, -into a fluid, such as air. - -[Footnote 8: Alphonsus, king of Castile died in 1284.] - -It is now discovered with certainty, by the researches of later ages, -that Venus and Mercury turn round the Sun, and not round the earth, -on this subject the ancient system is absolutely exploded. I will -now acquaint you with another which provides for every difficulty, -one that does not require any amendments of the king of Castile, -for its simplicity is so charming that one cannot refuse to believe -it. Yours, interrupted the Marchioness, seems a sort of bargaining -philosophy; whoever offers a system that is effected at the least -expense, has the preference. 'Tis true, said I; we have no other -chance of understanding the plan by which the operations of nature -are carried on. Nature is a wonderful economist; if a work is to be -effected, and two ways are practicable, we may be sure she will adopt -that which costs her the least, however trifling the difference. -This economy is notwithstanding in every respect consistent with -the surprising magnificence which appears in all her productions. -Magnificence is employed in the design, and frugality in the execution -of it. Nothing should excite our admiration so much as a stupendous -project effected by simple means: but we are apt to cherish ideas -of a very different kind. We place the frugality in the designs of -nature, and her grandeur in the execution. We imagine her forming a -contracted plan, and executing it with ten times the labour that is -requisite: what can be so ridiculous? I hope, she replied, that the -system you are going to explain will strictly imitate nature; the -simplicity you so admire will spare me a great deal of trouble in -comprehending your instructions. Your hope will be realized, said I, -we have now no useless incumbrances. At the appearance of a certain -German named Copernicus,[9] astronomy became simplified; he destroyed -all the unnecessary circles, and crushed to pieces the crystalline -firmaments.[10] Animated with philosophic enthusiasm, he dislodged the -earth from the central situation which had been assigned it, and in its -room placed the sun, who was more worthy of such a mark of distinction. -The planets were no longer supposed to perform their revolutions round -the earth, and enclose it in the centre of their orbits. If they afford -us light it is as it were by chance, and in consequence of passing -us in their course. They all turn around the sun; the earth itself -not excepted; and as a punishment for the indolent repose it had been -thought to enjoy, Copernicus made it take an ample share of the general -activity: in short of all these celestial attendants, appointed for the -service of our little globe, the moon alone is left to move round it. -Stop a moment, said the Marchioness, your imagination is so elevated -with your subject, you have explained it in such pompous language, -that I believe I have scarcely understood you. The sun, you say, is -immoveable in the centre of the universe; which of the planets is -next in succession? 'Tis Mercury, I replied. Mercury goes regularly -round the Sun in nearly a circular orbit, of which that luminary is -the central point. Next to Mercury is Venus, which turns in the same -manner round the Sun. Afterwards comes the Earth, and being higher -than Mercury and Venus, describes a larger circle round the Sun than -either of those planets. Then follow Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, in the -order I have named them; thus you see the circle of Saturn must be the -most extensive of all; it likewise requires a longer time than the -other planets to perform its revolution. But, exclaimed she, you have -forgotten the moon. I shall recollect it presently, said I; the moon -never abandons the earth, but is constantly going round it; but as the -earth is continually moving onwards in a circle round the sun, the -moon at once follows its motion, and revolves round it; this attendant -planet, therefore only goes round the sun in consequence of invariably -continuing near to the earth. - -[Footnote 9: He was born in 1472, at Thorn, in Prussia Royal: he died -in 1543.] - -[Footnote 10: Several of the ancients were of opinion that we should -admit the motion of the earth. Astron. Art. 1075.] - -I understand you, said she, and I love the moon for remaining attached -to us when we were forsaken by all the other planets. Confess that -if your German could have alienated that too, he would have done it -without regret; for one may see, in every part of his hypothesis, that -he was but little inclined to favour the earth. He did well, I replied, -to humble the vanity of men who chuse to claim the best situation in -the universe; 'tis with pleasure I consider the world mixing in the -crowd of planets. Pshaw! cried the Marchioness; do you think vanity -can have any thing to do with a system of astronomy? Do you suppose I -feel humbler for knowing that the earth goes round the sun? I assure -you I esteem myself just as highly as I did before. Certainly, madam, -I answered, men would be less concerned about the rank they held in -the universe than that they enjoyed amongst their associates; neither -would the disputes of two planets, for precedence, be so important -in their judgement as those of two ambassadors. Nevertheless, the -same disposition which induces a man of the world to aspire after the -most honourable place in a room, will make a philosopher desirous of -placing the globe on which he lives in the most distinguished situation -in the universe. He likes to consider every thing made for his use; -he encourages, without being aware of his vanity, so flattering an -opinion, and his heart becomes deeply engaged about an affair of -mere speculation. Upon my word, she exclaimed, you are calumniating -human nature--how happened it that the opinions of Copernicus were -received, since they are so very humiliating? Copernicus, answered I, -was himself very doubtful of the reception they would meet with: it -was a long while before he could resolve to publish his system; at -last, however, he yielded to the entreaty of several distinguished -characters; but what do you think was the consequence?--on the day they -took him the first printed copy of his book, he died: so he made use -of the shortest way to escape from all the contradictions he had been -anticipating. - -Listen to me, said the Marchioness: let us be just to every body: -it certainly is difficult to imagine we turn round the sun, for we -never change places; we rise in the morning where we went to rest at -night----I see from your look that you are going to tell me, that as -the earth moves altogether----. Assuredly, said I, it is the same thing -as going to sleep in a boat which was sailing down a river; on waking, -you would find yourself in the same boat, and in the same part of the -boat. Yes, replied she, but here is a difference; when I awoke I should -find an alteration in the shore, and that would prove that the boat had -changed its place: it is not so with respect to the earth, I there find -every thing as I left it. No, no, madam, you may observe an alteration -in the shore, as you do in the boat: you will recollect that beyond -all the planets are the fixed stars, these are what we must consider -the objects on the shore. I am on the earth; the earth describes a -large circle round the sun; when I look to the middle of this circle -I find the sun, and were not its brightness so dazzling as to render -the stars invisible, I should constantly see, by looking beyond the -centre, some of the fixed stars opposite to the sun; by viewing them -however at night, I can easily determine how they were situated in -the day, which renders my observations equally accurate. If the earth -remained in the same place I should always find the same fixed stars -answering to the situation of the sun, but as the earth moves on in her -orbit, I necessarily see other fixed stars at the point which I had -before examined. Such is our shore, which is every day varying; and -as the earth goes round the sun in a year, I observe the sun, during -that space of time, successively answering to different fixed stars -which compose a circle; this circle is called the Zodiac; shall I shew -it you by tracing a figure on the earth? No, said she, I can dispense -with that; it would give my park too learned an appearance. I think I -have heard that a philosopher, shipwrecked on an island with which he -was unacquainted, cried out to his companions on perceiving some lines -and circles drawn on the sand; _courage, my friends! the island is -inhabited; here are the footsteps of men_. You must consider that such -_footsteps_ ought not to be seen here. - -It would certainly, I replied be more in character, to trace only -the footsteps of lovers; that is to say, your name, engraved by your -adorers on the bark of every tree. No more of adorers, cried she; -let us talk of the sun. I understand perfectly why we imagined it -performing the revolution which is merely effected by our own motion, -but this circle requires a year; how, then, does the sun appear to go -round us every day? You undoubtedly know, I replied, that if a ball -were rolled along this walk it would have two sorts of motion; it would -go towards the end of the walk, and at the same time turn several -times on its own axis, so that the side of the ball which is at first -uppermost will presently descend, and the other, of course, rise to -the top. This is the case with the earth: whilst she is proceeding, -through the year, in her orbit round the sun, she turns on her own axis -every twenty-four hours: each part, therefore, of the earth loses, and -recovers sight of the sun during that time. When in the morning we turn -towards the sun, it seems to rise; and when, by continued rotation, we -again are more distant from it, it appears to descend. That's curious -enough, said she; the earth undertakes every thing, and the sun does -nothing at all: and when the moon, the other planets, and the fixed -stars appear to pass over us in four-and-twenty hours, it is merely -imagination. Exactly so, I replied, and produced by the same cause. -The planets perform their revolutions round the sun in unequal periods -of time, in consequence of their different distances from it; and one -which we see to day answer to a certain point in the zodiac, or circle -of fixed stars, will to-morrow at the same hour answer to some other -point: this is the effect both of the progress which the planet has -made in its orbit and of that which we have made in ours. We move -onward; the other planets do the same, but we do not continue all in a -line: this occasions us to see them in such different situations, and -renders their course apparently irregular. You now understand that such -irregularity depends only on the different points from which we view -them, and that, in reality all their movements are directed by the most -exact order. It may be so, answered the Marchioness; but I should be -glad if their order did not cost the earth so much: you seem to have -very little consideration for it, and to require an astonishing agility -in so large a body. But, said I, do you think it more reasonable for -the sun, and all the other heavenly bodies, which are extremely large, -to perform in four-and-twenty hours an immense journey round the earth? -That the fixed stars, being in the largest circle, should travel, in -the course of a day, more than twenty-seven thousand six hundred and -sixty times two hundred millions of leagues?[11] All this must be if -the earth does not turn on her axis every twenty-four hours. Surely -there is much more rationality in supposing our globe to turn, which -would give to each part but a journey of nine thousand leagues. -Consider what a trifle are nine thousand in comparison of the terrific -number I have just mentioned. - -[Footnote 11: According to later calculations, it would be a thousand -millions of times a million of leagues; but a person who did not -believe the motion of the earth would have no occasion to admit this -prodigious distance.] - -Oh! replied the Marchioness; the sun and stars are made of fire, a -swift motion is nothing to them, but the earth does not seem formed for -motion. And should you think, I answered, if experience had not proved -the fact, that a large ship, carrying a hundred and fifty pieces of -cannon, three thousand men, and a heavy freight of merchandize, could -be _formed for motion_?--Yet a gentle breeze is sufficient to move it -forwards, because the water, being liquid, and easily divided, makes a -very slight resistance to the progress of the ship, or if it be in the -middle of a river, it follows without difficulty the current of the -water, since there is then no impediment. In like manner the earth, -notwithstanding its weight, is with facility carried through the sky -which is infinitely more fluid than water, and which fills the immense -space occupied by all the planets. To what could the earth be fastened -so strongly as to resist the current of this celestial fluid and remain -motionless? We might as well imagine a little wooden ball could resist -the tide of a river. - -But, said she, how can a body so ponderous as the earth be suspended -in your celestial fluid, which from its great fluidity must be -extremely light? It does not follow, I replied, that a substance must -be extremely light because it is fluid. What do you think of the great -ship we have been talking of, which, with all its lading, is lighter -than the water that supports it? I won't have any more to say to -you, answered she, half angrily, if you mention your ship again.[12] -But tell me, is it not dangerous to inhabit such a whirli-gig as -you represent the earth? If you are afraid, said I, let us have the -world supported by four elephants, as the Indians do. Well! cried -she, here is a new system. I like those people for providing such -good foundations for the earth to rest on, whilst we Copernicans are -imprudent enough to swim at random in this celestial fluid. I dare say -if the Indians knew there was the least danger of the earth's being -moved, they would double the number of elephants. - -[Footnote 12: The Marchioness was in the right not to listen to such -an answer. It is absurd to pretend that the ætherial fluid, so light -and rare, can be capable of bearing along those enormous masses, the -planets.] - -It would be worth while, I replied, laughing at the thought, we must -not be sparing of elephants if they can enable us to sleep in peace; -if you would find them serviceable to-night we'll put as many as you -please, and then remove them one or two at a time as you find your -courage return. No, said she, I don't think there is any need for -them, and to speak seriously, I feel courageous enough to let the -world turn round. And I can venture to predict, answered I, that in -a little while its turning will give you pleasure; will even inspire -the most delightful ideas, I sometimes imagine myself raised above -the surface of the earth, and remaining motionless whilst its daily -rotation continues. All the different inhabitants pass in review; some -fair, some copper-coloured, some black. Now I see heads covered with -hats; then with turbans; some shaven, others with flowing hair. As the -towns pass before me, I observe some have steeples, some long spires -with crosses on them, others are ornamented with towers of porcelaine. -Then I behold large countries with no other buildings than little huts: -afterwards, immense seas; then frightful deserts; and in short, all the -boundless variety which is to be found on the face of the earth. - -Really, she replied, it would be worth while to devote four-and-twenty -hours to such a sight. If I understand you, when we move, other -countries with their inhabitants pass into the situation we are -leaving, and so on, till in four-and-twenty hours we again arrive at -the same place. - -Copernicus himself, said I, could not have comprehended it more -clearly. The first that would succeed us[13] would be the English: we -should probably find them arguing on some political topic with less -gaiety than we are discussing our philosophy. When we had dismissed -them we should discover a vast sea,[14] on which perhaps would be -some vessel, less at her ease than we. Then come the Iroquois, eating -one of their prisoners of war, who does not even utter a groan though -still alive when they begin to devour him.[15] After them the women -of Jesso, who employ all their time in preparing victuals for their -husbands, and painting their lips and eye-brows blue to appear handsome -in the eyes of the most disgusting men in the world. Then the Tartars, -very devoutly going on a pilgrimage to their high priest, who dwells -in an obscure recess, enlightened only by lamps, the rays of which -direct these votaries to the object of their adoration. Afterwards -the beautiful Circassians who make no ceremony of granting all their -favours to the first that solicits them, except what they believe the -essential prerogative of their husbands. Then the inhabitants of Little -Tartary, who go to steal women for the Turks and Persians. Last of all -our countrymen, whom we should find entertaining each other with the -vagaries of their imagination. - -[Footnote 13: To speak more properly they would be one hundred leagues -northward.] - -[Footnote 14: The Atlantic.] - -[Footnote 15: We should next see the Pacific Ocean.] - -It is amusing enough, said the Marchioness, to fancy oneself in a -situation to see all these things: but if I were taking the view I -should wish for the power of hastening or retarding the earth's motion, -according to the feelings with which each object inspired me: I assure -you I should soon push on those that argued on politics, and the -others that devoured their enemies; but there are some of the people -you have been speaking of that would excite my curiosity; the handsome -Circassians, for instance, whose customs are so peculiar. But a serious -difficulty occurs to me respecting your system. If the earth turns, we -every moment change our atmosphere, and respire that of a new climate. -By no means, madam, I replied; the air which surrounds the earth rises -only to a certain height, twenty leagues perhaps at farthest;[16] this -atmosphere always turns with us. You have doubtless observed the sort -of shell in which a silk-worm imprisons itself, and which it forms -with such astonishing art. It is composed of silk closely woven, but -covered with a light down. Thus it is with regard to the earth, it is a -solid body covered with an atmosphere extending to a certain height, -which adheres to, and moves with it, as the down does with the firmer -substance beneath it. Above our atmosphere is the celestial matter, -incomparably more pure, subtile and active than air. - -[Footnote 16: Even at two leagues it is no longer discernible.] - -You represent the earth in a very contemptible light, said the -Marchioness. Nevertheless on this silk-worm's shell we find stupendous -works, furious wars, and universal agitation. Yes, answered I, and -while all this is going on, nature, who does not concern herself about -such frivolous things, carries us all along, with an uninterrupted -motion, and amuses herself with the little ball. - -It appears very ridiculous, replied she, to give way to so much -anxiety, whilst one is living on a thing that is perpetually turning; -but unfortunately we are not assured that it does turn, for, to tell -you the truth, all the precautions you take to convince me that we -should not feel its motion are unsatisfactory. How could it avoid -giving some indication by which we should be sensible of it?[17] The -most common and natural motions, said I, are the least felt: this -observation is true even in a moral sense: the motions of self-love are -so frequent in our minds, that for the most part we are not sensible -of them, but believe ourselves actuated by other principles. Ah! you -are beginning to moralize, said she; moralizing and explaining natural -philosophy are a little different; I fancy you grow tired of your -subject: let us return home, we have had enough for the first lecture. -To-morrow we will come here again--you with your systems, and I with my -ignorance. - -[Footnote 17: There are several; one of them is the aberration of the -stars. Astron. Book xvii.] - -In our way to the house, to give her a complete history of systems, -I told her that a third had been invented by Ticho Brahe, who, from -a determination to keep the earth in a state of rest, placed her in -the centre of the universe, making the sun revolve round her, and the -planets round the sun; for in consequence of some discoveries which had -been lately made, he found it impossible to make the planets go round -the earth. The Marchioness, with her usual discernment, concluded that -it was mere whim to exempt the earth from moving round the sun, when -so many other larger bodies were allowed to perform the revolution; -that the sun was rendered more unfit for turning round the earth when -incumbered with the other planets, and in short that this system -was only calculated to support a prejudice in favour of the earth's -immobility,[18] without offering any thing to convince the judgment; -we therefore resolved to retain that of Copernicus, which is more -uniform and pleasing, and at the same time unmixed with prejudice. In -fact its simplicity convinces, whilst its boldness excites admiration. - -[Footnote 18: The ridiculous system of Ticho was invented out of -respect to the holy scriptures, not considering that their object -was more important than the refutation of popular errors on natural -philosophy.] - - ═══════════ - - - - - _SECOND EVENING._ - - - ═══════════ - - THE MOON IS A HABITABLE GLOBE. - - ═══════════ - - -The next morning as soon as the Marchioness was awake, I sent to -enquire how she did, and whether she had been able to sleep whilst the -globe was turning? I received for answer, that she already felt quite -accustomed to the motion; and had slept as undisturbedly as Copernicus -himself. Soon afterwards, some company came to spend the whole day -with her; a tiresome custom which is always observed in the country; -yet long as the visit was, we considered it a great kindness in the -guests, not to prolong it to the next day; which I find is a common -practice in this part of the world: however, as they had the civility -to leave us, the Marchioness and I had the evening to ourselves. We -immediately went to the park and resumed our astronomical conversation. -She understood so perfectly all I had said on the former evening, that -she disdained to hear any repetition of the subject, and desired me -to enter on a new one.