58 



THE PLURALITY OF WORLDS. 



progress by obvious phenomena the course of time. Yet this inclination or 

 stooping of the axis is so regulated that the extremes of the seasons are con- 

 fined within such moderate limits as are necessary and conducive to the 

 physical well-being of the numerous tribes which people the earth. 



It is true that this succession of seasons was not indispensably necessary to 

 the continuance of the races that inhabit the earth, for had the axis been per- 

 pendicular to the orbit so as to render days and nights perpetually and every- 

 where equal, the organized world would still have continued to exist. Thus 

 we see that the seasons are a provision received from the Divine hand, par- 

 taking more of the character of a luxury than of an absolute physical want. 

 We could have done without them, but not so well. We are therefore pre- 

 pared on examining the other planets to expect a greater difference to prevail 

 among them in this respect than in regard to the other provisions, such as 

 days and nights, without which the organized world could not have continued. 



On examining the position of axes on which the several planets revolve, we 

 find them to be such as might be anticipated. Some of them correspond almost 

 minutely with that of the earth. Thus the seasons in Mars are regulated by 

 exactly the same extremes as those upon the earth ; the summer and winter 

 ranging between similar limits of heat and cold. The same is true of the 

 planet Saturn. In the case of Jupiter, on the other hand, we find the axis 

 nearly perpendicular to the orbit, so as to produce scarcely any perceptible 

 effect in the form of seasons. Great difficulties have been encountered in 

 ascertaining the position of the axes of the planets Mercury and Venus. There 

 appears reason for believing that they are inclined at very great angles from 

 the perpendicular, and consequently that the extremes of the seasons are pro- 

 portionally great ; in short, if the position of the axes of these planets be rightly 

 determined a very complicated succession of seasons would prevail upon their 

 surfaces ; however, until observations of a most decisive character shall be ob- 

 tained, it is vain to speculate upon these bodies. 



The atmosphere which surrounds our globe is an appendage which does not 

 arise from any known physical law, yet it is one which has an obvious and 

 important relation to the animal and vegetable kingdoms. That respiratory 

 beings depend upon it for the maintenance of vitality is obvious. The me- 

 chanical and chemical apparatus of the breathing organs is expressly con- 

 structed to be the object of its operation. Its relation to vegetable life is no 

 less important. But besides these qualities, without which life would become 

 extinct on the surface of the globe, the atmosphere administers to our con- 

 venience and pleasures in other ways. It is the medium by which sound is 

 transmitted ; and as the apparatus of the lungs is adapted to operate chemi- 

 cally upon it, so as to impart to the blood the principle by which that fluid sus- 

 tains life, so the exquisite mechanism of the ear is constituted to receive the 

 effects of its pulsations and convey them to the sensorium to produce the per- > 

 ception of sound. Again, the mechanism of the organs of voice is adapted to 

 impress on the atmosphere those pulsations, and thereby to convey its intona- 

 tions to the correspondingly susceptible organization of the ear. Without '.he 

 atmosphere, therefore, even supposing we could live in its absence, however 

 perfect might be our organs of speech and hearing, we should possess them in 

 vain. Voice we might have, but no word could we utter ; listeners we might 

 be, but no sound could we hear ; endowed with the full powers of hearing and 

 speaking, we should nevertheless be deaf and dumb. 



Another important manner in which the atmosphere administers to our con- 

 venience, is by diffusing in an agreeable manner the solar light, and mitigating ^ 

 its intensity. In this respect, the atmosphere may be considered as perform- I 

 ing in regard to the sun what the imperfect transparency of a ground-glass ) 



