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Just Published, in one large volume 8vo. 15s. cloth boards,
MORTAL LIFE,
A NID THE
STATE OF THE SOUL AFTER DEATH.
BY ALEXANDER COPLAND, Esq.
ADVOCATE.
S E CO N D E D IT I O N.
In this volume it will be found that more information on these deeply
interesting subjects can fairly be drawn from the Inspired Writings,
when read by the light of our modern knowledge of the universe,
and by the aid of the ablest Commentators, than has ever yet been
done in any other work, while the orthodoa doctrine on each import-
ant point is laid down according to the soundest interpretations of
Holy Writ.
SMITH, ELDER, & Co. LONDON.
W. WHYTE & Co. EDINBURGH.
“The most liberal, the most pious, and the most orthodox, need not
hesitate to read this book, as the author has walked on his difficult path
carefully, step by step, evidently with the light of good intention before him,
and supported on the right and left by the most eminent divines, and the most
able reasoners that religion ever inspired. He has not advanced a single con-
jecture without a text from the Scriptures in corroboration, has met all ob-
jections honestly and manfully, and has stated his reasons so fairly, that all
can plainly see he seeks not to make his own ability apparent, but the good-
mess of the cause he has adopted. . . . . . . . . . The style is forcible, unaffected,
and lucid ; not disdaining ornament, nor yet seeking it too pedantically;
and there being a strain of pure and heartfelt piety breathing through the
whole, renders it altogether a work of no common order.”—Metropolitan
Magazine.
“The author's speculations are often profound, always ingenious, and
if they are sometimes bold and startling, they are advanced with evident
sincerity, and an ardent desire to promote the highest interests of mankind.
. . . . . . . . We cordially recommend the work.”—New Monthly Magazine.
“We feel assured that the author has undertaken the task in a feeling of
true piety, and has executed it in the same feeling. . . . . . . . . . On the whole,
we recommend the work as ably written and well worthy of perusal.”—The
Town.
[Over.
2 MORTAL LIFE, &c.
“This is in many respects a singular work. . . . . . . . . . The subject, from
its intrinsic nature, is one of absorbing interest to mortal beings.”—Tait's
Edinburgh Magazine.
“The work will afford in perusal, to all sorrowing relations, the consola-
tion and diversion of mind of the most congenial kind. It neither leads the
thoughts to dwell painfully on one idea—that of loss—nor does it altogether
withdraw the mind from its contemplation, an effort still more painful. The
study of a work like this, on the contrary, while it gradually weans grief
from its melancholy occupation, supplies it with the sweetest and most cheer-
ful of all balm—the happy certainty of re-union, not after the lapse of vast
ages of time, but of the instant term of mortal existence.”—Spectator.
“The most important*of all questions. . . . . . . . . . A point of the dearest
personal interest. . . . . . . . . . We shall pursue the author through the series of
theories, arguments, opinions, and sentiments which he has with so much
skill and research collected in this volume.”—Monthly Review.
“There is much candour and honesty throughout, much evident single-
heartedness of aim and motive, no offensive dogmatism, and no controversial
pugnacity. . . . . . . . . . We think the author's leading idea sound and scriptural.”
–Presbyterian Review and Religious Magazine.
“In ranging through the numerous and important subjects discussed, we
perceive great expansion of mind, and a continued display of strong intellec-
tual energy. . . . . . . . . . It is a work which we would strongly recommend.”—
Imperia! Magazine.
“The volume displays an immense extent of reading, embracing, indeed,
the works of not fewer than 200 writers, who have trodden the path before
him. It is, therefore, extremely useful, not only to other laymen whose
studies may not have been equally profound, but also as a manual to the
theological student. . . . . . . . . . Animated with truly Protestant feelings, the
author takes great pains to establish a clear distinction between the doctrine
of a Middle State, as believed by the first Christians, and the tenet of Pur-
gatory, as taught by the modern Papists.”—Edinburgh Advertiser.
“The author has arranged the arguments with much judgment, and
drawn his inferences from every writer with cool reflection, and, we think,
with discerning justice. . . . . . . . . His speculations exhibit deep thought, are
advanced with evident sincerity, and the greatest veneration for the Scrip-
tures. . . . . . . . . . The volume is full of interest.”—Aberdeen Journal.
MORTAL LIFE, &c. 3
“The great number of authors consulted must render the work valuable
as a book of reference; and the manner in which the author has brought
forward the arguments of others to the test of Scripture and reason, and en-
deavoured (successfully, we think,) to clear them from prejudice and error.
must be of the greatest possible service to every one whose attention is di-
rected to this most important subject.”—Aberdeen Observer.
“This highly important and interesting volume.—The Anti-Romanist
tendency of the book alone would render it invaluable, but there is not a
page of it which is not pregnant with matter for serious and holy meditation.”
—Christian Remembrancer.
“Those who desire to sift the matter thoroughly, must turn to the “Lay-
man’s’ admirable work.”—Edinburgh Ecclesiastical Journal.
i.
**
d %2 Z1. Č Z 2.
. (24/4/2/772. % 24/2ZZ2//zz …
/ - -
OTHER WORLDS,
&c.
THE
EXISTEN CE
O F
O T H E R W O R L D S,
PEOPLED WITH
LIVING AND INTELLIGENT BEINGS,
D E D U C E D FROM THE NATURE OF THE UNIVER SE.
To which is added,
MODERN DISCOVERIES AND TIMES CONTRASTED WITH THE
STATE OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS.
BY
ALEXANDER COPLAND, Esq.
easº
A DV O C A T E.
LONDON :
J. G. & F. RIVINGTON,
ST. PAUL’s church YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE, PALL MALL.
EDINBURGH : WILLIAM WHYTE & CO.
1834.
A BERIDEEN :
PRINTED BY G. CornwALL,
HERALD OFFICE,
I N T R O DU C T O R Y R E M A R K S.
“Is this extravagant? No, this is just ;
Just in conjecture, though 'twere false in fact.
If 'tis an error, 'tis an error sprung
From noble root; high thought of the Most High ;
But wherefore error —Who can prove it such 2
YOUNG.
I was taught from my childhood to believe in a
plurality of worlds by One whose opinion was the
- result of many years telescopic observation of the
º heavens. When I came to understand the magnify.
3. ing powers of those instruments to which modern
astronomy is so deeply indebted for the advances it
has made towards a knowledge of the visible uni-
verse, and had attentively observed the distant globes
of the sky with the assistance of these wonderful
inventions, I became fully convinced of the very great
probability of such vast bodies being inhabited by some
4 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
race of Beings, or, more likely, by many distinct
orders and natures of them. I saw that the shining
wonders of the firmament were worlds in size, beyond
all question, although scientific men may differ in
some degree on several immaterial points, such as
the exact diameters of a few of the smaller and latest-
discovered planets. Personal observations showed
me that there were some great features of resemblance
between our earth and the planets which we see in
constant motion in their appointed paths. I looked
in vain for any mark of pre-eminence in the situation
of the earth, and was even obliged to admit that it is
greatly inferior in magnitude to several of its fellow-
planets circling round the Sun in nearly the same plane
with itself. I was sensible that the light of the Sun
which falls on the earth must have been intended by
its Divine Creator for the use of the inhabitants of
the latter. Nothing can be more clear than that
the eyes of all animals are expressly contrived to re-
ceive and benefit by its rays, which convey a know-
ledge of visible things to their possessors; being, in
fact, absolutely necessary for animal life in general,
constituted as it is;—colour also entirely depending
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 5
upon light. I saw that the same great source of
light which illuminates the earth, likewise extends its
rays to all the other planets; and that the compara-
tively small bodies, which, like our moon, revolve
round most of them, are apparently also moons,
whose light, and that which comes to them direct
from the Sun, I could not naturally suppose to be
without a beneficial end, or intended only to enlighten
vast and useless wastes. I saw the planets holding
their annual courses, and revolving on their axes
like the earth; consequently, that they must have
different seasons, with day and night. A single
glance at the nearest of what are sometimes denomi-
nated the heavenly bodies, through such a tube, for
instance, as Ramage's great reflecting telescope, would
convince even the most sceptigal that he saw moun-
tains, plains, and valleys, on the globe he was examin-
ing; and, without any artificial assistance at all, we
see that the body alluded to is of a diversified surface.
But I must not here anticipate further what shall
be minutely treated of in the ensuing pages. These,
I may mention, although the information is immate-
rial to the present inquiry, originated in an investi-
6 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
gation which I made previous to assuming in another
publication that there are many other worlds in space .
besides our own, and that, in fact, all the Stars we
see around the earth are habitations for creatures
possessing life; formed, of course, by the same Crea-
tor as ourselves. It will be seen, I hope, by every
one, that I proceeded on no mere fanciful grounds, or
without due and serious consideration of the Scrip-
tures, of astronomical facts, and of the common
inferences proceeding from them. Let those who
entertain a contrary opinion, take equal pains, to dis-
cover what is really known with tolerable certainty
in regard to the Stars, before they hold themselves
entitled to dispute the conclusions at which so many
scientific men, whose writings I shall cite, have arriv-
ed at, and not till then.
The present work pretends to little originality,
but it must be reckoned greatly more valuable and
convincing than if it had been entirely original. Such
a collection of opinions on the subject of which it
treats, with reviews of the astronomical observations
on which these ideas were founded, has never yet
been published; nor, indeed, has any work with which
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 7
I am acquainted discussed this question exclusively,
or with that degree of attention and impartiality
which it merits. I have not referred merely to those
opinions and reasonings of others which I found
agreeable to the belief that I wished to support, for it
is by a consideration of both, that we may make the
nearest approach to the truth. A solitary opinion
in regard to our present subject in an astronomical
work may occasionally meet the eye; but, though it
surpasses in importance and magnificence of concep-
tion any other point in the science of astronomy, it
seems to be commonly passed over as an idea to
which little attention need be directed, or else it is
assumed without the reasons for its adoption being
sufficiently explained.*
I intend to bring together under one view all the
rational and philosophic reasons which can now be
given for believing either that the fixed stars or the
planets are habitations for living beings, and to refer
* In Mitchell's Elements of Astronomy there is an Essay ex-
pressly on this subject; so that work, in a great measure, forms an
exception to the above remark.
8 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
to the writings of those learned men who have thought
so, with the grounds of their belief as stated in their
own words. In this age of rapidly-advancing know-
ledge, I trust that my endeavours to contribute to the
march of intellect will be acceptable; and, besides en-
larging our ideas of the sublime grandeur of the sight
which every clear night presents to us, open up,
however imperfectly, to our mind's eye, the amazing
and delightful scenes which a future life may disco-
ver to us, when, as favoured servants of God, we may,
by his permission, range among the wonders of his
creation, or, as messengers of his will, carry his com-
mands to some distant world; in like manner as we
read that it was usual for angels to be employed,
and, no doubt, is so still.”
It might be asked, in the first place,—what reasons
can there be for disbelieving in such a notion, and
* There are expressions in the Scriptures which speak of the
Stars falling at the last day, which some have imagined ought to
be interpreted literally, and as actually referring to the fixed Stars,
and also to the Planets of the solar system It would occupy too
much space here to show from the Scriptures themselves the ab-
surdity of such an interpretation of Holy Writ, which, in its usual
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 9
who are those whose knowledge entitle their opinions
to respect, who think it either impossible or im-
probable,—asserting that in the vast universe of God
there can exist no world in the least degree similar to
that one on which we live. These questions would
be far more difficult to be satisfactorily answered
than those here undertaken.
The inquiry may be considered not one of mere un-
profitable curiosity, but of deep interest, and I hesitate
not to acknowledge that, after the most impartial
consideration of all we have yet discovered, and
aided by the best instruments, I concur in the high
degree of probability of the truth contended for by
the many eminent men to whom I shall appeal. For
my own part, I may go a step farther, and add, that
I have no doubts remaining on the subject of the
figurative language, often alludes to the greatmen of the earthumder
the name or similitude of Stars; a figure of speech common to this
day among ourselves, and probably derived from this source. In the
instances referred to in the Scriptural writings, it is perfectly plain
from a due comparison of different passages there, that the sublu-
nary sense above given to the phrase is the true one. Sée “Mortal
Life, and the State of the Soul after Death,” p. 541 et seq.
| 0 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS,
general fact, caring little for the ridicule which igno-
rance may attempt to throw upon the following inves-
tigation. I have now a literary work before me
which styles a belief in such other worlds “an idle
speculation of some grossly enthusiastic and not un-
frequently stupid astronomer”—“an airy dream—
imaginary realities,”—and “calculated to lead super-
ficial and unthinking minds astray.” The same
writer stigmatizes as “quackery in science,” the su-
blime theories and belief of many of the ablest ob-
servers of the heavens and most pious divines, whom
he complains of being listened to, while “the modest,
the unassuming, and the intelligent,” (by which terms
he seems to characterise such as himself) “are too often
cast into the shade.”—But the secret of this author's
unbelief (and it is not a singular one) escapes in the
very same page, for he affirms that “the knowledge
of astronomy requisite to determine the question is
confined to a very small compass.” We can have
no doubt that his own lies within similar limits; for,
although his research has evidently been extensive
among a certain class of writers, yet it seems plainly
to have been guided entirely by a wish to dis-
, INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 11
cover only whatever might tend to support his own
assertions.”
Rolls this world of ours, then, the sole inhabited
globe in the immensity of space or is it even the
only peopled scene of intelligent existence among
the thousand of shining globes which we see around
us on all sides 2 Is that man really a mere visionary
who believes that the ball he stands upon holds no
* On the first announcement of this work about a year ago, in
another which I then published, a Critic in “the Presbyterian
Review and Religious Journal” (an Edinburgh periodical) be-
seeches the author to suppress it, because “its title is strange and
extravagant in itself.” So acute and foreseeing is this Reviewer,
judging of a Book from the title-page, that he condemns without
reading it; fancying nothing can be sound beyond the limits of his
own philosophy. It is too common to review thus from a glance at
the Title and Table of Contents, which mode this critic seems to
be guided by on other occasions; but, as I wish, in so far, to con-
ciliate his pen, in case of being a second time honoured by his no-
tice, I beg to apologize for not following his advice. I hope, at the
same time, that he will not again, at least, criticise an expression
as if used by me in my simplicity, when I am merely finding fault
with another for it in an express quotation; for such disingenu-
ousness is not admired, particularly from a writer in a religious
12 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
such exclusive rank in point of size and in being a
habitation for life as some would assign to it, who
considers that it has no such pre-eminent importance
in wonderful and varied workmanship; in animal, mi-
neral and vegetable creations over other planetary
bodies of our system He who knows scarcely more
of astronomy than what his naked eye can inform him,
or rather seems to show him, readily answers by
smiling at the idea with a fancied superiority of wis-
Journal. One who professes not to understand what can be im-
plied by the very title of “Mortal Life, and the State of the Soul
after Death,” ought to have been cautious how he exposed himself
with such inconsistent opinions as he ventures. I should, however,
thank him for the highly-complimentary encomiums with which he
commences, and feel particularly gratified at the repeated (though
apparently-reluctant) admissions by this organ of the Presbyterian
Church of “the soundness of the main idea,” in the work just
named,—the doctrine of a middle State, as thereifi explained. I
leave him to reconcile his charge of my having made “by no means
profound research,” with his admission of the author having, at
the same time, “traversed the whole circuit of theology, physio-
logy, and metaphysics.” He has the candour, however, to ac-
knowledge that a reference to and quotations from considerably
above two hundred of the most eminent writers is “rather eacten-
sive research.”
INTRODU CTORY REMARKS. 13
dom, wondering how any man could be led to enter-
tain what to him appears so plainly impossible,
without, at the same time, thinking it necessary to
give a single reason against such a belief; but the
philosophic inquirer investigates the data on which as-
tronomers build this exalted belief of the power of God.
Although it may not be a knowledge essentially
necessary, or directly benefiting us, yet it is assuredly
a question which ought to interest us with a rational
curiosity, to learn if there be other earths as well
adapted for supporting life as our own. That their
inhabitants are men like ourselves, or animals such
as we see, and these worlds exactly similar in any
one respect to that we are upon, are points of resem-
blance no more necessary to their real existence than
that Britain should resemble in the features of its
land and its vegetation an island in the Indian seas,
or that its people should also have the same features
and appearance.* Those who hold the opinion of
* “We have no personal knowledge that there are any Beings in
existence besides ourselves; but this is no reason for our denying
or disbelieving that there are amy.”—“The planets, which move
14 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
there being other worlds, teeming with life, experienc-
ing cold and warmth, day and night, have been called
credulous; because they have not been able directly to
prove the truth of all that they see reason to believe.
Is this fair 2 Is the strongest probability, if it can
be shown, to be scorned, because the evidence of ab-
solute demonstration, of seeing and feeling as to some
points, is wanting? We do not carry this principle
so far in other matters, but frequently credit what
can be rendered extremely likely to be the case,
like ourselves round the sun, and the stationary stars, which seem
like suns themselves, are sensible proofs that material worlds ex-
ist, on which sentient or intelligent Beings may live, as we do
here; and it is more reasonable to suppose that they are occupied
by such, than that they are mere brute” (or rather inanimate)
“substances, vacant of all life and feeling. No educated mind,
therefore, can doubt, that the universe is replenished with as many
spheres of animated Beings, as there are radiant or reflecting orbs
for their abodes. But it does not at all follow, from the certainty
of their existence, that they are, in spirit and intellect, and there-
fore in the power which results from mental capacity, of a supe—
rior order to ourselves.”—Turner's Sacred Hist. of the World.
Pp. 497-8.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 15
which is all that is now attempted to be established
in the following pages.
The probability of a plurality of worlds is now com-
monly taught in those elementary books for youth
which relate to the system of the universe, though, as
before observed, seldom at greater length than a bare
statement, with a fact or two mentioned in a few words
from which it may be inferred. It is time for this belief
to be fully explained; as one consequence of only a few
sentences on the subject too often is, that the first
person who endeavours to invalidate the idea as an
absurd one, is believed, and the young mind then
wonders at its own simplicity and easy credulity.
Remembering, however, the authority which first in-
duced it to credit the doctrine, it becomes sadly
shaken in its dependence on the truth of many other
things which it gave credit to in like manner.
The belief is expressed by so many authors, that
it may be thought unnecessary to refer to the writings
of such a number as is done in the present work, but
as they all vary in their manner of reasoning on this
belief, and as some more plainly than others deduce
the inferences they draw from the same facts, I should
16 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
hope their own words will both entertain and in-
struct my readers, and ought to carry conviction to
our minds more satisfactorily than if all the argu-
ments used by the whole of them had been given by
any one writer, however high his reputation.
I have taken advantage of the opportunity afforded
- by this volume, for allowing a few lightly-written
pages to come out under its protection. They are prin-
cipally intended to illustrate the difference between
the ancient and modern degrees of knowledge in gene-
ral, and the surprise which some of our most important
discoveries would naturally create in the mind of an
Egyptian of the time of the Pharaohs, were such a one
to return to view this lower world, and to be made
acquainted with what we can now do and tell; sup-
posing (which, however, I admit would be very im-
probable) that such a one had made no mental acqui-
sitions in the interval, and had not become acquainted
with any thing that had been going on here. Though
the trifles to which I refer may not be allowed to be
exactly in their proper place, yet they may serve
to amuse after more abstruse studies, and in some
passages they are not unconnected with the more im-
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 17
portant inquiries of this work;-so I take the liberty,
with all becoming diffidence, of introducing them to
the notice of my “gentle readers.”
ALEX. COPLAND.
January 1st, 1834.
O T H E R W OR L D S, &c.
“Stored is each orb, perhaps, with some that live.
For such vast room in mature unpossess'd
By living soul, desert and desolate
Only to shine, yet scarce to contribute
Each orb a glimpse of light conveyed so far,
Down to this habitable which returns
Light back to them, is obvious to dispute.”
PARADISE LOST, VIII. 151–7.
THERE are two Volumes ever open for our instruc-
tion, to show that there is a great, though to us as yet
invisible, Being, astonishing in wisdom, in skill, and
in minute attention to the works which He has made.
They declare that He has been the Creator, and must
continue to be the Governor of all things—communi-
cating also His will and dispensations to mankind.
The earliest composed of the two has been called THE
Book of NATURE, and includes the wondrous works
around us on the earth as well as in the sky. It bears
the impress of the immediate finger of God, and the
characters which He has traced thereon plainly de-
20 OTHER WORLDS.
monstrate, in every page, His power, the wonder of
His counsel, and the excellency of His working, to
all who study it with the view of becoming better ac-
quainted with the attributes of that Almighty Being
whose glory it displays. His works, the more they
are observed, tend ever the more to raise our concep-
tions of His exalted nature.
The study of this ancient volume, with all its beau-
tiful and infinitely-varied illustrations, is repeatedly
recommended in the second, which we denominate
THE BIBLE, or the revealed rules for the government
of earthly beings, and written by penmen inspired by
a Superior Power. They often break out into sub-
lime strains of adoration on beholding the works of
God, which they declare are sought out by all those
who have pleasure therein ; and none seem to have
filled them with more astonishing and magnificent
conceptions of the unlimited power of a divine Archi-
tect than the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars.
There are some who have thought to show their
learning or their zeal for religion by pointing out
seeming differences between certain passages in the
inspired Record and the discoveries of philosophy.
These two sources of our knowledge are alternate-
ly, one or other, decried or exalted according to
the feelings of different persons. Those little ac-
OTHER WORLDS. 21
quainted with the first are they who are most
apt to doubt or to deride what it would teach, while
the philosopher who neglects the second may fall into
even more dangerous error.
No greater proof can be given of the superiority of
modern learning than the increasing ability it fur-
nishes us with for proving that the Scriptures agree
with, and, in some points, confirm, in a greater or less
degree, those explanations of many of the secrets of
nature (long hid from the inhabitants of the earth)
which philosophy, by the permission of the God of
nature, has disclosed to us in these later times. It is
only comparatively of yesterday that we were able t )
know with any certainty, the very shape of the eart 1
we live on, or the extent and general structure of the
solar system, with the great laws by which it seems
to be directed in its movements. But our system
forms only a small part of the visible universe; and
the visible, most probably, is but a mere portion of the
(to us) invisible creation of stars. The stars what are
they P and what are those less but still immense
bodies which describe revolutions round the same
centre as our globe P
There are two maxims, the one of Pagan, and the
other of Christian authority, which have been often
urged in discouragement of such questions as the one
22 OTHER worlds.
We are now about to discuss. “Qua supra nos nihil
ad nos” would effectually repress all such inquiries;
but I feel no inclination to allow this dictate to have
any weight with me, characterised too as it has been
by the learned Bishop Bull on a similar difficulty, as
“the common shelter of dullness, stupidity, and ne-
gligence.”
The other maxim I refer to is, that “we ought to
respect the silence of the Scriptures,” and to this
more deference is due ; but, waiving at present other
objections to being guided by it, there is one prelimi-
nary question here, the answer to which we ought to
ascertain before we proceed to argue on the propriety
of following this advice. It is—whether Scripture is
really silent on the point P I am of opinion that it
is not; and although the light it gives regarding the
idea be dim, yet its language and the truths it con-
veys may now be better understood than in former
days. Some have scrupled not to affirm that Holy
Writ goes the length of shewing the impossibility of
such a belief having any foundation in reality, but
this is still further from being the case.
I do not agree with the opinion of the poet who
says,
“Through worlds unnumbered though the God be known,
'Tis ours to trace him only in our own.”
OTHER WORLDS. 23
We can plainly trace a Divinity in every orb above
us, for none but an all-powerful hand, guided by wis-
dom beyond our conception, could have either formed
them or could keep them moving with the nicest re-
gularity in their places or paths. Astronomy shews
us that every individual star and planet is in some re-
spect different from another, preserving still a general
resemblance, and evidently directed in a great mea-
sure by the same common laws. The more minutely
they are examined, the more does this become evi-
dent. Their sizes, their respective brilliancy, their
distances, their colour, all are different when surveyed
by the telescope, while these differences are more ap-
parent among the planets, seemingly only because we
are enabled from their greater proximity to see them
better.
Our view of the universe, considered as consisting
of numbers of inhabited systems of worlds, has been
entertained from the very earliest antiquity, and al-
most as soon as men began to direct their attention
towards the heavenly globes and their motions. It
is thus spoken of in several writings which have come
down to us, with the first recorded opinions on the
point; a few of them referring to the days of ancient
Egypt and to the knowledge of its priests. Even
our eyes may read, in some degree, the extent of
24 OTHER WORLDS.
their learning and observations in astronomy, as
traced by their own hands on the granite of their mo-
numents, and their country is admitted to have been
the nursery of science. The most distinguished men
of Greece, and afterwards of Italy in its most classic
periods, used to finish their studies in the Egyptian
temples, where only learning was to be derived, if
sought at its most celebrated fountains. The poet Or-
pheus speaks in some verses of mountains and towns in
the moon.* The most enlightened of the ancient sects
of philosophic teachers, the Pythagoreans, could not
contemplate the order of the works of creation, slightly
as many of them were then understood, without be-
lieving that there must exist other worlds in distant
space than the one given to man for a temporary
sojourn.t
Anaximander, a Grecian, to whom tradition ascribes
the invention of the celestial Globe, also cherished
the same ideas. Anaximines, his scholar, likewise
rendered himself eminent by inculcating them. ; To
these may be added Xenophanes, Leucippus, Anax-
* Plut. de Placit. Phil. L. II. c. 13.-Euseb. Prep. Evang. L.
XV. c. 30.--La Lande Art. 302.
‘h Plutarch de Placit. Phil. L. II. c. 50.
t Stobaeus Ecl. Phys. L. IX.-Lactantius de Falsa Sapientia
L. III. c. 23.
OTHER WORLDS. 25
goras, and Democritus. A disciple of the latter,
named Metrodorus is said by Plutarch to have observ-
ed, that it would not be a greater absurdity to sup-
pose there was only a single blade of grass in a dis-
tant field, than that there was but one world in the
immense or boundless regions of the universe. The
Epicurean philosopher and poet Lucretius, in his De
Rerum Natura, after considerable length of argument
to prove a plurality of worlds, thus deduces from it,
according to the translation of Mr. Creech :—
“It plainly follows, that there must arise
Distinct and numerous worlds, earth, men, and skies,
In places distant and remote from this.” #
From Seneca we learn that some of the Stoic phi-
losophers believed the Sun itself to be inhabited; t
and the popular belief in the times in which they flou-
rished of the existence of many orders of spiritual
and other beings differing in their nature from man-
kind, left them at no loss in allowing every kind of
world to have a different sort of inhabitants.
During these middles ages, in which almost the
darkness of oblivion fell on all European learning, or
clouded its truth by superstition and fanaticism, the
* Lib. II. 1033–1085. of the original.
t Lactantius de Falsa Sapientia L. III. c. 23.