--Well then, said I, since the sun, which we -concluded is immovable, can no longer be considered a planet; and the -earth is proved to be one, and to move round the sun; you will be the -less surprised to hear, that the moon is a world like ours; and to all -appearance, inhabited.--I never heard speak of peopling the moon; she -replied, but as a ridiculous, visionary hypothesis.--It may be so, -answered I; I only adopt the interest of any party, in these cases, as -people do in civil wars; in which the uncertainty of the event, induces -them to hold a correspondence with opposite sides, and even, when -possible, with their enemies. For my part, though I believe the moon is -inhabited, I can be very civil to any one that disbelieves it; and I -always retain the power of going over to their side without disgracing -myself, if I found they had the advantage: but in the present state -of the question I have the following reasons for thinking the moon is -inhabited. - -Let us suppose that no communication had ever been carried on between -Paris and St. Dennis; and that a Parisian who had never gone out of his -own city should stand on one of the towers of Notre-Dame, and at that -distance view St. Dennis: were he asked if he believed that St. Dennis -was inhabited like Paris, he would without hesitation answer, No; I see -inhabitants in Paris, but I can discover none at St. Dennis, nor did -I ever hear of any being there. Somebody standing by, might answer, -that we certainly cannot see them from the towers of Notre-Dame, but -that is, because we are at too great a distance; that from all we can -discern of St. Dennis it is very much like Paris; that it has steeples, -houses, walls; and therefore is very probably inhabited. All this makes -no impression on our citizen; he insists upon it that St. Dennis is -uninhabited because he does not see any body in it. The moon is our St. -Dennis, and each of us is this Parisian who has never left the city in -which he resides. - -Oh! you wrong us, interrupted the Marchioness; we are not so stupid as -your citizen; when he sees that St. Dennis is constructed exactly on -the same plan as Paris, he must be out of his senses not to believe -it inhabited: but the moon is very different from the earth. Be -cautious, madam, said I; if the moon's resemblance to the earth prove -it habitable, I shall force you to believe that it is inhabited. I -confess, answered she, that if you can shew me the similarity, I cannot -pretend to deny its being inhabited, and I see so much confidence in -your looks that I am afraid you will be triumphant. The two different -motions of the earth, which I never before knew any thing about, make -me fearful of hastily rejecting any other opinion; but still, can it be -possible that the earth is luminous like the moon?--that you know is -essential to their similarity. Indeed, madam, I replied, the luminous -quality of planets depends on less than you imagine. The sun alone is, -in his _nature_, luminous; but the planets only reflect the light they -receive from him. He enlightens the moon; the moon reflects his rays on -the earth, and the earth is undoubtedly in the same manner a source of -light to the moon; it is not farther from us to the moon, than from the -moon to us. - -But, enquired the Marchioness, is the earth equally capable of -reflecting the sun's light? I see, answered I, you have an invincible -partiality for the moon. Light is composed of globules which rebound -from a solid substance, but pass through any thing in which they find -interstices, such as air or glass: the moon, therefore, gives us light -in consequence of being a hard, solid body, which sends back these -globules. I suppose you will not dispute the hardness and solidity of -the earth. See then the effect of an advantageous situation--because -the moon is at a distance we only view her as a luminous body instead -of a large mass of matter similar to the earth. Our globe, on the -contrary, from having the ill luck to be more closely inspected, -appears only a mass of dark soil, fit for nothing but to produce food -for animals; we do not perceive the splendour of her light, because -we cannot remove to a distance from her. So it is, answered the -Marchioness, with the different ranks of society: we are dazzled with -the grandeur of situations superior to our own, without considering how -much every condition of human life resembles all the rest. - -'Tis precisely the same thing, I replied; we take upon us to decide -on every thing, but we are never in a proper place for making our -observations. We would form an opinion of ourselves, and we are too -near; we would judge of others; they are too distant from our view. -We should be placed between the earth and the moon to form a just -comparison; a spectator, not an inhabitant of the world. I shall be -inconsolable for the injustice we do our world, said she, and the -partial regard we have for the moon, unless you can assure me that the -inhabitants of that planet are as ignorant of _their_ advantages, and -consider our globe a luminous body, without knowing that from their own -we derive so much light. I can make you easy on that head, answered -I; we are certainly a luminary to them: they do not, it is true, see -us describe a circle round them,[19] but that does not signify. The -reason of our appearing to remain in the same place is this;--the -side of the moon which was turned towards us at the creation, has -always continued so; we always observe the same eyes, mouth, and -other features of the face which, by the help of imagination, we have -contrived out of the spots on her surface.[20] If the other half were -presented to us, we should see spots arranged in a different form: -this does not arise from the moon's not turning on her axis; she turns -in the same time that is employed in going round the earth, that is, -a month; but whilst she is performing part of her revolution on her -axis, she at the same time performs an equal part of her circle round -the earth, and thus, by putting herself in a new situation, continues -to shew the same side: therefore although with regard to the sun and -the rest of the heavenly bodies the moon evidently turns on her axis, -yet when viewed from the earth she does not appear to do so. All the -other luminaries seem to the moon to rise and set in the space of a -fortnight, but she constantly sees our globe in the same part of the -heavens.[21] This apparent immobility, were it invariable, would be -thought inconsistent with the nature of a planet; but the moon has a -sort of vibratory motion which sometimes conceals a small part of the -face, and exhibits a part of the other side. Now, I can venture to say -that the inhabitants attribute this motion to us, and imagine that we -vibrate in the heavens, like a pendulum. - -[Footnote 19: This is an error, for if they consider the earth's -situation relatively to the firmament, they must see that she performs -a revolution in twenty-seven days: they certainly always find her -answer to their zenith, or at the same distance from the zenith, but at -the same time this zenith is continually answering to some new point in -the heavens.] - -[Footnote 20: When the moon is viewed through a telescope its spots -bear no resemblance to the human face; but on contemplating it with the -naked eye, it is easy to imagine that form; and it is become so common -to talk of the face on the moon, that even an astronomer can hardly -divest himself of the idea.] - -[Footnote 21: The earth always answers to one side of the moon, but not -the same point in the sky.] - -All the planets, said the Marchioness, are like us human beings, who -always attribute to others what belongs to ourselves. The earth says; -_it is not I who turn, it is the sun_. The moon says; _it is not I who -vibrate, but the earth_: there is error throughout. I would not advise -you to attempt making any reform, answered I; you had better consider -the remaining proofs of the resemblance which the earth and moon bear -to each other. Figure to yourself those two globes suspended in the -heavens. You know the sun always enlightens one half of a circular -body, whilst the other half remains in the shade. There is then one -half of both the earth and the moon, which is enlightened by the sun, -or in other words, in which it is day, and the other half in which -it is night. Observe likewise that as a ball moves with less force -and celerity after it has struck against a wall from which it flies -off to an opposite place, so the light is weaker when reflected to -us from a body that only receives it. The pale light of the moon is -in reality the brilliancy of the sun, but as we receive it merely by -reflection, in coming to us, it is deprived of its strength. Of course, -it shines with much greater splendour on the moon, and for the same -reason the dazzling light received by our globe, from the sun, must -appear faint, when reflected back to the moon. That part of the moon -which to us appears luminous during the night, is the side which has -day-light; and the part of the earth which is illuminated by the day, -when turned toward the dark side of the moon, affords equal light to -her. All this depends on the mutual position of the earth and moon. -During the first days of the month, when the moon is not discernible, -she is placed between the sun and us, and proceeding in the day time -with the sun: the luminous side is therefore necessarily turned to the -sun, whilst the dark part is towards the earth. We are unable to see -the unenlightened side of the moon, but this dark half viewing the part -of our globe in which it is day, is assisted by our light, and though -invisible to us, has the advantage of seeing the earth as a full moon: -it is then to the lunar inhabitants _full-earth_, if I may so express -myself.[22] After this, the moon advancing in her monthly round, and no -longer between the sun and earth, turns towards us a small part of her -enlightened half, and that we call the crescent. At the same time that -part of the moon which is involved in the obscurity of night, ceases -so see all the luminous side of the earth, and finds it continue to -decrease. - -[Footnote 22: We have a convincing proof of the light reflected from -the earth at this time, in the dusky light perceived on a part of the -moon that is not enlightened by the sun. Astron. Art. 1412.] - -Enough--said the Marchioness, in her lively manner; I shall easily -learn the rest when I like: let me stop a moment, and trace the moon -through her monthly circle. I see that in general that planet and the -earth have very different degrees of light, and I imagine that when we -have the full-moon all the luminous side of the moon is turned toward -all the part of our globe which is obscure; and that, at that time, the -inhabitants cannot discern us at all, but say they have _new-earth_. I -should not chuse to be obnoxious to reproach for obliging you to enter -into a long explanation of any thing so easily understood, but the -eclipses--how are they effected? You could guess it without difficulty, -I replied. When we have a new moon, and she, being between us and the -sun, presents her dark side to our luminous half, the shadow of this -obscure part falls on the earth; so that wherever the moon is in a -direct line under the sun, she hides that luminary from our sight, and -darkens a part of the enlightened side of our globe; this, then, forms -an eclipse of the sun to us during the day-time, and an eclipse of the -earth to the moon during her night. When the moon is at the full, the -earth is between her and the sun, the shaded side of the earth towards -the light side of the moon. If the earth's shadow fall directly on the -moon, it darkens the luminous half that we see; 'tis then we have an -eclipse of the moon in our night, and the moon, an eclipse of the sun -in her day. What prevents an eclipse every time the moon is between the -sun and us, or the earth between the sun and moon, is this; it often -happens that these three bodies are not placed exactly in a line, in -which case the one that would occasion the eclipse throws its shadow on -one side of the other and consequently does not obstruct its light. - -I am very much astonished, said the Marchioness, that there is so -little mystery in eclipses, and that being produced by such simple -means, every body does not discover the cause of them. In truth, -answered I, there are many people, who from the emotions they feel at -one of these phenomena, appear to have little chance of finding out -the occasion of them at present. Throughout the East-Indies, when the -sun and moon are eclipsed, the inhabitants believe that a great dragon -with his black claws is going to seize these luminaries; and all the -time the eclipse lasts, you may see whole rivers covered with the heads -of these Indians, who have put themselves up to the throat in water, -because, according to their notions, this is a very religious act, -and will induce the sun or moon to defend itself bravely against the -dragon. In America, it was thought that the sun and moon were angry -when they were eclipsed, and every kind of absurdity was practised to -regain their favour. The Grecians too, who had arrived at such a height -of refinement--did they not, for a long time, believe that the moon was -eclipsed by the power of sorcery, and that the magicians caused her to -descend from the skies and cast a baneful influence on the herbs? And -were not we likewise in great alarm, but two-and-thirty years ago,[23] -at a total eclipse of the sun? Did not an immense number of people shut -themselves up in caves and cellars; and were they easily persuaded to -leave them by the philosophers who wrote so much to re-assure them? - -[Footnote 23: 1654. There have been others in Europe in 1724, 1715, and -1716.] - -Really, replied she, all that is too ridiculous. There ought to be a -decree passed to prevent any body from ever talking of eclipses, lest -the memory of these follies should be perpetuated. The decree, said I, -should extend so far as to obliterate the memory of every subject, for -I can think of nothing in the world which is not the monument of some -human folly. - -Answer me this question, said the Marchioness:--Are the inhabitants -of the moon as much afraid of eclipses as those of the earth? How -ridiculous it is if the Indians of that world put themselves up to the -chin in water; if the Americans believe the earth is angry with them; -if the Greeks imagine we are enchanted, and suppose we shall injure -their herbs; and in short, if we are inflicting on them all the terror -they have caused us? I have no doubt but that is the case, answered -I; for why should the good folks in the moon have more sense than we? -What right have they to frighten us, unless we can frighten them? I -dare say, added I, laughing; that, as a prodigious number of men have -been, and still are, silly enough to worship the moon; so there are -some in the moon that pay their adorations to the earth, and that -they are kneeling to one another. If it be so, she replied, we may -pretend to have an influence on the moon, and to produce the crisis -in the diseases of her sick people, but as a little common sense in -the dwellers on that globe would be sufficient to destroy all these -honours, I must confess I am afraid they will have the advantage over -us. - -Don't alarm yourself, said I; 'tis not probable that we are the -only fools in the universe. There is something in ignorance that is -calculated for general reception, and though I can only guess the -character of the people in question, yet I have no more doubt, that -could we form the comparison, we should find ourselves equal to them, -than I have that the accounts are true that we receive of their globe. - -What accounts do you receive enquired she. Those, I replied, that are -given us by the learned who travel there every day by the assistance of -telescopes. They tell us that they have discovered in the moon earth, -seas, lakes, elevated mountains, and profound abysses. - -You astonish me, cried the Marchioness: I cannot imagine the -possibility of discovering mountains and abysses, from the great -irregularity they cause on the surface of the globe; but how do they -distinguish earth from sea? Because, answered I, the water,[24] by -suffering part of the light to pass through it, and consequently -reflecting less than the earth, has, at a distance, the appearance of -dark spots; whilst the solid parts, by reflecting all the light, look -much more brilliant. The illustrious M. Cassini, who has acquired a -greater knowledge of the celestial bodies than any man in the world, -discovered in the moon something which separates, then re-unites, and -afterwards loses itself in a cavity. We have reason to believe, from -its appearance that this is a river. In short all these different -parts are now so well known to us, that they have been named after our -great men. One place is called Copernicus, another Archimedes, another -Gabileus. Other parts have fancy names; there is a promontory of -decams, a sea of nectar, and so on; in fact our description of the moon -is so particular, that if a learned man was to take a journey there, he -would be in no more danger of losing himself than I should in Paris. - -[Footnote 24: It is proved that there is no water in the moon, but -there are volcanoes; they may even be seen without a telescope, which -was the case on the 7th of March, 1794. _Philos. Trans._] - -But, said she, I should like to have a more detailed account of the -interior of the country. The gentlemen of the observatory are not able -to give it you, I replied; you must make enquiry of Astolfo, who was -taken to the moon by St. John. That is one of the pleasantest follies -of Ariosto, I'm sure you will be amused with it. I confess it would -have been better if he had not introduced in it so respectable a name -as that of St. John; poets, however, will take licenses, and we may -venture to excuse this, for the whole poem is dedicated to a cardinal, -and one of our popes has honoured it with a particular eulogium, which -in some editions is placed before the work. This is the subject of the -piece: Orlando, nephew to Charlemagne, had lost his senses, because -the beautiful Angelica preferred Medore to him. Astolfo, a valourous -knight-errant was one day carried by his hippogriffe to the terrestial -paradise, which was at the top of a very high mountain: there he met -with St. John, who informed him that it was necessary, in order to cure -Orlando of his madness, for them to take a journey together to the -moon. Astolfo, delighted with the opportunity of seeing a new country, -needed no entreaty, and in a moment the apostle and knight took their -course in a chariot of fire. As Astolfo was no philosopher, he was -surprised to find the moon much larger than it appeared while he was on -the earth; his astonishment however increased when he saw in it rivers, -lakes, mountains, towns, forests, and, what I should have been equally -surprised at, nymphs hunting in the forests. But the most curious -thing of all he saw was a valley in which was to be found every thing -that was lost on the earth: crowns, riches, the rewards of ambition, -hopes without number, all the time that had been devoted to gaming, all -the alms men had ordered to be distributed after their death, verses -dedicated to monarchs, and the sighs of lovers. - -As to lovers' sighs, rejoined the Marchioness; I don't know what became -of them in Ariosto's time, but at present I fancy there are none that -go to the moon. We should find a great many, said I, were they only -those that you have occasioned. In short, the moon is so careful in -collecting all that is lost here that not a single thing is wanting -of the number: Ariosto has even whispered that Constantine's donation -is there: the popes have assumed the government of Rome and Italy by -virtue of a donation from that emperor, but the truth is we can't tell -what is become of it. There is but one sort of thing that has not -escaped to the moon, and that is--folly: the people on earth have taken -care not to part with that; but to make the moon amends, an incredible -quantity of wit has taken its flight thither, which is there preserved -in phials; it is a very subtile fluid, and easily evaporates unless -carefully corked up: on each of these phials is written the name of -the owner. I think Ariosto puts them together without any order, but -I like better to imagine them placed neatly in long rows. Astolfo was -astonished to find full phials belonging to many wise people of his -acquaintance. I am sure, continued I, mine has been considerably -augmented since I began to indulge myself with you in philosophic and -poetic reveries: but I console myself by supposing that after listening -to all my fancies _your_ wits must inevitably become so volatile that -at least a little phial full will evaporate, and make its way to the -moon. - -Our knight-errant found his own among the rest, and by St. John's -permission took possession of it and snuffed up all the bottleful -like Hungary water: but according to Ariosto he did not carry it -away with him; for, it soon returned to the moon, in consequence of -an extravagance he was guilty of some time after. He did not forget -Orlando's phial which had occasioned his journey; he had a good deal -of trouble in carrying it, for the hero's wit was naturally weighty, -and not a drop was wanting. At the end, Ariosto, according to his -general custom of saying whatever he pleases, addresses, in beautiful -language the following apostrophe to his mistress: "Who, my fair one, -will ascend to the heavens, to restore the senses of which your charms -has robbed me? Hitherto I have not complained, but I know not what -may be the extent of my loss; should I continue the victim of your -beauty, I shall in the end become what I have represented Orlando to -be. However, I do not believe it is necessary for me to traverse the -airy regions for the recovery of my senses; all the faculties of my -soul, instead of mounting to such unattainable height, are solacing -themselves in the beam of your eyes, and hovering round your lovely -mouth. Ah! have compassion on me, and suffer me to take them back with -my lips." Is not the thought pretty? For my part, in adopting Ariosto's -way of thinking, I should dissuade people from ever letting their wits -escape, unless it were from the influence of love; for you see how -near they then continue, and how easily they may be regained; but when -they are lost in any other way, as we, for instance, are losing ours, -in philosophising, they fly directly to the moon, and are not caught -again at pleasure. Never mind, said the Marchioness; ours will have an -honourable station among the philosophic phials; whereas, had we lost -them in the poet's way, they might perhaps hover around some unworthy -object. But, continued she, to deprive me completely of mine, tell me -seriously whether