THE PLURALITY OF WORLDS. 



speaking, it cannot accomplish even this ; for to suppose it did, would be to 

 imagine it to possess all the admirable optical perfection of the eye. That 

 instrument, however nearly it approaches the organ of vision in its qualities, 

 is still deficient in some of the attributes which have been conferred upon the 

 eye by its Maker. It is" found that in proportion as we augment the magnify- 

 ing power of the telescope, we diminish both the quantity of light upon the 

 object we behold, and also the distinctness of its features and outlines. These 

 and some other circumstances peculiar to the telescope, which need not be 

 particularly detailed now, impose a limit on the magnifying powers that are 

 practically available in inquiries of this kind. 



Let us, however, suppose that we could resort to the use of a telescope hav- 

 ing the magnifying power of a thousand in examining any of the heavenly 

 bodies : what would such an instrument do for us ? It would in fact place us 

 a thousand times nearer to the object that we are desirous to examine, and thus 

 enable us to see that object as we should see it at that diminished distance 

 without a telescope at all. Such is the extent of the aid which we should 

 derive from the telescope. Now, let us see what this aid would effect. Take 

 the case of the moon, the nearest body in the universe to the earth. The dis- 

 tance of that object is about 240,000 miles ; the telescope would then place us 

 about 240 miles from it. Could we at the distance of 240 miles distinctly, or 

 even indistinctly, see a man, a horse, an elephant, or any other natural object ? 

 Could we discern any artificial structure ? Assuredly not ! But take the case 

 of one of the planets. When Mars is nearest to the earth, its distance is 

 about 50,000,000 of miles. Such a telescope would place us at a distance of 

 50,000 miles from it. What object could we expect to see at 50,000 miles' 

 distance ? The planet Venus, when nearest the earth, is at a distance some- 

 thing less than 30,000,000 of miles, but at that distance her dark hemisphere 

 is turned toward us ; and when a considerable portion of her enlightened hem- 

 isphere is visible, her distance is not less than that of Mars. All the other plan- 

 ets, when nearest to the earth, are at much greater distances. As the stars 

 lie infinitely more remote than the most remote planet, it is needless here to 

 add anything respecting them. 



It is plain, then, that the telescope cannot afford any direct evidence on 

 the question whether the planets, like the earth, are inhabited globes. Yet, 

 although science has not given direct answers to these questions, it has sup- 

 plied a body of circumstantial evidence bearing upon them of an extremely in- 

 teresting nature. Modern discovery has collected together a mass of facts 

 connected with the position and motions, the physical character and conditions, 

 and the parts played in the solar system by the several globes of which that 

 system is composed, which forms a body of analogies bearing on this inquiry, 

 even more cogent and convincing than the proofs on the strength of which we 

 daily dispose of the property and lives of our fellow-citizens, and hazard our 

 own. 



In considering the earth as a dwelling-place suited to man and to the crea- 

 tures which it has pleased his Maker to place in subjection to him, there is a 

 mutual fitness and adaptation observable among a multitude of arrangements 

 which cannot be traced to, and which indeed obviously cannot arise from, any 

 general mechanical law by which the motions and changes of mere material 

 masses are observed to be governed. It is in these conveniences and luxuries 

 with which our dwelling has been so considerately furnished, that we see the 

 beneficent intentions of its Creator more immediately manifested, than by any 

 great physical or mechanical laws, however imposing or important. If having 

 a due knowledge of our natural necessities of our appetites and passions of ) 

 our susceptibilities of pleasure and pain in fine, of our physical organization I 



.+s~*rf 