26 OTHER WORLDS.
higher orders with their followers despised every
species of knowledge which had no relation to the
science or practice of war; and astronomical investiga-
tions degenerated into astrology. The only observa-
tions of the heavenly worlds were then made for the
purposes of delusion, by designing men, generally
more rogues than fools, for the pretended calculations
of nativities or destinies, which by some wild imagin-
ings were held to be ruled and influenced by the stars
Traces of this superstition still remain ; but a disbe-
lief in the facts which the more rational inquiries dis-
close, or make probable, is fast wearing away.
The philosophers of old times had such notions
about the nature of other worlds, their substances and
condition, that all their ideas are not much worth
repeating. They had also such an obscure manner
of expressing their real sentiments as to natural
appearances, and as to all astronomical pheno-
mena, that we often cannot arrive at their exact
meaning, which they only explained to their scho-
lars; and many of their doctrines and beliefs are not,
in reality, so very far from truth as we are apt on
some points to imagine them. However wild some
of the fancies may be now considered which were
entertained by the ancients concerning the hea-
venly bodies, that they had in some instances a
OTHER WORLDs. 27
true notion of what we call a plurality of worlds
may be collected from the well-known story of
Alexander recorded by Valerius Maximus, who, being
told that Democritus held an infinity of worlds, is
said to have exclaimed, “Heu me miserum ! quod
ne UNo quidem adhuc potius sum !”* -
Plutarch informs us that the heathens, when they
were charged with the worshipping of gods whose
tombs they showed on earth, always alleged that the
souls of these gods were, nevertheless, in the stars,
which they believed to be celestial dwellings. We
have no account when such ideas of the stars began
to be entertained; but, as was to be expected, the
original and general belief came to have many par-
ticular adornments and descriptions added to it
*Those who would desire to learn the opinions of the ancient
philosophers on this subject may consult Diogenes Laertius and
Plutarch de Placitis Philosophorum. The learned Cudworth, an
English divine, in his celebrated work, discusses them at con-
siderable length, and, from some of the absurdities they bring
forward, endeavours to throw discredit on the doctrine. These
opinions are likewise compared with the modern discoveries and
conjectures in an amusing dialogue in the Pere Regnault's l'Origine
Ancienne de la Physique Nouvelle, in which, while their mistakes
are exposed in an entertaining manner, as much consequence is
given to their notions as they are entitled to.
C
28 OTHER WORLDS.
regarding these habitations, according as the fancy
of some learned sage led him to imagine might be the
case; in the same way that savage nations, adopting
the universal belief of the immortality of the soul and
another state after death, have fabled its pleasures and
the features of the new country which they shall then
inhabit on the other side of their distant mountains.
The Babylonians, Chaldeans, and the Sabians of
a later period, looked upon the stars as the habi-
tations of a species of angels, and some thought
the souls of men descended from the stars.” I
would not altogether despise such opinions, found
to have been current among the heathem nations of
remote antiquity; since they may, in some instances,
have been derived from divine revelation, made to
those who, the Scriptures inform us, were the favoured
of God, and may have thence spread to a people un-
acquainted with their origin, or, in process of time,
even as to how they themselves came to adopt them.
Several customs and doctrines we find to have been
usual in the very earliest times, a knowledge of the
truth or propriety of which could only have proceeded
from God, and yet no record has come down to us of
* See Cic. Somn. Scip.—Plut. de Placitis Philosophorum—
Julius Firmicus.
OTHER WORLDS. 29
the original revelation. As, for example, we find
Cain and Abel to have been acquainted with the effi-
cacy of sacrifice, and that it was a religious rite ac-
ceptable to the Divinity, a fact which man never could
have discovered or even imagined of himself.
On the revival of learning, philosophers began to
bring every doctrine in natural science to the test of
the strictest examination, and they were gradually en-
abled to do so by the assistance of instruments which
their elder brethren would have certainly considered
as connected with magic. With these instruments in
their hands, and taking advantage of the discoveries
of each other, a long list of illustrious moderns have
agreed in the idea of there being other worlds in the
stars. Among these students of nature may be reck-
oned Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Kepler, Galileo, Re-
velius, Des Cartes, and others, whose writings I shall
hereafter notice at some length.
That the apparently small shining points which we
see twinkling in the sky through the darkness of
night are any of them of a size to be compared
with this earth, or suitable for the habitations of
beings like ourselves, must naturally, at first, appear
to many but as the fancies of a dream. The reasons,
however, on which such decided disbelief rests are
seldom considered necessary to be mentioned, or even
30 OTHER WORLDS.
to be thought on ; while those to which astronomers
refer as leading to the idea are seldom the subject
of inquiry, or seriously listened to with an unpreju-
diced mind.
It is only from the discoveries of modern times
that we have been able to support this notion with
probable reasons for its truth; and, as scientific obser-
vations on the planets have now shown so many
points of resemblance to the earth, the inference was
unavoidable, that, being in some material respects
similar bodies, and placed in like circumstances, they
were all intended for the same purpose as the earth
evidently has been—as worlds on which life may
exist. Although the absolute verification of this
belief cannot be attained without divine revelation,
or actually seeing some indications of life on these
globes which are the subject of our conjectures, yet
the likelihood of their existence may be capable of
being rendered so strong that we may have the most
rational grounds of belief in it.
The discoveries of the telescope have been so won-
derful, and have added so much to our knowledge of
the solar system and of the innumerable stars among
which it is situated, that we can scarcely say what it
may not yet disclose to us in a still-further-improved
state ; but the facts which it has already established,
OTHER WORLDS. 31
and which we are now to consider, will lead to far
more information than the greatest philosophers of
ancient times could have imagined possible for men
upon earth to arrive at by any observations of their
UWI).
To imagine that these and the fixed stars were
formed for far nobler purposes than to afford a scarce-
visible light to the earth (and millions of them afford-
ing no light to it at all, being even themselves unseen
by the unassisted eye), has been said to contradict the
account of Moses, who seems to ascribe this use to
them, and alludes to no other; and it has been re-
marked, that he everywhere expresses himself as if
the sun, moon, and the other heavenly bodies, were
nothing more than ministers to our wants.
To this the Rev. Mr. Gleig answers—“That Moses
wrote not to instruct mankind in astronomy, but to
convey to his own countrymen, a simple and pastoral
people, just notions of the Divine nature. He, there-
fore, speaks of other planets wholly as they seem to
affect us; but he by no means affirms that they were
called into existence for our benefit alone. On the
contrary, we are left to form concerning them what
conjectures we please, provided we regard them, as
they must be regarded, as creatures of the great
Creator, whilst his details are uniformly confined to
C 2
32 OTHER WORLDs.
the single subject of this world's early history. It is
very possible that other worlds have histories of their
own, in which our globe is made to bear the same re-
lation towards them which they bear towards us;
at least he who believes so believes that which is
nowise contradictory to the Mosaic character.”—
“Moses nowhere represents this globe as the chief
of God’s works.” +
In our English translation of the Old Testament,
we read in the first chapter, that “God made two great
lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the les-
ser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
And God set them in the firmament of the heaven
to give light upon the earth.” Mr. Gleig notices
here that, “with respect to the phrase, ‘and he made
the stars also,” it is to be observed, that the words
‘ he made' are avowed interpolations. They have
no business whatever where they are, for the sacred
historian is not speaking of the creation of the stars
at all. He is merely stating, in the figurative language
of poetry, that God made the moon the ruler or queen
of the stars.” That is to say, speaking of their relative
importance to us—their seeming difference in magni-
tude—for the moon is small indeed in comparison
* Hist. of the Bible, Vol. I. p. 45.
OTHER WORLDS. 33
with the least of the stars, and only appears larger
from being so much nearer. It does not thus seem
to have been the intention of Moses to include the for-
mation of the stars as taking place at the same time
as that of the sun and moon or the earth. The un-
derstandings of men in the early ages were not in
that state of advancement which could have under-
stood the great and sublime truths of astronomy
which God has chosen to reserve for later days.
The modern discoveries, when properly compared
with those glimmerings of knowledge on certain
points (communicated only to a certain extent by
the Scriptures), do not invalidate,in that degree which
many have thought, the revelations handed down to
us; for, when allusions were made to natural pheno-
mena, they were, of course, in the language adapted
to the state of knowledge at the time. It never could
have been meant that we should not interpret what-
ever relates in the Bible to natural appearances, by
the knowledge of them which their Creator has been
pleased to bestow upon us—else it might be argued
that the sun itself rushed through the heavens in a
vast circuit, and with a rapidity of motion beyond
our comprehension, in order to enlighten and warm
one of the least of the planets attending him, and that
the earth was immoveably fixed in one place.
34 - OTHER WORLDS.
Were there any direct revelation in Scripture in-
compatible with the stars (generally speaking) being
worlds or mansions for living creatures, or even were
there any passages there from which this might be
fairly inferred, no good Christian would believe in
such an idea; but there are none such ; and to dis-
credit the belief, because it may not be thought expli-
citly sanctioned by the inspired writers, would be as
absurd as we now consider the denial (on grounds
much the same) of the possibility of the existence of
such a part of this globe as America, by the conclave
which sat at Salamanca, to decide on the proposals of
Columbus. It would be of a similar nature also with
the answer of the Caliph Omar regarding the fate of
the famous Alexandrian library.—“If it contains,”
said this barbarian, “no more than what we find in the
Koran, its volumes are superfluous. If they pretend to
greater knowledge, it is of no use, and ought not to
be listened to.—Burn the whole.”
I shall now proceed more minutely to inquire whe-
ther the doctrine we are examining be agreeable to the
Scriptural books of our religion, sanctioned by their
divine authority; or whether they are silent on the
subject, leaving us consequently free to draw our own
conclusions from astronomical observations; or, lastly,
if any particular passages contain information which
other worlds. 35
must now be considered at variance or otherwise with
such a doctrine. In this examination we ought to
try if we can discover the meaning which the sacred
writers intended to convey, and that in which they
would naturally be apprehended by those who then
heard them. We ought to remember that the di-
vine intimations were not always couched in words
the sense of which was perfectly understood at the
time; and of this we have many examples, particu-
larly those prophetic revelations which fulfilment
alone explained. As the writers, too, wrote not of
themselves, it is not improbable that darkly-expressed
information was sometimes given in terms which
could not be completely understood for ages. We
should therefore consider well what sense some of the
passages alluded to will bear agreeable to that ad-
vancement in comprehension which we now possess.
It is so frequently insisted on that revelation is
here at variance with philosophy, that it is of the
greatest consequence to give the question the fullest
and most impartial investigation. When it is seen
that many wise and grave Christian authors have
maintained a plurality of worlds as consonant to the
Scriptures, and have drawn additional motives for
piety to God from their extended views of the uni-
C 3
36 OTHER WORLDS.
verse, we may at least give, even at once, their learn-
ing and their researches credit in so far as to believe
that they may be right in their understanding of the
inspired writings.
Mr. King, in his very learned work entitled
“Morsels of Criticism,” is disposed to think that
the Old Testament does contain an anticipation of
the doctrine of a plurality of worlds, and that this is
preserved in the Septuagint translation; * but that
“our later translators have departed from the turn
given in the Septuagint to several passages of Scrip-
ture, merely because they did not apprehend the
meaning of that vast eatent of idea contained therein;
and therefore thought it right to confine the sense of
the words to a narrower scale, and to mere earthly
objects, and to such things and events as they were
already acquainted with.” In another place, and with
the utmost respect for the Scriptures, he states his
belief to be that “the expressions of Scripture are
generally applied with such wonderful and astonishing
* This translation is into the Greek language, and was made
from the original Hebrew of the Old Testament by seventy-three
of the most learned of the Jewish doctors about 250 years before
Christ, and was often referred to both by him and his disciples.
OTHER WORLDS. 37
nice caution, that, with due attention, we may now
perceive what the true meaning intended to be con-
veyed was; and that they were dictated by a Spirit
who knew all things, before we should have faculties
to investigate any part.”
Another writer adds his testimony nearly to
the same effect. “I believe,” says he, “many
passages in the Gospels and other parts of the New
Testament, but certainly some in the Old Testament,
might be selected which would bear a construction
very conformable to the doctrine now laid down.
But, though some of the passages we shall make it
our business to point out, yet we must beg to be un-
derstood, that we do not hold the opinion itself to be
of that weight as to justify any forced interpretation
of the Seriptures whatsoever. It will be more rea-
dily granted that the doctrine is not expressly to be
made out from Scripture; that, as the holy writings
of the Prophets, Evangelists, and Apostles, were
principally, if not entirely, confined to the setting
forth of the mediatorial redemption of the sons of
men on this globe only, it could not fall within their
scope to extend the matter farther. Besides, it might
not be known to them (though, I confess, I am in-
clined to think otherwise), for we are not taught by
divine revelation that there is a plurality of worlds,
38 OTHER WORLDS.
though it seems to be a very well-founded conjecture
in philosophy.” +
Although the Scriptures do not pretend directly to
teach that the stars are worlds, and although their
words may not have seemed to imply so much
to those originally addressed by them, yet it is
perfectly possible that we may see clearly that
their expressions and allusions have a plain refer-
ence to such a belief. We have gradually accumu-
lated a preliminary knowledge which is absolutely
necessary to be known before such a doctrine could
be expected to be generally received and believed.
It was necessary, previously to have a true idea of
their distances from us, in order that we might in
some degree judge of their sizes, and to be aware of
some points of general resemblance between them
and this world; for to the naked eye they appear to
be mere small specks of light, where living creatures
could not exist, and we are too apt to fancy that,
unless we ourselves—exactly as we are formed and
adapted in every way to the world around us—could
* An attempt to show how far the philosophical notion of a
plurality of worlds is consistent, or not so, with the language of
Holy Scriptures, p. 49.-Anonymous, 1801.
OTHER WORLDS, 39
live on such stars, that no other sort of beings could
do so.
When we admit that the Scriptures may not, in
perfectly plain terms, sanction the doctrine, none are
entitled to infer from this that it is contrary to fact.
Many authors have most ably, and, I think, unan-
swerably shown, that the sacred writers had a far dif-
ferent object in view than that of instructing us in
any system or branch of philosophy. Nevertheless
no harm, I apprehend, can arise from bringing our
philosophical notions to the test of Scripture, which
would be a more reverential mode of proceeding, than
to bring the Scriptures, as some attempt to do, to
the test of philosophy. Whenever philosophy is to
be found in agreement with the Word of God, it de-
serves to be supported by its divine authority, and
more especially when its discoveries tend to enlarge
our notions of the glory of God; in all which cases
it can only serve to strengthen the many proofs we
have of the divine original and infallible truth of the
Sacred Writings.
The idea believed by some to be founded on Scrip-
ture of the stars being created at the same time as
this world, and as, in a manner, subordinate to the
earth in their consequence, certainly seems, in the
first place, to militate against the notion of their be-
40 other worlds.
ing even equal in magnitude and importance, and still
more against their being inhabited worlds themselves.
That God created the stars as well as the earth ori-
ginally out of nothing, there can be no doubt; for
this meaning is implied by the true sense of the He-
brew of Moses; but in the work of the fourth day, or,
indeed, in all the six days, it is plain that the abso-
lute creation (strictly speaking) even of the earth is
not included; for we must understand, from the ex-
pressions used, that it was only this world—this pre-
sent surface of the earth (or, at least, as it appeared
before the flood)—that was then formed out of a pre-
viously-emisting chaos, a former earth, in short, whose
surface had been overwhelmed or somehow destroyed,
and was then renewed, and again fitted to be a habi-
tation for living creatures. The greater part of the
globe seems to have been covered with water; and
darkness, we are told, was on the face of the deep—
not that the deep, or the sea, was then itself created,
and the earth, or dry land, was without form, revela-
tions which the discoveries of geology also show as
clearly as they do the fact of a general deluge. The
passage of the Jewish historian alluded to seems
worded with great caution; and, so far from con-
founding the creation of the stars with our mundane
system, evidently distinguishes them in this respect
OTHER WORLDS, 41
from each other, as before observed by Mr. Gleig.
In the Decalogue, it is expressly said, that “in sia:
days the Lord made heaven and earth”; but this, in
the original, has by many Commentators been con-
fined to our terraqueous globe and its accompanying
atmosphere, often in common language denominated
the heavens. Bishop Patrick says that he thinks “the
heaven here does not mean the fixed stars;” and adds
that the latter “do not seem to be included in the
six days’ creation, which relates only to this planetary
world, that has the sun for its centre.” Moses, after
mentioning the making the sun and moon to rule or
regulate our days and nights,” adds, without any im-
mediate reference to the purposes of this earth, but
as if he was mindful that these two lights could not
be seen without our having a prospect into the uni-
* This does not preclude our believing that there are other pur-
poses which these two bodies were meant to serve than merely
enlightening our globe. We know for certain that there are
others. The sun produces heat as well as light; and, by its gra-
vity, retains the earth in its proper course, contributing also, by
the same power, along with the moon, to regulate the tides of
the sea; and they may be both likewise inhabited worlds. Not
only does the influence of the sun extend to the earth but also to
all the planets; and to these it is, without doubt, as useful as it is
to us.
42 OTHER WORLDS.
verse, and very possibly to guard, at the same time,
against the early idolatry that men fell into, the wor-
ship of the orbs of heaven, he adds, “ and the stars,”
that is, he made not only our earth and appointed its
two great lights, the central one, common to the sys-
tem, and an attendant planet, to throw on us a re-
flected light; but that (at no stated or determinate
time) he also made the stars, these systems around
us. However indefinite the precise time of their crea-
tion, they were all made by God, so they are all up-
held by his providence. It is revealed to us, that the
great heavenly power, or divine spirit who afterwards
took our human nature upon him, was also the imme-
diate Creator of all worlds and things. Since Christ
was “with God in the beginning,” since “all things
were made by him, and without him was not any
thing made that is made,” shall we measure his rela-
tion to created things by the date of our globe 2
When the first of these innumerable systems around
us was called into existence it is in vain even to con-
jecture, but we are not bound to believe that any of
them are of so late a date as our own particular sys-
tem. Holy Writ represents even the morning stars
as rejoicing or singing together at the creation of the
earth; or rather allusion seems to be made in the pas-
sage to the time of the gracious renovation of the earth
OTHER WORLDS. 43
by God, when it was fitted for our reception and
adapted to our wants. The expression may refer to
the inhabitants of these stars, who consequently must
have been well acquainted with the benevolent pur-
poses of the Deity in doing so, and have had an ex-
istence and habitation long previous to this world of
ours being formed.
There has been an objection stated to the existence
of similar worlds to the one on which we are placed,
grounded on the following reasons:—It is argued
that it cannot be supposed, if our globe is but one of
many, that it is the only one inhabited by beings
liable to sin; and, if there be others of a like consti-
tution, then as improbable is it that ours is the only
one exposed to the temptations of the evil One.* Con-
sequently, as it is probable that we stand not alone,
other worlds have as great need of a Redeemer as we
have; yet the Scriptures speak of him as dying for
mankind, making no mention of any other race as be-
nefiting by his sufferings, and it is certain that he
died among men. It is true that he offered himself
* “Yea,” saith Job, “the heavens are not clean in his sight,”
(which Bishop Patrick paraphrases—“the heavenly inhabitants are
not without their spots”) “the stars are not pure in his sight,”
or, the people of the heavenly or starry orbs; ch. xv. 15. xxv. 5.
44 OTHER WORLDS.
up for qur sins, but we are not aware that the conse-
quences are limited to men. We know that not only
shall those then alive on earth reap the benefit of it
along with those since born, and until the last day,
but those departed souls also who, after the general
judgment, shall be called by their Lord to enter into
heaven, and who, at the time of its accomplishment,
were in another world, the paradise of Hades—that
middle state of rest believed in by the Jews, and so
explicitly confirmed by the Scriptures. It included,
in short, two worlds, this and the world of departed
souls, wherever the latter may be supposed to exist.
How far the redemption may extend—how many
worlds may be included under its power, we know
nothing, and it is in vain to conjecture; but it is not
an argument which can be used to overthrow a belief
in a plurality of worlds, when it rests on no reasonable
evidence. We might as well deny the feasibility of
the idea, by attempting to show that their inhabitants
could not be formed exactly as we are, as may very
probably be the case.
Bishop Porteus, after stating that the power and
high quality of Satan required an opponent of the
highest possible dignity, makes the following remarks:
—“There is still another consideration which merits
some regard in this question. It is, I believe, gene-
OTHER WORLDS. 45
rally taken for granted, that it was for the human
race alone that Christ suffered and died; and we are
then asked, with an air of triumph, whether it is con-
ceivable, or in any degree credible, that the eternal
Son of God should submit to so much indignity and
so much misery for the fallen, the wicked, the wretch-
ed inhabitants of this small globe of earth, which is
as a grain of sand to a mountain—a mere speck in
the universe, when compared with that immensity of
worlds and systems of worlds which the sagacity of
a great modern astronomer has discovered in the
boundless regions of space. But on what ground is
it concluded that the benefits of Christ's death ex-
tend no further than to ourselves As well might
we suppose that the sun was placed in the firmament
merely to illuminate and warm this earth that we in-
habit. To the vulgar and illiterate this actually ap-
pears to be the case. But philosophy teaches us bet-
ter things. It enlarges our contracted views of divine
beneficence, and brings us acquainted with other
planets and other worlds, which share with us the
cheering influence and the vivifying warmth of that
glorious luminary. Is it not, then, a fair analogy to
conclude, that the great spiritual light of the world—
the fountain of life, and health, and joy to the soul—
does not scatter his blessings over the creation with
46 OTHER WORLDS.
a more sparing hand; and that the sun of righteous-
ness rises, with healing in his wings, to other orders
of beings besides ourselves 2 Nor does this conclusion
rest on analogy alone. It is evident, from Scripture
itself, that we are by no means the only creatures in
the universe interested in the sacrifice of our Re-
deemer. [See Ephesians i. 10.; Colossians i. 16. 20.]
From intimations such as these, it is highly probable
that, in the great work of redemption as well as of
creation, there is a vast stupendous plan of wisdom
of which we cannot at present so much as conceive
the whole compass and extent; and, if we could as-
sist and improve the mental, as we can the corporal
sight—if we could magnify and bring nearer to us,
by the help of instruments, the great component parts
of the spiritual, as we do the vast bodies of the natural
world—there.can be no doubt, but that the resemblance
and analogy would hold between them in this, as it
does in many other well-known instances; and that
a scene of wonders would burst in upon us from the
one, at least equal, if not superior, to those which the
united powers of astronomy and optics disclose to us
in the other. If this train of reasoning be just (and
who is there that will undertake to say, much more
to prove, that it is not so?)—if the redemptionwrought
by Christ extends to other worlds, perhaps many
OTHER WORLDS. 47
others besides our own—if its virtues penetrate into
heaven itself—if it gather together ‘all things' in
Christ—who will then say, that the dignity of the
agent was disproportioned to the magnitude of the
work, and that it was not a scene sufficiently splen-
did for the Son of God himself to appear upon, and
to display the riches of his love, not only to the race
of man, but to many other orders of intelligent be-
ings Upon the whole, it is certainly unpardonable
in such a creature as man to judge of the system of
our redemption from that very small part of it which
he now sees; to reason, as if we were the only persons
concerned in it; and, on that ground, to raise cavils,
and difficulties, and objections.”—Vol. ii. Serm. 3.
If philosophy shall have served to enlarge our views
of the Creation, I cannot see how it should at all de-
tract from the goodness of Providence displayed to-
wards the creatures of this earthly planet, if we en-
deavour to comprehend under one great scheme of
moral government more worlds than our own.
The prophet Nehemiah says, in the words of our
translation, “Thou, even thou, art God alone. Thou
hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all
their host; the earth and all things that are therein,
the seas, and all that is therein ; and thou preservest
them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.”
48 OTHER WORLDS.
The right rendering of the verse just quoted, though
nearly word for word the same, would apply still
more closely to the system of a plurality of worlds,
and, I think, expressly of inhabited worlds. The ori-
ginal would be more closely translated by, “Thou
hast made the heavens” (plural in the Hebrew), “the
heaven of heavens, and all the rest of them ; the earth,
&c. and thou givest life to the whole; and the host of
the heavens worshippeth thee.” The host of heaven,
it is allowed, sometimes signifies the stars and some-
times the angelic host; but “the heavens,” from being
mentioned along with “the heaven of heavens,”
would seem to imply the starry region, or rather the
stars themselves, to which the Jews frequently gave
the appellation of the heavens.” The heaven of hea-
vens, it is well known, denoted the peculiar seat of
God’s glory and the sanctum of the Most High. The
host of the latter would be the angelic choir; the host
of the former, their rational inhabitants; next come
the earth and the seas; then follows, “and thou
givest life to all;” and “the hosts of the heavens
worship thee.” Thou givest life to the earth and
* It ought to be attended to here, that the Jews comprehended
three heavens under the general term of heaven :-the air around
the earth, the starry firmament, and the unseen sanctuary of God.
OTHER WORLDS. 49
seas must needs imply the filling them with animated
beings, and must we not conclude the same of the
heavens 2 The sidereal host of heaven, if applied only
to the heavenly orbs themselves, would be but a por-
tion of the inanimate part of the creation; and the
verb ſoototeo, as used in the Septuagint, could, in no
sense, apply to them. Zootroteo, at least, would have
been a dangerous word to have applied to the heaven-
ly bodies, in any other sense than that of filling them
with inhabitants, down to the very aera of Christianity;
for some of the ancient philosophers were disposed to
think them animated and gods. Nay, even a few of
the Fathers, and, according to Maimonides, the Jews
also, embraced this opinion of their being animated,
and, what is more remarkable, upon the authority of
this very passage of Nehemiah. Taking now into con-
sideration the account given by many Commentators
of the use of the word Ovpavos; and if the Seventy are
justified in translating the Hebrew word Enu (Sha-
mim), by ovpavou, as they constantly do ; and if the
word that we render host may stand for inhabitants,
as seems to be the case; then the passage might lite-
rally be translated thus:—“Thou, even thou, art
God alone; thou hast made the worlds, the universe of
* Morsels of Criticism. Vol. I. p. 3.
50 OTHER WORLDS.
worlds, with all their inhabitants; the earth, and all
things that are therein; the seas, and all that is
therein; and thou fillest the whole with life; and the
inhabitants of the worlds worship thee.”
The creation of the heavens, as of many different
heavenly abodes, is noticed as well as that of the earth,
which latter is only mentioned as one of the innu-
merable works of God, or worlds for his creatures.
“Thus saith Jehovah, who created the heavens; he
is God; who formed the earth, and made it; he hath
established it ! He created it not in vain; for he formed
it to be inhabited.” If a scriptural authority was
wanting for the philosophical doctrine of a plurality
of worlds, the inference to be drawn from this ex-
pression of the prophet's seems to me plain and ob-
vious. If we admit that the stars are at a vast dis-
tance, then, to be seen as they are, they must be of
prodigious magnitude, that is, worlds in bulk, as al-
ready observed ; yet some have hesitated not to in-
sist, they must be all desert and uninhabited, or
created in vain / as this earth, according to the above
authority, might have been called, had it not been
intended to be the dwelling of living beings.
“For I will consider the heavens the work of Thy
fingers, the moon and the stars which Thou hast
made.” Ps. viii. 3.