you believe there are men living in the moon, for -you have not yet given me a decided opinion. Do I believe it? replied -I; oh no, I don't believe there are men in the moon. We see how much -all nature is changed even when we have travelled from here to China; -different faces; different figures; different manners; and almost a -different sort of understandings: from here to the moon the alteration -must be considerably greater. When adventurers explore unknown -countries, the inhabitants they find are scarcely human; they are -animals in the shape of men, even in that respect sometimes imperfect; -but almost devoid of human reason; could any of these travellers reach -the moon, they surely would not find it inhabited by men. - -Then what sort of creatures are they? asked the Marchioness -impatiently. Upon my word, madam, said I, I can't tell. Were it -possible for us to be endowed with reason, and at the same time not -of the human species; were we, I say, such beings, and inhabitants -of the moon, should we ever imagine that this world contained so -fantastical a creature as man? Could we form in our minds the image -of a being composed of such extravagant passions, and such wise -reflections; an existence so short, and plans so extensive; so much -knowledge of trifles, and so much ignorance of the most important -things; such ardent love of liberty, yet such proneness to slavery; so -strong a desire for happiness, with so little power of being happy? -The people in the moon, must be very clever to imagine such a motley -character. We are incessantly contemplating our own nature, yet we -are still unacquainted with it. Some have found it so difficult to -comprehend, that they have said the gods had taken too much nectar -when they created men; and when they had recovered their calm reason, -they could not help laughing at their own work. Well, we are not in -danger of being laughed at by the inhabitants of the moon, answered -the Marchioness, as they would find it so impossible to imagine our -characters; but I should be very glad if we could find out theirs, -for really, one feels a painful degree of curiosity in knowing that -there are beings in the moon we see yonder, and not having the means -of discovering what they are. How is it, I replied, that you have no -anxiety to be acquainted with all the southern part of the world which -is yet unknown to us? We and the inhabitants of that part of the globe -are voyaging in the same vessel, of which they occupy the head and we -the stern. You see that the head and the stern have no communication -with each other; that the people at one end know nothing of the nature -or occupations of those at the other, and yet you want to be acquainted -with all that is going forward in the moon, that separate vessel which -is sailing in a distant part of the heavens. - -Oh! replied she, I consider myself already acquainted with the -inhabitants of the southern world, for they certainly must be very -much like us; and in short, we may know them better whenever we chuse -to give ourselves the trouble of going to see them; we cannot miss -them, for they will remain in the same place; but these folks in the -moon----I am in despair about them. Were I, I replied, gravely to -answer you, _we know not what may happen_, you would laugh at me, and -I should undoubtedly deserve it; nevertheless I think I could defend -myself in some measure from your ridicule. A thought has come into my -head, which is whimsical enough, and yet there is a wonderful deal -of probability in it; I don't know how it has acquired the power of -imposing that on my understanding, being in itself so extravagant. I -dare say I shall likewise bring you to confess, contrary to reason, -that there may some day be a communication opened between the earth and -the moon. Recollect the situation of America before it was discovered -by Christopher Columbus. The minds of its inhabitants were involved -in the most profound ignorance; far from having any knowledge of the -sciences, they were not even acquainted with the most simple and -necessary arts: they went without clothes; they had no weapon but the -bow; they had no notion that men might be carried by animals; they -supposed the ocean an immense space, impassable by man, and bounded -only by the sky to which it was joined. It is true that after they had -been several years in contriving to scoop out the trunk of a great -tree, they ventured to commit themselves to the water in this rude -sort of vessel, and went from one country to another, borne along by -the winds and waves: but as their bark was very liable to be overset, -they were frequently under the necessity of swimming to overtake it, -so that properly speaking they were oftener in the water than in their -ship. You must suppose they would not have yielded a very implicit -credence to a person who had told them that a navigation was carried -on, incomparably superior to theirs; that by its means, every part of -the liquid expanse could be resorted to; that the vessels might be -detained at one spot whilst the billows were foaming around; that even -the speed with which they moved might be regulated; in short, that the -ocean, whatever its extent might be, was no obstacle to the commerce -of different people. In a course of time, however, notwithstanding -their incredulity, a spectacle new and astonishing presents itself -to the eyes of these savages. Enormous bodies, extending their white -wings to the blast, come sailing on the ocean with fearful rapidity, -and discharging fire on every side: these tremendous machines cast on -their shore men covered with iron; guiding with facility the monsters -that carry them, and darting thunderbolts from their hands to destroy -all who attempt to resist them.--"Whence come these awful beings? Who -hath given them power to ride on the waters, and to wield the thunder -of heaven? Are they children of the sun? assuredly they are not men!" -I cannot tell, madam, whether you feel as strongly as I do, the -surprise of the Americans; surely no event could ever have excited an -astonishment equal to theirs. After thinking of that, I will not assert -that no communication can be established between our world and the -moon. Did the Americans ever conceive the idea that there would be any -between their country and Europe, of which they had never heard? There -is, I acknowledge, an immense space of air to travel through before we -could reach the moon; but did those great seas appear to the Americans -more capable of being crossed? Really, exclaimed the Marchioness, -looking earnestly at me, you are quite mad! Who denies it? answered I. -It is impossible you _should_ deny it said she. The Americans were so -ignorant that they could not imagine the practicability of crossing -such an extent of water; but we have science enough to know that the -air is passable, although we have no machine which can transport us -through it. We do more than conjecture the possibility of rising in -the air, I replied; we have actually began to fly. Several persons -have discovered a method of fixing on wings which supported them in -the air, of moving these wings, and by their assistance, flying over -rivers; these new-fashioned birds, did not, to be sure, soar like the -eagles, and their flight has sometimes cost them an arm or a leg; -but, however, these attempts answer to the first pieces of wood that -were launched into the water, and which served for the commencement -of navigation: there was a vast difference between these mere planks -and great ships, capable of going round the world; nevertheless, by -gradual improvements we have learned to construct such vessels. The -art of flying is but in its infancy; in due time it will be brought to -perfection,[25] and some day or other we shall get to the moon. Can we -pretend to know every thing; to have made every possible discovery? -Pray let us give posterity leave to make some improvements as well as -ourselves. I won't give them leave, answered she, to break their necks -by attempting to fly. Well, I replied, though flying be not perfected -here, the inhabitants of the moon, may perhaps excel us; and it will be -the same thing whether we go to them, or they come to us. We shall then -be like the Americans who knew so little of navigation whilst it was -thoroughly understood at the other side of the globe. Pugh! cried the -Marchioness; if the people in the moon were so expert, they would have -been here before this time. The Europeans, answered I, did not find -their way to America till six thousand years had elapsed; they were -all that time in learning the art of navigation so completely as to -pass over the ocean. Probably the people in the moon are able to take -little excursions into the air, very likely they are now practising; -after they have acquired more experience they will pay us a visit, and -heaven knows what surprise it will occasion us! You are insupportable, -exclaimed she, to combat me with such chimerical arguments. Take care, -said I; if you provoke me I shall easily corroborate them. Remember -the earth has been made known to us by little and little. The ancients -positively asserted that the torrid and frozen zones were uninhabitable -from the excessive heat of the one, and cold of the others; and in -the time of the Romans the general chart of the world was made little -larger than that of their own empire, this at once shewed the grand -idea they had of themselves, and their extreme ignorance of the earth. -Men were however discovered, in these extremely hot, and intensely -cold, climates, which discovery has greatly augmented the number of -inhabitants on our globe. At one time it was believed that the ocean -covered every part of the earth except what was then known. Antipodes -had never been heard of, and who could imagine that men would be able -to walk with their heads downwards? Yet after all, the antipodes -were found out. Now the map must be altered; a new half added to the -earth!--You understand, madam, what I am aiming at; these antipodes, -so unexpectedly discovered, should teach us to think modestly of our -attainments: we may yet know much more of our own world, and then -become acquainted with the moon; till that time we must not expect -it, because our knowledge is progressive: when we understand our own -habitation, we may be permitted to study that of our neighbours. In -truth, said she, viewing me attentively, you enter into the subject so -deeply that one cannot but imagine you in earnest. Indeed I am not, -answered I; I only wished to shew you the possibility of maintaining an -extravagant opinion, so as to embarrass, though not convince, a person -of sense. Truth alone makes her way to the understanding; she can even -convince without exhibiting every proof: she is so adapted to our -capacities, that when first discovered, we seem only to have met with -an old acquaintance. - -[Footnote 25: Montgolfier's balloons, invented in 1783, have gone -a great way towards the fulfilling of this prediction, but it is -evidently impossible for it to be accomplished; these globes can only -carry us to a certain height, beyond that we could not breathe.] - -Ah! this restores my tranquillity, said she. Your sophistry disturbed -my imagination. Let us retire; I am now composed and inclined to go to -rest. - - ══════════════ - - - - - _THIRD EVENING._ - - ══════════════ - - - -The Marchioness wished to pursue our astronomical researches during the -day; but I told her that as the moon and stars were the subjects of -our whimsical conversations, they ought to be our only confidants; we -therefore waited till evening, and then took our usual ramble in the -park, which thus became sacred to learning. - -I have a vast deal of news to tell you, said I; I yesterday told you -that the moon, according to all appearances, was inhabited; but I have -recollected a circumstance which would expose its inhabitants to so -much danger, that I don't know whether I shall not retract my former -opinion. Indeed I will not suffer you to retract it, answered she. -Yesterday you prepared me to receive a visit from the inhabitants of -the moon, in a few days; now you are going to refuse them a place in -the creation. You shall not trifle with me in this way. You told me -the moon was inhabited; I surmounted the difficulty of believing it, -and now I will continue to believe it. Softly! said I; we should give -but half an assent to an opinion of this nature, and reserve the other -half in case we should find the opposite idea better supported. I am -not contented with words, she replied; give me facts: remember your -comparison of the moon with St. Dennis. But, answered I, the moon is -not so similar to the earth as St. Dennis is to Paris. The sun draws -out of the earth and water exhalations, which rise to a certain height -in the air, collect together, and form themselves into clouds. These -clouds hover about the earth in irregular shapes, sometimes shadowing -one part, and sometimes another. In viewing the earth from a distance, -the appearance of its surface would continually vary, because a large -space of country darkened by a cloud would appear less luminous -than the other parts, and as the cloud dispersed, would resume its -brightness: from this cause the spots on the earth would be seen to -change their places, assume different forms, and sometimes be entirely -dissipated. If, then, the moon had clouds in its atmosphere, we should -observe this variety of spots; but we find them always confined to the -same place, which proves that the sun raises no vapours from the moon. -It is then a body incomparably more solid than the earth, and its more -subtile particles easily dissipated as soon as they are put in motion -by the heat. The moon, therefore must be a mass of rock and marble from -which no evaporation proceeds; for exhalations so naturally arise where -there is water, that we cannot admit the existence of water where they -are not found. What sort of beings do you think could inhabit these -barren rocks; this country without water? Ah! cried she, you forget -that you have assured me the seas in the moon were distinguishable. -It was a mere conjecture,[26] I replied; I am sorry to have led you -astray. These dark places that have been taken for seas are probably -only deep cavities: at so great a distance it is excusable if we don't -always guess aright. But, said she, will your objections oblige us to -conclude that the moon has no inhabitants? By no means, answered I, we -will neither decide one way or the other. I must own my weakness, she -replied; I cannot bear to remain in suspense. I must believe something: -enable me to determine; let us ascertain the existence of these -people, or let us annihilate them at once, and think no more about -them. But preserve them if possible; I have formed an attachment for -them, of which I shall not easily divest myself. I will not leave the -moon without inhabitants then, said I; for your pleasure it shall be -repeopled. - -[Footnote 26: This is not, now, even conjectured, for with a telescope -we may see irregularities at the bottom of what were supposed to be -seas.] - -As the spots in the moon never vary,[27] we certainly, cannot believe -that there are any surrounding clouds which successively obscure the -surrounding parts; this however is not a proof that there are no -exhalations; our clouds are formed of vapours, which at their first -rising out of the earth, were in separate particles, too small to -be visible to us; in ascending they meet with a degree of cold that -condenses, and unites them into conspicuous forms; after which they -float in the air till they dissolve in rain. But these exhalations -frequently remain dispersed and imperceptible, and fall back on the -ground in gentle dews. I suppose then that vapours of this kind are -exhaled from the moon, for it is incredible that the moon should be -a large mass, composed of parts all equally solid, all in a state of -equal tranquillity, all incapable of being influenced by the action -of the sun. We know of no body which has these properties, not even -marble. The most dense bodies are subject to change, either from some -secret and interior motion, or from the action of external matter. As -the exhalations from the moon, do not form themselves into clouds, and -return in showers, they can only become dew; for that purpose it is not -necessary that the atmosphere, which apparently adheres to the moon as -ours does to the earth, should be exactly similar to our air, nor the -vapours exactly like ours; and that I think is probably the case:[28] -the matter must have a different disposition in the moon, from that -in the earth; consequently the effects be different; however all that -is of no importance; since we find that there is motion in the parts -of the moon, either internal, or produced by foreign causes, we may -again people it, as we have the means of affording them subsistence; of -producing fruit, corn, water, and every thing that is needful. I mean -fruit, corn, &c. such as the moon can produce, the nature of which I -am unacquainted with; and all these in proportion to the wants of its -inhabitants, of which I am likewise ignorant. - -[Footnote 27: M. Herschel has observed variations in them; which he, -with certainty, attributes to the industry of the inhabitants.] - -[Footnote 28: The atmosphere of the moon, if there be any, is quite -invisible to us.] - -That is to say, answered the Marchioness, you are sure every thing is -right, without knowing how it is; here is a little knowledge placed -against a great deal of ignorance, but we must be content with it: I -am very happy to have inhabitants restored to the moon; I am glad also -that you give them a surrounding atmosphere, for it seems to me that a -planet would be too naked without one. - -These two different airs, said I, one belonging to the earth, the other -to the moon, tend to prevent the communication between the two planets. -If it merely depended on the power of flying, who knows, as I yesterday -said, but we may at some future time be sufficiently expert? All things -considered, I think we must not expect this communication; the amazing -distance at which they are placed, would be a considerable difficulty; -and were this obstacle removed; were the two planets nearer together, -it would be impossible to pass from one atmosphere to the other. Water -is the atmosphere of fishes; they never pass into that of birds, nor -the birds into theirs: they are not prevented by the distance, but the -existence of both depends on their proper element. Our air, we find, -is mixed with more dense and gross vapours than that of the moon; -therefore an inhabitant of that world would be drowned if he entered -our atmosphere, and fall lifeless on the earth. - -Oh! how glad I should be, exclaimed the Marchioness, for a shipwreck to -cast a good number of them on the earth, we might then examine them at -our leisure. But, I replied, if they were clever enough to navigate -the surface of our atmosphere, and from a curiosity to examine us, -should be tempted to draw us up like fishes; would that please you? Why -not? answered she, laughing. I would voluntarily put myself in their -nets, just for the pleasure of seeing the fishers. - -Remember, said I, you would be very ill by the time you reached the -top of our air; we are not capable of breathing it above a certain -height;[29] it is said that at the summit of some mountains we can -scarcely do it. I wonder that people who are silly enough to believe -that corporeal genii inhabit the purest regions of the air, should not -tell us, as the reason for our receiving such short and unfrequent -visits from these genii, that few of them understand diving, and even -those who excel in it cannot remain long in our gross air. - -[Footnote 29: Respiration is difficult at the height of a league. Half -a league higher it must be impossible.] - -We see then there are many things to prevent us from leaving our own -world and going to the moon. To console ourselves let us guess all we -can about it. In the first place I conjecture that the inhabitants must -see the heavens, the sun and the stars of a very different colour from -what they appear to us. We view those objects through a sort of glass -which alters their appearance; this glass is our atmosphere, pervaded -with exhalations. Some moderns assert that it is blue as well as the -sea, but we can only distinguish the colour in the parts of those -elements that are most remote from the eye. The firmament, say they, -in which are the fixed stars, has no light in itself, and consequently -ought to appear black,[30] but as we see it through our blue air, it -seems to us to be blue. If that is true, the rays of the sun and stars -cannot pass through the air without receiving a slight tinge from its -colour, and losing a degree of that which is natural to them. But -supposing the air is not coloured, it is certain that through a thick -fog the light of a flambeau, seen at some distance, appears of a deep -red, which is not its real colour; if therefore our air be considered -only a mist, it must necessarily alter the colour of the sky, sun, and -stars. The celestial fluid alone could give us light and colours in -their original state. Therefore as the atmosphere of the moon differs -from ours, it is either of a different colour, or else it is another -sort of mist, which varies the appearance of the celestial bodies. In a -word, the glass through which the people in the moon view these objects -is of a different nature to ours. - -[Footnote 30: Desaussure tells us it appears black when viewed at a -league's distance from the earth.] - -On that account, replied the Marchioness, I prefer our world to the -moon; I think it impossible for the assortment of colours presented to -their sight by the heavenly bodies to be so beautiful as that they form -when viewed through the medium of our air. Let us suppose a red sky and -green stars; the effect is not so agreeable as golden stars and a blue -sky. One would think, said I, you were chusing clothes or furniture; -but believe me, nature has a good taste; let us trust to her for -providing a set of colours for the moon, there is no fear but it will -be a pleasing one. She has undoubtedly varied the appearance of the -universe at each different point of view, and in all these varieties -there is great beauty. - -I acknowledge her talents, answered she; at each point of view she -has placed a different sort of glass, by which mean she has given the -appearance of variety to objects which remain always the same. With a -blue atmosphere, we have a blue sky, and perhaps with a red atmosphere, -the inhabitants of the moon have a red sky; yet this sky is absolutely -the same. In like manner she seems to have placed various sorts of -glasses before the eyes of our imagination, through