4gO PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO J 795. 



our globe, that there is the most striking difference in the situation of the crea- 

 tures that live on it. While man walks on the ground, the birds fly in the air_. 

 and fishes swim in water; we can certainly not object to the conveniences afforded 

 by the moon, if those that are to inhabit its regions are fitted to their conditions 

 as well as we on this globe are to ours. An absolute, or total sameness, seems 

 rather to denote imperfections, such as nature never exposes to our view; and, 

 on this account, I believe the analogies that have been mentioned are fully suffi- 

 cient to establish the high probability of the moon's being inhabited like the earth. 



To proceed, we will now suppose an inhabitant of the moon, who has not 

 properly considered such analogical reasonings as might induce him to surmise 

 that our earth is inhabited, were to give it as his opinion that the use of that 

 great body, which he sees in his neighbourhood, is to carry about his little globe, 

 that it may be properly exposed to the light of the sun, so as to enjoy an agree- 

 able and useful variety of illumination, as well as to give it light by reflection 

 from the sun, when direct day light cannot be had. Suppose also that the inha- 

 bitants of the satellites of Jupiter, Saturn, and the Georgian planet, were to con- 

 sider the [)rimary ones, to which they belong, as mere attractive centres, to keep 

 together their orbits, to direct their revolution round the sun, and to supply them 

 with reflected light in the absence of direct illumination. Ought we not to con- 

 demn their ignorance, as proceeding from want of attention and proper reflection ? 

 It is very true that the earth, and those other planets that have satellites about 

 them, perform all the offices that have been named, for the inhabitants of these 

 little globes; but to us, who live on one of these planets, their reasonings cannot 

 but appear very defective ; when we see what a magnificent dwelling place the 

 earth affords to numberless intelligent beings. 



These considerations ought to make the inhabitants of the planets wiser than 

 we have supposed those of their satellites to be. We surely ought not, like 

 them, to say " the sun (that immense globe, whose body would much more 

 than fill the whole orbit of the moon) is merely an attractive centre to us." 

 From experience we can affirm, that the performance of the most salutary offices 

 to inferior planets, is not inconsistent with the dignity of superior purposes; and, 

 in consequence of such analogical reasonings, assisted by telescopic views, which 

 plainly favour the same opinion, we need not hesitate to admit that the sun is 

 richly stored with inhabitants. 



This way of considering the sun is of the utmost importance in its conse- 

 quences. That stars are suns can hardly admit of a doubt. Their immense 

 distance would perfectly exclude them from our view, if the light they send us 

 were not of the solar kind. Besides, the analogy may be traced much further. 

 The sun turns on its axis. So does the star Algol. So do the stars called (3 LyraB, 

 ^ Cephei, n Antinoi, o Ceti, and many more; most probably all. From what 