OTHER WORLDS. 5
i
If this verse is to be referred to the responsive style
of the Hebrew poetry, then “the moon and the stars”
would be synonymous with the heavens; and it is in-
deed cited by Mr. King, among the passages in which
“the heavens are put for the fixed stars.” “By the
Word of the Lord” were the heavens made, and all
the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth.” Ps.
xxxiii. 6.
If the heavens will here admit of being taken for
the systems around us, nothing could be more con-
sistent with the revealed account of our own origin,
than the above would be, as referable to those other
habitable orbs. The translation might stand—“By
the Word of God were all the worlds above made, and
by his spiritt their several inhabitants endowed with
life.”
“He shall call to the heavens from above, and the
earth, that he may judge his people.” Ps. 1. 4.
The heavens and the earth are so continually intro-
* Christ is frequently so called both in the Old and New Tes-
taments.
+ The word in the Hebrew signifies spirit as well as breath, and
the adoption of the former would bring it nearer to the passage
in Genesis which speaks of the Spirit of God moving on the face
of the deep ; or, more literally, hovering over the new creation, as
a bird howers over her nest.
I)
52 OTHER WORLDS,
duced in this way, not as one phrase, but as severally
illustrative of God’s glory, or amenable to his judge-
ments, that it must be with difficulty that we could
confine such expressions to the limits of our system.
When God would call a general assembly of his crea-
tures, and make up an universal auditory, the pro-
phet cries out, “Hear, O heavens ; and give ear, O
earth.” “Who is like unto the Lord our God : who
hath his dwelling so high, and yet humbleth himself
to behold the things that are in heaven and earth.”
Although “heaven,” in our version, is in the singular,
it is in the plural in the Hebrew.
“All the whole heavens are the Lord’s : the earth
has he given to the children of men,” (Ps. cxv. 16.)
or more literally—“The heavens, the heavens, are
the Lord’s ; and the earth he has given to the sons
of Adam.”
Various passages might be cited in which the one
and the other of these terms are thus distinguished,
and the first may very fairly and consistently be un-
derstood as the heavenly worlds or orbs. That by
the heavens is sometimes meant more than one place,
may be gathered from many scriptural passages, such
as the following:—“That extendeth the heavens as
a thin veil, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell
in. Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath
OTHER WORLDS. 53
created these. He draweth forth their armies by
not One
number; he calleth them all by name,
of them faileth to appear.”
The probability has been already shown that some
of the stars may be inhabited by beings not only liable
to sin, but, like us, fallen from their first estate, con-
sequently amenable to judgment. “He shall call
the heavens from above, and the earth, that he may
judge his people.” Ps. 1. 5.
In our translation of the New Testament we read,
in the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews,
at the third verse, “Through faith we understand
that the worlds were made by the Word of God.”
Here, the plural being used, and signifying, in the
above English sentence, more worlds than one, of
course the doctrine of a plurality of worlds seems to
be distinctly founded on by St. Paul : but, on exa-
mining the original, instead of finding the Greek
word Koopios employed (which is the one used to sig-
nify the earth, strictly speaking), the word atoves is in
its stead, and the latter more properly relates to time,
—to certain or uncertain periods of duration, or to
revolutions produced by time, as a careful comparison
of the different scriptural passages in which it is used
decidedly show, is at least the general sense of the
word, and any other signification supposed to be given
54 OTHER WORLDS.
to it in a particular passage, is at best but doubtful,
and cannot be much depended on. In the one above
referred to, the learned Parkhurst does indeed appear
to indicate that it may be understood more widely:
He says—“Atoves seems, in Heb. xi. 3. to denote the
various revolutions and grand occurrences which have
happened in this created system, including also the
system, or world itself.” It will be remarked here,
however, that the word in question being plural,
though it may fairly enough be rendered by the first
and second expressions, yet it would not apply to the
last rendering, which is singular. I do not clearly
see how the above senses can be understood taken
together as a whole, but if really applicable to the
materiality of the earth at all, then it must be held
as also applying to a plurality of such earths, not
merely to this one globe.
“And other sheep I have, which are not of this
fold; them also must I bring; and they shall hear my
voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.”
John x. 16.
Though we may understand this to have been
spoken only of the Gentiles in the first instance; yet,
how beautifully and literally might it apply to those
other worlds in the heavens over our heads if peopled
as we have supposed with intelligent beings, subjects of
OTHER WORLDS. 55
the same God, and being created by him, of course su-
perintended and cared for by him the same as we are.
“In my Father's house are many mansions; I go to
prepare a place for you.” This passage seems most
strongly to favour the idea of there being many
heavenly mansions or worlds, all probably of different
states of splendour, and formed for different degrees
of happiness, and we have also divine authority for
believing that “one star differs from another star in
glory.” “Perhaps,” says Mr. King, “the idea of
the fixed stars being really heavens may also, with
propriety, be awfully kept in view, both when we
read those words of our blessed Lord, “In my
Father's house are many abodes; and that sublime
passage in the epistle to the Ephesians—“He that
descended is the same also that ascended up far above
all heavens.”—Ch. iv. 10.
Mr. Wright of Durham, in his Theory of the Uni-
verse, (published in 1750) seems, like Mr. King, to
place our heavenly abodes among the stars; in one
place calling them “the manifest mansions of reward
and punishment, suited, no doubt, most equitably to
all degrees of virtue and vice.”
An anonymous author who undertook the inquiry as
to the stars being worlds, solely with a reference to
Scriptural authority, says, as the result of his re-
D 2
56 ÖTHER WORLDS.
searches, that as to his own mind, it is much more than
satisfied of the truth of this idea of the great purpose for
which they were created. “The doctrine itself,” he
adds, “ of a plurality of worlds in the universe, tends,
in my opinion, greatly to exalt our notions of the
power and majesty of God; and therefore I could not
help thinking, that any view of his works, apparently
so well founded, and having such a tendency, was not
likely to be contradicted by his word; for, as in regard
to the visible works of God, I have insisted upon de-
monstration, before they may be admitted in evidence
against revelation; so in respect to the word of God,
I expect any false notions of philosophy to be posi-
tively contradicted, before I am to consider myself
bound to believe the Scriptures as actually in opposi-
tion to the doctrines that prevail. My mind, there-
fore, has been more than satisfied in regard to this
particular conjecture of philosophers, by finding that
much might be adduced to prove that the word of
God does certainly not appear to contradict it.” +
ºr,
* “‘EI2 €EOX, ‘EIX MEXITH>, or an attempt to show how
far the philosophical motion of a plurality of worlds is consistent
or not so, with the language of the Holy Scriptures.”
In the foregoing examination of those scriptural texts apparently
bearing in some degree upon the point at issue, I have been much
indebted to the above work.
OTHER WORLDS. 57
Let us now proceed from Scripture and the inves-
tigations of its Commentators, to the opinions of phi-
losophers, resting on their observations of what we,
in imitation of the Jews, still, in common language,
style the heavens and the heavenly bodies.
About a hundred years ago the French philosopher
Fontenelle (Secretary to the Academy of Sciences),
published a little work entitled “Pluralité des Mondes”
—in which are detailed supposed conversations be-
tween himself and a lady of rank on this subject. The
question, however, is treated in these in so flippant a
manner, that the reader can scarcely understand, in
some places, whether the author is in earnest, or is
merely allowing his fancy to soar into the regions of
imagination for amusement, and the astronomical
facts he refers to are so intermingled with badinage,
that the whole bears too much the appearance of mere
playful invention. The book became very popular in
France, and continued so throughout Europe for many
years, though its apparent want of seriousness could
not have led to many convictions of the probable truth
of such a notion as it professed to inculcate. I shall
not at present enter upon the reasons this author gives
for crediting the doctrine of the planets being peopled
with some kind of beings, farther than mentioning
that he naturally infers it from their alleged general
similarity to the one which we ourselves live upon ;
58 oth ER worlds.
but he does not show this similarity with sufficient
clearness, nor in a scientific manner. It is only the
planetary bodies he contends for peopling, believing
the sun too hot for life. In common with all other
astronomers, he has no doubt that the fixed stars
are suns—the centres of systems of to us invisible,
though great and inhabited, worlds; but these stars or
suns, he thinks, are not intended to support any order
of intelligent creatures.*
“It is a strange perversion of science,” says Dr.
Beattie,t “when men contract their views in the same
proportion in which their knowledge of nature is ex-
* The following are two anonymous criticisms on this book, by
authors who have published works on the same subject, but with
opposite views, the first in 1801, and the other soon after Dr.
Chalmers' astronomical sermons appeared : – “This doctrine
seems to have lain dormant for many years, and perhaps would
not now be so generally received, but that it was made the sub-
ject of wit and gallantry by Fontenelle, who, by a work full of
entertainment, and most elegantly composed, drew the attention
not only of the learned and philosophical, but of all the inquisitive
and curious of both sexes.”
“The most entertaining writer of this kind was Fontenelle, who
dressed up these conjectures in a very romantic form, and, by a
number of far-fetched analogies presumed to be discovered be-
tween the starry heavens and the earth we inhabit, he has suc-
ceeded in gaining the attention of the public.”
+ Professor of Moral Philosophy in the Marischal College and
University of Aberdeen.
OTHER WORLDS, 59
tended. Yet this must be the case of those who think
it easier to divine power to make and preserve one
world, than to create and govern ten thousand worlds.
If we judge of the divine power from what we know
of our own, both are impossible. And to divine
power, supposed to be infinitely superior to ours,
both are not only possible, but easy, and equally so.
The time was, when this globe was believed to be the
universe; and the Sun, moon, and stars to have been
for no other purpose but to enlighten and adorn our
habitation. If he who entertains this opinion finds
no difficulty in conceiving it possible for the Deity to
superintend terrestrial things, and to prepare the
means of happiness, both here and hereafter, for man,
to whose dominion they are all subjected; why should
it be more difficult for the enlightened astronomer to
conceive that the Creator of all worlds is equally at-
tentive to provide for the innumerable works of his
hand 2 Every new discovery in the visible universe
ought to give elevation and a new impulse to the
pious affections; and the further we see that the
works of God extend, the more let us be overwhelm-
ed with devout astonishment in the contemplation of
his infinite, eternal, and universal being.”.”
* Evidences of the Christian Relig. Vol. II. p. 150. Orig. edit,
D 3
60 OTHER WORLDS.
“Had our Saviour,” remarks a pious writer, “never
told us, that in his Father's house there are many man-
sions, the wonderful improvements in astronomy have
introduced us to the knowledge of worlds innumerable,
and some of them immensely large. Our earth is no
more but a speck in the creation; and we never,
therefore, can be so far prejudiced in favour of this
earth, as to fancy that this is the only abode of ra-
tional creatures; and that all the other bodies in this
universe were created only for the amusement and
glory of man. It is more consonant with the mag-
nificence of the Creator to believe that these bodies
of such immense size are inhabited, and by rational
beings; and that some of them may be allotted for
man in a state of innocence, and to be the abode of
good men, after having passed through the present
state of trial.””
M. Sturm, a celebrated German philosopher, in his
well-known work entitled Reflections on the Works of
God, argues in the same manner:—“Would a Being,
infinitely, wise, have adorned the celestial vault with
so many bodies of vast magnitude, merely to please
* Various views of Death for illustrating the Wisdom and Be-
nevolence of the Divine Administration in conducting Mankind
through that awful change, by the Rev. Thomas Watson. 1819.
oth ER worlDs. 6]
our eyes, and to afford us a magnificent sight Would
he have created innumerable suns, merely that the
inhabitants of our little globe might have the pleasure
of seeing in the sky some luminous specks, the parti-
cular nature and purpose of which they very imper-
fectly know, and which are even but seldom observed?
Such an idea cannot be formed by any body, who con-
siders that there is, throughout all nature, an admi-
rable harmony between the works of God and the pur-
poses he designs them for ; and that in all he does,
he has in view the advantage as well as the pleasure
of his creatures. It cannot be doubted but that God,
in placing the stars in the sky, has had much higher
views than that of affording us an agreeable sight.”
The Earth is one of eleven planets which revolve
round the sun : two are nearer this great luminary
than we are, and the rest move on in their circular
course beyond us. In several important points the
other planets resemble the earth, but all of them are
very different in their natures from the sun. The
fixed stars (as they are commonly called) are believed
to be suns, although vastly more distant from the
earth than our own sun, so the question as to any of
* Reflections—February 4th. (Translated in the text.)
62 OTHER WORLDS.
these heavenly bodies being inhabited, or fit for being
so, should resolve itself into three distinct branches
of inquiry —
1st, As to the planets;
2d, As to the sun and the fixed stars; and,
3d, As to the moon attendant on our earth, and
those moons belonging to the other planets of our
system.
The adoption of the Copernican, or rather as we
may term it, the Newtonian System, from the illus-
trative and demonstrative discoveries by which our
greatest philosopher established it, has furnished us
with some of the principal natural arguments for be-
lieving in other habitable worlds than our own.”
A learned writer observes of this system, that al-
though it teaches that the earth revolves on its axis,
and moves in a circle round the sun, yet, to the com-
mon eye, it is our globe which is at rest, and the sun
that seems to travel round it. We must not, there-
fore, decide in such matters by the first glance, or
without every investigation in our power. “Who
* “Lord Bolingbroke is not content to say, that the Copernican
system leads to the notion of a plurality of worlds: he affirms that
it constrains ws to suppose other inhabited globes like our own.
OTHER WORLDS. 63
can persuade himself,” says he, “by the mere testi-
mony of the senses, that the body of the sun does not
revolve 2 A plurality of worlds is still less to be ascer-
tained with any certainty; not being expressly re-
vealed by the word of God, and but faintly to be dis-
cerned in his visible works: nevertheless, as a philo-
Sophical question; as a question, if not of revealed,
certainly of natural religion, few will deny that it is
an interesting one, and I think more than commonly
so : I think it tends greatly to enlarge our concep-
tions of the divine power and majesty; nor yet is it
without its moral uses, even to the promoting, I
think, the noblest ends of Christianity.” +
In general, the reasons which render the habitabi-
lity of the planets probable, will not apply either to
the sun or moon, so it would not follow that these
two dissimilar bodies are peopled by any manner of
living creatures, if we should even render it extremely
probable that the other planets are so from their si-
milarity to the earth; and, consequently, if no rea-
sons can be shown for the sun being inhabited, then
neither should we be entitled to assume that any fixed
star is so destined.
When we gaze on the sky at night, the planets are
distinguished from those orbs properly called stars,
* Author of the work mentioned in note, p. 56.
64 OTHER WORLDS.
only by their apparent greater size” and brightness;
but a more attentive and continued observation of
them soon discovers that they change their places in
the heavens in respect to the stars, which remain in
the same relative position to each other, but have
themselves, in a small degree, a vibratory sort of
movement, which remained undiscovered until our
astronomical instruments had arrived at a consider-
able degree of perfection.
The planets shine, like the moon, by the reflected
light of the sun, and are, in fact, far inferior in bulk
to the stars, which appear less, merely in consequence
of their prodigious distance.t
* To some it may be necessary to mention, that the sky in the
day-time is as much studded with stars as in the night (although
they are different ones, from the rotation of the earth bringing
us opposite other portions of the heavens), but when the sun
shines, his light overpowers theirs—feeble from distance. When
we take means to exclude the glare arising from his rays, stars
again become visible. When the sky can be seen from the bot-
tom of a deep pit, or is looked at with an astronomical telescope
even in the brightest sunshine, the stars may be observed in it.
They, in short, encircle the earth on all sides, so that to ourselves
the earth appears to be in the centre of the universe, but an in-
habitant of any other planet or star would have the same reason
to think so of his own dwelling-place.
+ The respective sizes of the planets belonging to our solar
system are as follow :-
OTHER WORLDS. 65
Suppose the planet which we have named Venus is
really peopled with beings capable of seeing and rea-
soning in a similar manner as we do. Its inhabitants
would then view the earth as we observe their dwell-
ing-place. After a long course of observation their
astronomers may have come to know that the earth
moves round the sun nearly as they do, and is a globe
about the same size:—they find we must have day
- – ------—------—r----------—-> --- - - - - - -- ~ * * * - "---"--- - --> -º-º-º-º-º-
The diameter of Mercury is
3,200 miles.
Venus, 7,700 ,,
Earth, 8,000 ,,
Mars, 4,200 ,,
Ceres, 160 ,,
Also called J Pallas, 80 , ,
Asteroids. Juno, 1,425 , , :*
Vesta, 1,800 ,,
Jupiter, 89,000 ,
Saturn, 79,000 ,,
Georgium Sidus, Uranus,
35,000
or Herschel, } y y y
# The diameters of these bodies do not seem yet to have been clearly
ascertained, from their being enveloped or surrounded by a bright and
dense haze which tends to hide their real discs, and also from the diffi-
culty of accurately measuring such small planets. Schroeter makes Ceres
and Pallas ten times the above diameters. The measurements here given
of the Asteroids are as calculated by Herschel.
66 OTHER worlds.
and night as they have, although not of the same
length;—if arrived at great skill in observation, they
have discovered that this planet of ours has an atmos-
phere, and a moon which must contribute to enlighten
the earth, and make up to it for being more distant
from the sun than themselves. If we suppose their
powers of vision no greater than our own, they have
seen no actual signs of life on the earth—no traces
of art, and can merely infer so from the general simi-
larity of the Earth to Venus. Now, could it be called
an unnatural supposition for the inhabitants of that
beautiful planet or world to believe the earth to be
not only a fit place to support life, but also to be
really a mansion for various orders of animated crea-
tures, a world wonderful for its amazing number and
variety of both animal and vegetable life 2
The telescope shows us that in all the great mate-
rial points the planets resemble the earth. They all
revolve round the sun, and round their axes as the
earth does, by which they must have day and night,
summer and winter. They seem like our globe to have
spots, reflecting the light differently, as proceeding
from mountains, valleys, and plains. They are sur-
rounded by atmospheres, and, as far as we can discern,
are similar to the ball we inhabit in as far as is neces-
sary to support life, although, like all the works of the
OTHER WORLDS. 67
Almighty Creator, each having features differing from
another. If we merely knew that they were of a size
equal to the earth, or larger, it would be the most
natural supposition, that they were formed for the
same purpose; but when we have discovered so
many similar points of resemblance, the inference is
unavoidable. Ignorance may conclude that the stars
were created in vain, or for no great end, proportion-
ed to their relative importance in the universe, but
when the pious and scientific observer of nature dis-
covers them to be of such enormous magnitude, and
the planets of our system so like the earth in many
respects, he must consider their utter desolation as
inconsistent with intelligence and evident marks of
design which the Creator has shown in such bound-
less profusion in this world. If every part upon earth
is so constituted as to support life in some sort of
animals, shall we refuse to entertain the reasonable
idea, that the numberless globes around us, and, more
particularly, our fellow-planets, have been also form-
ed in some degree for a similar purpose. By moving
round on its imaginary axis, every part of our globe
is in its turn exposed to the beneficial influence of
the sun. Even the interval of darkness which each
region experiences is not without its use to us. All
living things on earth, animal as well as vegetable,
{;8 OTHER WORLDS.
have need of repose at regular periods from the ex-
ertions which they undergo generally during the
day. Every vegetable may be said to sleep in the
absence of the sun, though some are seen to do so
more visibly than others. Some fold up their leaves
and blossoms at night; and, speaking generally, the
want of light is the natural signal for creatures to take
their repose. Nature, however, with that amazing
diversity in contrivance which she seems to love to
display in all her works, has suited some classes of
animals for activity in the light of day, but others in
darkness, or rather in lesser degrees of light. For
our present illustration, it is sufficient to point out
that some require the light of the sun, and some that
of the moon, which the motions of the earth procure
them. Now, when we see the same great and veile-
volent contrivance in the planets, are we not to infer
that with them it answers a similar purpose as on
earth. Can we credit that they turn like this globe,
but for no such end ? The similitude holds still fur-
ther. Some of them also revolve obliquely, by being
inclined to the plane of their ecliptic, and thus must
have a change of seasons, and their surfaces must be
therefore adapted from different degrees of heat, to
the subsistence of various kinds of animal and vege-
table productions as with us. When we see planets
OTHER WORLDS. 69
attended by moons, shall we not suppose these meant
for a like use as our own I may here point out a
strong argument for their being inhabited, founded
on the evident means of enlightening them according
to their distance from the sun, which is almost de-
monstrable proof on this question. Those planets
which are nearer the sun than the earth is, have no
moons that we can discern, but they may probably
require less reflected light than we do, from their being
immersed in more concentrated and direct light, which,
radiating from the sun as a centre, is of course densest
the nearer to that centre : their atmospheres also may
refract it more, which would prolong a strong twilight
appearance to them. There is reason to believe that
the planet Mars—the one immediately beyond us—
has a very dense atmosphere, and thus, these three,
although unprovided with a moon, may have suffi-
cient light on their parts which are turned from the
sun. But those great planets beyond Mars have each
several moons; Jupiter* having four; Saturn, seven ;
* In M. Fontenelle's Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds,
he thus in his usual style speaks of Jupiter and its supposed in-
habitants. “Tell me,” asks the Marchioness, “if the earth be
so little in comparison of Jupiter, whether his inhabitants do dis-
cover us? Indeed, I believe not, said I ; for if we appear to him
7() OTHER WORLDS.
and Uranus (or the most distant planet), six : all
which must contribute light to them, while, owing
to their vast distances from the sun, they might
otherwise be deficient in it. One of them has also
two immense broad flat rings (at some distance from
its body) which must receive and reflect to its surface
ninety times less than he appears to us, judge you if there be any
possibility : yet thus we may reasonably conjecture, that there
are astronomers in Jupiter, who, after having made the most
curious telescopes, and taken the clearest night for their observa-
tions, may have discovered a little planet in the heavens which
they never saw before ; if they publish their discovery, most peo-
ple know not what they mean, or laugh at them for fools; nay, the
philosophers themselves will not believe them, for fear of de-
stroying their own opinions; yet some few may be a little curious,
they continue their observations, discover the little planet again,
and are now assured it is no vision, then they conclude it has a
motion round the sun, and after a thousand observations, find
that it completes this motion in a year; and, at last, thanks to
the learned they know in Jupiter that our earth is a world ;
every body runs to see it at the end of a telescope, though it ap-
pears so small as to be scarcely discernible ! Though the people
of Jupiter discover our earth, yet they may not in the least
suspect that it is inhabited; and should any one there chance to
have such a fancy he might be a little ridiculed, if not persecuted
for it. Their own planet is so large, that I suspect that they
have work enough to make discoveries on it without troubling
themselves with so seemingly insignificant a one as ours.”
OTHER WORLDS. 71
a great portion of light which would otherwise go
past.* It is far from impossible that the two planets
nearest the sun, Mercury and Venus, have a moon
each, or some contrivance similar to the aurora bore-
alis, to ill uminate their nights; but the earth, as the
planet in the third place of the system of planets, has
a moon, one great use of which is to receive the
sun’s light and reflect it upon those parts of the earth
on which the sun does not shine directly, and this by
a wonderfully-contrived rotatory motion in the earth
as well as in the moon. No person disbelieves that
one purpose of our moon was to contribute light to
* “Nature has not only given Saturn five moons, but she has
encompassed him round with a great circle or ring; this being
placed beyond the reach of the shadow which the body of that
planet casts, reflects the light of the sun continually on those
places where they cannot see the sun at all. I protest, says the
Marchioness, this is very surprising, and yet all is contrived in
such great order, that it is impossible not to think but that nature
took time to consider the necessities of all animate beings, and
that the disposing of these moons was not a work of chance;
for they are divided among those planets which are farthest dis-
tant from the sun, Jupiter and Saturn; indeed it was not worth
while to give any to Mercury or Venus, they have too much light
already, and they may account their nights, short as they are, a
greater blessing than their days.” Fontenelle's Plurality of
Worlds. Translated in the teat. Two additional moons attendant
on Saturn were discovered since the time of Fontenelle.
72 OTHER WORLDS.
the earth in the absence of the sun–the contrivance
is too apparent to be doubted for a moment, even if
the Scriptures had not remarked it, and shall we then
discredit the idea, that exactly similar bodies (in as
far as we can see), when circling round other planets,
are intended to answer a similar purpose to them as
our moon does to us? It can indeed be demonstrated
that they must reflect a considerable quantity of light
on the planets to which they belong, and can we,
consistent with common sense, think that this light is
meant only to shine on uninhabited solitudes, where
there are no eyes to be benefited by their light No!
Such inferences of their uselessness would be absurd,
for they too clearly indicate the contrary, to leave
room for our fancying that they enlighten nothing
which can be the better of their rays. That the
moons and rings round Saturn, for example, are for
the purpose, and actually will reflect light on his sur-
face, can no more be doubted, than that our moon
does so on the earth, or that this is done for the sake
of living creatures, capable of seeing it. The design,
therefore, from which proceeded these contrivances
for giving the planetary bodies more reflected light
in proportion as their distance from the sun permits
them to receive less and less direct light, as evidently
shows and even proves a purpose or end to be an-
OTHER WORLDS. 73
swered, as the construction of the eyes of all animals
which prey in the night, enables them, whenever
they choose, to admit a greater quantity of light by a
capability of withdrawing a greater portion of the
iris than usual, while those creatures which are ex-
posed to a bright light, are able to contract the pupil
of their eyes to a mere point.*
“To suppose that the stars were made only to
give a faint glimmering light to the inhabitants of
our globe, must bespeak a very unworthy opinion of
the divine wisdom, for many of the stars are so far
from benefiting us, that they cannot be seen without
the aid of a telescope; and the Deity, by an infinitely
less exertion of creative power, could have given our
earth far greater light by only one additional moon.
Every star is undoubtedly the centre of a magnificent
system of worlds, as our own sun is. Thus, the
* No work of nature within our observation, displays so ob-
viously the power, the wisdom, and the never-failing endless in-
vention of the Almighty hand, as the thousands of contrivances
which he displays in the construction of the eyes of different
animals, adapting them so curiously to the necessities of their
owners. Our telescopes, our microscopes, and other optical in-
struments, do not more evidently display contrivance by necessary
and ingenious combinations indicating design, and consequently a
Designer, than do these living instruments referred to.
74 OTHER WORLDS.
greatness of God is magnified, and the grandeur of
his empire made manifest. He is not glorified on
one earth, or in one world alone, but in ten thousand
times ten thousand.””
Whiston, an English divine and celebrated ma-
thematician, who died in 1752, assures us, that “It
is not to be questioned, were we as well acquainted
with the nature, constitution, and uses of the other
planets, with their various inhabitants, and the seve-
ral methods of divine providence relating to them all,
as we are with our own, we should not be backward
to allow them every one a proportionable share in the
care of heaven, and a like conduct in their origins and
periods, as the earth on which we dwell can boast of.”
Conybeare, a contemporary clergyman of the last,
and of the same church, says, “It betrays a great
narrowness of mind to suppose, that this earth, on
which we live, is the only place that is filled with
conscious and intelligent beings.”