which the same -object presents to each of us a different appearance. To Alexander, the -earth appeared a proper place to convert into an empire, for his sway; -Celadon, viewed it only as a fit residence for Astrea; a philosopher -considers it a large planet, travelling through the heavens, and -inhabited by a number of madmen. I think the spectacle of nature cannot -be more varied than the prospects of different imaginations. - -The varied appearance of objects viewed by the imagination, I replied, -is the most surprising, for they are exactly the same things though -apparently so dissimilar: whereas there may be other natural objects -visible to the moon, and some that are visible to us may not be seen -there; perhaps, for instance, there is neither dawn nor twilight. The -air that surrounds us, rises to some height, receives the rays of -light that would not reach the earth, and by its density, detains, and -conveys to us a part of this light which was apparently not destined -for us: thus you see the dawn and twilight are particular favours -conferred on us by nature; they are degrees of light to which we are -not regularly entitled, and which are bestowed on us in addition to -our share. But the atmosphere of the moon, being purer than ours, is -probably not so well calculated to reflect the rays which it receives -before the sun is risen, or after it is set. The poor inhabitants have -not then this light, which by its gradual increase prepares us so -agreeably for the brilliancy of the sun; and in the evening reconciles -us to its loss, by a progressive diminution. The moon, after the -profound gloom of night, receives the ardent blaze of the sun, as if -by the instantaneous drawing up of a curtain: on the contrary, whilst -still enjoying the dazzling light of day, it is again plunged into -extreme darkness: day and night are not connected by an agreeable -medium, partaking of both. The people in the moon never see the -rainbow; for as the dawn is produced by the thickness of our air and -vapours, so the rainbow is formed in the clouds which are dispersed -in rain; thus we are indebted for the most beautiful appearances in -nature, to things, in themselves, far from agreeable. Since the moon -has neither dense vapours nor rainy clouds, farewell to Aurora, and the -Rainbow! Alas! to what can they liken the beauties of that country; -what a source of comparison are they deprived of! - -I should not much regret those comparisons, answered the Marchioness; -and I think the inhabitants of the moon have ample amends made them -for the loss of rainbows and twilight by being exempted from thunder -and lightning; for these likewise are formed in the clouds. They have -constant serenity of weather; never losing sight of the sun. They -have no gloomy nights in which the stars are concealed. They are -unacquainted with those storms and tempests; those elemental wars which -seem to indicate the wrath of heaven. Are they then to be pitied? You -speak of the moon as an enchanting spot, said I; yet I don't know -whether it is very delightful to be exposed throughout a day that is as -long as our fortnight[31] to a blazing sun, without a cloud to temper -the intensity of its heat. It is perhaps owing to this that nature has -formed cavities in the moon, large enough to be seen by our telescopes; -they are not valleys situated between mountains, but hollow places in -the midst of large plains. How do we know whether the inhabitants, -oppressed by the perpetual radiance of the sun, may not take refuge in -these caverns? Perhaps they even build towns, and constantly reside in -these parts. We see that here our subterraneous Rome is larger than -the Rome which is built on the surface: we have only to remove the -latter, and the other would be a city such as we should find in the -moon. A large number of the people dwell in each cavern, and from one -cavern to another is a subterraneous passage for the communication -of the inhabitants. You laugh at this idea; I have no objection: but -seriously, I think you are more likely to be mistaken than I. You -believe the people in the moon must dwell on the surface, because we -are on the surface of our globe; you should form quite a different -opinion, and think that because we reside on the surface they dwell in -the interior parts; every thing must be very differently conducted here -and in the moon. - -[Footnote 31: During this time the sun rises and sets as it does in our -day.] - -It does not signify, replied the Marchioness; I can't bear the idea -of these people living in perpetual darkness. You would find it still -more difficult to admit the opinion, said I, if you knew that a great -philosopher of ancient times had informed us that the moon was the -dwelling of souls who had on earth rendered themselves worthy of -very exalted happiness. He supposes that their felicity consists in -listening to the music of the spheres; but that when the moon comes -under the shadow of the earth, they are no longer able to hear this -celestial harmony, at which time they utter the most piercing cries, -and the moon hastens on as fast as possible to relieve them from this -agonizing situation. We may expect then, answered she, to have the -virtuous spirits sent here from the moon, for I suppose they likewise -honour our world by making it an abode of the blessed: so in these -two planets it is thought a sufficient reward to superior goodness -for the soul to be transported from one world to the other. Really, -I replied, it would not be a trifling enjoyment to take a survey of -different worlds; I often receive a great deal of pleasure from such a -journey, although but in imagination; what must it be then to perform -it in reality? It would be much more delightful than going from here -to Japan; in other words, than crawling from one end of the earth to -the other with great labour, merely for the sake of seeing men. Well, -said she, let us make this tour to the planets as we can; what should -prevent us? We will place ourselves at all those different points of -view, and at each of them survey the universe. Have we any thing else -to see in the moon? You are not yet thoroughly acquainted with that -world, I replied. You recollect that the two motions of the moon, by -one of which she turns on her axis, and by the other round us, being -equal, the latter always prevents the former from withdrawing any -part from our sight, and consequently we always view the same side. -That half therefore is the only part that can see our world, and as -the moon, with regard to us, must be considered not to turn on her -centre, the half to which we are visible, sees us always fixed in the -same part of the sky.[32] When it is night, and the nights there are -as long as our fortnight, she sees at first only a very small part -of the earth enlightened; then a larger portion, and at length the -light seems hourly to spread over the earth, till it becomes entirely -luminous. On the contrary these changes in the moon are visible to -us only from one night to another, because we are a long time without -seeing her. I should like to hear the mistakes which the philosophers -of that world fall into from the apparent immobility of our earth, -whilst all the other heavenly bodies rise and set in the space of a -fortnight. Probably they consider the earth immovable in consequence -of her enormous size, being sixty times larger than the moon; and when -the poets are disposed to flatter indolent princes, I have no doubt -but they compare them to this orb in her state of majestic repose. It -does not however appear an entire immobility. From the moon they must -see the earth turn on her axis. Our Europe, Asia, America, present -themselves one after another, in different shapes, nearly as they are -represented on our maps. Only imagine what a novel sight this must be -to travellers coming from the other side of the moon to that which is -always facing us! How incredulously _they_ must have heard the accounts -of the first that spoke of it, who lived at the opposite side. It is -come into my head, said the Marchioness, that from that half of the -moon to the other they make pilgrimages to come and examine us, and -that particular honours and privileges are destined for those who have -seen the great planet. At least, answered I, they who constantly see us -have the privilege of being better illumined during their nights; the -inhabitants of the other side must be much less agreeably situated in -that respect. - -[Footnote 32: That is to say only at the same distance from the zenith -and the horizon.] - -Now, madam, let us pursue our journey to the different planets; we -have been long enough at the moon. Next, in the road from the moon to -the sun, we find Venus. In talking of Venus I shall resume my argument -concerning St. Dennis. Venus, as well as the moon, turns on her axis -and goes round the sun: with telescopes it is seen that this planet, -like the moon, is sometimes a crescent, sometimes on the decrease -sometimes full, according to her different situations relatively to -the earth. The moon, according to all appearances, is inhabited; why -then should Venus be destitute of inhabitants? But, interrupted the -Marchioness, with your _why nots_ you will put inhabitants in all the -planets. Certainly, I replied, this _why not_ has the power of peopling -them all. We find that they are of the same nature, all opaque bodies, -illumined only by the sun, and the reflection of his rays on each -other; and having all the same motions. So far then they are alike, -and yet we are to suppose that these great planets were formed to -remain uninhabited, and that such being the natural condition of them -all, an exception should be made in favour of the earth--let who will -believe it; I cannot. A few minutes, answered she, have wonderfully -confirmed your opinion. Just now the moon was on the point of being -quite deserted, and you cared very little about the matter, and now, -if one were to presume to deny that all the planets are as full of -inhabitants as the earth, I see you would be quite in a passion. It -is true, said I, that in the positive fit I had just now, if you had -contradicted me on the subject of these said inhabitants, I should -not only have maintained their existence, but in all probability have -described their formation. There are certain moments when we feel -assured of a thing, and I never felt so fully persuaded of my opinion -as I was then; however, though my ardour is now a little abated, I -still think it would be very strange for the earth to be so well -inhabited, and the other planets perfectly solitary; and numerous as we -know the inhabitants of the earth to be, we do not see them all, our -world contains as many species of animals that are invisible to us, as -of those that we discern. From the elephant to the hand-worm we can -examine them; there our sight is bounded: but after the hand-worm is an -infinitude of little animals not discernible by the naked eye, and to -which, in point of size, he is an elephant. With magnifying glasses, -we may see a drop of water, vinegar, or any other liquor, filled with -little fishes or serpents, which we should never have thought of -finding there; and some philosophers suppose the taste of these liquors -is produced by punctures which the little animals make in the tongue. -Mix these liquors with certain things, expose them to the sun, or leave -it to corrupt, and you will find new sorts of animals. - -Many masses, apparently solid, contains scarcely any thing but a -heap of these small animals, which in so confined a situation find -room enough for their little movements. The leaf of a tree is a -world, inhabited by worms imperceptibly small, to which it appears -an amazing extent, having mountains and caverns, and so large that -from one side of the leaf to the other the little worms have no more -communication with each other than we have with the antipodes. From -such considerations I cannot doubt of a great planet being inhabited. -There have been found even in very hard stones an endless number of -worms lodged in every interstice, feeding on parts of the stone. -Consider the countless numbers of these little beings, and how many -years they could subsist on a quantity of food as big as a grain of -sand; and then though the moon should be but a mass of rock, we may let -it be eaten by its inhabitants rather than not assign any to it. In -short every thing is animated; every thing is full of life. Associate -in your calculation all the species that have been lately discovered, -and those that we may suppose are yet undiscovered, with all that we -are in the habit of seeing, and you will surely confess that the earth -is amply stocked with living creatures; that nature must delight in -bestowing life since she has created such infinite variety of beings so -small as to elude our sight. Can you believe that after the earth has -been thus made to abound with life, the rest of the planets have not a -living creature in them? - -My reason is convinced, answered the Marchioness; but my imagination -is overwhelmed with such an infinite variety and number of inhabitants -existing in each of the planets; for as there is no dull uniformity in -nature, the difference of species must be in proportion to the number -of beings--how can imagination grasp such a vast idea? Imagination, I -replied, is not required to represent all this to us; we can penetrate -no farther than we are assisted by our sight; we can only perceive, -from a general glance, that nature has established an inconceivable -diversity in her works. The human face is formed every where on the -same plan, but still how great is the difference between the visages of -Europeans and of Africans or Tartars: not only in separate nations do -we find a distinguishing character of countenance, even among the same -people every family seems formed from a distinct model. How astonishing -is the power of nature in giving such variety to so simple an object! -In the universe we are but as a little family whose faces resemble each -other; the next planet contains another family who have a different -style of countenance. Probably the variations are greater in proportion -to the distance, and could we compare the inhabitants of the earth -and moon, we should easily see that they were nearer neighbours than -those of the earth and of Saturn. Here, for instance, our thoughts are -made vocal; the people in another planet only express themselves by -gestures; farther off, they may dispense with any sort of conversation. -Here our reason is matured by experience; elsewhere experience may add -little to the understanding; at a greater distance, children may know -as much as old men. In this world we give ourselves more uneasiness -about the future than the past; on another globe, the past afflicts -more than the future; on a third, the people are neither distressed by -one nor the other, and they perhaps are not the most unhappy. It is -said that we are possibly in want of a sixth sense belonging to our -nature, by means of which our knowledge would be greatly augmented. -This sense is most likely in some other world, where one of our five is -wanting. There may even be a very great number of natural senses, but -in the distribution of them among the planets, only five have fallen -to our share, and with these five we remain satisfied because we don't -know of any more. Our sciences have certain limits which no human -understanding has exceeded: at a particular point we stop, the rest is -reserved for other worlds, where they are ignorant of many things that -we know. This planet is blest with the delightful emotions of love, but -at the same time desolated by the fury of war. Another enjoys perpetual -tranquillity, but with this uninterrupted peace, love is unknown, and -calmness degenerates into ennui. In short whatever nature has done on -a small scale, for the distribution of happiness and talents among us, -she has undoubtedly performed on a more extensive plan for the benefit -of the universe; at once diversifying and equalizing all. - -Are you satisfied, madam, said I? Have I given your imagination room to -exert itself? Do you not already see the people of different planets? -No, answered she, with a sigh: all you have been saying is so vague and -unsatisfactory; there is nothing in it for the mind to fix on. I want -something more determined; more marked. Well then, I replied, I will -not conceal any particulars that I am acquainted with: I can give you -some information that you will acknowledge to be undoubted, when I tell -you my authorities. Prepare to listen patiently if you please, for it -is a long story. - -In one of the planets, I shall not at present tell you which, there is -a people that are very active, laborious and skillful. Like some of our -Arabs, they live by pillage, and that is their only fault. They live -together in the most harmonious manner, labouring incessantly and in -concert, for the common good: above all their chastity is unexampled; -it is true they have no great merit in it; they are all sterile; there -is no difference of sex among them. But, interrupted the Marchioness, -were you not aware that the author of this marvellous story wanted -to make a fool of you? How could such a nation be perpetuated? No, I -replied, very coolly, they did not intend to make a fool of me; all -that I have told you is fact, yet the nation is perpetuated. They -have a queen whose royalty consists, not in directing the business -of the state, not in leading her subjects to the field of battle, -but in her surprizing fecundity, she has millions of children; in -short the production of them occupies the whole of her time. She has -a large palace, divided into a vast number of chambers, in each of -which a cradle is prepared for a little prince, and she is confined -successively in all these chambers, always surrounded by her courtiers -who congratulate her on the noble privilege she enjoys exclusively of -her subjects. - -I see, madam, that you wish to enquire who are her lovers, or, to give -them a more respectable appellation, her husbands. Some of the eastern -queens have seraglios of men; she apparently does the same, but she -keeps it a greater secret than they; this may arise from modesty, but -it is acting with little dignity. Among these Arabs who are always -in action, are found a few strangers, in person very much resembling -the natives of the country, though extremely different in disposition, -for they are remarkably indolent; they never stir out nor engage in -any business; and were not these persons kept for the pleasure of the -queen, they would hardly be suffered to remain amongst so industrious a -people. If, in reality, notwithstanding the smallness of their number, -they are the fathers of many thousands of children, they deserve to be -excused from any other employment; and it is a striking proof that this -is their only function, that as soon as the queen has brought forth -her ten thousand children, the Arabs kill, without mercy, the unhappy -foreigners, then become useless to the state. - -Have you done? enquired the Marchioness. Thank heavens! Let us now -resume a little common sense, if we can. Where have you picked up this -romance? What poet is the inventor of it? I again tell you, answered I, -that it is no romance. All this takes place on our globe, even under -our eyes.--If I must explain the mystery, these Arabs are no other than -bees. - -After this I gave her the natural history of bees, of which she had -before scarcely ever heard more than the name. In concluding, you see, -said I, that in attributing to other planets what is daily passing -here, we should be accused of telling the most extravagant falsehoods. -The history of insects, in particular, is a collection of wonders. I -have no doubt of it, she replied: the silk-worm alone, with which I was -better acquainted than the bees, would afford abundant materials for -your descriptions. A people undergoing such wonderful changes as to -be totally unlike what they formerly were; at one part of their lives -crawling, at another, flying: in short a thousand incredible things -might be told of the character and manners of this nation. - -My imagination continued the Marchioness, is beginning to work on the -subject you have given me--the inhabitants of all the planets: I am -conjecturing their figures; I can discern some of them very distinctly, -but I don't know how to describe them to you. As to their figures, said -I, I advise you to leave the formation of them to your dreams: we shall -hear to-morrow what they have suggested, and whether they have been -able to represent the inhabitants of any of the planets. - - ══════════════ - - - - - _FOURTH EVENING._ - - ══════════════ - - PARTICULARS CONCERNING THE PLANETS VENUS, MERCURY, - MARS, JUPITER AND SATURN. - - ══════════════ - - -The dreams of the Marchioness did not assist her; they represented -nothing that did not bear a resemblance to what we see here. I -had the same complaints to make as certain people, whose -paintings are always fanciful and grotesque, do at the sight of our -pictures,--_Pshaw_, say they, _these are all men; here are no objects -of imagination_. We therefore resolved to content ourselves with the -conjectures we should be able to make concerning the inhabitants of -the planets as we continued our journey: we had last night got as far -as Venus. We are assured, said I, that Venus turns on her axis, but it -is not ascertained in how long a time, consequently we cannot tell the -length of her days. Her years lasts but about eight months, as she is -not longer than that in performing her revolution round the sun. She -is of the same size as the earth, therefore the earth and Venus appear -equally large to each other. I am glad of that, said the Marchioness; -then I hope the earth is to Venus the shepherd's star, and the parent -of love, as Venus is to us. These appellations can be proper only for -a pretty little, brilliant, gay looking planet. True, answered I; but -do you know what makes Venus look so beautiful at a distance?--it is -the effect of her being very frightful when near. With good telescopes -it has been seen that she is covered with mountains, much higher than -ours, sharp-pointed, and apparently very dry.