of the Sun and fixed Stars . 65 
time, although its power of exciting combustion, when proper 
bodies are exposed, should be sufficient to fuse the most re- 
fractory substances.* 
It will not be necessary to mention other objections, as I 
can think of none that may be made, but what a proper con- 
sideration of the foregoing observations will easily remove ; 
such as may be urged from the dissimilarity between the lu- 
minous atmosphere of the sun and that of our globe will be 
touched upon hereafter, when I consider the objections that 
may be assigned against the moon's being an inhabitable sa- 
tellite. 
I shall now endeavour, by analogical reasonings, to support 
the ideas I have suggested concerning the construction and 
purposes of the sun ; in order to which, it will be necessary 
to begin with such arguments as the nature of the case will 
admit, to shew that our moon is probably inhabited. This sa- 
tellite is of all the heavenly bodies the nearest, and therefore 
most within the reach of our telescopes. Accordingly we find, 
by repeated inspection, that we can with perfect confidence 
give the following account of it. 
It is a secondary planet, of a considerable size ; the surface 
of which is diversified, like that of the earth, by mountains 
and vallies. Its situation, with respect to the sun, is much like 
that of the earth ; and, by a rotation on its axis, it enjoys an 
agreeable variety of seasons, and of day and night. To the 
moon, our globe will appear to be a very capital satellite ; 
* The subject of light and heat has been very ably discussed by Mr. de Luc, in 
his excellent work, Idees sur la Meteorologie, Tome I. part 2, chap. 2, section 2, De 
la Nature duFew, and Tome II. part 3, chapi 6, section 2, Des Rapports de la L11- 
rni'cre avec la Chaleur dans V Atmosphere. 
MD.CCXCV. & 