In the reign of George II. an excellent little work
on astronomy was written by the Rev. William Der-
ham, “in vindication,” as the author observes in his
dedication, “of the existence and attributes of that
infinite Being to whom,” &c. On the subject of the
* Wonders of the Heavens displayed.
OTHER WORLDS. 75
planets being habitable bodies, he says, “Having
thus represented the state of the universe according
to the new system of it, the usual question is, what
is the use of so many planets as we see about the sun,
and so many as are imagined to be about the fixed
stars 2 To which the answer is, that they are worlds,
or places of habitation, which is concluded from their
being habitable and well provided for habitation.
This is pretty manifest in our solar planets, from
their being opaque bodies as our earth is, consisting
in all probability, of land and waters, hills and val-
leys, having atmospheres about them, moons minis-
tering unto them, and being enlightened, warmed,
and influenced by the sun; whose yearly visits they
receive, for seasons; and frequent returns or revolu-
tions, for days and nights.”*
The intelligent author of a popular work, entitled
Body and Soul,t thus expresses his belief in the hea-
venly orbs of light being inhabited —“You cannot
doubt that the planets are inhabited by intelligent
beings, who, if not formed as we are, are, neverthe-
less, equally with us objects of care of the same Pro-
* Astro-theology; or a Demonstration of the Being and At-
tributes of God, from a Survey of the Heavens.
+ The Rev. G. Wilkins, Vicar of St. Mary's, Nottingham.
E
76 OTHER WORLDS.
vidence : nor can you deny that every fixed star is
the sun to a system like our own.* Can you, then,
whilst surveying an universe extending on all sides
from and to places that have neither beginning nor
ending, studded with worlds and systems innumerable,
suppose that our globe, so trifling in the endless ocean
of infinity, is alone inhabited * *
An assiduous observer of nature assures us, “That
the planets are inhabited, we have every reason to
believe, from the provision that is made for their com-
fort, and analogy they bear to our own inhabited
globe.”t
If this world appears to us to have been intended
for the residence of living beings, we cannot, indeed,
with consistency, deny the possibility, or even the pro-
bability of their existence, on nearly similar orbs as
the planets evidently are. Not only may all the
planets with which we are acquainted, both primary
* Although this certainly cannot be decidedly denied, yet it can-
not be proved to be the case with our present knowledge ; and is
only very probably true from analogical reasoning. As our sun
seems to be of the nature of a fixed star, and is surrounded with
planets, therefore it is likely the stars are so likewise, although
they are too distant for us to see their planets.
+ Popular Philosophy; or Book of Nature laid open. 1826.
OTHER WORLDS. 77
and secondary, be inhabited, but each fixed star may
be the sun of its own particular system of planetary
bodies. That these last are invisible, even with our
best glasses, is no reason against their existence, for
the largest of ours would be so, if placed at the dis-
tance of the nearest star. Since our sun is so sur-
rounded with dependent globes, it is more probable
than otherwise, that these distant suns have also such
an assemblage, as one purpose of their creation. If
these imagined bodies bear the same relative propor-
tion to their respective suns as the earth and our
fellow-planets do to our sun, they must be by far too
small to be seen by us, and, besides, their reflected
light could not be supposed able to penetrate to the
earth.
I have said that I was early instructed to look upon
the planets as being inhabited globes, and that the
fixed stars, from their much greater distance, must
consequently be of still greater dimensions; I shall
now give the words in which these great—I had al-
most said—discoveries were explained by Professor
Copland, and more than fifty years’ study of the ra-
tionalé of this inference from what we see of the uni-
verse, tended more and more to confirm his belief in
it, during which long period also, he continued to
teach it ea cathedra.
78 OTHER WORLDS.
“The observations made by the telescope have also
given us every reason to believe that the multitude of
fixed stars, with which the heavens are covered, is
each of them a sun attended by his planets, all of
which are probably peopled with living beings. Were
our sun removed to such a distance from us as they
are, we are certain he would put on exactly the same
appearance. Now, the chief use of the sun in our
system is to distribute light and heat to the planets,
and, by the vast mass of his body, to become a centre
round which they may revolve. If the fixed stars,
then, be suns, it seems highly probable that they have
each a system of inhabited planets. That all those of
our own system are inhabited, can scarce admit of a
doubt. It is evident that the one we live on was
destined, by its Creator, to be a proper habitation for
a number of living creatures; for its air, earth, and
waters are crowded with myriads of them. Now,
the telescope shows us that in several important
points all the others resemble ours. They all revolve
round the sun, and round their axes as we do—they
have, therefore, the same phenomena of summer and
winter, day and night. They have, like us, spots,
inequalities, mountains, and valleys. They are all,
too, provided with atmospheres; for we have seen
the light of a fixed star refracted in passing through
OTHER WORLDS. 79
the extensive atmosphere of Mars—he has snow upon
his body which cannot be produced without one, and
must also have clouds and rain. Schroeter has proved
the existence of one on Venus, and volcanoes could
not exist on our moon without air. In short, there
is but one circumstanee in which we have not, as yet,
been able to compare them. I say, as yet,” because
I think it not impossible that, were a telescope con-
structed still larger than that of Herschel's, the inha-
bitants of the moon might be actually seen by it. But,
setting aside this expectation, who that sees this
earth to be chiefly, if not solely destined for the ha-
bitation of living beings, can refuse to believe in their
existence on the other planets On what can this pri-
vilege claimed for our globe be founded, unless on a
narrow contracted way of thinking in men who can-
not go beyond the immediate prejudices of sense
“From these and many other arguments, modern
astronomers have concluded, with a degree of proba-
bility nearly approaching to conviction, that every
fixed star is a sun, made, by his light, to illuminate,
and, by his attraction, to retain in their orbits a sys-
tem of habitable and inhabited worlds.
“Some writers, more timid than religious, have
reprobated this opinion as contrary to religion; but
surely this is poorly to maintain the glory of the Crea-
E 2
80 OTHER WORLDS,
tor; for, if the extent of his works can announce his
power, it is impossible for the human mind to con-
ceive a more sublime idea of them.”*
In a small but excellent treatise on the Elements
of Astronomy, by Mr. Mitchell, there is a whole chap-
ter devoted to the discussion of a plurality of worlds,
and this truly scientific author thus expresses his own
opinion –“After contemplating the immensity of
the universe, and the wonderful order and harmony
of the motions of the heavenly bodies, we receive still
higher pleasure by the consideration, that they are
the habitations of rational and intelligent beings, ca-
The
probabilities of the universe being inhabited are so
pable of enjoying happiness like ourselves.
numerous and strong, that we cannot doubt it; and,
as far as the nature of the case will admit, there is
every proof that can justly be required or expected.
It is now so generally received, that not to en-
tertain it would be a singularity.”f
The Rev. William Whewell, one of the most learned
men of the present day, whose admirable treatise on
* Dr. Copland's MS. Lectures.
+ Elements of Astronomy, &c. to which is added an Essay on
the Plurality of Worlds, by James Mitchell, A.M. Author of Ele-
ments of Natural Philosophy, &c. Pp. 191–194.
to THER WORLDS. 81
Astronomy and General Physics, considered with refer-
ence to Natural Theology,” is held in such highesteem,
expresses his opinion on the point under considera-
tion in the following terms:—“When we look at
the universe with the aid of astronomical discovery
and theory, we then find, that a few of the shining
points which we see scattered on the face of the sky
in such profusion, appear to be of the same nature as
the earth, and may perhaps, as analogy would sug-
gest, be, like the earth, the habitations of organized
that the rest of ‘the host of heaven’ may,
by a like analogy, be conjectured to be the centres of
beings;
similar systems of revolving worlds.”
In regard to the fixed stars being fitted to support
life, and that they are actually peopled with living
beings, we may fairly begin with considering our
own sun as one of them—as the nearest star to the
earth, and one important use of this vast body is, by
its size, to retain around it other bodies, which are
called planets, on which their great centre of attrac-
tion throws light and heat. It may be said, that
when such important purposes are answered by the
* One of the Bridgewater Treatises “on the Power, Wisdom,
and Goodness of God, as manifested in the Creation.” 1833.
82 OTHER WORLDS,
sun, why seek for any other, when his bulk and light
are sufficiently accounted for in the economy of nature;
but there have been of late years discoveries made as
to this star which would lead us to think that these are
not the only uses it was intended to serve.
The sun was, in old times, thought to be a ball of
fire, fearfully hot, and for the sole purpose of com-
municating light and heat to us. Even some modern
astronomers have entertained the same idea as to the
heat of this orb, and it requires considerable care to
distinguish whether they are trusting to their imagi-
nations, or are drawing their knowledge from actual
observation of their own, or of competent observers.
In a recently-published great astronomical work
by a Lady, which proceeds on the Méchanique Céleste
of the celebrated French astronomer La Place, and
shows a wonderful degree of female attainment in
mathematical and astronomical science, the sun is
represented as seeming, even to telescopic observa-
tion, “to be surrounded by an ocean of flame, through
which his dark nucleus appears like black spots.”—
“The sun,” it is further said, “viewed with a teles-
cope, presents the appearance of an enormous globe
of fire, frequently in a state of violent agitation or
ebullition.”* If his real body be dark, then it cannot
* Mechanism of the Heavens, by Mrs. Somerville. Pre. Diss.
OTHER WORLDS. 83
be thought to be in combustion, but only its luminous
covering. The violent agitation said to be observed,
could only be deceptious, and must have arisen (if it
ever really was thought to be seen) from a tremulous
motion in our own atmosphere, often apparent in
warm weather even to the naked eye, and believed to
arise from changes of temperature. Allowing, for a
moment, the possibility of such a constant ebullition
in the sun, every practical astronomer—one used to
observation—knows well that his most powerful in-
strument could not discern it. With the highest
power which can be applied with effect to a forty feet
reflecting telescope, the surface of the sun appears
only slightly mottled (with the exception of a few
dark spots), but no ebullition whatever has been dis-
covered, and when we remember that the supposed
boiling body is at the distance of ninety-five millions
of miles from us, the billowy motion must be great
indeed to be seen, and quick as lightning in its un-
dulations. The very circumstance of the slow change
in general of the shape of the dark spots which appear
on the surface of the sun must prove that the lumi-
nosity is not a fluid in a state of extensive or univer-
sal waving motion. These spots do change, how-
ever, in their size and shapes, and are seldom long
stationary in their appearance, nay, their very act of
E 3
84 OTHER WORLDS.
change has been observed. “When Dr. Long was
examining the sun's image, received upon a sheet of
white paper, he observed a large round spot divide
itself into two, which receded from each other with
immense rapidity. The Rev. Dr. Wollaston perceived
a phenomenon of a similar kind, with a twelve-inch
reflector: the spot burst in pieces when he was ob-
serving it, like a piece of ice, which, thrown upon a
frozen pond, breaks in pieces, and slides in various
directions.”* These appearances, it will be noticed,
were not of the nature of an undulatory motion, and
were confined to one place at a time, arising, of
course, therefore, from some local cause. Dr. Herschel
ascribes them to a great explosion on the dark sur-
face of the sun, which rends the luminous matter by
which his real body is surrounded, the elastic fluids
formed in the interior thus becoming the means of
partially removing the veil of light which interposes
between us and his solid mass.
A constant ebullitionary motion would be much
more difficult to be perceived than a sudden expansive
one, which rends and throws open the bright surface
on a certain determinate spot distinctly marked as
described.
* Brewster's Encyclopedia.
{OTHER WORLDS. 85
Mrs. Somerville informs us that La Place imagined
the solar orb to be a mass of fire, and that the spots
seen on it are vast caverns occasioned by eruptions;
but this theory is much less agreeable to the pheno-
mena discovered by the most accurate observation,
than that of Herschel, who believed that the solid
body of the sun is surrounded by a dense luminous
atmosphere, between which and the real surface, a
stratum of clouds interposes, through both of which,
at times, there are openings, forming the spots which
appear to us of a dark nature, the centre more dark
than the edges.
In 1794, Dr. Herschel read a paper before the
Royal Society, in order to prove that the sun may
be fitted for the habitation of living beings. On the
great objection to such a supposition—the prodigious
heat imagined to exist in the sun, this great philoso-
pher observes, that “it may not be amiss to remove
a certain difficulty which arises from the effect of the
sun's rays upon our globe. The heat which is here at
the distance of ninety-five millions of miles, produced
by these rays, is so considerable, that it may be object-
ed that the surface of the globe of the sun itself, must
be scorched up beyond all conception. This may be
very substantially answered by many proofs drawn
from natural philosophy, which show that heat is pro-
86 OTHER WORLDS.
duced by the sun's rays only when they act upon a
calorific medium ; (something capable of receiving
them;) they are the cause of the production of heat,
by uniting with the matter of fire which is contained
in the substances that are heated.” “On the tops
of mountains of a sufficient height, at an altitude
where clouds can very seldom reach to shelter them
from the direct rays of the sun, we always find
regions of ice and snow.” Now, if the solar rays
themselves conveyed all the heat we find on this
globe, it ought to be hottest where their course is
least interrupted. Again, our AEronauts all confirm
the coldness of the upper regions of the atmosphere;
and since, therefore, even on our earth, the heat of
any situation depends upon the aptness of the medium
to yield to the impression of the solar rays, we have
only to admit that on the sun itself, the elastic fluids
* “AEronauts, and travellers who have visited mountainous
countries, have invariably reported that they felt the cold increase
progressively as they ascended, the latter always experienced, at
the same time, a difficulty of breathing, sickness of stomach, vo-
miting (even blood), with giddiness of head, and, at certain
heights (varying, in different places, under the influence of local
circumstances), found regions of everlasting ice and snow, and
that in the midst of the torrid zone, whilst the heat in the Cham-
paign country was excessive.”
OTHER WORLDS. 87
composing its atmosphere, and the matter on its
surface, are of such a nature as not to be capable of
any excessive affection from its own rays. Another
well-known fact is, that the solar focus of the largest
lens,” thrown into the air, will occasion no sensible
heat in the place where it has been kept for a con-
siderable time, although its power of exciting com-
bustion when proper bodies are exposed, should be
sufficient to fuse the most refractory substances.”f
“Philosophers,” says Dr. Thomas Thomson, “long
supposed that this immense globe of matter was un-
dergoing a violent combustion, and to this cause
they ascribed the immense quantity of light and heat
which are constantly separating from it; but the late
very curious and important observations of Dr.
Herschel, leave scarcely any room for doubting this
opinion is erroneous. From these observations, it
follows, that the sun is a solid opaque globe, simi-
lar to the earth or other planets, t and surrounded
with an atmosphere of great density and extent. In
* Presented to the sun.
+ Transactions of the Royal Society for 1794.
3. Although the real body of the sun may be in so far similar to
the earth in being a globe, and of a material structure, yet we
have no reason to believe the similitude extends any further.
88 OTHER WORLDS.
this atmosphere there floats two regions of clouds:
the lowermost of the two is opaque, and similar to
the clouds which are formed in our atmosphere; but
the higher region of clouds is luminous, and emits
the immense quantity of light to which the splendour
of the sun is owing. It appears, too, that these
luminous clouds are subject to various changes, both
in quantity and lustre.”
Speaking of the stars, Dr. Burnet says—“They
are far from being all of them fixed in the same
vaulted roof of heaven, as to us wretched Imortals
they appear, but are profusely sown at immense
distances from each other, through all the vast con-
cave and profundity of heaven.t It is reasonable to
* Thomson's System of Chemistry, Vol. I.
+ “The distance of the stars has not been ascertained with any
precision, but it is known, with certainty, to be so great, that the
whole length of the earth's orbit, or 190 millions of miles, is only
a point in comparison of it; and, hence, it is inferred that the
nearest fixed star cannot be less than 100,000 times the length of
the earth's orbit, or 19 billions of miles. This distance being so
great, the best method of forming some clear conception of it is
to compare it with the velocity of some moving body, by which it
may be measured. The swiftest motion with which we are ac-
quainted is that of light, which is at the rate of 12 millions of miles
in a minute; and yet light would be three years in passing from
the nearest fixed star to the earth. A cannon ball, which may be
OTHER WORLDS. 89
believe, that according to the fulness of the divine
power, inhabitants are not wanting to these morning,
these first created stars, which sing forth the praise
of God,' according to the words of Job, when the
morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God
shouted for joy. These have, I say, their own in-
habitants, and animals which are peculiar to them.”
Were we able to establish that the sun is a habitable
world, we should be entitled to infer, as before ob-
served, that every fixed star is so also as well as the
planets by which they are attended. It has been
sufficiently proved that there is at least no impossibi-
lity which we can discover when fairly examined, to
the sun's capability of supporting life, and even if we
should fancy that we had ascertained the impossibi-
made to move at the rate of twenty miles in a minute, would be
1,800,000 years in traversing this distance. Sound, the velocity
of which is thirteen milesin a minute, would be more than 2,700,000
years in passing from the star to the earth; so that, if it were
possible for the inhabitants of the earth to see the light, to hear
the sound, and to receive the ball of a cannon discharged at the
nearest fixed star, they would not perceive the light of its explo-
sion for three years after it had been fired, nor receive the ball till
1,800,000 had elapsed, nor hear the report for 2,700,000 years
after the explosion.” Scientific Dialogues, Vol. II. p. 244.
* De Statu Mortuorum. Translated in the text.
90. OTHER WORLDS.
lity of its doing this, the probability would be that
our imagined proof rested on grounds with which our
imperfect understandings were not sufficiently ac-
quainted. We are also apt, in considering whether
the stars could be habitations for living creatures, to
inquire only whether beings exactly of a similar na-
ture to ourselves could live upon them, as if it were
impossible there could be any other. We admit that
there are spiritual beings, and there may be in the
universe many an intelligent race on its various orbs
whose bodies may be constituted very differently
from our own, which feel heat and cold according to
their own peculiar capabilities of bearing these.
Besides the impossibility of our being able to dis-
cern the stars at the distance they are placed from
the earth, if they shone with a reflected light, there
are other reasons for believing them to be similar
bodies to the sun of our own system. Some of these
are thus stated by Dr. Herschel :—“That stars are
suns will scarcely admit of a doubt. Their immense
distance would perfectly exclude them from our view,
if the light they sent us were not of the solar kind.
Besides, the analogy may be traced much farther.
The sun turns on its axis; so does the star Algol ;
so do the stars called 6 Lyrae, 8 Cephei, 7 Antinoi,
o Ceti, and many more, most probably all. From
OTHER WORLDS. 91
what other cause could we so probably account for
their periodical changes Again, our sun has spots
on its surface; so has the star Algol; and so have the
stars already named ; and probably every star in the
heavens. On our sun those spots are changeable;
so they are on the star o Ceti; as evidently appears
from the irregularity of its changeable lustre, which
is often broken in upon by accidental changes, while
the general period continues unaltered. The same
little deviations have been observed in the other pe-
riodical stars, and ought to be ascribed to the same
cause.”
Sturm, whom I have before referred to, thus ex-
presses his opinion on the point under consideration :
—“All the stars being so many suns which can give
light, animation, and heat to other globes, is it pro-
bable that God should have given them that faculty
for no purpose F Would he have created stars, whose
rays can pierce even to the earth, without having
produced worlds also to enjoy their benign influence 2
God, who hath peopled this earth, which is a mere
speck with so many living creatures, would he have
placed in the immense space so many desert globes 2
No, certainly : perhaps each of these fixed stars,
which we see by myriads, has its worlds moving
round it for which it has been created. Perhaps,
92 OTHER WORLDS.
these spheres which we see above us, serve as abodes
for different sorts of creatures; and are peopled, like
our earth, with inhabitants who admire and praise
the magnificence of the works of God. Perhaps,
from all these globes, as well as from ours, there
rises continually towards the Creator, prayers and
hymns of praise and thanksgiving.”
In the Rev. Dr. Chalmers' astronomical discourses,
we find the fitness of the heavenly bodies for being
the habitations of intelligent creatures, and for their
being actually so peopled, thus eloquently argued:—
“The heavenly bodies appear small to the eye of
an inhabitant of this earth, only from the immensity
of their distance. When we talk of hundreds of mil-
lions of miles, it is not to be listened to as incredible.
For remember that we are talking of these bodies
which are scattered over the immensity of space, and
that space knows no termination. The conception is
great and difficult, but the truth unquestionable. By
a process of measurement, which it is unnecessary at
present to explain, we have ascertained first the dis-
tance, and then the magnitude of some of these bodies
* Reflections on the Works of God, by C. C. Sturm. (Febru-
ary 4.) Translated in the text.
OTHER WORLDS. 93
which roll in the firmament; that the sun which pre-
sents itself to the eye under so diminutive a form, is
really a globe, exceeding, by many thousands of times,
the dimensions of the earth which we inhabit; that
the moon itself has the magnitude of a world; and
that even a few of these stars, which appear like so
many lucid points to the unassisted eye of the ob-
server, expand into large circles upon the applica-
tion of the telescope, and are some of them much
larger than the ball which we tread upon, and to
which we proudly apply the denomination of the uni-
verse.*
“Now, what is the fair and obvious presumption f
The world in which we live is a round ball of a de-
terminate magnitude, and occupies its own place in
the firmament. But, when we explore the unlimited
tracts of that space which is every where around us,
we meet with other balls of equal or superior magni-
tude ; and from which our earth would either be in-
visible, or appear as small as any of those twinkling
stars which are seen under the canopy of heaven.
* The earth alone is never, in philosophical, or even in common
language, called the universe, under which term is always included
every fixed star or sun, and every primary and secondary planet
throughout space, with all their various adornments.
94 ÖTHER WORLDS.
Why, then, suppose that this little spot, little, at
least, in the immensity which surrounds it, should be
the exclusive abode of life and intelligence P What
reason to think that those mightier globes which roll
in other parts of creation, and which we have dis-
covered to be worlds in magnitude, are not also
worlds in use and dignity ? Why should we think
that the great Architect of nature, supreme in wis-
dom as he is in power, would call these stately man-
sions into existence and leave them unoccupied? What,
although, from this remote point of observation, we
can see nothing but the nakedness of yon planetary
orbs 3 Are we, therefore, to say that they are so many
vast and umpeopled solitudes: that desolation reigns
in every part of the universe but ours; that the whole
energy of the divine attributes is expended in one
insignificant corner of these mighty works; and to
this earth alone belongs the bloom of vegetation, or
the blessedness of life, or the dignity of rational and
immortal existence.
“But this is not all. We have something more
than the mere magnitude of the planets to allege in
favour of the idea that they are inhabited. We know.
that this earth turns round upon itself, and we ob-
serve that all those celestial bodies which are acces-
sible to such an observation, have the same move-
OTHER WORLDS. 95
ment. We know that the earth performs a yearly
revolution round the sun, and we can detect, in all
the planets which compose our system, a revolution
of the same kind, and under the same circumstances.
They have the same succession of day and night.
They have the same agreeable vicissitudes of the sea-
sons. To them light and darkness succeed each
other, and the gaiety of summer is followed by the
dreariness of winter. To each of them the heavens
present as varied and magnificent a spectacle; and
this earth, the encompassing of which would require
the labour of years from one of its puny inhabitants,
is but one of the lesser lights which sparkle in their
firmament. To them, as well as to us, has God di-
vided the light from the darkness, and he has called
the light day, and the darkness he has called night.
He has said, let there be lights in the firmament of
their heaven, to divide the day from their night; and
and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for
days, and for years; and let them be for lights in the
firmament of heaven to give light upon their earth,
and it was so. And God has also made to them great
lights. To all of them he has given the sun to rule
the day, and to many of them has he given moons to
rule the night.” “In all these greater arrangements
of divine wisdom we can see that God has done the
96 OTHER WORLDS.
same things for the accommodation of the planets
that he has done for the earth which we inhabit.
And shall we say that the resemblance stops here, be-
cause we are not in a situation to observe it Shall
we say that this scene of magnificence has been call-
ed into being merely for the amusement of a few as-
tronomers P” “ or conceive that silence and soli-
tude reign throughout the mighty empire of nature ?”
“We have seen one” (planet) “that its surface
rises into inequalities, that it swells into mountains
and stretches into valleys; of another, that it is sur-
rounded by an atmosphere which may support the res-
piration of animals; of a third, that clouds are form-
ed and suspended over it, which may minister to it
all the bloom and luxuriance of vegetation ; and of a
fourth, that a white colour spreads over its northern
regions, as its winter advances, and that, on the ap-
proach of summer, this whiteness is dissipated—
giving room to suppose that the element of water
abounds in it; that it rises by evaporation into its at-
mosphere ; that it freezes upon the application of
cold; that it is precipitated in the form of snow;
that it covers the ground with a fleecy mantle, which
melts away from the heat of a more vertical sun; and
that other worlds bear a resemblance to our own, in
the same yearly round of beneficent and interesting
OTHER W ORLDS. 97
changes.”
“Is it presumption to say, that the
moral world extends to these distant and unknown
regions 2—that they are occupied with people —that
the praises of God are there lifted up, and his good-
ness rejoiced in 2–that piety has its temples and its
offerings, and the richness of the divine attributes is
there felt and admired by intelligent worshippers?”*
How much more sublime an idea of the universe,
and consequently more exalted impression of its Crea-
tor, do the views of this pious minister inspire us with,
than if we vainly and ignorantly imagine the earth is
the greatest globe in it, and the only peopled orb roll-
ing along through etherial immensity. How con-
tracted do such notions now appear as those of an old
and zealous divine, though no astronomer—the Rev.
Richard Baxter—in his “Saints' Everlasting Rest.”—
“Yonder is the region of light ! This is a land of
darkness. Yonder twinkling stars, that shiming moon
and radiant sun, are all but lanterns hung out of my
Father's house, to light thee while thou walkest in
this dark world !” t
Such an assumption of our earth's position and im-
portance in the universe was long deemed pious and
* Dr. Chalmers' Sermon on Modern Astronomy.
† Chap. XVI. § 11.
98 OTHER WORLDS.
a self-evident truth, but our ideas of the greatness of
the works of God are expanding, and our astonish-
ment at the vastness of his power consequently in-
creasing. As a man who has been used to solitary,
seclusion feels on suddenly finding himself placed in
the midst of numbers, so may those who, after con-
sidering this world the only one in creation, open
their eyes to behold other peopled earths in the sky
in every direction to which they can turn. We pity
the simple notions of a small colony of Esquimaux,
who, as related by late northern navigators, believed
themselves the only people on the face of the earth,
which they imagined to be all covered with ice and
snow ; but there is little doubt that it will soon be
generally considered as short-sighted philosophy to
look on our little world as the solitary exertion of
the Almighty's skill in constructing such a dwelling.
In further contrast to the foregoing exclamation of
Baxter's, I cannot refrain quoting some passages from
the beautiful Hymns to the Supreme Being, by the late
Edward King : *—
“Innumerable worlds stood forth, O Lord, at thy
command; and by thy word they are filled with glo-
rious works.
* Published anonymously in 1780, and acknowledged by the
author in the edition of 1798.