[33] This kind of surface -is the best calculated to reflect the light with great brilliancy. -Our earth, whose surface is very smooth, compared with that of Venus, -and partly covered with water, probably looks less beautiful at a -distance. So much the worse, said the Marchioness; I should like her to -preside over the loves of the inhabitants of Venus; they must certainly -understand what love is. Oh! undoubtedly, I replied; the people in -that planet, are all Celadons and Sylvanders, and their every-day -conversations are finer than the most admired in Clelia. Their climate -is very favourable to the tender passion. Venus is nearer to the sun -than we; and receives more light and heat: she is about two thirds the -distance of the earth, from the sun. - -[Footnote 33: M. Herschel's observations contradict this idea. Venus -has a very dense atmosphere, which prevents us from distinguishing any -thing on her surface; the brilliant appearance of this planet arises -from her proximity to the earth.] - -I can see, interrupted the Marchioness, what sort of people the -inhabitants are. They are much like the Moors of Granada: a little -dark, sun-burnt people, scorched with the sun; full of wit and -animation, always in love, always making verses, listening to music, -having galas, dances and tournaments. Give me leave to tell you, madam, -answered I, that you know but little of the inhabitants of Venus. Our -Moors of Granada when compared with them would appear as cold and -stupid as Greenlanders. - -But what must the inhabitants of Mercury be? We are above twice the -distance from the sun that they are. They must be almost mad with -vivacity. Like most of the negroes, they are without memory; never -reflecting; acting by starts and at random: in short Mercury is the -bedlam of the universe. The sun appears there nine times larger than it -does to us: the light they receive is so brilliant that our finest days -would be but twilight in comparison of theirs; perhaps they would find -them so dark as not to be able to distinguish one thing from another. -The heat to which they are accustomed is so intense, that they would -be almost frozen in our Africa. In all probability our iron, silver -and gold would be melted in their world, and only be seen in a liquid -state, as we in general have water, which in some degrees of cold -becomes a solid body. The inhabitants of Mercury would not imagine -that in another world those liquors, which perhaps form their rivers, -are the hardest of all bodies. Their year lasts but three months. The -length of their day is not known to us, because Mercury is so small -and so near the sun, that it exceeds the art of all our astronomers to -observe him with sufficient accuracy to determine what sort of motion -he has on his centre: the inhabitants, I think, must wish it to be -performed in a short time, for scorched as they are with the fierceness -of the sun, the coolness of night is undoubtedly very desirable to -them. The part which by rotation is deprived of the sun's light, is -illumined by Venus and the earth, which must appear very large. As to -the other planets, being farther off than the earth, they, seen from -Mercury, appear much smaller than to us, and afford very little light -to that planet. - -I don't feel so much for its inhabitants on that account, replied the -Marchioness, as from the inconvenience they must suffer from such -excessive heat. Let us try if we can't relieve them in some way. Is it -not probable they have long and plentiful showers, such as we are told -fall continually for four months together, in our hot countries, at the -seasons when the heat is most intense? - -It may be the case, answered I; and we have another way of giving -them relief. There are some parts of China which from their situation -ought to be very hot, and yet, even in the month of July and August -the weather is so cold that their rivers freeze. This coldness arises -from the quantities of salt-petre with which the countries abound; -the exhalations, drawn up in great abundance by the heat are of a -cold nature. Mercury, if you please, shall be a little planet made of -salt-petre, and the sun, by attracting the cooling exhalations, will -thus prevent the evil it would otherwise be the cause of. However, -we may rest assured that nature would not place beings where it was -impossible for them to exist; and that habit, and ignorance of a better -climate, render this situation agreeable: Mercury therefore may perhaps -do very well without salt-petre, or abundant rains. - -After Mercury, you know, we find the sun. We cannot possibly place -inhabitants there: the _why not_ fails in this case. We conclude from -the earth being inhabited that other bodies of the same nature must -be so too: but the sun does not resemble the earth, and the rest of -the planets. He is the source of all that light which the planets only -reflect to each other after they have received it from him. They make -exchanges, if I may so express myself, with one another, but none of -them can bestow an original light. The sun is the sole proprietor of -that treasure; which he distributes freely on every side. The light, -thus issuing from the centre, is reflected from every solid body it -meets, and from one planet to another it proceeds in bright streams -that intermix, and cross each other in a thousand directions, forming -a splendid tissue of the richest materials. The grand luminary by -being placed in the centre is in the most advantageous situation for -animating each planet with his heat and radiance. The sun, then, is -of a peculiar nature, but what that nature is, we find it difficult -to imagine. Formerly it was believed to be a pure fire, but lately we -have been undeceived by observing spots on the surface. As certain new -planets had just before been discovered, (I shall give you an account -of these planets hereafter;) which entirely engrossed the attention -of the philosophers, a sort of mania for new planets seized their -minds, and they immediately concluded these spots were some; that they -performed a circle round the sun, and necessarily concealed some part -of his light by turning their dark side towards the earth. The learned -already, through these planets, complimented the different princes of -Europe. Some gave them the name of one prince; some of another, and -perhaps in time there would have been a great contest to know who had -the best right to name these spots. - -I don't like their plan, said the Marchioness. You told me, the other -day, that the different parts of the moon were named after learned -men; I thought that very proper: as princes monopolize the earth, it -is but fair that astronomers should have the sky for their share, and -not suffer princes to intrude on their domain. Allow them, however, -I replied, if territory should be wanting, to consign to them some -planet, or some part of the moon. As to these spots on the sun, they -can make no use of them; for instead of planets, we find they are only -clouds of smoke or dross arising from the sun. Sometimes these clouds -are greatly accumulated, sometimes we see little of them, and at other -times they totally disappear. Sometimes a number of them are combined -together, then they are separated into small parts; at one time they -are very dark, at another they grow pale. It appears as if the sun -was some kind of liquid; many people think it is melted gold, in a -continual state of ebullition, producing impurities, which the rapidity -of its motion casts up from the surface; they are afterwards consumed -and others produced. Only think what amazing bodies these are. Some -of them are seventeen hundred times[34] larger than the earth, for -you must know, the earth is more than a million times smaller than the -sun.[35] Imagine therefore what must be the quantity of this liquid -gold, or the extent of this ocean of light and fire! - -[Footnote 34: The largest of the sun's spots are scarcely three times -larger than the diameter of the earth, or twenty-seven times its bulk.] - -[Footnote 35: The earth is only a hundred, or to speak with more -exactness, a hundred and eleven times, smaller.] - -Other philosophers say, and with great plausibility, that the spots, or -at least the greatest part of them, are not newly produced, and then -destroyed after a certain time; but large, solid, masses, of irregular -forms, always subsisting; sometimes floating on the surface of the -sun, sometimes partly, or entirely buried in the liquid substance, and -presenting to our view different projections according to the size of -the part that remains uncovered. Perhaps they may be parts of some -great mass of matter which serves as aliment to the fire of the sun. -However, let the sun be what it will, it does not by any means appear -habitable.[36] It is a pity; the situation would be advantageous: -placed at the centre, its inhabitants would see the planets going -round them in regular orbits, whilst to us their motions seem to have -perplexing varieties, which are merely the effect of our not observing -them from the best place; that is, the centre of their circles. What a -sad thing it is: there is but one spot where the study of the celestial -bodies would be extremely easy, and at that spot there is nobody to -pursue the study. You forget yourself, answered the Marchioness. Were -any one placed on the sun, he would neither see the planets nor the -fixed stars; would not the light of the sun efface every other object? -The inhabitants would doubtless think themselves the only people in -existence. - -[Footnote 36: Some natural philosophers have however thought that the -sun might be the cause of heat without being itself hot; and that there -was a possibility of its being inhabited. M. Herschel believes its -population very abundant. Trans. Philos. 1795. Décade Philosophique.] - -I acknowledge my error, I replied: I was thinking of the situation of -the sun, without considering the effect of such an excessive light: but -although you have so properly corrected my mistake, yet you must allow -me to tell you that you have fallen into one yourself. The inhabitants -of the sun would not see any thing: they would be either incapable -of enduring so immoderate a light, or, were their eyes sufficiently -strong, of receiving it unless they were at some distance; therefore -the sun could only be a habitation for people without sight. In short, -we have abundant proofs that this luminary was not intended to be a -dwelling-place; and therefore we may as well continue our planetary -journey. We are now stopping at the central point which is always the -lowest part in any thing that is round; and, by the way, I should tell -you that in going from our world to this centre we have travelled -thirty-three millions of leagues. We must now return the way we came. -We pass by Mercury, Venus, the Earth and the Moon; all which we have -visited. Then we arrive at Mars. I don't know that there is any thing -remarkable in this planet. The days there are about half an hour longer -than ours; and the years twice the length of ours, except a month and a -half. Mars is four times less than the earth,[37] and the sun appears -rather smaller and less brilliant than it does to us.--In short, Mars -contains nothing calculated to arrest our attention. - -[Footnote 37: Its volume, or bulk is five times smaller.] - -But what a beautiful object is Jupiter, surrounded by his four moons, -or satellites! These moons are four little planets which, whilst -Jupiter revolves in twelve years round the sun, constantly go round him -as the moon does round the earth. But, interrupted the Marchioness, -how is it that there are planets which go round other planets, no -better than themselves? It seems to me that there would be much more -regularity and uniformity in assigning to all the planets but one sort -of orbit in which they should move round the sun. - -Ah! madam, I replied, were you but acquainted with the vortices of -Descartes; those vortices, so terrible in name, and so charming in the -ideas they give rise to; you would not talk in this way. My wits must -all go, said she, laughing. I must know what these vortices are. Make -me quite mad at once: now I have dipped into philosophy I can't trouble -myself about the care of my senses: spite of the world's laughter, we -will talk of the vortices. I did not know you had so much enthusiasm, -said I; 'tis pity it has no other object than vortices. - -What we call a vortex is a quantity of matter, whose detached parts -move all in the same direction, but allowed at the same time to have -some little movements peculiar to themselves, provided they still -pursue the general course. A vortex of wind, for instance, is a vast -number of little particles of air, turning all together in a circular -direction, and involving whatever comes in their way. The planets you -know are borne along by the celestial fluid, which is prodigiously -subtle and active. All the celestial matter, from the sun to the fixed -stars, constantly turns round, carries the planets along with it, and -makes them proceed round the sun in the same direction, but in longer -or shorter periods, according to their distance from the centre. Even -the sun is made to turn on his axis by being exactly in the midst of -this moving matter; you will therefore observe, that if the earth were -in the central situation she could not be exempted from this rotation. - -Such is the great vortex of which the sun is master; but the planets, -at the same time, form little vortices in imitation of the sun. Each -of them whilst turning round the sun, turns likewise on itself, and -carries in its motion a certain portion of the celestial matter, -which is ready to receive any impulse that would not prevent it from -following the general course: this is a vortex of any particular -planet, and it extends as far as the motion of this planet has any -influence. If a smaller planet comes within the vortex of a larger one, -it is irresistibly carried round that larger one, and altogether, the -large, and the small planet, and the vortex that encloses them, perform -their revolution round the sun. Thus at the commencement of creation we -obliged the moon to follow us because she came within the influence of -our vortex, and was by that mean subjugated to our will. Jupiter, the -planet we were speaking of, was more fortunate, or more powerful than -the earth. Four little planets were in his neighbourhood, and he became -master of them all; and we, who are a planet of some importance, would -probably have felt his power if we had been near him. He is a thousand -times larger than the earth;[38] and would easily have drawn us into -his vortex, and made us one of his moons; instead of this we have a -planet to attend on us: so true is it that the situation into which we -are thrown decides the fate of our lives. - -[Footnote 38: We may even say thirteen hundred times.] - -And how do we know, answered the Marchioness, that we shall always -remain where we are? I begin to tremble lest we should be foolish -enough to approach such an enterprizing planet as Jupiter, or that he -should come to us, for the sake of drawing us into his vortex; for -I can't help thinking, from your description of the agitated state -of this celestial fluid, that it must move the planets irregularly, -sometimes urging them nearer together, sometimes sending them to a -greater distance. We may as well expect to gain as to lose by such an -eccentric motion, said I; perhaps we may make a conquest of Mercury or -Mars, which are smaller planets, and incapable of resisting us. However -we have no occasion for either hope or fear; the planets will remain in -their places; and, like the former kings of China, they are forbidden -to aim at conquest. You have observed that when oil is mixed with -water, the oil swims at the top. Put any substance that is extremely -light on both these, and the oil will support it, so that it shall not -touch the water: but put a heavier body, of a certain weight, it will -pass through the oil, which is too weak to stop it, and keep falling -till it meets the water, which has sufficient force to bear it up. -Thus two liquors put together, being of unequal weight, will not mix, -but place themselves in different situations; and neither will one -rise, nor the other descend: pour on these other liquors which are of -a nature to remain separate, and the same effect is still produced. In -like manner the celestial matter which fills this grand vortex, is in -separate strata, encircling each other, and of unequal weight, like oil -and water, and some other liquors. Some planets likewise are heavier -than others,[39] each therefore stops in the layer which has the degree -of force necessary for supporting it, and keeping it in a state of -equilibrium; and you must be convinced that it can never go beyond this -stratum. - -[Footnote 39: The Cartesians carried their illusion so far as to -believe that so solid a mass as a planet could be steadily supported by -the ætherial fluid, the most subtle of all fluids.] - -I understand, replied the Marchioness, that the different degrees of -weight are sufficient to keep them in their proper ranks. I wish with -all my heart there was some such regulating power among us, that would -serve to fix people in the situation most suitable to them! You have -quite removed my uneasiness with regard to Jupiter. I am very glad he -will let us remain quietly with our little vortex, and single moon. I -feel very well contented with one attendant, and do not envy him his -four. - -You would do wrong if you did, said I; he has no more than are -necessary. He is five times farther from the sun than we, that is, -a hundred and sixty-five[40] millions of leagues distant from it, -consequently his moons receive, and reflect, but a feeble light: the -number therefore compensates for the little effect produced by each: -were they not separately so inefficient, four moons would appear -unnecessary, as Jupiter turns on his axis in ten hours, and of course -the nights are very short. The satellite which is the nearest to -Jupiter, performs its circle round him in two-and-forty hours; the -next in three days and a half; the third, in seven; the fourth, in -seventeen; and by the inequality of their progress, they form a most -pleasing spectacle for this planet. At one time they rise all four -together; then, almost immediately separate; sometimes they are all -at the full, placed in a line, one above another; afterwards they are -seen at equal distances in the sky; then when two are rising the other -two will set. Above all I should like to see the perpetual variety of -eclipses among them, for there is not a day passes in which they do not -eclipse each other, or the sun.[41] Surely as eclipses are so familiar -to the inhabitants of that world, they must be considered a subject of -amusement, rather than terror, as they are here. - -[Footnote 40: Calculating with more exactness, 179.] - -[Footnote 41: Or; we may add, in which they are not eclipsed by the -shadow of Jupiter, which happens the most frequently.] - -You will not fail, I suppose, said the Marchioness, to people these -four moons, though they are only little subaltern planets, intended -merely to give light to another during the night. Undoubtedly not, I -replied. These little planets are not unworthy of inhabitants because -they are unfortunate enough to be subjected to a larger planet. - -I think, then, answered she, these satellites ought to be like colonies -to Jupiter; that their inhabitants should, if possible, receive from -him their laws and customs, and in return, render him some degree of -homage, and always consider the great planet with respect. Would it -not be needful, said I, for the moons occasionally to send deputies -to Jupiter, who should take an oath of fidelity to him? I must own -the little superiority we possess over the people in our moon makes -me doubt whether Jupiter has much influence over the inhabitants of -his satellites, and I think the only superiority he can aspire to is -that of impressing them with awe. For of what a terrific size he must -appear! To the planets nearest to him he looks sixteen hundred times -larger than our moon appears to us.[42] Truly if the Gauls in ancient -times were afraid the heavens would fall and crush them to death, the -inhabitants of this moon may with greater propriety apprehend the fall -of Jupiter. Perhaps, she replied, that is the subject of alarm to them -instead of the eclipses, which you assure me they see without fear;[43] -for as they are exempt from one folly, they must be subject to some -other. Undoubtedly, answered I. The inventor of a third system, which -I mentioned the other day, the celebrated Tycho Brahe, one of the -greatest astronomers that ever lived, felt none of the vulgar terror -at an eclipse; he was too much accustomed to study the nature of such -a phenomenon; but what do you think he was afraid of instead?--If when -he first went out of doors the first person he saw was an old woman; or -if a hare crossed the path he had taken, Tycho Brahe thought the day -would be unfortunate, and returning in haste to his apartment, he shut -himself up without venturing to engage in any occupation whatever. - -[Footnote 42: Thirty-six times larger than we see the moon: and they -receive from him one thousand two hundred and ninety times more light.] - -[Footnote 43: Their solar eclipses are of much longer duration than -ours.] - -It would be unjust, said she, if such a man as he could not with -impunity overcome the fear of an eclipse, for the inhabitants of the -satellite we were speaking of, to be exempted from it on easier terms. -We will not spare them: they shall submit to the general doom; and if -they escape one error they shall be liable to another. - -A difficulty has just occurred to me, continued she, you must remove it -if you can: if the earth is so small in comparison of Jupiter, are we -visible to the inhabitants of that planet? I am afraid we are unknown -to them. - -Really I think so, answered I; the earth is certainly too small to be -distinguished by them.[44] - -[Footnote 44: The earth at that distance must appear only three seconds -and a half in diameter, as the planet Herschel does to us; but our -nearness to the sun necessarily prevents them from seeing us at all.] - -We can only hope that in Jupiter there may be some astronomers who, -after taking great pains to compose very excellent telescopes, and -availing themselves of the finest nights for making their observations, -may at length discover a very little planet which they had never seen -before. At first the learned give an account of it in their journal; -the rest of the people either hear nothing about it, or laugh at -it when they do; the philosophers are discouraged and resolve not -to mention it again, and but a few of the inhabitants who are more -reasonable than the others will admit the idea. By and by they examine -again; they see the little planet a second time; they are then assured -of its reality, and even begin to think it has a motion round the sun. -After observing it a thousand times, they find out that this revolution -is performed in a year: and at last, when the learned have been at -great pains to investigate the subject, the inhabitants of Jupiter know -that our world is in the universe. The curious eagerly look through -their telescopes, and with all their looking, can scarcely discern it. - -Were it not disagreeable, said she, to know that from Jupiter we can -only be seen through telescopes, I should amuse myself with the idea -of all the glasses being pointed towards the earth as ours are towards -him, and the mutual curiosity with which the two planets examine each -other, and enquire, _What world is that? What sort of people inhabit -it?