THE PLURALITY OF WORLDS. 



WHEN we walk forth on a serene night and direct our view to the aspect 

 of the heavens, there are certain reflections which will present themselves to 

 every mind gifted with the slightest power of contemplation. Are those 

 shining orbs which so richly decorate the firmament peopled with creatures 

 endowed like ourselves with reason to discover, with sense to love, and with 

 imagination to expand toward their limitless perfection the attributes of Him 

 of " whose fingers the heavens are the work ?" Has He who " made man lower 

 than the angels to crown him," with the glory of discovering that light in which 

 he has " decked himself as with a garment," also made other creatures with 

 like powers and like destinies ; with dominion over the works of his hands, 

 and having all things " put in subjection under their feet ?" And are those re- 

 splendent globes which roll in silent majesty through the measureless abysses 

 of space, the dwellings of such beings ? These are questions which will be 

 asked, and which will be answered. These are inquiries against which nei- 

 ther the urgency of business nor the allurements of pleasure can block up the 

 avenues of the mind. These are questions that have been asked, and that 

 will continue to be asked, by all who view the earth as an individual of that 

 little cluster of worlds called the solar system. 



Those whose information on topics of this nature is limited, would be prompt- 

 ed, in seeking the satisfaction of such inquiries, to look immediately for direct 

 evidence ; and consequently to appeal to the telescope. Such an appeal 

 would, however, be fruitless. Vast as are the powers of that instrument, and 

 great the improvements which have been conferred upon it, it still falls infi- 

 nitely short of the ability to give direct evidence on such inquiries. What 

 will a telescope do for us in regard to the examination of the heavenly bodies, 

 or indeed of any distant object ? It will accomplish this, and nothing more : 

 it will place us at a less distance from the object to which we direct our view ; 

 it will enable us to approach it within a certain limit of distance, and to behold 

 it as we should do without a telescope at the lesser distances. But, strictly 