OTHER WORLDS. 99
“Who can comprehend the boundless universe 2
or number the stars of heaven P
“Are they not habitations of thy power filled
with manifestations of thy wisdom and goodness *
“Amidst them thou hast provided a dwelling for
man; that he also might praise thy name.
“The sun shineth and is very glorious, and we re-
joice in the light thereof.
“Many worlds are nourished by it; and its glory
is great. By its influence the earth is clothed with
plenty, and the habitation of man is rendered ex-
ceedingly beautiful.
“We admire its brightness, and perceive its great-
ness, and our earth vanisheth in comparison with it.
“Yet what is this amidst thy works P is it not as
a point, and as nothing in the firmament of heaven P
“What, then, is man, that thou art mindful of
him 2 or the son of man, that thou visitest him * * *
Soon after the publication of Dr. Chalmers’ Dis-
courses, an anonymous work appeared in the form of
* From Hymns 1st and 3d. It appears clearly, and to demon-
stration, from the observations made in the Philosophical Trans-
actions (Vol. LVII. p. 234.), that the solar system itself becomes
as a mere point when its relative magnitude is compared with the
immensity of the universe.
F
100 OTHER WORLDS, *
letters, addressed to a friend,” avowedly “hastily writ-
ten,” but displaying not a little research, and with a
specious reference to the differences of opinion on as-
tronomical observations evenamong several celebrated
astronomers, some of these observations being found-
ed on by many, as fundamental data on which they
build the great probability of the stars and planets
being habitable and really inhabited worlds. This
author, while animadverting on the reasons which
Dr. Chalmers gives for his belief in there being many
other residences for living beings besides our earth,
and that these worlds are, in thousands of instances,
within our view, expresses “surprise at the learned
credulity” of the Reverend Doctor, and wishes to show
his own superior wisdom in rejecting what he calls
so wild an idea : in no measured terms he endeavours
to bring under the smile of those as ignorant as him-
self all who, like Dr. Chalmers, give, as he alleges,
their “ready credence to every novel speculation.”
The work of the French philosopher before noticed,
says this unknown writer “has given a tone to all the
* “Plurality of Worlds; or Letters, N otes, and Memoranda,
philosophical and critical, occasioned by “a Series of Discourses
on the Christian Revelation, viewed in connexion with the Mo-
dern Astronomy, by Thomas Chalmers, D.D.’”
OTHER WORLDS. 101
modern systems of astronomy, and every child is now
taught to admit these conjectures and romantic effu-
sions as absolute truths completely within the sphere
of mathematical demonstration.” In another place,
he characterises “the fashionable system” of astrono-
my (as he terms it) as made up of “theories fit only
for the nursery, or speculations that might adorn the
pages of Gulliver, and embellish the wonderful at-
chievements of the renowned Don Quixote.” The
discoveries of Sir William Herschel are denominated
proofs of “the wildness of speculation,” and this
great practical astronomer (much better entitled to
credit than a mere theoretical one), when stating the
deliberate conclusions he had come to after many
years, night after night, looking into the heavens
with the largest and most powerful telescope which
has ever yet been made, is called “a daring pretend-
er,” while along with him, under this appellation, are
classed all others who, in the exercise of their own
observation and judgment, draw similar inferences.
All such abuse and high pretensions to discernment,
especially in an unknown author, would require little
notice or refutation ; but he also refers to certain
specific astronomical points which do deserve to be
examined, and, although very few indeed have gone
the length of publishing such an attempt at refuta-
102 OTHER WORLDS.
tion of the great truth now endeavoured to be es-
tablished (as far, at least, as our present know-
ledge extends), yet as some learned men appear to
agree in the opinion that the planetary or starry
bodies are not of the nature of worlds, the objections
stated by this writer may be used as texts whereon
we may comment; and those unable of themselves to
bring forward any scientific arguments for disbelief
or otherwise, will see more clearly the nature of the
arguments on both sides.
One reason for our believing the planets to be peo-
pled is, as has been before pointed out, their vast size;
and their appearing as they do, at the distance all
admit them to be, proves this incontestibly. The
sizes and distances from the sun and from each other
of the principal planets of our system, are now past
question, in the opinion of all astronomers, and it is
no reason against the truth of these measurements,
that the fired stars have as yet been found beyond all
our attempts at ascertaining how far off they are
placed. As to the sizes of some of the latest dis-
covered planets, several of the best observers are at
variance; but neither is this a reason for doubting
the result of their observations on the others, for
these little planetary bodies are so diminutive, and
their real surfaces hardly distinguishable with pre-
OTHER WORLDS. 103
cision in the halo or glare of light which is re-
flected from them ; one observer has been led to dif-
fer from another as to their sizes, by perhaps includ-
ing a part of this light in what he conceived to be
the solid body of the planet, but the bodies of the
great planets are much better defined, indeed, with
quite sufficient distinctness for ascertaining their ac-
tual surfaces and consequent bulks, no doubt of which
can remain in the mind of any one who has a proper
opportunity of examining them in a scientific manner.
With regard to the fixed stars, the single indispu-
table fact, that they appear always of the same size
to us, although the earth, in the course of its yearly
circuit round the sun, is 180 millions of miles nearer
to them at one time than at another, is sufficient of
itself to establish this prodigious distance and bulk.
Their seeming to us, along with the planets, to be
vastly nearer when we stand at a considerable eleva-
tion above the common surface of the earth, is no
cause for doubting those observations on them, made
when looking at them through a much denser atmos-
phere; for astronomical observation on the top of the
highest mountains or in the clearest air gives us the
same result as to distance and bulk. The weight or
denseness of the atmosphere in the particular place
of observation being always found and allowed for,
F 2 -
104 OTHER WORLDS,
*
cannot, therefore, “confound the greatest astrono-
mer,” as our author imagines, although it very pro-
bably might that of this anonymous Commentator on
what he plainly does not understand. A stone at the
bottom of deep clear water may seem nearer to the
eye than if that water was dark or muddy, but if we
wished to judge of the real distance of the stone, the
state of the water would, of course, require to be
taken into account. In astronomical observations we
do not depend much on what seems to the eye, at a
glance, to be the case. There is scarcely a star, for
instance, which can be reckoned on as being really
in the direction it appears to be ; atmospheric re-
fraction is allowed for, which bends the rays proceed-
ing from them, making them appear, therefore, in a
different direction from the true one. The swiftness
of the earth’s motion, and our consequent change of
position, even whilst making our observations on the
heavenly bodies, from its being accurately known and
allowed for, can be no source of error, and, in proof
of this, it is sufficient to notice, that all our calcula-
tions of the positions of these bodies with regard to
the earth and to each other at certain future times
are daily found to be correct when these times arrive.
Assuming as true a specific motion of the earth in a
circuit round the sun, and calculating on it as an es-
OTHER WORLDS. 105
sential part of the postulata necessary to be determined
before any calculation can be made of the future po-
sitions of any of the heavenly bodies, we find that
our conclusions are right to an instant of time, and
so great is now the perfection of astronomical know-
ledge, that we can calculate with the utmost exact-
ness the moment that any planet shall occult (seem-
ingly pass over) a fixed star. Founding always on
the motion of the earth, and on the various degrees
of swiftness in that of all the planets, unerring calcu-
lations are made of the relative positions of all of
them at any given time. On these calculations the
sailor confidently relies for the safety of his vessel,
and is never deceived, except when owing to some
palpable blunder of his own or of the astronomer who
gave him the calculation; but this now so seldom hap-
pens, that the possibility of it is scarcely worth no-
ticing. All this proves that we do know most accu-
rately both the distances and rates of motion of all
the visible planets.
The author whose arguments we are considering,
places great stress on the admitted difficulty, or rather
impossibility, of obtaining what is called the angle of
parallax of the fixed stars, and our consequent inabi-
lity to discover their distances. But this only shows
that the diameter of the earth's orbit (which is used
106 OTHER WORLDS.
in calculating parallax) bears no sensible proportion
to the distance of the stars, which most probably can
never be ascertained while we are on earth, but we
can satisfactorily demonstrate that were any of them
within a certain nameable space, their distance could
be known by our being then able to measure the
angle of parallax which they would be found to sub-
tend. This distance is perfectly sufficient to esta-
blish their great remoteness, their bulk, and their
shining by a light of their own, which is all that as-
tronomers contend for as fact. With regard to the
planets, however, their angles of parallax are not im-
measurable, and the variances in their measurements,
noticed by our author, arise from comparing old ob-
servations by imperfect instruments with those of the
present day, the accuracy of which cannot be justly
doubted. In our present inquiry it would be sufficient
that both the starsand planets are at distances at which,
if our earth was placed, it would appear no larger than
they do, and this could be easily determined by the
common rules of optics and perspective. If this be
allowed, and it is perfectly evident, the capability of
their being inhabited in as far as bulk is concerned is
undeniable. The same author refers to the disputes
among eminent astronomers as to the height of the
lunar mountains, as another proof of the uncertainty
OTHER WORLDS. 107
of our knowledge regarding bodies at the immense
distance at which even the moon is placed, but al-
lowing that we have no sure means of measuring
their height, this cannot throw discredit on the be-
lief that they are great projections on the moon's
surface, and if so, then they must be denominated
mountains, at least, whatever their exact height be ;
that they really are so, no person who ever glanced
at them through a good telescope would doubt for a
moment ; not only do they cast shadows as all pro-
jections do on the earth when the sun is not shining
perpendicularly on them, but the tops of some of
them are plainly seen illuminated, while their bases
are hid from us by the darkness when the moon is in
her quadratures, just as our own mountains are when
the sun is rising on them.
Dr. Chalmers is desired to recollect “that if space
has no termination, he is fast verging into the very
gulf of atheism,” but how this appears, is not shown
—certainly it is not deducible from the Holy Scrip-
tures, and no more sustains a charge of atheism than
an assertion that the power of God is unlimited as
his universe—boundless as the space into which with
our telescopes we observe orb beyond orb in apparent-
ly endless succession. He who would bound space
because its being unlimited surpasses the limits of his
$º
F J
108 OTHER W6R.T,E\S.
own understanding, thinks little of the absurdity he
seeks to establish, or the nature of such boundary, but
it would be of no use to notice further the opinions
of an author who even doubts the truth of the motion
of the earth and of the Copernican system.
Dr. Olinthus Gregory thus argues for the same
conclusion as that of Dr. Chalmers:—“As there is a
general analogy running through and connecting every
part of the creation into one grand whole : and as
there is undoubtedly an absolute similarity between
the earth we inhabit and the other planets in our sys-
tem; can it be unreasonable to suppose that they
and the planets of other systems have plants and
trees, herbs, fruits, &c. as we have Or is it repug-
nant to nature to imagine that they are inhabited by
animals and rational creatures Among numberless
arguments which might be adduced, a very good one
to show the great probability of the planets being in-
habited, is derived from the following consideration.
There is no part of matter that we are acquainted
with, which lies waste and useless; seas, lakes, and
rivers teem with living creatures ; mountains and
valleys; trees and herbs; grasses and animals which
feed upon them; nay, even the blood and humours of
the animals themselves, all have their respective in-
habitants. Surely, then, the most numerous and
OTHER WORLDS. 109
large bodies in the universe are furnished with beings
adapted to their several situations. What an august
conception does this give of the works of the Creator :
Almost more than the human imagination is able to
conceive. Millions of suns at immense distances
from each other ; attended by tens of millions of
worlds moving round them, all in rapid motion, yet
regular and calm ; and these, we may safely infer, are
inhabited by millions of millions of rational creatures
formed for endless felicity.”*
In a recently-published system of astronomy by Sir
John Herschel, this indefatigable observer of the hea-
vens expresses, in several places, his belief in, at least,
all the planetary bodies being inhabited; but, I am sor-
ry to find, he devotes no part of his investigations ex-
clusively to ascertain how far the discovered facts of
astronomy tend to induce a belief that there may be
many such inhabited worlds as our own, although he
seems, at the same time, to entertain no doubt of the
reality of this supposition. “The sun and moon,” he
says, “which appear to untaught eyes round bodies of
no considerable size, become enlarged, in the imagina-
tion of the astronomer, into vast globes—the one ap-
proaching in magnitude to the earth itself, the other
* Lessons, Astronomical and Philosophical, p. 74.
110 OTHER WORLDS.
immensely surpassing it. The planets, which appear
only as stars somewhat brighter than the rest, are to
him spacious, elaborate, and habitable worlds; se-
veral of them vastly greater and far more curiously
furnished than the earth he inhabits, as there are
others less so ; and the stars themselves properly so
called, which, to ordinary apprehension, present only
lucid sparks or brilliant atoms, are to him suns of va-
rious and transcendent glory—effulgent centres of
“To
what purpose,” asks the same author, when speaking
life and light to myriads of unseen worlds.”
of the stars, “are we to suppose such magnificent
bodies scattered through the abyss of space P Surely
not to illuminate our nights, which an additional
moon of the thousandth part of the size of our own
would do much better, nor to sparkle as a pageant
void of meaning and reality, and bewilder us among
vain conjectures. Useful, it is true, they are to man
as points of exact and permanent reference; but he
must have studied astronomy to little purpose, who
can suppose man to be the only object of his Crea-
tor's care, or who does not see in the vast and wond-
erful apparatus around us provision for other races of
animated beings.””
* Treatise on Astronomy. Cabinet Encyclopaedia, pp. 2. 380.
OTHER WORLDS. l 11
Although we cannot even make an approach to as-
certain the sizes of the fixed stars, unless we knew
their distances from the earth, and this is beyond all
calculation, yet we do know that they must be vastly
farther than the most distant planet of our system,
and therefore must be greatly larger, besides shining
with a light of their own, and no facts are better es-
tablished in astronomy, than that the visible planets
are worlds in magnitude, and that the stars must be
far greater than they.*
* “When we speak of the comparative remoteness of certain
regions of the starry heavens beyond others, and of our situation
in them, the question immediately arises, What is the distance of
the nearest fixed star 2 What is the scale on which our visible fir–
mament is constructed? And what proportion do its dimensions
bear to those of our own immediate system 2 To this, however,
astronomy has hitherto proved unable to supply an answer. All
we know on this subject is negative.” That is, that they are not
within a certain prodigious distance, otherwise their distance
could have been ascertained. Astronomy furnishes sure means
of measuring the various distances between the bodies of our solar
system, but between the remotest orb in that system and the
nearest fixed star “there is a gulf fixed,” as Sir John Herschel
observes, “to whose extent no observations yet made have en-
abled us to assign any distinct approximation, or to name any dis-
tance, however immense, which it may not, for any thing we can
tell, surpass.” Herschel's Treatise on Astronomy, p. 376.
I 12 OTHER WORLDS.
From the many facts which the science of astrono-
my has disclosed to us, as now considered, and from
the reasonings of those eminent writers here adduced,
there are few who will not agree in the belief they
contend for, but the presumption that they are right,
may be still further established by an examination of
those arguments which would seem at first to lead us
to a contrary opinion. It would not be worth while
to enter into a dispute on this subject with those who
think their own judgment ought to settle the point
in the negative, without a reference to any real ground
of disbelief; but those who give reasons founded, or
pretended to be founded, on a knowledge of astronomy,
must be fairly met and their objections investigated.
It is not, however, often that we can have to engage
in such a contest, since astronomy affords few grounds,
indeed, for scepticism on the question, and it is sel-
dom referred to as supplying facts which refute the
idea, but its discoveries are sometimes so misunder-
stood that mistaken conclusions have been founded
upon them.
An opinion which I shall refer to as differing from
those we have just been discussing, will be found in
a work already quoted, written by Mrs. Somerville.
This lady does not go so far as to be positive that the
planets and stars cannot be inhabited by some kind of
OTHER WORLDS. 113
beings, but evidently intends to argue that they are
either great desert worlds of frozen solitude, or too
hot to admit either of animate or inanimate life in ma-
terial bodies. “The planets,” says Mrs. S. in the in-
troduction to her treatise on the Mechanism of the Hea-
vens, “are so remote, that observation discloses but
little of their structure, and although their similarity
to the earth, in the appearance of their surfaces, and
in their annual and diurnal revolutions, producing the
vicissitudes of seasons, and of day and night, may lead
us to fancy that they are peopled with inhabitants like
ourselves; yet were it even permitted to form an ana-
logy from the single instance of the earth, the only
one known to us, certain it is that the physical nature
of the inhabitants of the planets, if such there be,
must differ essentially from ours to enable them to
endure every gradation of temperature from the in-
tensity of heat in Mercury to the extreme cold that
“In Uranus the
sun must be seen like a small but brilliant star, not
probably reigns in Uranus.”*
above the hundred and fiftieth part so bright as he ap-
pears to us; that is, however, 2,000 times brighter
than our moon does to us, so that he really is a sun
* Mercury and Uranus are the one the nearest, and the other the
farthest from the sum of the system of which he forms the centre.
1 14 OTHER, WORLDS.
to Uranus, and probably imparts some degree of
warmth. But if we consider that water would not
remain fluid on any part of Mars, even at his equator,
and that in the temperate zones of the same planet
even alcohol and quicksilver would freeze, we may
form some idea of the cold that must reign in Uranus,
unless indeed the ether has a temperature. The cli-
mate of Venus more nearly resembles that of the
earth, though, excepting perhaps at her poles, much
too hot for animal and vegetable life as they exist
here; but in Mercury, the mean heat arising only
from the intensity of the sun's rays, must be above
that of boiling quicksilver, and water would boil even
at his poles.* Thus the planets, though kindred with
the earth in motion and structure, are totally unfit for
the habitation of such a being as man.”f
Were any of the planets so excessively hot and
others so cold as is here taken for fact by Mrs. Som-
erville, it would be a strong ground against a belief
in their being fit habitations of living creatures of at
* This particular acquaintance with the climates of the planets
is less likely to be founded in reality than that of the ancients
with regard to those of the torrid and frozen zones of this earth,
and they were greatly mistaken in some of their conjectures.
+ Prelim. Diss. p. 58.
OTHER WORLDS. 115
least a material nature in any degree similar to ours;
but it proceeds on the assumption that they are all of
a temperature in a direct ratio according to their dis-
tances from the sun ; and, if this be not the case, the
inferences drawn from such extremes must fall. I
shall consider the probability of this presently.
The next author whom I shall notice, whose opin-
ion is against there being any habitable globes but our
own, is Dr. E. Walsh,” who, in a paper published in
The Amulet of 1830, strongly discredits such a proba-
bility; but, besides founding his belief on some wrong
ideas of the planetary bodies, his reasons, when they
are strictly examined, amount to little more than that
the planets are desolate, and not intended to support
life, because he cannot understand how their Creator
could have adapted them to this purpose. Now, al-
though this may be very true in so far, yet the rea-
son may be, nevertheless, a very inadequate one.
Before deciding on several such important points
as Dr. Walsh has done, it is necessary for a person
either to be himself a practical and scientific observer
of the heavens (having powerful instruments), or to
believe those who are so, when their eminence en-
* “Physician to his Majesty's Forces.”
116 OTHER WORLDS,
titles them to credit, upon asserting what they have
actually seen with their telescopes.
In the first place, it is objected by the Doctor (and
by Mrs. Somerville also), that some of the planets
are not of the proper temperature to support life.
The wisest in the ancient world, in the same way,
believed that the torrid zone of the earth could not
be inhabited from its insupportable heat; and, on
equally well founded supposition, that the icy regions
were too chill for the blood of life to circulate; yet
we have found that the hottest and coldest countries
swarm with living beings of all kinds both on the
land and in the water. The heat of the blood in man
is about the same degree all over the world, and this
Nature effects by simple but admirable contrivances.
The African exists in full vigour in his deserts, where
the heat of the sand would blister the feet of Euro-
peans, and the hot winds blow as if from a furnace;
while the Greenlander creeps into his cavern of snow,
happy in the luxury of his rude lamp and bear skin,
the frost freezing the sea around him with a more
powerful influence than is ever felt in regions more
favoured by the sun. Even Britons, in a very late
instance, have been able to live during a long winter
in a cave in the snow, and to spend no less than four
OTHER WORLDS. 117
winters in these frozen latitudes. Captain Ross and
his crew, though they might not be able to convince
the natives of Ashantee, or any nation sweltering un-
der the powerful influence of an African sun, that
water could become solid like glass, or that there is
such a substance as Snow, which falls so as to cover
the ground like salt, and that huts are built of it for
habitation, yet we, who have seen some of these phe-
nomena, believe many wonderful stories of the powers
of life in resisting intense cold. Man has been known
also to support life for a while in an oven heated to
325°, and yet the heat of the body has kept much the
same as usual (or about 96°), from the perspiration car-
rying off the superabundant heat by evaporation. In
breathing air, too, the denser it is, more heat is given
out by compression in the lungs, and when very rare
(or light), the heat it thus imparts to the body is but
little. The hotter that air is, the more rare it becomes.
In the book of Daniel we find that the power of God
enabled three human beings even on earth, to remain
in the midst of a “burning fiery furnace,” and to
come out wholly unharmed. In our own day, and
without any miracle, we have seen a man (Mons.
Chabert) go into a strongly heated oven, and handle
fire without hurt, in a manner which many would be
1 18 OTHER WORLDS.
ready to say was impossible, if they had never seen it
or heard of its being done.*
Dr. Walsh might have argued that it was impos-
sible for any breathing animal to live under water, if
he had not known of amphibious creatures who could
remain as well in the water as in the air, inspiring
the air at one time as land animals do, and at another
time similar to fishes. Even many fishes have con.
trivances for breathing without coming to the surface,
as some of them are frequently obliged to do for this
* “There may be real appearances of fire and flame, as well as
of brilliant colours emitted, and of light, even on earth, without
any real heat or burning ; which is manifest, not only from the
appearance of the chariot of fire, and of the multitude of horses
of fire, which, we are informed, were, on a certain occasion, round
about Elijah, and which were also seem by his servantas surround-
ing them both ; but it is, moreover, manifest from that first most
tremendous appearance vouchsafed to be seen by Moses in Mount
Horeb ; when the fire appeared in the midst of the bush or thicket,
and yet the bush was not consumed.”—“Now, if such an ap-
pearance as this could exist even upon earth; and if it could be
seen in the midst of the thicket, and remain there without injuring
the wood of the thicket; much more may such glorious appear-
ances be conceived to exist on the sun, without causing it to be an
ignited body, burning with intolerable heat, according to vulgar
apprehension. It may, therefore, well be conceived to be a glo-
rious mansion of bliss.”
King's Morsels of Criticism, Vol. I. pp. 104. 108. 8vo. ed.
OTHER WORLDS. 119
purpose. Some fishes, such as eels, can come out of
the water and glide over the ground; one kind can
climb trees,” and others rise out of the sea and fly in
the air like birds. There are plants fitted for all
manner of soils and climates, dying when removed
from them—animals for all different situations, modes
of life, and subsistence—all in consequence of con-
trivances in their nature, simple when known, but ge-
nerally beyond all human conception, if we had not
been made acquainted with the mode from the evi-
dence of our senses. There are pestilential places
where man soon dies if obliged to remain, and yet these
are adapted to maintain in life and vigour many dif-
ferent kinds of animals. In the hottest parts of the
earth the natives are dark coloured, which, at first
view, would seem less adapted to withstand heat than
white, the latter being well known to reflect, or throw
back the heated rays, while the first, as it were, drinks
them in. The superficial observer, however, would
be wrong in his inference, for Nature has acted wise-
ly. It has been found, from a series of experiments by
* The Perca Scandens, which inhabits rivulets in Tranquebar,
about a palm long. By the means of the spines of its gill-covers,
and the spinous rays of its other fins, it crawls up trees.
•º Linn. Trans. Vol. IV. p. 62.
120 OTHER WORLDS.
Sir Everard Home, instituted to ascertain the power
of the sun's rays, that although absolute heat, in con-
sequence of the absorption of the rays, is greater from
a black surface, yet the power of the rays to scorch
the skin is thus destroyed. The negro has, there-
fore, a natural provision for the defence of his skin
while living within the tropics. The greater heat
which would be accumulated in the body of the negro
in consequence of his black skin, is carried off by a
greater tendency to perspire than those have who live
in temperate climates, and thus one species of the hu-
man race is wisely adapted to live and thrive in a cli-
mate which is hurtful and fatal to others; in short,
the power of the Creator in adapting a situation to its
inhabitants, or its inhabitants to a particular situa-
tion, seems to be boundless;—why, therefore, may
not the stars and planets have similar adaptations to
show the power and wisdom of an all-powerful Pro-
vidence
Dr. Walsh objects to the idea of the planet Mer.
cury being peopled, from his imagining that, owing
to its vicinity to the sun, it must be too hot; as if
(even admitting, for a moment, the greater heat) the
Creator could not, by some means, adapt it to the ex-
istence of life, unless we could discover how it might
be done, but in this instance the difficulty is by no
OTHER. W.ORLDS. 121
means insuperable, even to our present comprehen-
sions. Shall He, whose endless contrivance so skil-
fully adapts one thing to support another upon earth,
be able to have recourse to none but what our inves-
tigations can discover around us Is his power and
creative energies displayed nowhere but here, or is
this the only world on which he has exercised his
wisdom The idea of fancying the earth to have been
so much attended to by its Creator above all the
greater bodies which, like it, revolve through the
vastness of space, can surely be entertained only by
the most contracted views both in religion and phi-
losophy.
“Strange and amazing must the difference be,
"Twixt this dull planet, and bright Mercury;
Yet reason says, nor can we doubt at all,
Millions of beings dwell on either ball;
With constitutions fitted for that spot
Where Providence, all-wise, has fixed their lot.” +
We should not, therefore, always suppose that, in
order to support life, everything must of necessity be
the same in those other worlds which we see surround-
ing us, as on earth, and assume it as the standard, or
* Baker’s Universe.
122 OTHER WORLDS.
that all living beings must exist by the same means
as they do here, and be only able to bear the same
degree of heat and cold, or that there can be no con-
trivance for modifying each, in the different planets
at least, when there are so many direct and admirable
ones displayed before our eyes on earth, where only
We can observe them. The materials of which the
planets are made may have a greater or less ten-
dency to absorb the heat of the sun, and we know
that almost every different substance within our
reach has a peculiar absorbent power or nature of its
own. At the distance of about six miles from the
earth, the air is so light that it would be unable to
support human life. Being a compressible fluid, it
is, of course, densest at the surface of the ground on
a level with the sea, or at the bottom of a mine, and
it seems capable of receiving a greater or less degree
of heat from the sun according to its density, at the
same time that heat imparts to its particles a greater
repellant power, and thus the otherwise intense de-
gree of heat is prevented. The higher we ascend,
the colder does the air become, because we recede
from good reflecting surfaces, and are surrounded by
air which can receive but little warmth from the rays
which pass through it. It is a modern and very plau-
sible theory, therefore, that heat thus depending in a
OTHER WORLDS. 123
great measure on the particular density of the air as
well as the capability of the body on which it strikes
to receive it—the atmospheres of the different planets
may be more or less dense, and their bodies, in short,
of such natures as to have propensities to absorb the
heated rays, according to their distance from the
sun, and thus the heat of all of them may be regulated
to the same degree.