_ - -Your imagination is too rapid, I replied; when the astronomers -of Jupiter become acquainted with our earth, they do not become -acquainted with us: they will not suspect the possibility of its being -inhabited; if any one should venture to express such an idea, how they -would laugh at him! Perhaps they would even persecute any philosopher -who should maintain the opinion. After all I think the inhabitants of -Jupiter are too much occupied in making discoveries on their own globe, -to concern themselves about us. Jupiter is of such extent, that if -they are adepts in navigation their Christopher Columbus must be fully -employed. The inhabitants cannot know, even by reputation, a hundredth -part of the other inhabitants. In Mercury, on the contrary, they are -all neighbours, living familiarly together, and hardly considering the -tour of their world more than a pleasant walk. If we are not visible -to Jupiter, much less can Venus be so, who is at a still greater -distance;[45] and Mercury must be most out of its reach of all, being -the smallest, and the most distant. However, the inhabitants can see -Mars, their own four satellites, and Saturn with all his moons. Surely -then they have planets enough to perplex their astronomers; nature, in -kindness, has hid from them the rest. - -[Footnote 45: Venus is not farther from Jupiter, but more concealed by -the rays of the sun.] - -What! cried the Marchioness; do you consider it a kindness? Without -doubt, answered I. This great vortex contains sixteen planets; nature -to spare us the trouble of studying the motions of so many, let us see -but seven: is not that a favour? But not feeling the value of this -mark of consideration, we have, with great pains, discovered the other -nine, which had been concealed from us: our curiosity brings its own -punishment in the laborious study which astronomy now requires. - -I see, she replied, by the number of planets you mention, that Saturn -must have five moons.[46] You are right, said I; and it is but just -that he should have so many, as he is thirty years in going round the -sun; and in some parts the nights last fifteen years, for the same -reason that on our globe, which turns in a year, there are nights, -beneath the poles of six months' duration. But Saturn, being at twice -the distance that Jupiter is from the sun, consequently ten times -farther than the earth; his five moons, faintly as they are illumined, -would not give sufficient light during his nights, he has therefore a -wonderful resource, the only one of the kind we have discovered in the -universe: 'tis a large circle or ring[47] which environs the planet, -and which, being sufficiently elevated to escape almost entirely the -shadow of Saturn, reflects the sun's light on the darkened parts, and -reflects it more strongly than all the five moons, because it is not so -high as the lowest of them. - -[Footnote 46: He has seven, and Herschel six. In all there are -twenty-five planets, without reckoning ninety-one comets known in 1800.] - -[Footnote 47: Its exterior diameter is sixty seven thousand seven -hundred leagues.] - -Really, said the Marchioness, with an air of deep reflection and -astonishment, all this is managed with wonderful order; nature had -certainly in these instances a view to the wants of living beings; -this admirable disposition of light was not the effect of chance. -Only the planets which are distant from the sun have been provided -with moons--the Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn; for Venus did not require -any; nor Mercury who already has too much light; whose nights are -extremely short, and probably considered a greater blessing than even -the days. But stop--I think Mars, who is farther from the sun than -we, is without a moon. We cannot conceal the fact, I replied; he -has none; but he doubtless has resources for the night which we are -ignorant of. You have seen phosphorus; matters of that kind, whether -liquid or dry, receive and imbibe the light from the sun, which they -emit with some force when in the dark. Mars perhaps has high rocks of -phosphorus that absorb, in the day-time, light enough to irradiate the -night. You must own it would be an agreeable sight for the rocks to -light up as soon as the sun was set, and without art, produce the most -magnificent illuminations, that with all their radiance, would not have -the inconvenience of casting any heat. In America, you know, there are -birds which in the dark will afford light enough to read by: how can we -tell whether Mars has not a great number of such birds, who, as soon -as the night is come, disperse themselves on every side, and give an -artificial day? - -I am not satisfied, answered she, either with your rocks or birds. -They would be pretty enough to be sure; but as nature has bestowed so -many moons on Saturn and Jupiter, it shews that moons are necessary. -I should have been very much pleased to find that all the worlds at -a great distance from the sun had some, if Mars had not formed a -disagreeable exception. Ah! replied I, if you were more deeply versed -in philosophy you must accustom yourself to see exceptions to the -best systems. We clearly see that some things are adapted in the most -perfect manner to their end; others we accommodate as well as we can, -or perhaps are obliged to content ourselves with knowing nothing about -them. Let us do so with respect to Mars, since our researches are -fruitless, and resolve to say no more about him. - -We should be very much surprised, were we on Saturn, to see during -the night a great ring, extending over our heads in a semi-circular -form from one end of the horizon to the other; and by reflecting the -light of the sun, would have the effect of a moon at every part of -the circle. And are we not to have inhabitants in this great ring? -said she, laughing. Though I am disposed to place them wherever I -can, answered I, I confess I dare not tell you there are any there; -this ring appears too irregular a dwelling. As for the five moons, -we can't dispense with inhabitants for them. If the ring, however, -were what some suppose, only a circle of moons, following each other -very closely, with an equal motion, and the satellites, five of these -moons escaped out of the ring, what numbers of worlds would the -vortex of Saturn contain! Be that as it may, the people in Saturn are -uncomfortable enough, even with the help of their ring. It gives then -light, it is true; but what sort of light, at that immense distance -from the sun? The sun himself, which appears to them a hundred times -smaller[48] than to us, seems but a little pale star, emitting but a -feeble light or heat. And could they be transported to our coldest -countries, such as Greenland and Lapland, you would see them ready to -expire with the heat. If water were conveyed to their planet it would -no longer be water, but a polished stone, and spirits of wine which -never freeze here, would become hard as diamond. - -[Footnote 48: Ten times less in diameter.] - -Your description of Saturn petrifies me, said the Marchioness; though -just now you almost threw me into a fever in talking of Mercury. Two -worlds, answered I, which are at the different extremities of an -immense vortex, must be totally unlike. - -Then, replied she, the people are very wise in Saturn, for you told me -they were all mad in Mercury. If they are not very wise, answered I, -they are at least, I suppose, very phlegmatic. Their features could not -accommodate themselves to a smile; they require a day's consideration -before they answer any question, and they would think Cato of Atica -unmanly and frivolous. - -I am thinking, said she, that all the inhabitants of Saturn are slow; -all those of Mercury are quick; amongst us some belong to the former -class, some to the latter; may not that be in consequence of the -earth's being placed just in the middle situation and participating -of both extremes? The men of our world have no determined character; -some are like the inhabitants of Mercury; others resemble those of -Saturn, in short we are a compound of all the other planets. That's -a good idea, replied I; we form such a ludicrous assemblage that it -might easily be imagined we had been brought together from a variety of -worlds. We are therefore very well situated for studying character, for -this is an abstract of all the planets. - -At any rate, rejoined the Marchioness, the situation of our world has -one great convenience; the heat is not oppressive as at Mercury or -Venus, nor the cold so benumbing as at Jupiter or Saturn. And we are in -a part of the earth that is not subject to the greatest degrees of heat -and cold experienced even on our own globe. If a certain philosopher -returned thanks to his Creator for having formed him a man, and not a -beast; a Greek and not a Barbarian; I think we ought to be grateful -for being born on the most temperate planet in the universe, and in -one of the most temperate parts of that planet. You ought likewise, -madam, said I, to be thankful for being young, and not old; young and -handsome, not young and ugly; a young and handsome French woman, not -a young and handsome Italian: there are many things to excite your -gratitude besides the temperature of your climate. - -Ah! replied she, let us be grateful for every thing, even the vortex in -which we are placed. The happiness we enjoy is but little, we must not -lose any of it; it is well to cultivate an interest in the most common -things. If we are only alive to strong emotions our pleasures will be -few, seldom attainable, and dearly purchased. Promise me then, said -I, that when such animated pleasures are within your reach you will -think of the vortices and me, and not neglect us entirely. Very well, -said she: but will philosophy always afford me new enjoyments? For -to-morrow, at least, answered I: I have the fixed stars in reserve for -you, which surpass all that you have yet examined. - - ══════════════ - - - - - _FIFTH EVENING._ - - ══════════════ - - EVERY FIXED STAR IS A SUN, WHICH DIFFUSES LIGHT TO ITS SURROUNDING - WORLDS. - - ══════════════ - - -The Marchioness was very impatient to know what the fixed stars -were. Are they inhabited, like the planets? said she, or are they -not peopled? What can we make of them? Perhaps you would find out -what they are, answered I, if you were to try. The fixed stars cannot -be at less distance from the earth, than twenty-seven thousand, six -hundred and sixty times[49] the earth's distance from the sun, which -is thirty-three millions of leagues: perhaps some astronomers would -tell you they are farther still. The space between the Sun and Saturn, -the most distant planet, is only three hundred and thirty millions of -leagues; that is but a trifle in comparison of the distance between the -sun, or earth, and the fixed stars, in fact, we don't take the trouble -to compute it. Their light, as you perceive, is brilliant: if they -received it from the sun, it must be very faint after travelling such -an immense journey, and by reflecting it to us it would be still more -weakened. It would be impossible for light, which had twice gone such -a long space, to appear so bright as that of the fixed stars. They are -therefore luminous in their nature, or in other words, they are so many -suns. - -[Footnote 49: Or even two hundred thousand times.] - -Do I mistake, cried the Marchioness, or do I see your drift? Are you -not going to say "the fixed stars are all suns: our sun is the centre -of a vortex which turns around him; why should not each fixed star -be also the centre of a vortex, turning round it? Our sun enlightens -planets; why should not every fixed star likewise enlighten planets?" I -need make no other answer, replied I, than Phœdrus made to Enone: _thou -hast named it_. - -But, rejoined she, you are making the universe so unbounded that I feel -lost in it; I don't know where I am, not what I'm about. What! are -they all vortices heaped in confusion on one another? Is every fixed -star the centre of a vortex, as large perhaps as ours?[50] The amazing -space comprehending our sun and planets is but a little portion of -the universe? An equal space, occupied by each of these vortices? The -thought is fearful; overwhelming! For my part, said I, I think it very -pleasing. Were the sky only a blue arch to which the stars were fixed, -the universe would seem narrow and confined; there would not be room to -breathe: now that we attribute an infinitely greater extent and depth -to this blue firmament, by dividing it into thousands of vortices, I -seem to be more at liberty; to live in a freer air; and nature appears -with astonishingly encreased magnificence. Creation is boundless in -treasures; lavish in endowments. How grand the idea of this immense -number of vortices, the middle of each occupied by a sun, encompassed -with planets which turn around him! The inhabitants of one of these -numberless vortices, on every side behold the suns of surrounding -vortices, although the planets belonging to them are invisible, as the -light they receive from their suns cannot penetrate beyond their own -vortex. - -[Footnote 50: That may be the case, but we have no proof that there are -planets turning round these stars.] - -You are directing my eye, answered she, to an interminable perspective. -I see, plainly enough, the inhabitants of the earth; then you enable -me to discover, with somewhat less clearness, those of the moon and -other planets contained in our vortex. After all that you require me -to view the people that dwell in planets belonging to other vortices. -I must confess they are so much in the back ground that with all my -efforts they are scarcely perceptible to me. In short do they not seem -almost annihilated by the very expression you are obliged to make use -of in describing them? You must call them the inhabitants of one of the -planets, contained in one, out of the infinity of vortices. Surely the -very idea of ourselves is as nothing when such a description is applied -to us, when we are thus lost amongst millions of worlds. For my part, -the earth begins to diminish into such a speck, that in future I shall -hardly consider any object worthy of eager pursuit. Surely people, who -form unnumbered schemes of aggrandizement, who are wearing themselves -out in following up projects of ambition, are ignorant of the vortices. -I think my augmentation of knowledge will encrease my idleness, and -when I am reproached for being indolent I shall reply, _Ah! if you -knew the history of the fixed stars!_ Alexander could not have been -acquainted with it, answered I; for a certain author, who believes that -the moon is inhabited, tells us very seriously that it was impossible -for Aristotle to avoid receiving so rational an opinion, (could -Aristotle be ignorant of any truth?) but that he never disclosed it for -fear of displeasing Alexander, who would have been miserable to hear -of a world that he could not subjugate. There would have been a still -greater reason for keeping the vortices of the fixed stars a secret; -if any body in those days had known them, they would not have thought -of ingratiating themselves with the monarch by talking of them. It is -unfortunate that I who am acquainted with the system should not be -able to reap any benefit from it. According to your reasoning it will -only be an antidote to the disquietudes of ambition; that is not my -malady. The weakness I am most addicted to is an excessive admiration -of beauty, and I fear the vortices will have no power to assist me in -overcoming it. The immense number of worlds destroys the grandeur of -this, but it does not lessen the charms of a fine pair of eyes or a -beautiful mouth, _they_ retain their power in spite of all the worlds -that can be created. - -Love is a strange thing, said she, laughing; it escapes every -corrective; there is no system that can abate its influence. But answer -me seriously; have you sufficient reason for believing this system? To -me it appears to rest on an uncertain foundation. A fixed star is of a -luminous nature like the sun, therefore you say it must, like the sun, -be a centre to a vortex containing planets which travel round the sun. -Now, is that a necessary consequence? - -Listen, madam, I replied; we are so naturally disposed to mingle the -follies of gallantry with our gravest discussions, that mathematical -reasoning partakes of the nature of love. Grant ever so little to a -lover, and presently you are forced to grant him a great deal more, -and so on till you don't know how to stop. In like manner admit any -principle a mathematician proposes, he then draws a consequence which -you are obliged to admit, and from that consequence another, and thus -before you are aware he carries you so far that on a sudden you wonder -where you have got to: these two characters always take more than you -mean to give them. You must own that when two things are similar in all -that I know of them, I may reasonably think them similar in what I am -unacquainted with in respect to them. From that principle I draw the -conclusion of the moon being inhabited because she resembled the earth; -and the other planets, because they resemble the moon. And because the -fixed stars bear a resemblance to our sun, I attribute to them all that -he possesses. You have already made too many concessions to draw back, -you must go on; do it therefore with a good grace. But, said she, in -admitting this resemblance between the fixed stars and our sun, we must -suppose that the inhabitants of another great vortex see it as a little -fixed star, visible only during their nights. - -That is indisputable, I replied. Our sun is so near to us in comparison -of the suns belonging to other vortices that his light must be -incomparably stronger to us than to them. When he is risen we can -discern no other heavenly body: so, in another vortex, another sun -eclipses ours, and permits it to appear only at night, with all the -other suns, then visible. With them, fixed to the blue firmament, our -sun forms a part of some imaginary figure. As to the planets that go -round him, as they are not seen at so great a distance, they are not -so much as thought of. Thus all the suns are daily luminaries to their -own vortex, and nightly ones to all the other vortices. Each reigns -alone in his own system; elsewhere, is but one of a great number. -Nevertheless, do not these worlds differ from each other in a thousand -instances, notwithstanding this equality? for a general resemblance -does not exclude a vast number of dissimilarities. - -Surely, answered I: but the difficulty is to find them out. For ought -we know one vortex may have more planets revolving round its sun, -another fewer. In one there are subaltern planets, turning round -the principal planets; in another they may be all alike. Here they -all collect round their sun in a circle, beyond which is an empty -space which extends to the neighbouring vortices; in other parts of -the universe they may have their orbits at the extremities of their -vortex whilst the centre is left empty. And very likely there are some -vortices without any planets; others, whose suns, not being in the -centre, have a circular revolution, carrying their planets along with -them; others, again, whose planets may rise and set with regard to -their sun according to the change of that equilibrium which keeps them -suspended--What would you have more? Surely here is enough for a person -who has never been beyond one vortex. - -All that is nothing, she replied, for the number of worlds. What you -have been imagining would suffice but for five or six, instead of -millions. - -If you talk of millions now, said I, how will you count them when I -tell you there are many more fixed stars than you discover; that with -telescopes an endless number are seen which are invisible to the naked -eye; and that in a single constellation, where we might before have -counted a dozen or fifteen, there have been found as many as we were -accustomed to observe throughout the heavens?[51] - -[Footnote 51: I conclude, from a pretty accurate calculation, that we -may perceive a hundred millions with a telescope that has an opening of -four feet; I have clearly distinguished fifty thousand, and my glass is -but two inches and a half in diameter.] - -Have pity on me, cried she; I yield; you have overwhelmed me with -worlds and vortices. Ah! said I, but I must add something more still; -you see that white part of the sky, called the milky-way. Can you guess -what it is?