Because the planet Jupiter* turns round on his axis
faster than the earth does, Dr. Walsh infers this
must be a reason against his being inhabited, since any
thing moveable must be thrown off. That is to say,
philosophically speaking, that the power of gravity of
this planet is not sufficient to overbalance his centri-
fugal force; but their relative powers in these re-
spects are not once adverted to by Dr. Walsh ! As
gravity acts in proportion to the quantity of matter
of a body, Jupiter must be able to exert a far greater
power in this way than the earth, over whatever is
* Professor Airy, by a masterly process, has determined the
mass of this planet by observations of the elongations of the 4th
Satellite, and he finds that it is more than 322 times greater than
the earth.—White's Ephemeris. 1834.
The density of Jupiter is not so great as that of the earth, there-
fore his bulk is much more than 322 times that of our planet, being,
in fact, 1,500 times greater in bulk than the earth.
G
| 24 OTHER WORLIDS.
on his surface or neighbourhood; and, therefore, if he
is inhabited, his people would perhaps have less ten-
dency to be whirled away than we ourselves, from
his greater gravity attracting them more in propor-
tion than his rotatory motion would tend to counter-
actor overpower—supposing these planetarians of the
same weight with us. There are many relative parti-
culars with which we must be acquainted before we can
pronounce what effect the same rapid diurnal revolu-
tion of another planet would produce on its own sur-
face. The inhabitants of Jupiter may not have even
yet discovered that their globe turns at all, since we
were some thousand years in ignorance of our own
earth’s motion in any way. If they have arrived at
the same knowledge of their swift moving habitation
as we have of that of the earth, they may still be as
little sensible of any rapid rotation as we are ; the
earth turning with great velocity on its axis, and fly-
ing forward in its appointed orbit round the sun at the
rate of 68,000 miles in an hour.
The earth turns round its axis in twenty-four hours,
or the whole visible universe, sun, planets, and fixed
stars, all move about it in the same period; either of
which movements would produce the appearances
we daily observe. The one is simple and easy to
comprehend; the other, when we consider the mag-
OTHER WORLDS. 125
nitude of even a few of the celestial orbs and their
distances, is beyond all rational belief by any person
competent to form a judgment. As it is absurd,
therefore, to suppose the earth is at rest while the
universe moves round it, the globe on which we live
must be held to revolve as described, for there is no
third opinion which can be formed on the question.
Should the idea of the earth's moving as it has been
described to do, be called improbable, then it must be
allowed by those who think so, as an inevitable con-
sequence, that the whole of the heavenly bodies move
inconceivably faster; in proportion as they are dis-
tant from the earth, so in the same proportion would
be the rapidity of their movements. The sun, on
this supposition, would move at the rate of 414,000
miles in a minute 1 and the nearest stars at the rate
of 1,400 millions of miles in a minute | |
Dr. Walsh proceeds mainly on the assumption that
none of the planets have atmospheres, and so would
be unable to support life of any kind. Many obser-
vations, however, induce us to think otherwise. The
planet Mars generally appears so cloudy, that we can
seldom get a clear view of his body, which always
looks of a dusky red, the reason of which would seem
to be, that the rays of light which he reflects must
come through a dense air, as those of the sun and
126 OTHER WORLDS,
moon do when seen by us while rising and setting,
and consequently shining through the densest part of
the earth's atmosphere. An eminent astronomer
thinks this ruddy colour “indicates an ochery tinge
in the general soil of the planet, like what the red
sandstone districts on earth may possibly offer to the
inhabitants of Mars, only more decided.” But there
is no surface on the earth of any extent worth men-
tioning, which could reflect its colour to such a dis-
tance ; and the first reason given for the red appear-
ance of Mars seems much more likely and better able
to produce the effect than the other.
Sir John Herschel says that the probability of an
atmosphere round this planet is greatly increased by
“the appearance of brilliant white spots at its poles,
which have been conjectured, with a great deal of
probability, to be snow, as they disappear when they
have been long exposed to the sun, and are greatest
when just emerging from the long night of a polar
winter.” The same astronomer adds, that “in this
planet we discern, with perfect distinctness, the out-
lines of what may be continents and seas.” The light
of a fixed star has been observed to be refracted, and
to become fainter when passing near this planet,
which must have been caused by his atmosphere. A
white or bright appearance has been distinctly seen
OTHER WORLDS. 127
º
extending at his poles in their respective winters, and
lessening in their summers, and this we certainly have
strong reasons for believing to be snow, which cannot
be produced without air; so he must have clouds and
rain also. Sir James South gives an account of some
late observations of his own as corroborative of a con-
clusion he had formerly come to, namely, that no in-
dication now exists of an atmosphere being attached
to Mars.” A star, he says, retained its light blue
colour, its full brilliancy, and comparative steadiness
till the very instant of its occultation or disappear-
ance behind the body of the planet. At its emersion,
it was seen nearly dichotomised, or apparently cut in
two, which seemingly showed that it was going so
sharply behind the planet that it was not suffering any
distortion by an atmosphere surrounding Mars. Sir
James concludes that either some physical change has
occurred in the atmosphere of the planet, or that the
observations of Cassini and Roemer were inaccurate.
There are, however, circumstances sometimes attend-
ing occultations, particularly of stars by the moon,f
* See a Letter addressed by him to the Duke of Sussex, of date
Nov. 1832, inserted in the Transactions of the Royal Society.
+ See Memoirs of the Astronomical Society of London, Vol. II.
p. 457.
G 2
128 OTHER WORLDS,
which render our inferences as to any of these rather
uncertain, peculiar attendant phenomena being seen
at one time, and not at another, from single observa-
tions or at certain times. When we reflect that the
atmosphere of the earth ceases to refract at the height
of 47 miles from its surface, and that the earth’s
diameter is 8,000 miles, so small a height beyond
its surface would not be easily detected by an obser-
vation from any of the planets, and very accurate
and minute inspection is required to discover a re-
fracting atmosphere on them. As their several at-
mospheres may vary in their densities at different
times as ours does, we can easily see how they may
be more readily distinguished by their effects at one
time than another. The celebrated Schroeter asserts,
that he has had satisfactory proof of an atmosphere
both as surrounding Mars and Venus; the densest
part of that belonging to the latter being about
16,000 feet high. He also affirms that he discover-
ed mountains on this beautiful planet, one of which
is ten, another eleven, and another twenty-two miles
high. The variable belts and cloudiness of Jupiter
seem to be accountable for in no other way than as
owing to changes depending on an atmosphere.
These belts are supposed, by Dr. Brewster, to be
clouds thrown into parallel strata by the rapidity of his
OTHER WORLDS. 129
diurnal motion, forming regular interstices, through
which are seen the opaque body of that planet. Stars
are also refracted when passing near him. Saturn
likewise has belts, and two prodigious flat rings, all
surrounded by a dense atmosphere, the refraction of
which may account for the irregularity apparent in
his form : his seventh satellite has been observed to
hang on his disc more than twenty minutes before its
occultation, showing, by computation, a refraction of
two seconds, a result confirmed by observation of the
other satellites. “An atmosphere so dense,” ob-
serves Mrs. Somerville, “must have the effect of pre-
venting the radiation of the heat from the surface of
the planet, and consequently of mitigating the inten-
sity of cold that would otherwise prevail, owing to
his vast distance from the sun.”* A knowledge of
such a wise contrivance for lessening the cold on this
distant world, should have induced this fair author-
ess to have less confidently asserted, in another place,
that the cold there must prevent the subsistence of
animal life; or, at least, not to speak as if the tem-
perature of the planets must be entirely regulated by
their distances from the sun.
It might be imagined that, from the vicinity of the
* Mechanism of the Heavens, p, 400.
130 OTHER WORLDS.
moon, we should be able to decide with a greater cer.
tainty than with regard to the planets, whether this
useful attendant on the earth has an atmosphere; but,
at the same time, that the fact is ascertained with suf-
ficient precision, very accurate and minute observation
indeed is here required to detect its existence, from
the limited extent of it precluding, at such a distance,
so satisfactory a proof as might be wished. Certain
phenomena observed by scientific men, lead them to
infer that these must proceed from air surrounding the
moon, but that it exists only to a short distance from
her surface. The dense part of it does not exceed
1,500 feet, and the height where it could affect the
rays from a star is not above 5,740 feet. When the
moon is horned, a sort of twilight appearance is seen
at the cusps (or horns), which some of the most emi-
nent astronomers have ascribed to an atmosphere,
and assured us that they have found stars to be re-
fracted when occulted by her ; that is, in passing be-
hind her, and just before obscuration.
Dr. Herschel tells us that, with his great telescope,
he actually saw a red appearance upon the top of a
mountain on the moon, as if it had been a volcano
during an eruption, and several other astronomers have
joined in the opinion from their own observations;
they have also remarked a vivid light upon the dark
OTHER WORLDS. 131
part of the moon's surface, which was evidently not
derived from the sun, as the part was turned from him
at the time, and this appearance they naturally attri-
buted to the reflection of a volcanic eruption. Indeed,
the many round crater-like appearances which the te-
lescope enables us to perceive on this planet lead us
to suppose that they owe their origin to fire, from the
resemblance to burning mountains on earth, though
ours are on a much less scale. Had there been none
such on our planet, the idea of their possibility would
probably have been treated with ridicule; but, as the
earth not only vomits forth fire and red-hot solid mat-
ter from about 200 openings, and also boiling water
to a great height, so we must at least allow the pos-
sibility of the moon doing the same. That changes
are sometimes seen to take place on the moon's sur-
face, appears undeniable from various observations.
Schroeter relates that, on the 30th September, 1791,
with a reflecting telescope, he perceived the com-
mencement of a small crater on the declivity of a vol-
canic mountain in the moon, or one there from whose
general appearance this origin might be inferred.
On the 11th of January following, upon looking at
this place again, he could neither see the new crater
nor its shadow. Again, in 1792, he perceived a cen.
tral mountain of a clear grey colour, of which, during
G 3
132 OTHER WORLDS.
many years, he had discovered no trace.* D. Ulloa
observed a small bright spot in 1778, which appear-
ed to him like as the light of the sun shining through
an opening in the moon. Captain Kater (a name
well known to science) discovered the same spot in
1821, and which he has no doubt of being the same
with one of three volcanoes, whose eruptions are re-
corded in the Philosophical Transactions, as having
been seen by Herschel in 1787, one of which, he said,
showed “an actual eruption of fire or luminous mat-
ter.” -
Fire cannot subsist without air, and we have other
apparent proofs of burning mountains in the moon
than the shape of them and red appearance at particu-
lar times. Many believe, from certain considerations,
that the meteoric stones, or aerolites, as they are
named, which now and then fall from the air upon
the earth, have come from lunar volcanoes. They are
all of one species of matter, being, for the most part,
metallic, like an ore of iron, but of constituent pro-
portions unlike any terrestrial mineral. Their fall
is generally preceded by a luminous appearance, a
hissing noise, as of a body passing swiftly through the
* See Transactions of the Society of Natural Philosophy at
Berlin,
OTHER WORLDS. 133
air, and a loud explosion. When found immediately
after their descent, they are always hot, but whether
the heated state accompanies them all the way from
their source, or is only acquired by the rapidity of
their motion through the air which surrounds the
earth, we know not. Their size differs from small
fragments of inconsiderable weight to the most pond-
erous masses. Some of the larger portions of these
stones have been found to weigh from three hundred
pounds to several tons, and they have often descended
with a force sufficient to bury themselves deep in the
ground. They have fallen at too great distances from
any earthly volcanoes, to be believed to come from
them, and no such stones have fallen in the neigh-
bourhood of any of our known volcanoes. Professor
Pallas discovered a large mass of meteoric iron on a
hill in Siberia, which was considered by the natives
as a holy relic that had fallen from heaven. A still
larger was seen by Bougainville on the banks of the
Plata, which was calculated to weigh a hundred thou-
sand pounds. A mass of native iron was found some
years ago in the district of St. Jago del Estro in South
America, without any rock or mountain near it, and
was supposed to be thirty tons weight. Captain
Ross gives an account of two large masses in Green-
land, of which the Esquimaux made their knives.
134 OTHER worlds.
The relations of the fall of smaller pieces in every
country of the world are too numerous to be here fur-
ther detailed.
The gravity of the earth, acting on every projected
body rising out of any of its volcanoes from the mo-
ment it rises, the power to throw a stone from any
point of this globe whence it is possible that it might
be projected—to the distance we find these aerolites,
would be prodigious, and far beyond what any earthly
explosive force is here known to exert. As the moon's
power of attraction extends to us, and is shown to be
so powerful as to influence the motion of the waters
of the sea—a great wave (which we call a tide) fol-
lowing her motion round the earth—ours, of course,
reaches to her, exerting on her surface greater power
than what she can do with us, from the earth being
so much larger than the moon. Thus the attraction
of the earth influences, in some degree, all moveable
bodies on the moon’s surface or projected from it.
A volcano here, which could throw bodies to such a
distance as these singular rocks are found from any of
our burning mountains, would scatter ruin and desola-
tion in a vast circle around it ; but we are acquainted
with none such, with not one whose sphere of action
extends beyond a few miles, except when their dust
is carried farther by the wind, which has dispersed it
OTHER WORLDS. 135
more than two hundred miles from the mountain
which ejected it.
It has been computed that, if a stone was projected
from the moon in a vertical line with an initial velo-
city about four times that of a cannon ball as it
leaves the gun, instead of coming back to the moon
by the attraction of gravity, it would come within
the sphere of the earth's attraction so as to bring it
to the ground.
The mountains of the moon, in general, appear to
be higher than those of the earth.* We may, there-
fore, naturally suppose a volcano there to have a
* Astronomers differ as to the height of these mountains,
Herschel making them only from three-quarters of a mile up to
a mile and a-quarter, while Schroeter computes them to vary from
four to seven miles high ; and this last would appear to be the
most accurate, when we consider the great appearance which they
make and the extent of the shadows which they cast when viewed
with a high power. Taking this in conjunction with their being
at a distance of 240,000 miles, and that the planet is reckoned to
be 2,000 miles in diameter—if the mountains on her surface re-
ferred to were so low as a mile, they could not appear so large as
they seem : when we compare, therefore, their relative propor-
tions to the known diameter of the moon, seven miles would not
seem too high an estimate for some of those, in particular, on a
fine looking and lofty ridge which has been named the Appenines.
The two thousandth part of the moon's disc would be very minute
136 OTHER WORLDS.
greater projectile force than ours, or one sufficient to
send a stone so far beyond the retaining gravity of
the moon, and as she is so much smaller than the
earth, this force need not be so great as would be re-
quired to produce the same effect with regard to an
earthly volcano.
Some have fancied these stones to have been created
in the air by some mysterious and unexampled pro-
cess, or to be the wandering pieces of broken planets;
and there are other ingenious theories respecting
them, but the one here explained seems to be the
most probable.
We are told by Dr. Walsh that the Lunarians (if
indeed, and an object of that height on her, when viewed from
the earth, could not possibly appear to us as these do. The eye
of the observer will readily allow that they are of a much greater
proportion to the whole diameter than 1 to 2,000. Even were
they of the same height as those on earth, their relative propor-
tion to the moon would be much greater than ours are to this
globe.
Sir John Herschel, in his recent treatise on astronomy, com-
putes the lunarmountains to be only one English mile and three-
fourths in perpendicular altitude. But whatever the height of
these mountains be, every man who has looked at them through
a good telescope when this planet is in quadrature, that is, when
the sun is shining obliquely on it, must be satisfied that they
are elevations on the moon's surface.
OTHER WORLDS. 137
such there be) of one lunar hemisphere never see the
sun, but bask in earth-shine. Every part of the
moon, however, must receive an equal portion of sun-
shine in its turn : as the moon revolves upon her axis
in the same time that she revolves round us, only one
side of her can have the reflected light of the earth
at any time.* One lunar hemisphere is never seen
by us, and its inhabitants cannot view the earth with-
out coming into the part which it illuminates. The
remoter hemisphere has its day a fortnight long, and
this is followed by a night of the same length, not
even enlightened by a moon, while the more favoured
part has the earth in full view during its long night.
Those inhabitants on the opposite side of the moon
to us, upon their travelling so far as to be able to see
the earth for the first time, must behold with astonish-
ment a moon exhibiting a surface thirteen times larger
than their orb appears to us, and with a splendid di-
versity of clouds, a great variety of reflection arising
from our lands and waters, woods and deserts of
* This may be familiarly illustrated by one person standing in
the middle of a room, and another going round it, side foremost,
still looking at the person in the centre. The one who goes
round the room, as effectually turning round as if he did so on
his heel, but more slowly.
138 OTHER WORLDS.
sand—all successively coming into view as we re-
volve Those who inhabit the centre of the full
moon always see us directly over their heads, and,
from whatever part of the moon’s surface the earth is
seen, we never appear to the inhabitants to change
our position in the heavens, as we do not rise and set
to them as they do to us, but the earth must appear
to them to have its phases, to be gibbous or horned,
and to put on all the appearances which the moon
assumes to our view.”
Maps of the Moon are only representations of her
appearance as seen through a telescope of considerable
power when the planet is in certain positions with re-
gard to the sun ; her surface having it features part-
ly altered according as its projections cast more or
less shadow, and by the different powers of reflection
of the sun's light with which the various portions are
* “If there beinhabitants in the moon, the earth must present
to them the extraordinary appearance of a moon of nearly two
degrees in diameter, exhibiting the same phases as we see the
moon to do, but immoveably fiased in their sky, while the stars must
seem to pass slowly beside and behind it. It will appear clouded
with variable spots, and belted with equatorial and tropical zones
corresponding to our trade-winds; and it may be doubted whe-
ther, in their perpetual change, the outlines of our continents and
seas can ever be clearly discerned.”
Sir J. Herschel's Treatise on Astronomy.
OTHER WORLDS. 139
endued. When these projections are directly oppo-
site to the sun, there is, of course, no shadow, but
when the moon’s surface lies obliquely towards him,
there are seen as distinct shadows projected from pro-
minent parts of her body as could be observed thrown
by our mountains and heights, and seen by a specta-
tor at the same distance from the earth. Sir John
Herschel, when treating of these mountains, says—
“By the aid of telescopes, we discern inequalities in
the surface of the moon, which can be no other than
mountains and valleys—for this plain reason, that
we see the shadows cast by the former in the exact
proportion as to length which they ought to have,
when we take into account the inclination of the Sun's
rays to that part of the moon's surface on which they
stand.”* The edge of that part of the moon which
is turned towards the sun is always circular and near-
ly smooth, but the opposite border of the enlightened
part is always observed to be extremely ragged, and
indented with deep recesses and prominent points.
“The mountains near this edge cast long black sha-
dows, as they should evidently do, when we consider
that the sun is in the act of rising or setting to the
parts of the moon so circumstanced. But as the en-
* Treatise on Astronomy.
140 OTHER WORLDS. sº
lightened edge advances beyond them, that is, as the
sun to them gains altitude, their shadows shorten,
and, at the full moon, when all the light falls in our
line of sight, no shadows are seen on any part of her
surface. . . . . The existence of such mountains is cor-
roborated by their appearance as small points or
islands of light beyond the extreme edge of the en-
lightened part, which are their tops catching the sun-
beams before the intermediate plain, and which, as
the light advances, at length connect themselves with
it, and appear as prominences from the general edge.”
The alpine scenery of the moon is, in some parts,
analogous in appearance to that of the earth, but the
generality of the lunar mountains present a striking
singularity of aspect. They are very numerous and
generally of a circular or cup-shaped form : the larger
ones have, for the most part, flat valleys within, from
each of which rises a small, steep, conical hill in the
centre. They offer, in short, in the words of Sir
John Herschel, “the true volcanic character as it
may be seen in the crater of Vesuvius, and in a map
of the volcanic districts of the Campi Phlegraei or the
Puy de Dôme.” Sir John states, from his own ob-
servations with powerful telescopes, that “in some
* Herschel's Treatise on Astronomy.
OTHER WORLDS. 141
of the principal ones, decisive marks of volcanic stra-
tification arising from successive deposits of ejected
matter may be clearly traced.” The general surface
of the moon exhibits a great variety of reflection,
showing that it is somewhat different in its nature in
different places, as if the sun’s rays were reflected
from wastes of sand, extensive forests, and land of
various kinds. In many parts, also, it looks as if
covered with snow of a dazzling whiteness.
A map of the moon does not pretend to define
where actual land and water are, of a nature such as
ours, but merely an exact delineation of what is seen
on it. Lunar solids and fluids may be very different
from those on earth, as well as the inhabitants, and
every thing connected with the planet, if we may
jndge from the analogy of the endless variety which
the God of Nature displays before our eyes in all
countries of this globe which we dwell upon. It has
been objected that, if the moon had water on her sur-
face, or extensive collections of fluids of any kind,
the attraction of the earth, particularly when acting
in conjunction with the sun, would inundate the side
next to us. But this is supposing that no natural
contrivance could prevent such an effect. A differ-
ence of specific gravity in the waters of the moon (if
fluids there be) from those of the earth, might answer
142 OTHER WORLDS.
the purpose of preventing their being so affected, or
her seas might be so enclosed by land, and limited in
extent, that the attraction of the earth may have little
effect upon them. There is, for instance, little or no
tide in the Mediterranean sea, or in the Black or
Caspian seas, and none in the great lakes of Ameri-
ca. It is very doubtful, however, if in fact there be
any great bodies of water in the moon, for we see no
such clear or bright reflections as water, like what is
on the earth, might naturally be expected to produce.
The parts commonly thought to be lunar water, and
which, to a telescope of low power, seem quite smooth,
appear, under higher magnifying powers, as if fur-
rowed, similar to what the ripple of the retiring tide
with us leaves on the sand of the sea-shore, and these
are interspersed with round cavities; showing that
these places cannot be fluid, which would have re-
flected the sun's light as if from a smooth surface.*
In Mr. Greig's elementary work on astronomy, un-
der the title of Astrography, or the Heavens Display-
* “What is extremely singular in the geology of the moon is,
that although nothing having the character of seas can be traced
(for the dusky spots which are commonly called seas, when closely
examined, present appearances incompatible with the supposition
of deep water), yet there are large regions perfectly level.”
Sir J. Herschel's Treatise on Astronomy,
OTHER WORLDS. 143
ed, while describing the nature and appearance of the
moon's surface, he appears to have little doubt of her
being inhabited. “It is admitted,” he says, “by all
those whose situation has afforded them an opportu-
nity of examining more particularly the disc of the
moon, that she has mountains, valleys, &c. like the
earth ; her shape and motions being also similar.
Therefore, may we not by analogy infer (without
presumption) that she is inhabited by rational beings,
who adore the Creator, and show his great wisdom,
power, and goodness, as we are taught to do in this
lower orb 3 *
“There seems, then, but little wanting,” observes
another learned author, “in order to complete the
analogy between the moon and our earth, except in-
habitants; it is true we perceive no large seas in the
moon, and we are aware that her atmosphere is ex-
tremely rare, and perhaps unfit for the respiration of
animal life; but we also know, that if we only pluck
a flower in the field, we find it, by the aid of the mi-
croscope, full of living creatures, to whom it is a
world, supplying them with all the requisites for their
brief existence : we cannot then for a moment sup-
pose that the economy of nature, by which we always
mean the Author of Nature, would extend itself so
minutely in this instance, and leave so large a body
144 OTHER WORLIDS,
as that of the moon without beings, having organs
adapted to the peculiarities of their situation.”
“Telescopes,” observes Sir J. Herschel, “must yet
be greatly improved before we could expect to see
signs of inhabitants, as manifested by edifices, or by
changes on the surface of the soil. . . . . No appearance
indicating vegetation, or the slightest variation of
surface which can fairly be ascribed to change of sea-
son can any where be discerned.”t
In arguing for the probability of there being inha-
bitants in the moon, Fontenelle places the question
in this point of view :—“Suppose there had never
been any communication between Paris and St. Den-
nis, and one who was never beyond the walls of this
city (Paris) saw St. Dennis from the tower of Notre
Dame ; you ask him if he believes St. Dennis is in-
habited as Paris is He presently answers boldly,
No ; for, says he, I see very well the people of Paris,
but those at St. Dennis I do not see at all, nor did I
ever hear of any there : it is true, you tell him, that
from the towers of Notre Dame he cannot perceive
any inhabitants of St. Dennis because of the distance,
but all that he does discover of St. Dennis, very much
* Martin's Christian Philosopher. 1832.
+ Treatise on Philosophy, p. 230.
OTHER WORLDS. 145
resembles what he sees at Paris, the steeples, houses,
and walls, so that it may very well be inhabited as
Paris is. All this signifies nothing, the Parisian still
maintains that St. Dennis is not inhabited, because
he sees nobody there. The moon is our St. Dennis,
and every one of us, like this Parisian citizen, who
never went out of his own city.”
The comparison, however, between two cities is a
little closer than between the earth and the moon; in
the latter of which we can perceive no appearance of
the works of art; but the comparison holds good in
their being both great globes turning on their axes,
illuminated by the same sun, having diversities on
their surfaces, hills, dales, with extensive plains, and
none can question that it would have been as easy for
their mutual Creator to have adapted the moon to
support life as it was to people the land of the earth
within the Arctic circle with men and animals, and
its seas with fishes, as well as that beneath the equa-
tor—wonderfully contriving, by a thousand different
means, that all parts on the earth shall be fitted to
maintain the lives of millions, under great diversity
of heat and cold, and in a vast variety of circum-
stances.
Before the invention of balloons, many of our
146 • OTHER WORLDS.
wisest men pronounced it impossible for man to be
able to rise into the air;—before steam boats were
invented, even the great improver of the steam en-
gine, Mr. Watt, was certain it would be impossible
to adapt that power to answer on the waves, and yet
he was better acquainted with it then than any other
man of his time:—thus we are ever prone to call
things impossible, until we see them done, and then
wonder that we never thought on so simple a plan for
bringing them about ;—forgetting, too, with regard
to the stars and planets being inhabited, that what
seems impossible in the eyes of man, and is, in fact,
so with him, is not only possible but easy with God.
We may, therefore, in a future state of existence, see
many things much more wonderful than this—than
finding that the earth is only one of millions of inha-
bited worlds, instead of the sole globe of living beings,
as was once imagined it must be. The time will as-
suredly come when we shall have ample powers and
opportunities of admiring the amazing contrivances
and wisdom of that good Being who has created all
things—and these divine attributes we shall yet find
displayed in adapting other orbs so as to support and
delight his rational creatures and all the innumerable
living things, regarding which, from the variety here
displayed, we may even now have some general ideas.
147
SUMMARY AS TO THE PLANETS BEING
INHABITED.
THE earth is one of eleven globes revolving round
the sun and turning on their own axes—one of the
others being of nearly the same size as the earth, six
smaller, and the rest greatly larger; in nothing which
we know are we certain that this world of our own
is more favoured or better calculated for supporting
living creatures than any of our fellow-planets, some
of which could accommodate with room a thousand
times as many inhabitants as the one we dwell upon.
The earth turning as above, day and night are pro-
duced, and the different seasons of the year succeed
each other upon it. By the same contrivances all
the other planets must have like changes. Is it with-
in the range of chance or possibility that they also
should have such changes for no ends similar to the
purposes they answer upon earth, or that what must
so clearly have been planned for them by their Maker
should have been without any view of supporting or
benefiting either animal or vegetable life 2
The earth is surrounded by an atmosphere which
answers many useful purposes, particularly of pre-
H
148 OTHER WORLDS.
serving both animal life and that of all vegetation.
The planets have also atmospheres. Can we suppose
these are for no such uses as ours ?
The earth literally teems with living creatures.—It
is almost unavoidable to infer that the planets, some
of which are greatly larger than this globe, are not
deserts of lonely stillness, or formed for no such use
as the earth has been.
The earth is warmed and enlightened by the sun.
So are all the planets.
The earth has a moon to reflect the light of the
sun on that part of it upon which the sun does not
shine at the time. The greater number of the other
planets have moons likewise, and contrivances to in-
crease the quantity of reflected light according to their
distances from the sun. Does this indicate no parti-
cular design, or can we be satisfied of a design by
an all-wise Creator, and yet believe that it benefits
no living creatures :
From the nearest planet, the earth must appear to
its inhabitants (if there are such, and if they have
eyes of similar powers to ours) just as it now does to
us; and they have the same reasons for concluding
this planet which we inhabit to be peopled or not as
we have for conjecturing so in regard to their distant
dwellings.
FROM the view we have now taken of the universe,
it must be admitted that, if the extent of the works
of the Creator announces his infinite power, nothing
can be supposed more magnificent and sublime. We
see by our unassisted eyes several thousand stars,
and there is no region of the heavens in which even
an ordinary telescope does not show us as many as
the eye can distinguish in a whole hemisphere. With
great telescopes we discover new groups and clusters
of them composed of countless multitudes of stars
of which we saw nothing before; and thus the more
perfect the instruments, the greater numbers do we
find to exist in every variety of arrangement and
brilliancy. The scientific imagination pierces even
beyond the telescope, and has no doubt that there are
innumerable worlds enlightened and filled with inha-
bitants, ignorant most probably of the very existence
even of our solar system. It endeavours to pierce
still farther, seeking for some boundary to this im-
mense conception, but finding none. How glorious
is this view of nature, and nothing short of it can be
150 OTHER WORLDS.
justly founded on the discoveries which we have
made. Man is seemingly adapted in his present
material structure to live only upon this globe. The
strength of his muscles is in conformity to the size,
or rather gravity of the earth and the body they are
intended to move. The invisible but universal and
constantly-acting power of gravity exerts itself by
keeping him attracted to the surface of our globe;
but he has strength to overcome the attraction in
some degree, and does this, in so far, at every step
which he takes. In a planet or star much greater
or heavier than the earth, man might not be able to
move a limb; and he could not there, with the same
muscular exertion which he uses successfully here,
overcome the power which would draw him to the
body of that other world we are supposing him
transported to, and he might become fixed to one
spot as far as depended on his own powers of loco-
motion.* The strength of our different viscera, like-
* “If the force of gravity were increased in any considerable
proportion at the surface of the earth, it is manifest that all the
swiftness, and strength, and grace of animal motions must dis-
appear. If, for instance, the earth were as large as Jupiter, gra-
vity would be eleven times what it is. The lightness of the fawn,
the speed of the hare, the spring of the tiger, would disappear—
could no longer exist with the existing muscular powers of these
OTHER WORLDS. 151
wise, is adapted to the pressure of our own atmos-
phere; and this is no slight weight, for it bears on
us with a force of 15 pounds on every square inch
of the surface of our bodies, or 30,000 pounds in
whole on each person. Now, if on another world
its atmosphere were either greatly heavier or lighter
than that which surrounds this earthly globe, our lungs
would be unable to breathe, or other fatal effects
would ensue from the change of density, as already
illustrated.
The strength, indeed, of all things on earth is ad-
justed to what they are exposed to from natural
causes. Trees, &c. are suited to resist our general
currents of wind; but, if these were greatly more
violent, all vegetation would be swept away. The
muscular strength of all earthly creatures which live
on dry land, or in the sea, or fly in the air, is also
accurately proportioned to the resistance which they
have to overcome, both from gravity and the density
animals; forman to lift himself upright, or to crawl from place to
place, would be a labour slower and more painful than the mo-
tions of the sloth. The density and pressure of the air, too, would
be increased to an intolerable extent, and the operation of respi-
ration, and others which depend upon these mechanical proper-
ties, would be rendered laborious, ineffectual, and probably im-
possible.” Whewell's Astronomy and General Physics.
H 2
152 OTHER WORLDS.
of the water and the air. “Now,” to use the words
of Mr. Whewell, “it will be very obvious that, if
the intensity of gravity were to be much increased
or much diminished—if every object were to become
twice as heavy as it now is—all the forces, both of
involuntary and voluntary motion, which produce the
present orderly and suitable results by being properly
proportioned to the resistance which they experience,
would be thrown off their balance. They would pro-
duce motions too quick or too slow, wrong positions,
jerks, and stops, instead of steady and well-conducted
movements.”—“The masses of the several planets
are very different, and do not appear to follow any
determinate rule except that, upon the whole, those
nearer to the sun appear to be smaller, and those
nearer the outskirts of the system to be larger.”
Were the particles of air more close together or
more distant, the powers of the voice and of hearing
would be altered or lost. If the gravities of all the
planets were as various as philosophers have calcu-
lated, and their atmospheres so likewise, both being
wholly unfitted for us in our present construction,
still, as has been shown, there would be no real
grounds for inferring that material beings did not
inhabit them, owing to an impossibility of their
existing. -
OTHER WORLDS. 153
Our atmospheric air is well known to be com-
pounded of different species of gaseous fluids, in cer-
tain proportions; and these proportions are found
necessary, in order to support us in health. If the
common air were much purer, more of oxygen in it,
then it has been found to intoxicate, as it were—we
should live too fast in it—our lives would be conse-
quently shortened, were it even but a little more pure
than it is. If it contained, on the other hand, a larger
proportion of nitrogen gas, then it would become
unfitted for animal life; for, although this last is
necessary to us as one of the component parts, yet,
strange to say, it is of itself highly deleterious and
would prove fatal in a few inspirations. In short,
our frames are contrived so as to thrive best with the
exact mixture of the air which we usually breathe,
and it is evidently made up for us with all the
accuracy which we aim at in a medical prescription.
We have no reason to suppose that, if all the planets
have atmospheres, any one of them would suit us.
In not one of them, most likely, could we breathe
at all. But how rational is it to suppose breathing
creatures adapted to live in any species or admixture
of air, as well as we observe is the case in the animals
destined to dwell in widely-different climates. Who
can tell also, although breathing be necessary in this
154 OTHER WORLDS.
world to mortal life, whether it is equally so with
other beings different from earthly animals
Both animal and vegetable life depends on a
certain portion of electric matter, that mysterious
fluid which seems to have a constant and determinate
circulation in the earth. Were this fluid either much
increased or diminished, life, as now existing, could
not continue. Now, unless electricity, galvanism,
magnetism, or whatever name we give to this im-
portant natural agent, which acts in so many differ-
ent ways, be present in the other planets, and in the
exact intensity which it is on earth, life, as we ex-
perience it, could not exist on them ; but beings
differently constructed in their bodily frames could
be reasonably imagined well adapted to bear or live
under any degree of electric influence.
From all these considerations, and from others
formerly noticed, we may infer that the inhabitants of
other globes are in some respects dissimilar to us in
their bodies or general appearance and in the manner
in which their lives are supported. This must still
more be believed, when we reflect on the inexhaustible
stores of different forms of being and modes of existence
which are exhibited before our eyes. Besides there
being no two human faces here exactly alike, there is
a general national peculiarity attached to the natives
OTHER WORLDS. 155
of each of the great countries of the earth. How
great a diversity in appearance is there between the
white European, the sable Negro, the swarthy Moor,
the copper-coloured Peruvian, the dark Hindoo, the
Chinese, the Esquimaux, the savages of New Hol-
land and California,” both the latter being in ap-
pearance little removed from the brutes—all decided-
ly different in shade, and nearly as markedly so in
feature! Between any inhabitant of earth and those
on another planet, the distinction may be fairly sup-
posed far greater than between any of the above, and
the same observation may be drawn from similar
facts, so as to apply to the whole animal and vege-
table productions of each habitable world.
Thus far we are entitled to infer from analogy,
but beyond such a general conclusion we cannot as
yet go with the least degree of philosophic proba-
bility.
* It may not be out of place here to remark the innate or in-
tuitive knowledge of life in another world, which seems to have
been instilled by their Maker into the minds even of the lowest
in intellect of the human race. Both of these degraded nations
believe in it, and in a late account of the last named, it is said
that “they have a full conviction of a future existence, and ex-
pect to enjoy happiness after this life in some delightful island in
the sky.” See the Penny Magazine for 8th Feb. 1834.
H 3
156 • OTHER WORLDS.
THE PROBABILITY OF OUR SEEING THE INHA-
BITANTS OF THE MOON, OR THEIR WORKS.
IT is an interesting question to consider (although
its discussion can only be understood by practical
astronomers), whether if the moon be inhabited, we
are ever likely to discover from the earth any symp-
toms either of motion or works of art in proof of this
important and curious question. Some continental
astronomers have at times announced discoveries of
lunar roads, buildings, and cultivated fields; but,
from the known telescopic powers which these ob-
servers possessed, and, indeed, from what any astro-
nomer has yet been able to use, those fancied works
would be so prodigious in their dimensions before
they could be seen at all, that we remain sceptical in
this country of such appearances having become
visible. The likelihood, however, of such things
being seen with more perfect instruments, is another
matter; and there appears at least no improbability,
much less impossibility in it. A telescope capable of .
showing us living creatures or their works on the
moon, would not be nearly so wonderful in these en-
lightened days, when new and wonderful inventions
OTHER WORLDS. 157
are constantly making, as our present optical instru-
ments would have been to the sages of antiquity, the
wisest of whom must at first have ascribed them en-
tirely to magic.
The best plan for succeeding in this object, was
formerly thought to be by increasing the size of the
mirrors of reflecting telescopes, in order that more
luminous images might be formed, which could bear
to be more highly magnified. Herschel's great tele-
scope is 40 feet of focal length, and its mirror is 4
feet in diameter;” but this last was found in practice
incapable of being used with good effect, owing to
the proportions of the instrument. We have accounts
of this astronomer having applied magnifying powers
of several thousands; but one of two hundred is about
the highest which he could have really used on this
telescope to see any thing distinctly.f
Mr. Ramage's largest telescope at Aberdeen is 25
feet in focal length, with a mirror of 15 inches in
* Herschel's mirror is far from being perfect in its form,
as it is almost impossible to produce a perfect figure on a concave
mirror of so large a diameter and short focal length; even were
it quite correct in this respect, still, from the obliquity with which
he viewed the image, the magnifying power can never be great in
order to produce distinct vision. -
+ See Dr. Pearson's Astronomy.
158 OTHER WORLD3.
diameter. He finds that 9 inches of diameter exposed
in this reflector is sufficient for general purposes, as in
viewing the moon; for, more of it being exposed,
pains the eye of the observer, and he cannot bear
above 4 inches of it when looking at the sun. When
the whole mirror is used to this body, so intense is
the heat in the focus, that it has melted the steel of
a watch spring, and cracked the glasses which con-
centrated the rays. It appears to this excellent
astronomer (whose reflecting telescopes are made
by himself), that the best means for greatly in-
creasing their power with real effect beyond what
has yet been done, is to construct telescopes of a
much greater focal length in proportion to the
diameter of the mirror, than that of the large re-
flector of Sir William Herschel. A greater magni-
fying power would thus be obtained, and a distinct-
ness of vision unattainable in instruments of great
diameter and short focal length. For instance, with
a focal length of at least 100 feet, and a mirror of
3 feet, the image could be enlarged 16 times beyond
what could be done with the same mirror if its image
was concentrated from only a 25 feet focus, and the
image would also bear to be greatly more magnified,
because it might be more directly viewed. The heat
from a larger mirror than is used at present would
OTHER WORLDS. 159
not be increased in proportion to its size, but be
lessened by the extension of its focus.
I am sure that all scientific men will be highly
gratified in reading an account of the means proposed
for effecting so wonderful a discovery in Mr. Ramage's
own words, in a communication with which he has
favoured me, from which the following is an ex-
tract:-" The superiority of telescopes of long foci
over those of short in the minutiae of astronomy is
great. The image of the object by these instruments
being large, only requires an eye-glass of small curva-
ture. Objects are thus seen more distinctly, more
naturally, and with greater ease than when viewed
with telescopes of short foci, which require glasses
of very deep curvatures to produce the same magni-
fying power. If, then, the moon, for instance, can
be seen so distinctly with a telescope of 7 feet focus,
which gives an image scarcely 1 inch in diameter
(and with one of this size Sir W. Herschel made
some of his greatest discoveries), what may not
reasonably be expected from an instrument that
would produce an image 22 inches diameter, or show
the moon's surface on a scale of an inch to a hundred
miles!”
Such an undertaking, however, would be found
too expensive an experiment for the unaided effort of
160 • OTHER WORLDS.
a private individual, unless fortune was added to
ardour and talent; but Mr. Ramage has offered, if he
were assisted with the means, to use his utmost en-
deavours to accomplish what would be the greatest
of all modern discoveries—a proposal well worthy
the attention and support of every lover of science
and liberal views. We rejected the offers of Columbus,
to discover a then unknown portion of the globe, and
another nation bore off the honour of finding out
what was called a new world; but our ascertaining
by actual sight of the natives or their works, that the
moon is an inhabited globe as well as our own, would
far surpass the famed discovery of America. Al-
though we could hope for no commercial or other re-
lations with them—for none of their gold and silver, or
precious commodities to us as yet even unimagined,
still we should feel ourselves more convincingly in-
habiting only one of the many vast peopled mansions
in the interminable space of the universe. Little
else would then be thought of in our learned so-
cieties, but conjectures as to the nature and ad-
vancement in knowledge of the inhabitants of other
worlds. Although we could not in our present
bodies leave the earth to make their acquaintance,
yet our minds, or, in other words, our souls, would
bound in idea to visit them : astronomy would take
other worlds. 161
the lead among earthly amusements and assume a
new feature ; countless observatories would rear their
huge tubes of, inspection to gratify the learned and
the curious. Who would not claim to be included
among the latter P Even common opinion would then
probably have no hesitation in peopling every spark-
ling orb which we see, although it is past the utmost
bounds of human hope, that men as now constituted,
shall ever by any contrivance extend such a visual
discovery beyond their own attendant moon.
HY M N O N T H E STA R S,
BY MIRS. HEMANS.
“CHILD of the earth ! Oh lift thy glance
To yon bright firmament's expanse;
The glories of its realms explore,
And gaze, and wonder, and adore
“Doth it not speak to every sense,
The marvels of Omnipotence?
Seest thou not there the Almighty name,
Inscribed in characters of flame 2
“Mark well each little star, whose rays
In distant splendour meet thy gaze;
Each is a world, by Him sustained,
Who from eternity hath reigned.
162 OTHER WORLDS.
“Each, kindled not for earth alone,
Hath circling planets of its own,
And beings, whose existence springs
From Him, the all-powerful King of kings.
“Haply, those glorious beings know
No stain of guilt, nor tear of woe:
But raising still the adoring voice,
For ever in their God rejoice.
“What, then, art thou, oh! child of clay !
Amid creation's grandeur, say ?
E’en as an insect on the breeze,
E’en as a dew-drop, lost in seas
“Yet fear thou not!—the sovereign hand,
Which spread the ocean and the land,
And hung the rolling spheres in air,
Hath, e'en for thee, a Father's care :"
Note.—It ought to be noticed that the celebrated astronomer
Herschel, so famous for his great reflecting telescopes, and the
numerous important discoveries made with them, has been in this
treatise sometimes called Dr. Herschel, and at other times Sir
William Herschel, which may confuse, as to the person meant,
those who are not aware that he was best known as Doctor Her-
schel before he was made a Baronet. His son, the present Sir
John Herschel, has also devoted his talents to astronomy. They
may be called, indeed, an astronomical family, for a sister of the
Doctor’s used to aid him in his observations, and even made
many discoveries herself, finding out several comets, and being
her brother's chief assistant and calculator in forming a catalogue
of 50,000 stars. It may be added, that the study of these worlds
in the air has not unfitted this lady for sublunary concerns, as she
now amuses herself by presiding over a dairy of 80 cows in Hano-
ver. They were much noticed by George III. who frequently
visited their observatory at Slough, near Windsor. Sir John has
lately gone out to the Cape of Good Hope for astronomical pur-
poses.
ERRATUM.—For 1500 in note on page 123, read 1300.
T H E M U M M Y AW A K E D.
T H E M U M M Y AWA K E D ;
A POETIC CONTR AST
BETWEEN
THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS
AND THAT OF MODERN TIMES:
BY
ALEXANDER COPLAND, Esq.
A DV O C A T E.
T H E M U M M Y AWA K E D.
I.
Look up, dark Mummy; you're among the living,
Who fain would hear your antiquarian lore ;
If breath you have, strange tales you might be giving
Of what befel on Nilus' banks of yore,
Before your eyelids felt death's cheerless sleep;
Or must you still his secrets closely keep
II.
You had at Thebes a far fam'd wide Necropolis,"
Where kings and queens lay wrapt in rich perfume,
Did not your dead once make it their metropolis,
When you were laid in strangely painted room *
Are you aware that you're again in light,
That waking eyes may stare at such a sight 2
170 THE MUMMY AWAKEL).
• III.
Is this the likeness of your living face,
So quaintly carv'd upon your coffin lid
It has not quite our lineaments of grace,
But what was grace with you from us is hid:
Ev’n now grace differs in each diff'rent clime,
What did the beaux think of it in your time
IV.
How did they spice you into an immortal —
And yet 'twould little serve us if you tell;
For as you are, you’ll never reach heaven's portal,
So dust to dust perhaps is just as well :
Unless the soul be caught before it start,
But this I fancy was far past their art.”
V.
Embalming now is little cared about,
And bodies decompose as is their nature;
Yet now we know that all shall hear the shout
Which is again to give man form and stature
Without the slightest aid from gums or spices;
Then happy they who here took good advices.
THE MUMMY AWAKED. 171
VI.
What wast thou, Mummy, in thy waking day,
Before they laid you in this painted box :
What do these mystic hieroglyphics say P
Something, I doubt, that's not quite orthodox.
Or were they only meant to tell your history,
Without a word of dark and heathen mystery P
VII.
Perhaps you were a nut-brown laughing maid,
With rosy lips and eyes so sweetly beaming;
Have courted been, and heard what lovers said,
With downcast glance so modest and beseeming ;
But now your heart is hard and lies as still
As it had ne'er been warm or had a will.
VIII.
You may have waited upon Pharaoh’s daughter,
Who now would little have been known to fame,
Had she not taken Moses from the water;--
Perhaps you may have been that very dame.
Were you one whom the Hebrews “spoil'd” at parting,
By borrowing gold and silver just at starting
I
172 THE MUMMY AWAKED.
IX.
Could you like us transmute old rags to gold 2
Or circulate bank notes for solid treasures 2
For paper money merchandise is sold,
But sometimes we see cause to change our measures.
Why were ye all deluded by your priests,
To worship reptiles, birds, and senseless beasts 2
X.
But better far these learned fathers knew,
And Eleusinian mysteries could explain ;(*)
Yet these were but expounded to a few,
And we now try to fathom them in vain.
On Portland's mystic urn (*) perhaps we see
Their secret figur’d, but we can’t agree.
XI.
Did you know Moses and the Hebrew nation P
Had they left off the trade of making bricks
Before you sunk down from your earthly station,
To dwell awhile upon the banks of Styx *
Heard you the sea did o'er proud Pharaoh flow,
In chasing Israel, though he bade them go
THE MUMMY AWAKED. 173
XII.
We now sail o'er the main where’er we will,
A little needle pointing out the way;
And if our sails the winds refuse to fill,
We make hot water drive us through the spray !
Earth, sea, and air are subject to our wishes,
We ev'n go down and walk among the fishes :
XIII.
In diving bell 'neath the deep sea we glide,
Sit there at ease, or splash about a while;
Foretell eclipses and each rising tide—
Did'st ever take a walk beneath the Nile P
Or think the moon when she's at such a distance,
Could on this globe draw seas without assistance 2
XIV.
Your barks requir'd the wind to cleave the deep,
Or wretched rowers toiling at the oar;
Eut now we only stir the fire to keep
Our steamers wheeling o'er from shore to shore.
Through tempests ev'n they dash with govern'd power,
Rattling along at full ten knots an hour.
174 THE MUMMY AWAKED.
XV.
We now have men above the clouds who rise,
Tied to a bag, for gold, or ev’n for flattery;
With hempen string bring light'ning from the skies! (*)
Or rouse the dead by a galvanic battery ! (9)
Were gas and steam known to your fam'd magicians,
Had you such folks as lawyers and physicians ?
XVI.
We can show magic, but we call it natural,
Because from Nature's laws its wonders spring ;
You'd not believe this if you saw the half of all
Which we perform without the wand or wing
Of any great enchanter of renown—
Indeed, real demon arts are wholly flown.
XVII.
Great ships far west must sail upon the brine,
And brave the hurricanes of tropic seas,
While others eastward cross earth's middle line,
And reel through typhoons (7) for strange China's teas,
Before ev'n washerwomen now sit down,
To break their fast in country or in town.
THE MUMMY AWAKED. 175
XVIII.
The richest freights our largest ships bring home,
Are wither'd leaves in many a varnish’d chest ;
Or to the western world our merchants roam
For other leaves, in thousand hogsheads press'd :
We sip the first—the second grind to snuff,
Or burn them as tobacco for a puff'
YIX.
Though warriors still fight with the sword and lance,
Yet hostile chariots now no more engage,
Though gallant horsemen still in battle prance,
They’re not so potent as in earlier age;
For weak arms now can lay the strongest low,
And unseen hands oft deal the deadliest blow !
XX.
We bend a finger, or apply a spark—
Swift as a flash then speeds the fatal ball;
Nor human strength requires to reach its mark,
And now by Parthian shafts few foemen fall.
Some messengers of death don't weigh an ounce,
Others as eight-and-forty pounders bounce 1
I 2
176 THE MUMMY AWAKED.
XXI.
Great heroes still delight in reckless slaughters,
And glory now is found 'mid fire and smoke.
The brave deserve the fair, and so our daughters
Oft catch the scarlet fever past a joke.
You may not see exactly their connexion,
But you shall learn, if under good direction.
XXII.
When hostile city sends its final “No”
To foe who means to play the deuce within ;
We need no battering ram for shattering blow,
For three miles off great balls we can throw in
Spring mines beneath which eyes blast in their sockets,
Or rain down fire from shells and Congreve rockets |
XXIII.
We angle now for fish of sixty feet;
Huge monsters round the polar icebergs swimming:
And cut them up for light in house and street;
But gas now saves of many a lamp the trimming.
Still longer far than whales, though we ne'er struck it,
Is the sea-serpent which swims off Nantucket.(8)
THE MUMMY AWAKED. 177
XXIV.
You labour'd hard recording deeds and learning
On blocks of granite, and sepulchral chambers;
But long, men's eyes gaz'd without much discerning,
Amidst these wrecks where peering Sgavan clambers ;
Knowledge and news now spread fast by diurnals,
By Penny Magazines and Chambers' Journals.
XXV.
Engines and intellect are both advancing
More rapidly than I can stop to tell;
Learning's bright rays are now more clearly glancing,
Than e're in former age from heaven they fell.
I wonder what such gallopings portend,
And almost fear the world is near an end |
XXVI.
There is an island in the northern seas,
With ships and colonies and commerce gay;
Which raising once disputes about some teas,
A distant land no longer would obey.
Her children there now own no king's dominion,
Yet none are greater—in their own opinion.
178 THE MUMMY AWAKED.
XXVII.
But be this as it may, their parent rose
Like giant in his strength though single handed ;
The world allied against her, fear'd to close,
And firm she stood the shock of nations banded.
She rul’d o'er ocean, scatter'd foes as sands,
And when they came not, sought them in their lands.
XXVIII.
Her merchants once were princes, now forlorn—G')
Their house in Leadenhall may soon be LET
To be a granary stor'd with foreign corn,
That fields at home a long repose may get.
Her far-fam'd colonies shall soon be free
To raise no sugar for our cups of tea.
XXIX.
Our land has got what we call wooden walls;
But these swim here and there upon the brine :
They’re mann’d by those who best can play at balls,
And fight like bull-dogs when in battle line.
Britons are free, and slavery must not be,
Except with our defenders on the sea.
THE MUMMY AWAKED. 179
XXX.
We dare not buy for slave a blackamoor,
Or else there's some would soon kick up a racket;
But yet the man amongst us who is poor,
The strong may steal, if he but wears a jacket !
Then whip him cruelly, lash'd to a grating,
If he but try to run—the service hating.09)
XXXI.
Literature means letters rang'd in cunning way;
And twenty-six are all yet we have got :
Still, more than figur’d symbol they can say,
And every tongue they readily denote.
Our children now know more at infant schools
Than your fam'd priests with all their secret rules.
( XXXII.
O ! many a goose now gives the learned a quill,
Their knowledge and their names abroad to tell.
Your granite records show more patient skill,
But we on leaves can hand down things as well.
Each beau and belle can now disclose love passions
On sheets of foolscap, or describe the fashions.
I 3
180 THE MUMMY AWAKED.
XXXIII.
Some women now whole volumes even can write,
But then they give up the domestic needle.
You'd be astonish’d what your sex endite,
Since you were only taught to dress and wheedle.
But men fight shy of those who cannot sew,
And few would marry now a down-right Blue.
XXXIV.
While you were closed up in your dusty cell,
You've lost a deal of poetry and prose :
Of Sacred Records now, I will not tell,
But they most grave, important things disclose.
My verse is far too light—but what is needful,
You yet shall hear—if you will listen heedful.
XXXV.
Authors and authoresses now come out,
Like moths and butterflies, to live their hour;
But on the shelf they light to look about,
And few to fly again retain the power.
We praise those most who best can strike the lyre on,
As Homer, Virgil, Tasso, Scott, or Byron. .
THE MUMMY AWAKED. 181
XXXVI.
And there are critics, too, like dragon flies;
Roaming about for whom they may devour;
An author oft by their sharp biting dies,
But others show fight with superior power.
Be gentle, flies, to this my little barque,
Nor sting me like mosquitoes in the dark.
XXXVII.
Seldom I've sought to court the Muses’ charms,
Have woo'd them faintly, with but little skill;
Yet joys have found in their deluding arms,
When toiling up life's steep and weary hill.
Descending now, I careless hear these maids
Inviting back to their Pierian glades.
XXXVIII.