--An infinity of little stars, invisible to our eyes on -account of their smallness, and placed so close to each other that they -seem but a stream of light. I wish I had a telescope here to shew you -this cluster of worlds. In some measure, they resemble the Maldivia -Isles, those twelve thousand little islands or banks of sand, separated -only by narrow canals of the sea which one might almost leap over. -The little vortices of the milky-way must be so close, that from one -world to another the people might converse or shake hands. The birds, -at least, I think, can go from one world to another; and pigeons may -be taught to carry letters as they do in our Levant from one town to -another. These little worlds must deviate from the general rule by -which the sun of any vortex effaces, at its rising, all the other suns. -In one of the little vortices contained in the milky-way the sun of -that particular vortex can hardly appear closer to its planets, or more -brilliant, than a hundred thousand other suns, in the neighbouring -vortices. The sky, then, is filled with a countless quantity of fires -almost close to each other. When they lose sight of their own sun, they -have thousands still remaining; and the night is not less enlightened -than the day; at least the difference is so trifling that we may say -there is no night. The inhabitants of those worlds, accustomed as they -are to perpetual light, would be very much astonished to hear of -miserable creatures who spend half their time in profound darkness; -and who, even during the light of day, see but one sun. They would -think we had fallen under the displeasure of nature, and shudder at our -condition. - -I don't ask you, said the Marchioness, whether they have any moons in -the milky-way; they could be of no use to the principal planets, since -they have no nights, and besides that, move in so small a space that -they could not be encumbered with subaltern planets. But, continued -she, by multiplying worlds so liberally, you give rise to a great -difficulty. The vortices, of which we see the suns, touch our vortex: -the vortices you say are round; can so many circles touch this single -one? I can't understand how it is. - -It shews a great deal of sense, answered I, to discover this -difficulty, and even to be unable to solve it, for it is in itself well -founded, and in the way you conceive it, unanswerable; therefore there -would be but little proof of wisdom in finding an answer to what was -incapable of any. If our vortex were in the figure of a die, it would -have six flat sides, which is very far from a circle; on each of these -sides might then be placed a vortex of the same shape. If instead of -six, it had twenty, fifty, or a thousand, flat sides, an equal number -of vortices might come in contact with it, each resting against one of -these sides. You know the greater number of flat sides a body has, the -nearer it approaches in form to a circle; so that a diamond cut into a -great number of facets, if they were extremely small, would be nearly -as round as a pearl of the same size. The vortices are only circular in -this manner. They have an amazing number of flat sides, each of which -is close to another vortex. These sides are very unequal; some larger, -some smaller. The smallest correspond to those of the milky-way. If -two vortices leave any space between, which must often be the case, -nature, to make the most of the extent, fills up the vacancy by one or -two, or perhaps a thousand, little vortices, which without incommoding -any of the others, form one, two, or a thousand more systems of worlds; -so there may be many more worlds than our vortex has sides; and I dare -say, though these little vortices are formed merely to fill up spare -corners of the universe that would otherwise have been useless; though -they may be overlooked by the neighbouring vortices, yet they are -quite satisfied with themselves. It is probably such little vortices -whose suns we cannot discover without telescopes, of which there is -a prodigious number. In short all these vortices are adjusted in the -best order imaginable; and as each of them must turn round its sun -without changing place, it is formed to move in the most easy and -commodious manner for that purpose. They, as it were, catch hold of -each other, like the wheels of a watch, and mutually assist the motion. -It is likewise true that in a sense they counteract one another: each -vortex if it had no external pressure would extend itself; but when -it attempts to swell it is repelled by the surrounding vortices, -which forces it to shrink back; then it extends again, and so on:[52] -some philosophers think that the fixed stars give such a sparkling, -intermittent light in consequence of this alternate expansion and -contraction of the vortices. - -[Footnote 52: The preservation of the starry system is more -satisfactorily explained by attraction; they are all kept in -equilibrium by their mutual attraction.] - -There is something agreeable, said the Marchioness, in the idea of -such a combat among the worlds, and the reciprocal emission of light -produced by it, which apparently is the only communication carried on -between them. - -No, no, I replied, that is not the only one. The neighbouring worlds -sometimes send us visitors, who come, in a very magnificent style. -These visitors are comets,[53] ornamented with brilliant flowing hair, -a venerable beard, or a majestic train. - -[Footnote 53: It is indisputably proved that the comets belong to our -solar system.] - -Ah! what ambassadors? said she, laughing. We could dispense with their -company, for they only frighten us. They only frighten children, -answered I, because their appearance is extraordinary; but there are -many children among us. The comets are merely planets, belonging to -another system. Their orbit was towards the extremity of their vortex, -which was perhaps differently compressed by those that surrounded it; -the lower side, on that account was flatter than the top, and the lower -side was next to us. These planets, beginning at the upper part to form -their circle, did not foresee that it would extend beyond the limit of -their vortex, at the lower part; in order, therefore, to continue their -circular journey, they were obliged to enter the extremities of the -next vortex, which we will suppose is ours. They always appear to us -extremely elevated, moving on the other side of Saturn. Considering the -prodigious distance of the fixed stars, there must be between Saturn -and the extremities of our vortex a great space void of planets. Our -enemies reproach us with the inutility of this space, but we find there -is a use for it, as it is devoted to the service of foreign planets -that occasionally enter our system. - -I understand, said she; we don't allow them to penetrate into the heart -of our vortex, and mix with our planets; we receive them as the Grand -Signior receives the ambassadors that are sent to him. He does not -honour them with a lodging in Constantinople, but assigns them one in -the environs. There is another point of resemblance, I replied, between -us and the Ottomans: they receive ambassadors without sending any in -return; and we receive the comets without sending any of our planets to -return their visits. - -From all these circumstances, answered she, we seem to be very proud: -yet we should not hastily form that conclusion; these strange planets -have a very menacing air with their beards and trains; perhaps they are -only sent to insult us; ours not having so imposing an appearance would -not be so well calculated to inspire those worlds with awe. The tails -and beards, I replied, are merely extraneous: the planets themselves do -not differ from ours; but in entering our vortex they assume the beard -or train from a certain illumination derived from our sun. This, by the -bye, has not been very well explained by our astronomers; however, they -are sure it is only some sort of illumination, and they must tell us -more of it when they can. Then I wish, rejoined she, that our Saturn -would take a beard or a tail, and frighten the other vortices; then -laying aside his terrific appendages, return to us and perform his -ordinary functions. He would do better to stay where is, answered I. -You recollect I explained to you the shock produced by the repulsive -power of each vortex: I think a poor planet must be violently shaken -in such a situation, and the inhabitants cannot feel much the better -for passing through it. We think ourselves vastly unfortunate when a -comet makes its appearance, whereas we ought to consider the comet -most unfortunate. I am not inclined to pity it, said the Marchioness; -I dare say all its inhabitants arrive here in good health, and it -must be extremely entertaining to them to go into a new vortex. We -who always remain in our own have but a dull life. If the people in a -comet have the sense to know the time at which they shall pass into -our vortex, those who have already been the journey, are just before -busily employed in describing to the rest what they will see. Speaking -of Saturn, they say: "You will presently see a planet with a great ring -round it. Then, you will discover one followed by four small planets." -Some of these people, perhaps are set to watch the moment of entering -our system: when it is arrived they cry _new sun, new sun_, as our -sailors exclaim _land, land_. - -I find then, said I, it is useless to attempt raising your compassion -for the comets: I hope, however, you will not refuse it to the -inhabitants of a vortex whose sun has been extinguished, and who are -thus condemned to perpetual darkness. Suns extinguished? cried she. -Yes, undoubtedly, I replied. The ancients saw certain fixed stars -which are no longer visible.[54] These suns have been deprived of their -light: ruin must have ensued throughout the vortex; a general mortality -on all the planets; for how could existence be maintained without the -sun? The thought is too dreadful, said she; is it not possible to evade -it? I'll tell you, answered I, what some very intelligent people have -imagined. They think that the fixed stars that have disappeared are -not extinct, but partly darkened; that is to say, that they have one -side obscure; the other luminous: that as they turn on themselves, they -first present the light part to us, and then the dark, when that is -the case we cease to see them. Apparently the fifth moon belonging to -Saturn is in this condition, for during one part of its revolution we -entirely lose sight of it; at which time it is not most remote from the -earth; on the contrary, it is then sometimes nearer than when visible. -Though this moon is a planet, and therefore cannot exactly guide our -opinion with respect to suns, yet we may suppose that a sun can be -partly covered by fixed spots. To spare you the pain of believing the -other opinion, we will adopt this, which is more agreeable: but I can -only receive it when applied to such fixed stars as have a regular -time for appearing and disappearing, as some have lately been observed -to do, otherwise we cannot suppose them half suns. What must we say to -the stars that disappear, and do not become visible after a time that -would certainly have been sufficient for turning on their axis? You are -too just to require me to believe that they are half suns: however I -will do all in my power to serve you; we will conclude that these stars -are not extinguished, but plunged in the unfathomable depth of the sky, -and thus become invisible; in this case the vortex would accompany its -sun, and all go on as usual. It is true that the greatest part of the -fixed stars have not any motion which removes them farther from us, for -if they were not always equally distant, they would sometimes appear -larger, sometimes smaller; but that is not the case. - -[Footnote 54: In 1572 and 1604, some beautiful stars appeared to burst -into light, and afterwards become extinct. Astron. Art. 792.] - -We will therefore suppose that some of the small vortices, being light -and active, slip betwixt the others, and return after they have made -their tour, whilst the larger systems remain immoveable. But there is -one inevitable misfortune: there are some fixed stars, which for a -long time are alternately visible and invisible, and at length totally -disappear. Half suns would re-appear at a regular time; others that -had retreated to an immense distance would at once disappear, and be -concealed for a very long time: exert therefore all your resolution, -madam; these stars are certainly suns which grow so dark as to be -invisible to us, then resume their brightness, and afterwards are -entirely extinguished. How, exclaimed the Marchioness, can a sun, a -source of light, become darkened? With the greatest ease, answered I, -if Descartes be in the right. He imagines that the spots on our sun, -being impurities, or vapours, may grow thick, collect together, form -themselves into a mass, and continue to encrust the sun till it is -quite hid. If, the sun is a fire connected with a solid matter, serving -as its aliment, we are not in a better condition; the solid matter may -be consumed. 'Tis said we have already had a fortunate escape: the -sun during several years, (the year, for instance, after the death -of Cæsar;) appeared very pale; owing to the encrustation which was -beginning to form. The sun had sufficient force to break and disperse -it; had it continued, we should have been lost. You make me tremble, -said the Marchioness. Now I know the consequences of paleness in the -sun, instead of going to my glass every morning to see if _I_ am pale, -I think I shall go and look whether _the sun_ is so. Take courage, -madam, I replied, it requires a good deal of time to ruin a system -of worlds. But, answered she, it seems as if time would inevitably -effect it. I cannot take upon me to deny it, said I. The immense mass -of matter which composes the universe is in continual motion, even -the smallest particles of it, and since there is this motion we are in -danger, for changes must happen, either slowly or rapidly, but always -in a time proportioned to the effect. The ancients were so vastly -wise as to imagine the heavenly bodies were of such a nature as never -to alter, because they had not observed any alteration in them. Had -they leisure to assure themselves of this by experience? Compared -with us the ancients were young: if flowers that last but a day were -to transmit their histories to each other, the first would draw the -resemblance of their gardener in a certain way; after fifteen thousand -ages of these flowers had elapsed, others would still describe him in -the same manner. They would say; "We have always had the same gardener, -the memoirs composed by our ancestors prove this to be the case; all -their representations exactly apply to him; surely he is not mortal -like us; no change will ever take place in him." Would the reasoning -of these flowers be conclusive?--it would have a better foundation -than that of the ancients respecting the celestial bodies; and had -there never to this day been observed any change in the heavens, though -they should appear likely to remain much longer without alteration, -I would not yet decide on them; I should think more experience -necessary. Should the term of our existence, which is but a moment, -be the measure for other durations? Ought we to assert that what has -lasted a hundred thousand times longer than we, must last for ever? -No, ages on ages of our duration would scarcely be any indication of -immortality. Truly, said the Marchioness, I think these worlds can -have no pretensions to it. I shall not do them the honour to compare -them with the gardener who outlives so many transient flowers; they -are but as those flowers themselves, springing up and fading away, one -after another: for I suppose, if old stars disappear, new ones become -visible; the species cannot otherwise be continued. Yes, answered I, we -need not fear the extinction of the species. Some will tell you these -new stars are only suns which re-approach us after having been for a -long time at a distant part of the heavens. Others think they are suns -that have broken through the crust that began to cover them. I easily -conceive the possibility of all this; but I think it equally possible -for new suns to be created. Why should not the matter that is fit to -compose a sun, after having been dispersed in various places, be at -length gathered together in one spot and then become the foundation of -a new system of worlds? I am the more inclined to this opinion because -it answers better to the grand idea I entertain of the works of nature. -Has she no way of producing and destroying plants and animals but by -a continual revolution? I am persuaded, and I doubt not that by this -time you are so too, that she exerts the same power with respect to the -worlds. But on such subjects we can only form conjectures. The fact is -that for nearly a century past, in which, by the help of telescopes, -almost a new heaven has been discovered, unknown to the ancients, there -have been few of the constellations in which some sensible alteration -has not taken place;[55] the greatest number of changes is observed in -the milky-way, as if more motion and bustle existed among this heap of -worlds. Really, said the Marchioness, I find the worlds, in short all -the heavenly bodies, so liable to change that I have quite overcome the -horror I felt at the idea of the suns being extinguished. Well, replied -I, to prevent you from relapsing, we will say no more about them, we -are arrived at the uppermost part of the heavens, and to inform you -whether there are any stars beyond that, exceeds my skill. You may -place more worlds or not; just as you are disposed. These invisible -countries should, in propriety, be left to the philosophers: they may -imagine them to exist, or not exist, or to exist in any way they chuse. -I shall content myself with having directed your mind to all that is -discernible by your sight. - -[Footnote 55: This is not proved.] - -Ah! she exclaimed, then I am acquainted with the whole system of the -universe! how learned I am! Yes, said I, you are learned enough in all -reason, and your knowledge is attended with this convenience,--you may -extract your belief of all I have told you whenever you think proper. I -only ask as a reward for my trouble, that whenever you see the sun, the -sky, and the stars, you will think on me.[56] - -[Footnote 56: As I have given these conversations to the public, I -think it would not be right to conceal any thing which passed on the -subject I shall publish another dialogue of the same kind that we had -a long while after these. It shall be entitled the "Sixth Evening," as -the rest were evening scenes.] - - ══════════════ - - - - - _SIXTH EVENING._ - - - ══════════════ - - ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS IN CONFIRMATION OF THOSE IN - THE PRECEDING CONVERSATIONS.--DISCOVERIES THAT - HAVE BEEN LATELY MADE IN THE HEAVENS. - - ══════════════ - - -For a long time the Marchioness and I said nothing about the plurality -of worlds, we had apparently forgotten that we had ever talked on the -subject. I went one day to her house, and just as I entered, two men -of some talents and celebrity were going out. You see, said she, what -visitors I have had; I assure you they are gone away with a suspicion -that you have turned my brain. I should be very proud of such an -achievement answered I; it would shew my power, for I think one could -not devise a more difficult undertaking. Well, replied she, I am afraid -you have accomplished it. I don't know how it happened, but whilst my -two friends, whom you met at the door, were here, the conversation -turned on the plurality of worlds; perhaps they had an invidious -design in directing it to that subject. I immediately told them all -the planets were inhabited. One of them said he was certain I could -not be of that opinion: in the most unaffected manner, I maintained my -sincerity; he continued to think I was only feigning, and I believe he -had too great a regard for me to admit the possibility of my having -really adopted so extravagant an opinion. The other, from esteeming -me less, did not doubt my veracity. Why have you made me obstinately -adhere to sentiments which people who have the greatest friendship for -me will not suffer themselves to believe me possessed with? But, madam, -answered I, why did you maintain these opinions seriously, when talking -with persons that I am sure would not gravely argue on any subject? -Should we thus trifle with the inhabitants of the planets? Let us, who -believe their existence, be content to remain a little select band, and -not disclose our mysteries to the vulgar. Vulgar! exclaimed she; do you -reckon those two men among the vulgar? They have good understandings, -said I; but they never reason. Grave reasoners, who are austere people, -would not hesitate to place them in that class. They however take their -revenge by ridiculing the reasoners. We should if possible accommodate -ourselves to persons of both characters; it would have been better to -speak jestingly of the planetary inhabitants to such men as your two -friends, since they are accustomed to pleasantry, than to enter on an -argument, for which they have no talents. You would have retained their -good opinion without depriving the planets of a single inhabitant. -Would you have meanly sacrificed the truth? answered she. Where is your -conscience? I must own, I replied, I have not much zeal for truths of -this nature; I would readily forbear to maintain them if it suited my -convenience. - -The cause which prevents people from believing the planets to be -inhabited is, that they appear to them only bodies placed in the -heavens to give light, instead of globes consisting of meadows and -fruitful countries. We readily believe that meadows and fields are -inhabited, but it is thought ridiculous to assert that mere luminous -bodies are. 