They've broken here the thread of my discourse,
So I must join it like a careful spinner,
And weave my web, which will be none the worse,
Before we leave the shuttle for our dinner.
Dinner, to you ! I fear is now a mockery,
But still you might admire our table crockery.
182 THE MUMMY AWAKETD.
XXXIX.
We have found out beyond the western sea,
Another world with men and women, too;
But how these got there first, surprises me,
For that they sprung from Eve is surely true.9)
Old as you are, ’twas long before your time,
I have no doubt, they left their native clime.
XL.
You held the earth a wide unbounded plain ;
But we have reached the east by steering west :
And now can prove the land and heaving main
Form a vast globe which never lies at rest:
Turns as it flies in orbit round the sun,
Which keeps his place, though he appears to run.
|XLI.
Tremendous floods and earthquakes on this ball,
Have alter'd much the sea, and eke the land,
Since disobedience caus’d our parents’ fall,
From paradise, which they left hand in hand,
To labour for their bread, and spread their race,
Whose rout of journeying now we cannot trace.
THE MUMMY AWAKED. 183
XLII.
Your lore was trac'd on rolls of the papyrus;
And only deep ones tried to write or read,
But all those volumes which you see are near us,
Were stamp'd from types with an amazing speed
For twopence now learn'd treatises we sell,—
But you must know of what we cannot tell.
XLIII.
About the shades, perhaps, or heavenly regions,
Which now we peer for through our tubes and glasses;
O ! if one ghost would stray from those bright legions,
Whose joys we’ve heard all pleasure here surpasses,
We’d do our best to thank him for his journey,
And all he says shall be ta'en down by Gurney.
XLIV.
(For fast as gossips' talk runs on his pen,
And few can write short-hand so vastly clever),
If you’ve seen other worlds and go again,
Whisper the way before you’re off for ever;
And we will follow when we can get ready—
Or is it best to wait here and be steady ?
184 THE MUMMY AWAKED.
*
XLV.
Will you believe that men can now espy
The very mountains of the changeful moon :
Two rings round Saturn, and some belts which lie
On Jupiter, and it is likely soon
We'll see some signs of lunar art, by prying
Through the long tube which Ramage speaks of trying.(12)
XLVI.
We can restore clear sight to aged eyes,
To thread a needle, or find out a star;
Aye, stars in thousands which your wisest wise
Could never see, they are so wondrous far;
We ev'n make maps of the lunarian ridges,
And stare at dancing microscopic midges!
XLVII.
Your obelisks perhaps their shadows threw,
To teach you when to breakfast or to dine ;
But we make wheels and pinions show as true
When we should take our coffee or our wine.
We've liquid-silver, measures all heat's rangings,
And prophecies the weather's stay and changings
THE MUMMY AWAKED. 185
XLVIII.
A mail-coach on a turnpike lately pass'd
For the perfection of all locomotion;
But roads of iron from a furnace cast,
Now bear self-moving trains beyond your notion,
Fleeter than dromedary ever travell’d—08)
What can come next, time has not yet unravell’d.
XLIX.
Our ancient gothic must be new to you—
The mouldering stones of many a moss-clad wall
Were in their quarries when you bade adieu
To upper earth, and closed your eyes on all.
Your gardens of delight then sweet and green,
Have pass'd away as they had never been.
L.
Egypt no longer flourishes in pride;
In catacombs her Pharaohs seem to slumber,
With all their nobles pack'd up side by side,
And slaves and minions in a countless number.
Their palaces lie ruin’d in the sand,
All desolate by an Almighty hand 1
186 THE MUMMY AWAKED.
LI.
But there are walls remain, which show what they
Could do, and columns still hold up their heads ;
Astonishing all those who pass that way,
To view the ruin Time's dread passage spreads.
Alas! 'tis sad to know how much in vain
Man builds on earth, for down all falls again.
LII.
Who did the pyramids of Geeza raise 2
Which are the theme of many a wise conjecture.
Their founder's name remains with other days,
What was the purpose of such architecture ?
Who took the pains to carve the massy Sphynx *—
What are you silent yet, you ancient mynx *
LIII.
Has your light spirit from its mansion fled P
Could no embalming cheat it here to stay
Where roams the soul when the cold heart lies dead 2
Does it fly far when lifeless sinks its clay P
Does it feel cold, or heat, or need a lodgement,
Or wish its body back before the judgment
THE MUMMY AWAKED. 187
LIV. &
Again you've come to earth, no shadowy form,
For bone and flesh thou art, and hast a tongue.
Corruption scarce has tried yet to deform
Thy earthly part,-can nought then now be wrung
From thee to tell us what thou once hast seen—
O that your tongue could whisper what you’ve been
LV.
Here you are safe, and inmate of a college,
As an especial fav'rite of its sages;
So you may soon be deep in modern knowledge,
And hear of all that has been done for ages;
But if you still can't get out yes or no,
We’ll call some other time, then, must we go
T H E M U M M Y’S R. E PLY.
I.
MIGHTY Osiris where now have I got
Am I still lingering in the world below P
Is this Elysian life, or is it not :
Who are those strangers staring at me so :
How came I here, ye black-rob’d Magi,0) say ?
Is this a house to rest me on my way P
II.
Jupiter Ammon I do I live or dream
Who could have thought on such a scene at rising
If dream it be, it sure must be a gleam
Of other times, most strange and most surprising !
I’ll send, on wakening, for the wise to read it,
If then they think me sound enough to heed it.
190 THE MUMMY's REPLY.
III.
I much suspect I’ve left the earthly plain,
On which I liv'd with others long ago:
And now am somewhere else, to ne'er again
Look back where Nile's refreshing waters flow.
Is it yet known whence comes that mighty river,
Whose source our tourists thought was hid for ever.
IV.
On earthly things no more can Irely,
But love to hear the changes which have been.
My breast no longer now can heave a sigh,
And as a dream I think on what I’ve seen.
Our sorcerers could rods to serpents change,
But your magicians must have powers more strange.
V.
Our pyramids you ask about, were rais'd
By one—confound him—I've forgot his name :
But little was his memory with us prais'd,
For thousands sunk in raising him to fame.
Does not his statue (as I’ve seen it) stand
On the top still, o'erlooking all the land P (9)
THE MUMMY's REPLY. 191
VI.
But many of your questions I must pass,
At least at present, yet if I remember,
We’ll talk them over sometime, though, alas !
My tongue’s no longer such an active member,
As when in former days I laugh’d at gloom,
For now ’tis parch'd as if by the simoom,”)
VII.
I dare not tell the secrets of the dead,
But you shall know them all yet, by and bye ;
Besides—I’ve really got an aching head,
And feel a little queerish as I lie;
As if it was my spirit only spoke,
And I have not got spirits yet to joke.
VIII.
But you have told me much, I must allow,
So I shall also try what I can say
About what I have seen, but not all now,
And fain would ask some questions, if I may ;
I feel so curious several things to know,
And then I'll doze away an hour or so.
192 THE MUMMy's REPLY.
IX.
Is Solomon and all his glory gone *
Is Tadmor in the wilderness still gay ? (4)
Have I my native Memphis to bemoan,
Where thoughtless pass'd the morning of my day ?
Does Babylon the great look proudly still,
Or does it now prophetic threats fulfil 2
X.
Do any ships from Tarshish hither sail P
Do Tyre and Sidon still hold rule at sea,
Or is it but in old tradition’s tale
They flourish, who were once so great and free ?
From eastern lands they made a mighty din,
To savage islands where they went for tin.(?)
XI.
Of these I here a story strange may tell,
Which once a skilful mariner told me,
Who knew them well, and swore some potent spell
Had sunk the nearest where no eye could see :
The waters wild flow’d where it once had been,
And salt waves dash’d where hills and vales were seen.(6)
THE MUMMY's REPLY. 193
XII.
Some mountain tops remain’d above the tide,
And soon to ruggid rocks were wash'd and worn,
Which fatal were to many a vessel's side,
When night had hid them from the light of morn.
Beyond these Cassiterides (7) there lay—
What no adventurous voyager could say.
XIII.
But to return—I'd keep awhile awake,
To hear how needles show roads on the main :
Yet I am doubtful if I ought to take
All this for true, and that you know when rain
Means to come down before its clouds arise,
Or that young sight can lighten glimmering eyes.
XIV.
Show me some wonders raise your rods and call
Some spirits from the deep or from the sky
Touch my poor frame, and make my body all
Just as it was before grim Death stood by.
If you can do but this, then I'll believe
That you can all which you have said achieve.
194 THE MUMMY's REPLY.
XV.
Beardless Magicians! are ye mortal men
If so, ye cannot 'neath the waters live :
Or rise into the air though e'er so fain—
Powers such as these some God, at least, must give.
But now I feel so hoarse, you must excuse,
If I should cease to speak to give you news.
XVI.
And I, of old, in Haram was confin'd,
For fear I’d smile on others than my lord,
So even if I could call all to mind
Which then took place, 'twould little light afford
To such as you, who know so much already—
So teaze no longer a just waken'd lady.
As the Author's belief regarding the state of the departed—that is,
as to the fate or condition of the soul or mind during death, may be
misunderstood from an expression in the first stanza of the Mummy
Awaked, it may be as well to point out that the reference is merely to
the eyelids—to the long insensible rest of the embalmed body—not to
any supposed torpidity or insensibility of the soul, which, he has no
doubt, experiences a life of conscious pleasure or pain in its separate
or middle state in Hades, while awaiting there the judgment of the
last day, previous to its re-union with the body (when changed into
an immortal nature) and its then entrance into heaven or hell, both
as properly so called, or as commonly understood. He may add,
that although he refers to a middle state, yet he no more believes it
to be one of purification, or of a purgatorial nature, than the most
orthodox Protestant, but strictly as represented by the Scriptures,
according to the interpretation of the ablest Protestant Theologians.
The state of death, when spoken of as applicable to the bodily -
frame, refers to mere inanimate matter ; when the soul is alluded
to, it only is meant as separated from its earthly dwelling, retaining
its consciousness and all the mental faculties. -
This meaning is the more necessary to be here clearly understood,
as the Author has written a Work on the subject, in which the con-
tinued consciousness of the soul in a middle state between death and
the great and only known judgment, is proved at considerable length,
as clearly revealed by divine authority.
N O T E S
TO
T H E M U M M Y AWA K E D .
1.
You had at Thebes a far fam'd wide Necropolis.
Stanza 11. Iine l.
The NexporoMets, or cities of the dead, as they were termed, were
in many instances more extensive than those of the living, beneath
which they were sometimes excavated, and often tier below tier.
Mountains were preferred when near.
2.
Unless the soul be caught before it start,
But this I fancy was far past their art.
Stanza iv. lines 5 and 6.
At a late unrolment of the cerements of a mummy at Surgeon's
Hall, in London, the operator, in a lecture on the subject, mention-
ed that embalming arose from “the belief of the Egyptians, that, if
the soul could be kept within the body for at least 3000 years, it
would be entitled to enter the regions of eternal felicity; but if once
198 NOTES TO
it left the body, then it would wander about, passing continually
from one body to another, according to the doctrine of the metem-
psychosis.” This, however, could not have been the true cause for
endeavouring to preserve the corpse. We have no evidence that
the Egyptians thought they could by any means retain the immortal
spirit in its lifeless habitation, and we have reason to believe they
held that the soul passed immediately after death to the dominions
of Pluto. The Lecturer himself, indeed, stated, towards the conclu-
sion of his discourse, that “the origin of this process was the no-
tion of the Egyptians that a time would come when the soul would
again be united with the body, and therefore that they were bound to
preserve the latter in as complete a state as possible for human
means to accomplish”—certainly the more probable reason of the
two. See the Morning Herald of 17th Jan. 1834.
3.
And Eleusinian mysteries could explain.
Stanza x. Inle 2.
These are thought to have been intended to inculcate a belief in
another state of existence after the present, and a judgment on en-
tering into it.
4.
On Portland's mystic urn perhaps we see
Their secret figur’d, but we can't agree.
Stanza x. lines 5 and 6.
The most beautiful and valuable relic of remote antiquity as a
work of art, and, in the opinion of many, the figures on it are clearly
emblematic of the immortality of the soul, and a judgment after
death.
THE MUMMY AWAKED. I 99
5.
With hempen string bring light'ning from the skies!
Stanza xv. line 3.
Alluding to the electric kite of Franklin, by which he brought
down lightning and put it into a bottle 1 or, in more philosophic lam-
guage, charged a Leyden jar with it. The fluid has been made to
ring a bell to tell when it is coming ! But such dangerous experi-
ments have sometimes proved fatal to the philosopher, as in the case of
Professor Richman. The Author’s father was once struck down in
this way, but the lightning at the time was weak, and he soon re-
covered.
6.
Or rouse the dead by a galvanic battery !
Stanza xv. line 4.
The effects of galvanism on a recently-dead body are well
known. The Author has seen such a body, when galvanized, start
up—its eyes open and glaring, while its muscular powers seemed to
be so strong as to require considerable force to control its actions.
“But soul was wanting there.”
7.
And reel through typhoons for strange China's teas.
Stanza xvii. line 4.
Dreadful storms of wind sometimes experienced in the Chinese
seas, which blow with tremendous fury, suddenly shifting to all
points of the compass.
200 NOTES TO
8.
Still longer far than whales, though we ne'er struck it,
Is the sea-serpent which swims off Nantucket.
Stanza xxiii. lines 5 and 6.
“When asking Captain Alleyn, in a jocular manner, one day,
if he had ever met with any man who pretended to have seen the
sea serpent, how great was my surprise to have his serious reply,
‘Why, Sir, I have seen it myself, and all my crew.’ He then stated
that, in January, 1820, he was returning from Batavia, and was
running, with a light air, along the shore of Long Island, when
he saw, in broad day, an object on the surface of the sea, about a
mile from the ship, which at first he supposed to be a whale. On
taking the glass, however, he at once discovered it to be totally dif-
ferent. The head lay flat, with a snout, rather under the surface of
the water ; the back was arched, and the knobs of the vertebrae quite
distinct; the tail was long and tapering; the end about three feet
broad, and the position horizontal. It attracted the notice of every
mam as he came on deck; and Captain A. as well as his crew, had
all been accustomed to laugh at the story of the serpent.—For a
full half hour they contemplated the monster; and computed its length
at about 100 feet. As they neared it, the animal got into motion,
first towards the shore, and then, making an immense sweep, and
leaving a wake, as Captain Alleyn said, like a frigate, it disappeared,
leaving the water in a state of commotion. I find also that the ser-
pent was seen by the packet ship Silas Richards, about five years
ago, off Nantucket ; and Mr. Orr, one of our passengers, informed
me, that an acquaintance of his was on board, a man who was par-
ticularly incredulous of wonders, but who readily concurred in the
certificate signed upon the subject.”
Fergusson of Woodhill's Notes on Canada. 1833.
THE MUMMY AWAKED. 201
9.
The two following verses connected with the subjoined note,
were omitted in their proper place :-
In war we pray’d for peace, and when it came,
The sun of plenty shone faint through the gloom :
Then we believ'd our rulers were to blame,
So swept th’ Augean stable with a Broom ;
And having lost our pilot in war's storm,
The people gave the helm to Lord Reform ;
Who guides us now, and steers the ship with skill,
And boasts, though peaceful, he could clear for action;
But yet we grumble, as man ever will,
And ev'n the Commons don’t give satisfaction;
Although they vote 'gainst bribery and corruption,
These still burst forth like lava in eruption.
The differences between divine and human prophecies are, that the
first are generally communicated at a time when their fulfilment is
extremely improbable, and sometimes even when they appear im-
possible ; yet they, nevertheless, invariably prove true, sooner or
later ; whereas, those of man are always founded on what seems to
the prophet as the most likely thing to happen from present circum-
stances; which, indeed, sometimes leave no doubt as to what must
follow ; and yet such predictions very seldom, if ever, come to pass
exactly as anticipated, if at all. The more confident we are of the
future from our own penetration, the more signally, at times, are
202 NOTES TO
our prophecies falsified by events; still, we go on in our predictions
without any abatement of opinion in our own wisdom.
A strong example of this may be referred to, where the Edinburgh
Review, in 1812, only re-echoed the then universal belief as to the
consequences of peace, which was held by every one as synonymous
with plenty, past all doubt. Let us compare the prophecy with the
fulfilment, which will afford a useful lesson to those who do benefit
by experience :-
“The imagination is lost in contemplating the immense increase
of our exports which must instantaneously follow the cessation of
hostilities between France and this country. In what unheard of
—what unimagined abundance must our goods not burst into the
markets of the world ! It is hard to say whether the land, or the
manufacturers, or the population of the empire would gain most by
this happy change. Every man in trade, or possessed of any in-
come connected with trade—every landed proprietor, and all those
depending on land—every manufacturer and his dependants—in
short, all the industrious and proprietary classes of the community,
including a great proportion of the professions trading on skill and
not on capital, would be greatly richer than they now are ; while,
at the same time, every consumer, that is, every person in the
country, would find that the same money went a great deal further
in the purchase of every article of use. A man who now has 36500
a-year would have £600, and would live the same way as formerly
for £300 instead of £400. He would save, by the year, £300 in-
stead of £100, to provide for his family, and increase his income at
compound interest; or he might indulge himself and family in this
proportion. This is as undeniable an effect of peace, as any conse-
quence deduced by mathematical demonstration”? / '
The actual result.—“Immediately after the last war, a crisis in the
affairs of men necessarily occurred. The peace threw thousands,
either altogether or in a great measure, out of employment. The
THE MUMMY AWAKED. 203
articles which labour produced were many of them not further re-
quired; and the demand for, and the price of, the remainder, were
reduced by the death of the war monopoly, and the great reduction
in the naval and military departments. Agriculture and commerce
continued for some time to languish, while the spirit of the farmers
began to droop, and those of the manufacturers to ferment. In the
minds of some men, evils, under the impression of misfortunes, pro-
duced discontent ; with others, the transition from their former ar-
tificial affluence, to a condition which made them feel their real po-
sition, broke out into invectives against the measures of govern-
ment, and into a declared indifference to their country.”
M“Grigor's British America. 1833.
10.
Then whip him cruelly, lash'd to a grating,
If he but try to run—the service hating.
Stanza xxx. lines 5 and 6.
Our festive boards resound with the song which assures us that
“Britons never shall be slaves”—yet we often find this is not alto-
gether provided for by the laws of the land. An armed party is sent
out through the streets by our Government, to request the company
instanter of any one who may suit their fancy in the shape of a sailor,
or a little like one ; a man, perhaps, just returned from a long voyage,
and hastening home to a fondly-expecting wife and children, wholly
depending upon him. Such a free-born Briton may be knocked down
with impunity, and then desired to stand up to hear that his own
consent to servitude is nowise necessary—thrown like a felon
into a boat—confined for a while in the hold of the Tender—drafted
into a ship of war, and, as the anchor is heaving, ordered to join in
the chorus of “ Britons never shall be slaves” Soon in blue water,
he learns that he is bound for a distant and unhealthy station, to
204 NOTES To
remain for a number of years, if he lives as long, and be exposed to
all the sad chances of battle. If he gets impatient of hard service,
and sighs for home, so much as to escape—and be retaken; he is tried
—sentenced to receive 500 lashes through the fleet; having suffered
them, he is sent to the hospital-ship, where, while festering in a ham-
mock, the sound of the Admiral's band may reach him, assuring him,
on the authority of sheep-skin and wind instruments, that “Britons
never shall be slaves” A 1 / This species of kidnapping and slavery,
combining the worst features of megro thraldom, with the advantage
of a cat-o’-nine-tails having the power to give several hundred lashes
instead of blacky's thirty-nine, was very lately held quite legal and
necessary by a “reformed Parliament,” who, if they had determined
to give higher wages to our hard-worked and gallant seamen, with a
rather different proportion in the distribution of prize-money between
the officers and common sailors (somewhat, in short, less difference
than between several thousands and one), with more prompt payment,
would soon have rendered impressment altogether unnecessary.
1 h.
For that they sprung from Eve is surely true.
Stanza xxxix. line 4.
But very much disputed, and, from the physiological facts
pointed out by the learned in these matters, it is clear that climate
alone could not have produced the differences which we see among
the nations of the earth.
12.
We'll see some signs of lunar art, by prying
Through the long tube which Ramage speaks of trying.
Stanza xliv. line 6.
Alluding to a proposal made by this celebrated practical astro-
nomer, for ascertaining if the moon be really inhabited ; and this by
T H E M U M MY AWA KED. 205
acquiring a higher magnifying power from using reflecting telescopes
of much greater focal length in proportion to the diameter of the
mirror. See “Other Worlds,” p. 156.
13.
Now bear self-moving trains beyond your notion,
Fleeter than dromedary ever travell’d—
Stanza xlvii. lines 4 and 5.
On the Manchester and Liverpool Rail-road a self-moving car-
riage called the Rocket has gone at the rate of 40 miles an hour !
The common rate is now 15 to 20 miles, and yet so steady and equable
is the motion, that passengers are scarcely sensible of its extreme
swiftness.
“THE Pantechnicon * possesses a rich treat to the lover of antiqui.
ties in an Egyptian Mummy divested of all its bandages, and which is
in a much finer state of preservation than any which has previously
eome before our notice. With the exception of three or four of the
fingers and toes, which appear to have been removed by accident,
the body is perfect in all its parts, the hair remaining on the head
apparently of its natural colour, whilst the teeth and ears are as
perfect as those of any living person. The preservative effect of the
singular process of embalming is seen to very great perfection, all
the muscular parts being changed to a substance resembling tanned
leather. A small portion of the bandage in which it was enveloped
remains on the left knee, and the impressions onwarious parts of the
body are likewise discernible. From the incision under the left side,
it would appear that this Mummy was embalmed according to the
superior process, as described by Herodotus, in which the body was
disembowelled and its interior filled with precious spices. There are
also marks apparently of leaf gold on various parts of the body,
from which it is evident that this was formerly one of the kings or
priests of the country. It is altogether a very interesting exhibi-
tion, there being nothing the least offensive to the most fastidious
delicacy, and cannot fail to convey an interesting moral as the mind
glides down the stream of time through three thousand years, and
Čcntemplates the endless mutations that have taken place in times,
nations, and chinions.” 3, The Town Newspaper, April 6, 1834.
# An immense establishment in Londom, where almost every thing is sold.
N O T E S
TO
T H E M U M M Y’S R. E. P. L. Y.
1.
How came I here, ye black-rob'd Magi, say *
Stanza i. line 5.
It would appear from this that the learned Professors of the
University alluded to in the preceding, were present in their gowns
at this interesting interview.
2.
Does not his statue (as I’ve seen it) stand
On the top still, o'erlooking all the land 3
Stanza v. lines 5 and 6.
There is such a tradition in Egypt.
20S NOTES TO
3.
For now 'tis parch'd as if by the simoom.
Stanza vi. line 6.
A hot wind from the desert, often very fatal, but soon blows
over. Those caught by it cover their faces and keep them close to
the sand. The very camels are conscious of their danger, and use a
similar precaution. It has a slight tinge of purple, but a sight of it
costs very dear. See Bruce's Travels in Abyssinia.
4.
Is Tadmor in the wilderness still gay ?
Stanza ix. line 2.
Unrivalled once in extent and magnificence, Tadmor is now but
ruins and rubbish ; the few mud huts of the Bedouin Arabs forming
a sad contrast to the superb remains of the marble temples among
which they are reared. The city (if it can now be so called) is
named Thedmor by the Arabs to this day—a word originally derived
from a Hebrew root, signifying a palm tree, and it is known to us
as Palmyra, but not a tree remains of its extensive groves, and all
around is one vast desert of sand. The fame of its founder still
flourishes among its scattered fragments after nearly 3000 years, but
its greatest splendour is believed to have been about the beginning
of the Christian aera, and to have ended in our third century, when
it was taken by the Romans. “All these mighty works,” said an
Arab once to an English traveller, “Solomon, the son of David,
raised by the assistance of spirits.”
Babylon and Tyre are reduced to much the same state as Palmyra.
On the site of Sidon (now called Seide or Said) there still stands
a city of a noble and picturesque appearance from a little distance,
but its interior is gloomy and wretched, retaining very few traces of
THE MUMMY's REPLY. - 209
its ancient grandeur or importance. The gardens around its dila-
pidated walls, however, are still very beautiful. Its population is
about 7000.’ See Wilson's Travels in the Holy Land. Vol. II. pp. 74–9.
5.
To savage islands where they went for tin.
Stanza x. line 6.
Now called the British Islands.
6.
The waters wild flow’d where it once had been,
And salt waves dash'd where hills and vales were seen.
Stanza Xi. lines 5 and 6.
There is an old tradition in Cornwall, that a great extent of
land sunk in the sea, off what is now called the Land's End, of which
the Scilly islands and rocks are said to have been formerly a part.
The sea, too, has been long, and still is, gradually encroaching on
the land there.
The flats (some of them dry at the ebb of spring tides) which
stretch from one of these islands to another, are plain evidences, in-
deed, of a former union subsisting between many now distinct islands.
On these sand banks (over some of which there is more than 12 feet
water), walls and ruins are frequently discovered at low tides by the
shifting of the sands. History confirms their former union. “The
isles of Cassiterides,” says Strabo, “are ten in number, close to one
another ; one of them is desert and unpeopled, the rest are inhabit-
ed.” The sea has now multiplied them to 140 ; and yet there are
but six inhabited. The isle of Scilly, from which the little cluster of
these cyclades takes its name, is no more at present than a high
rock of about a furlong, over whose cliffs none but wild goats climb,
and whose barrenness will not support any inhabitants but sea birds.
210 Notes To THE MUMMY's REPLY.
These islands were once celebrated for the trade which they car-
ried on in tin with the Phenicians, Greeks, and Romans, at which
time they were fertile, and well peopled. There are very slight re-
mains now to be seen even of tin mines on any of the Scilly islands.
Although part of the tin so anxiously sought after by the nations
bordering on the Mediterranean has probably come from Cornwall,
yet the records of ancient authors show that the above named
islands principally supplied it. The story of the Phenician vessel,
mentioned by Strabo, to have purposely run on shore, and risked the
men as well as lost the ship, rather than discover to the Romans the
trade to these isles, is well known, and proves, beyond all doubt,
the commerce with them to have been very advantageous. That
the natives had mines and worked them, appears from Diodorus Sicu-
lus, Lib. V. c. 2. and from Strabo Geog. Lib. III. who informs us
that Publius Crassus sailing thither, and observing how they worked
their mines, which were but of little depth, instructed them how to
carry on this trade to better advantage. The plain inference from
these circumstances and intimations must be, that the tradition still
held by the natives, of a vast extent of land having been overwhelmed
by the sea, is founded in fact.
See Carew's Survey of Cornwall.—Camden.—
Philosophical Transactions, 1753.-Cornish
Geological Transactions, Vol. II. p. 131.
7.
Beyond these Cassiterides there lay— ,
What no adventurous voyager could say.
Stanza xii. lines 5 and 6.
Or.Tin Islands; so called by the ancients.
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