'Tis in vain that reason informs us of fields in the -planets; reason comes too late, the first coup-d'œil has impressed -our minds before-hand, and this impression is not willingly parted -with. The planets, 'tis said, are only luminous bodies; what sort of -inhabitants then can they have? Our imaginations do not enable us to -distinguish their figures, therefore it is the shortest way to deny -their existence. Would you require me, for the sake of establishing -the idea of these inhabitants, whose interest cannot be very dear to -me, to attack all the powers of the senses and the imagination? Such -an enterprize would demand a vast deal of courage. Men are not easily -persuaded to see through their reason, rather than their eyes. Some -few persons are rational enough to believe, after a thousand proofs -have been given them, that the planets are worlds like ours, but they -do not believe it in the same way they would do, if they had not seen -them apparently so different; they always recur to the first idea they -had formed, and can never wholly divest themselves of it. These people -seem to _condescend_ to our opinion, and only patronize it from a love -of singularity. - -Is not that enough, said she; for an opinion that is merely probable? -You would be astonished, answered I, if I told you the word probable -was too modest for the occasion. Is it merely probable that Alexander -has been in existence? No, you consider it certain; and what is the -ground of your certainty? Is it not that you have had every proof -that such a subject requires, and that no circumstance leads you -to doubt the fact? You have never seen Alexander, nor have you any -mathematical demonstration of his existence. What would you say if -this were the case with respect to the inhabitants of the planets? -We cannot shew them to you, nor can you require us to demonstrate -their being, in a mathematical way; but you have all the evidence -that can be desired: the entire resemblance between the planets and -the inhabited earth; the impossibility of imagining any other use for -which they could be created; the fruitfulness and magnificence of -nature; the attention she seems to have paid to the wants of their -inhabitants, such as giving moons to those planets that were very -remote from the sun, and the greatest number of moons to the most -distant: and it is an important consideration that every thing is on -that side of the question, without any objections to counterbalance -it; you cannot for a moment doubt unless you resume the vulgar mode of -seeing and thinking. In fact it is impossible to have more evidence, -and evidence of a more determinate kind; how then can you treat this -opinion as a mere probability? But do you think, said she, I can feel -as certain that the planets are inhabited, as that Alexander has been -in existence? By no means, I replied; for although, on the subject -we are speaking of we have as many proofs as in our situation we can -receive, yet these proofs are not numerous. I protest, exclaimed she, -I'll renounce these planetary inhabitants, for I don't know whether -to believe there are any or not--it is not certain, yet it is more -than possible--I am quite perplexed. Do not be discouraged, madam, I -replied. Clocks that are made in the most common manner shew the hour; -those only that are made with more exquisite art, indicate the minutes; -in like manner common minds see a great difference between probability -and absolute certainty; but it is only superior understandings that -ascertain the degrees of certainty or of probability, and who, if I -may use the expression, can tell the minutes as well as the hours. -Place the inhabitants of the planets a little below Alexander in point -of certainty, but above a vast number of historical relations which -are not entirely proved; I think that is their proper place. I love -order, said she, you do me a kindness in giving arrangement to my -ideas: why did you not do this before? Because, answered I, whether you -attribute to this idea a little more, or a little less certainty than -it possesses is not of much consequence. I am certain you do not feel -so assured as you ought to do of the earth's motion: are you the less -happy on that account? Oh! as to that opinion, I am sure I do my duty; -you have no right to complain of me, for I firmly believe that the -earth turns. Yet I have not given you the most convincing proof of it, -answered I. You use me very ill, said she, to make one believe things -without sufficient reason; am I unworthy to hear the best arguments? -I wished to prove my opinions, I replied, by easy, entertaining -arguments; would you have had me make use of such solid, sturdy ones as -I should have attacked a doctor with? Certainly, said she; now fancy me -a doctor, and let me have this new proof of the earth's motion. - -With all my heart, answered I; it is this, and I am vastly pleased with -it, because I think I found it out myself; but it is so good and so -natural that I can hardly hope to have been the inventor. I am sure -an obstinate learned man who wished to oppose it, would be forced to -talk a great deal on the occasion; and that is the only way in which -a scholar can be overcome. It is evident either that all the heavenly -bodies go round the earth in four-and-twenty hours, or the earth, -turning on her axis, only imagines the motion in them. It is the most -improbable thing in the world that they should in reality go round the -earth in that short space of time, though we are not at first aware of -the absurdity of such an opinion. All the planets certainly revolve -round the sun: but these revolutions are unequal from the unequal -distances at which they are placed from the sun: the most remote, as -we might naturally suppose, take a longer time than the rest. This -order is observed even in the satellites that go round a large planet. -Jupiter's four moons, and the five belonging to Saturn, require a -longer or shorter time to move round their planet according to their -distance from it. It is further ascertained that the planets have a -rotation on their own axis; the time of this is likewise unequal; -we cannot tell the cause of such inequality, whether it depends on -the different size, or the degree of solidity of the planets, or on -the different degrees of rapidity of the vortices in which they are -enclosed, and the liquid matter by which they are carried along;[57] -this inequality however is certain, and in general we find that the -order of nature is such as to admit of particular variations in things -that are regulated by the same rules. - -[Footnote 57: We can assign no reason; the irregularity depends on the -original cause, whatever that cause may be, which at first determined -their motions.] - -I understand, said the Marchioness; I am quite of your opinion; if -the planets moved round the earth, the time employed by each would be -different, according to their various distances, as is the case in -their revolutions round the sun: is not that what you mean? Precisely -so, madam, answered I; their unequal distances from the earth would -produce an inequality in their revolutions round her: and the fixed -stars, being so extremely remote from us, so far beyond all that could -have a general movement round us, at least situated in a place where -such a motion must be very feeble, is there any probability of their -revolving round us in four-and-twenty hours, like the moon which is so -near to us? Ought not the comets likewise which do not belong to our -vortex, which have such irregular courses, and such different degrees -of swiftness, to be exempted from performing this daily circle round -our world? No, planets, fixed stars, and comets too, must all turn -round the earth! Were there but a few minutes difference in the time -of their revolutions we might be satisfied with it; but they are all -exactly equal, never varying in the slightest degree; surely this is a -suspicious circumstance. - -Oh! replied the Marchioness, I could venture to say this exactitude -existed only in our imaginations. I am glad that any thing inconsistent -with the genius of nature, which this equality in so many moving bodies -would be, should depend on our motion, and she, even at our expense, be -free from the charge of inconsistency. For my part, said I, I dislike -a perfect regularity, and I don't approve of the earth's turning every -day on her axis in exactly twenty-four hours; I am disposed to think -the time varies. Varies! she exclaimed; do not our clocks shew that it -is always equal? Oh! replied I, I don't depend on clocks, they cannot -always be perfectly right; and should they be so, and sometimes shew -that the earth has made a longer or shorter tour in four-and-twenty -hours than usual, it would be thought that we ought rather to suspect -them of being wrong than to attribute any irregularity to the -revolutions of the earth. That is paying an extravagant respect to her, -I should depend no more on the earth than on a clock; the one might be -put out of sorts almost by the same causes as the other, only I think -it would take longer time to produce a sensible irregularity in the -earth; that is the only advantage I should allow her to have over a -clock. Might not the earth by degrees get nearer to the sun, and then, -finding herself in a situation where the matter was agitated with -greater violence, perform her motion on her axis, and her revolution -round the sun, in a shorter time? In that case the years would be -shorter, and the days too, but we should not perceive the difference, -for we should still divide the year into three hundred and sixty-five -days, and the days into twenty-four hours. So that without living -longer than we do now, we should live a greater number of years: and -on the contrary, if the earth were to remove farther from the sun, -we should live fewer years, although our lives would be as long. In -all probability, said she, if that were possible, a long succession -of ages would make but a trifling difference. True, I replied; nature -does nothing abruptly, her method is to effect every alteration by such -gentle gradations that it is scarcely perceptible to us. We hardly -observe even the changes of seasons; others that are produced much more -slowly must in general escape our notice. Nevertheless every thing is -subject to mutability; even a certain lady who has been seen, through -telescopes, in the moon for about forty years, appears considerably -older. She used to be rather handsome; now her cheeks are fallen away, -her nose and chin are beginning to meet; in short all her charms are -fled, and it is even feared that her life is near its close.[58] - -[Footnote 58: We are not assured that this alteration has taken place -in the part of the moon that has some resemblance to a woman's head: -but there must be changes, if we judge by the volcano which has been -repeatedly observed. Astron. Art. 3339.] - -What are you talking of? cried the Marchioness. I am not jesting, -I replied. A figure has been observed in the moon which resembled -a woman's head rising from among the rocks, and in that part an -alteration is perceived. Some pieces have fallen off a mountain, and -left the points which appear like the forehead, nose and chin of an -old woman. Does it not seem, said she, as if some malignant power had -a spite against beauty, since the young lady's head is the only spot -in the moon that has undergone a change. Perhaps, answered I, to make -amends, the alterations on our globe may give additional beauty to some -face observed by the inhabitants of the moon, I mean some face formed -like those of the people in that planet, for we always try to discover -in distant objects, the resemblance of what we continually think of. -Our astronomers discern young ladies' faces in the moon; probably if -women were to examine it they would find handsome male faces. If _I_ to -look, I don't know whether I should not see your likeness, madam. I -must undoubtedly, said she, feel myself obliged to any body who could -find me there; but let us return to what we were talking of just now; -are there any considerable alterations on the earth? In all probability -there are, answered I. Many high mountains, at a great distance from -the sea, have on them beds of shells, which shew that they were -formerly covered with water. Sometimes likewise, at a distance from -the sea, are found stones containing petrified fishes. How could they -have got to that place unless the water had been there? Fables tell -us, that Hercules separated with his hands two mountains called Calpe -and Abila, which being situated between Africa and Spain obstructed -the ocean; and the sea immediately rushed in violently, and formed the -great gulph that we call the Mediterranean. Fables are not altogether -fabulous; they are histories of remote periods, disguised by two very -ancient and common defects; ignorance, and a love of the marvellous. -It is not very credible that Hercules separated the two mountains with -his hands; but I can easily believe that in the time of some Hercules, -(for there have been fifty), the ocean may have torn asunder, perhaps -with the assistance of an earthquake, two mountains more feeble than -the rest and have by that means rushed in between Europe and Africa. -Then a new spot was discovered on our globe, by the people in the -moon, for you recollect, madam, that the water forms a dark spot. It -is the general opinion that Sicily has been separated from Italy, and -Cyprus from Syria: new islands have sometimes been formed in the sea; -earthquakes have ingulfed some mountains, and produced others, as well -as changed the course of rivers. Philosophers give us reason to fear -that the kingdom of Naples and Sicily, being over great subterranean -vaults filled with sulphur, will some time or other fall in, when the -vaults are no longer strong enough to resist the fires contained in -them, which now have vent at such openings as Vesuvius and Ætna. All -this will be sufficient to diversify a little the appearance we make to -the inhabitants of the moon. - -I would rather tire them said the Marchioness, with a monotonous -appearance, than entertain them by the ruin of provinces. - -That is nothing, answered I, to what takes place in Jupiter. He appears -to be surrounded with belts, which are distinguished from each other, -or from the spaces betwixt them, by their different degrees of light. -These are land and seas--or at least parts of the planet differing in -their nature. Sometimes these lands grow narrower, sometimes wider. New -ones are formed in various parts, and some of the old ones disappear: -and all these changes visible only through our best telescopes, are in -themselves much more considerable than if our ocean were to inundate -all the land, and leave its own bed to form new continents. Unless the -inhabitants of Jupiter are amphibious, and live with equal ease either -on land or in water, I hardly know what can become of them.[59] We see -likewise great alterations on the surface of Mars, even from one month -to another. In that short time seas overflow large continents, and -retire by a flux and reflux a thousand times more violent than ours; -or if this be not the case, some change equivalent to it takes place. -Our planet is very quiet compared with these; we have great reason -to congratulate ourselves, especially if it is true that in Jupiter -countries as extensive as Europe have been set on fire. Set on fire! -cried the Marchioness; that would be a great piece of news there. It -would indeed, answered I. We have observed in Jupiter, for perhaps -twenty years, a long stream of light more brilliant than the rest of -the planet.[60] We have had deluges here, but very seldom; perhaps -in Jupiter they have now and then a large conflagration as well as -frequent deluges. But be that as it may, the brilliant light I spoke -of is very different from another, which apparently is as old as the -world, though it has but lately been discovered.[61] How can a light be -formed for concealment? said she, that is something quite out of the -common way. - -[Footnote 59: These lands surrounding Jupiter, which are sometimes few, -and sometimes in great numbers, are apparently clouds.] - -[Footnote 60: I don't know that this observation is authentic.] - -[Footnote 61: The zodiacal light. Astron. Art. 844.] - -This light, I replied, is only visible at twilight, which is most -frequently long enough, and of sufficient power to conceal it; and -when it is not hid by the twilight, either the vapours of the horizon -prevent us from seeing it, or without great attention we may even -mistake it for twilight. However, about thirty years since it was -discovered with certainty, and for some time gave great delight to the -astronomers, whose curiosity wanted stimulating by something new. They -might find as many new subaltern planets as they chose without feeling -any interest in them. The two last moons of Saturn, for instance, did -not enrapture them as Jupiter's satellites had done; custom destroys -the power of every thing. - -We see, during a month before and after the equinox of March, when -the sun is set and the twilight disappeared, a sort of whitish light -resembling the tail of a comet. It is seen before the dawn and -sun-rise, towards the equinox of September, and morning and night -towards the winter solstice. At other times, as I have before said, -the twilight conceals it; for we have reason to believe it always -exists. It has lately been conjectured that it is produced by a large -mass of matter, somewhat dense, which environs the sun for a certain -extent. The greatest part of his rays penetrate this covering, and come -to us in a straight line; but some of these rays by striking against -the internal surface are reflected back to us, either before the -direct rays can reach us in the morning, or after they have ceased to -enlighten us in the evening. As these reflected rays come from a higher -region than the direct ones, it is therefore earlier when we receive -them, and later before we lose them. - -On this ground I must retract what I said on the probability of the -moon having no twilight, for want of a surrounding atmosphere as dense -as that of the earth. She is no loser by it, if she can receive a -twilight through this thick air which surrounds the sun, and reflects -his light to places which could not have his direct rays. Then, -enquired the Marchioness, will not this be a source of twilight to all -the planets, without the necessity of a dense atmosphere to environ -each, since that which surrounds the sun may produce the same effect -for all the planets in the vortex? From the frugality of nature, I -am disposed to believe she has effected the purpose by this means -only. Yet, said I, in spite of this frugality, the earth would have -two causes of twilight, one of which (the dense air before the sun), -would be useless, and could only serve as an object of curiosity to -the frequenters of the observatory: but it may be that the earth alone -sends out exhalations sufficiently gross to produce twilight; and -therefore a general resource has been provided for the other planets, -if their evaporations are more pure and subtile. We, perhaps, of the -inhabitants of all the worlds in our vortex breathe the grossest air; -did the people of the other planets know that, with what contempt they -would survey us! - -That would be wrong, answered the Marchioness; we are not contemptible -for being surrounded by a thick atmosphere since the sun himself is -in the same situation. Tell me, is not this air produced by certain -vapours that you formerly told me issued from the sun; and may it -not be to moderate the power of the first rays which perhaps would -otherwise be excessive? I think it probable that the sun may be thus -veiled, to accommodate it to our use. That is a happy idea, madam, said -I; you have founded a pretty little system. We may add that this vapour -possibly falls back in a sort of rain to refresh the sun, in the same -manner as we sometimes throw water into a forge when the fire becomes -too fierce. We cannot attribute too much to the power of nature; but -all her operations are not made visible to us, therefore we cannot feel -assured of having discovered her designs, or her manner of acting. -We should not consider any new discovery a certain foundation for -reasoning on, though we are very much inclined to do it: philosophers -are like elephants, that in walking never put one foot to the ground -till they feel the other firmly supported. That comparison, said she, -is the more just because the merit either of elephants or philosophers -does not consist in external charms; we shall however do well to -imitate the superior judgment of both: inform me more of the new -discoveries, and I promise not to be in a hurry again to form systems. - -I have told you, I replied, all the news I have heard from the sky, -and I believe no later intelligence has been received. I am sorry it -is not so entertaining and wonderful as some observations I read the -other day in an abridgment of the Annals of China, written in Latin. -They there see a thousand stars at a time fall from the sky into the -ocean with an amazing noise; or dissolve and disperse in rain. This has -not merely been seen once in China; I have met with the same account -given at two remote periods of time, besides that of a star which goes -towards the east, and bursts with the noise of a gun. It is a pity -such sights should be confined to China, while this part of the world -is never favoured with them. It is not long since all our philosophers -thought they had had sufficient experience to pronounce the heavens -and all the celestial bodies incorruptible and incapable of change; and -at the same time people at the other end of the world were seeing stars -dissolve by thousands: there appearance must have differed very much -from ours. But, said she, I never heard that the Chinese were great -astronomers. No, answered I, but the Chinese are gainers by being at -so great a distance from us, as the Greeks and Romans were by being -separated by a long space of time; whatever is remote assumes the right -of imposing on us. - -Really I am more and more of opinion that Europe is in possession -of a degree of genius which has never extended to any other part of -the globe, at least not to any distant part. It is not perhaps able -to diffuse itself over a great proportion of the earth at once, and -some invincible fatality prescribes to it very narrow bounds. Let us -then make use of it while it is in our possession: and let us rejoice -that it is not confined to science and dry speculations, but equally -extended to objects of taste, in which I doubt whether any people can -equal us. 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It is thus therefore capable of -becoming an instructive and entertaining Companion to those whose -Attention is assiduously directed to the Improvement of their own Minds. - -The _Old Series_ of this valuable Work is contained in Fifteen elegant -Pocket Volumes, enriched with upwards of Seventy Portraits of eminent -public Characters, price 3l. 13s. 6d. boards, or 4l. bound. - -Printed for the Proprietors, by _J. Cundee_, Ivy-Lane, Paternoster-Row; -where Communications (_post-paid_) are received for the _New Series_. - - ══════════════ - - - - - _A new and interesting Work, entitled_ - - A DICTIONARY OF THE WONDERS OF NATURE. - - ══════════════ - - _This day is Published_, - - _Closely and elegantly printed in a Pocket-size, containing - near 500 pages of Letter-press; and enriched with - curious and illustrative Copper Plates, - Price 5s. boards_; - - A - DICTIONARY - OF THE - _WONDERS OF NATURE_: - - ━━━━━━━━━ - - TRANSLATED PRINCIPALLY FROM THE WORKS OF - - A. S. S. DELAFOND, - - PROFESSOR OF PHYSIC AT BOURGES. - - ━━━━━━━━━ - - _Including extraordinary instances of_ - -Abstinence; Old Age; Curiosities in the Animal Kingdom; Singular -Antipathies; Remarkable Attachments; Extraneous Bodies; Phænomena -of the Human Bones; Brains; Wonderful Caverns; Forward Children; -Extraordinary Conformations; Remarkable Deafness; Apparent Death; -Extraordinary Divers; Wonderful Dwarfs; Dreadful Earthquakes which -have happened in various parts of the World; Extraordinary Eaters; -Curious Structure of the Eye; Instances of Fecundity; Fermentation; -Fire-damps; Subterranean Fires; Curious Fish; Wonderful Description of -Human Hair; Phænomena of Heat and Cold; Dreadful Hurricanes; Ice, and -Ice-houses described; Inundations, and the Properties of the Loadstone; -Powers of the Imagination; History of Mutes; Northern Lights Described; -Dreadful Maladies; Meteors; Remarkable Instances of Memory; Properties -of Mirth; Account of a Curious White Negro; Deviations from Nature; -Effects of Phosphorus; Rains; Extraordinary Men; Remarkable Accounts of -Monsters; Ventriloquists; Volcanoes; Thunder; Plants; Stones; Rocks; -Sleep-walkers; Petrified Bodies; Trees; Vegetation; Water-spouts; &c. -&c. including all the remarkable - - _PHÆNOMENA IN NATURE_; - -philosophically, and physically explained; forming the most curious and -interesting Collection of the Wonders of Nature ever published; the -whole alphabetically arranged; with a complete Index. - - ══════════════ - - To me be NATURE'S volume broad display'd, - And to peruse its all-instructive pages, my sole delight. - - ══════════════ - -⁂ Such is the interesting nature of the contents of this work, that it -is equally calculated to entertain and instruct every class of readers. - - ══════════════ - - London: - - _Printed by J. 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