Chapter I: Part 1

THE
Celeſtial Worlds
DISCOVER’D:
OR,
CONJECTURES
Concerning the
INHABITANTS,
Plants and Productions
OF THE
Worlds in the Planets.

Written in Latin by
CHRISTIANUS HUYGENS,
And inſcrib’d to his Brother
CONSTANTINE HUYGENS
Late Secretary to his Majeſty King William.

The Second Edition, Corrected and Enlarged.

LONDON:
Printed for James Knapton, at the Crown in
St. Paul’s Church-Yard. Mdccxxii.

TO THE READER.

This Book was juſt finiſhed, and deſigned for the Preſs, when the Author, to the great loſs of the Learned World, was ſeized by a Diſeaſe that brought him to his Death. However he took care in his laſt Will of its Publication, deſiring his Brother, to whom it was writ, to take that Trouble upon him. But he was ſo taken up with Buſineſs and Removals, (as being Secretary in Holland to the King of Great Britain) that he could find no time for it till a Year after the Death of the Author: When it ſo fell out, that the Printers being ſomewhat tardy, and this Gentleman dying, the Book was left without either Father or Guardian. Yet it now ventures into the Publick, in the ſame Method that it was writ by the Author, and with the ſame Inſcription to his Brother, tho’ dead; in confidence that this laſt Piece of his will meet with as kind a Reception from the World as all the other Works of that Author have. ’Tis true there are not every where Mathematical Demonſtrations; but where they are wanting, you have probable and ingenious Conjectures, which is the moſt that can be reaſonably expected in ſuch matters. What belongs to, or has any thing to do with Aſtronomy, you will ſee demonſtrated, and the reſt ingeniouſly and ſhrewdly gueſs’d at, from the Affinity and Relation of the heavenly Bodies to the Earth. For your farther Satisfaction read on, and farewel.

THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER.

I Doubt not but I ſhall incur the Cenſures of learned Men for putting this Book into Engliſh, becauſe, they’ll ſay, it renders Philoſophy cheap and vulgar, and, which is worſe, furniſhes a ſort of injudicious People with a ſmattering of Notions, which being not able to make a proper uſe of, they pervert to the Injury of Religion and Science. I confeſs the Allegation is too true: but after Biſhop Wilkins, Dr. Burnet, Mr. Whiſton and others, to ſay nothing of the ancient Philoſophers, who wrote in their own Tongues; I ſay, after theſe great Authors have treated on as learned and abſtruſe Subjects in the ſame Language, I hope their Example will be allowed a ſufficient excuſe for printing this Book in Engliſh.

Concerning this Edition I can ſay, that I have taken care to have the Cutts exactly done, and have placed each Figure at the Page of the Book that refers to it, which I take to be more convenient to the Reader than putting them all at the End.

I have been careful to procure the beſt Paper, that I might in ſome meaſure come up to the Beauty of the Latin Edition, though this bear but half the Price of it.

And I hope the Tranſlator has expreſſed the Author’s Senſe aright, and has not committed Faults beyond what an ingenuous Reader can pardon.

NEW
CONJECTURES
Concerning the
Planetary Worlds,
THEIR
INHABITANTS
AND
PRODUCTIONS.

Written by Christianus Huygens,
and inſcribed to his Brother
Constantine Huygens.

BOOK the Firſt.

A Man that is of Copernicus’s Opinion, that this Earth of ours is a Planet, carry’d round and enlighten’d by the Sun, like the reſt of the Planets, cannot but ſometimes think, that it’s not improbable that the reſt of the Planets have their Dreſs and Furniture, and perhaps their Inhabitants too as well as this Earth of ours: Eſpecially if he conſiders the later Diſcoveries made in the Heavens ſince Copernicus’s time, viz. the Attendants of Jupiter and Saturn, and the champaign and hilly Countries in the Moon, which are a ſtrong Argument of a Relation and Kin between our Earth and them, as well as a Proof of the Truth of that Syſtem. This has often been our Talk, I remember, good Brother, over a large Teleſcope, when we have been viewing thoſe Bodies, a Study that your continual Buſineſs and Abſence have interrupted for many Years. But we were always apt to conclude, that ’twas in vain to enquire after what Nature is doing there, ſeeing there was no likelihood of ever coming to any Certainty of the Enquiry. Nor could I ever find that any Philoſophers, either antient or modern, have attempted any thing upon this Subject. At the very Birth of Aſtronomy, when the Earth was firſt aſſerted to be Spherical, and to [Some have already talk’d of the Inhabitants of the Planets, but went no farther.] be ſurrounded with Air, even then there were ſome Men ſo bold as to affirm, there were an innumerable Company of Worlds in the Stars. But later Authors, ſuch as Cardinal Cuſanus, Brunus, Kepler, (and if we may believe him, Tycho was of that opinion too) have furniſhed the Planets with Inhabitants. Nay, Cuſanus and Brunus have allowed the Sun and fixed Stars theirs too. But this was the utmoſt of their Boldneſs; nor has the ingenious French Author of the Dialogues about the Plurality of Worlds carried this Matter any farther. Only ſome of them have coined ſome Stories of the Men in the Moon, juſt as probable as Lucian’s true Hiſtory; among which I muſt count Kepler’s, which he has diverted us with in his Aſtronomical Dream. But a while ago thinking ſomewhat ſeriouſly of this matter (not that I count my ſelf quicker-ſighted than thoſe great Men, but that I had the Happineſs to live after moſt of them) the Enquiry appeared not ſo impracticable, nor the Way ſo ſtopt up with Difficulties, but that there was very good room left for probable Conjectures. As they came into my Head, I put them down into common Places, and ſhall now try to digeſt them into ſome Method for your better Conception of them, and add ſomewhat of the Sun and fix’d Stars, and the Extent of that Univerſe of which our Earth is but an inconſiderable Point. I know you have ſuch an Eſteem and Reverence for any thing that belongs to the Heavens, that I perſwade my ſelf you will read what I have written with ſome Pleaſure: I’m ſure I writ it with a great deal; but as often before, ſo now, I find the Saying of Archytas true, even to the Letter, That tho’ a Man were admitted into Heaven to view the wonderful Fabrick of the World, and the Beauty of the Stars, yet what would otherwiſe be Rapture and Extaſie, would be but a melancholy Amazement if he had not a Friend to communicate it to. I could wiſh indeed that all the World might not be my Judges, but that I might chuſe my Readers, Men like you, not ignorant in Aſtronomy and true Philoſophy; for with ſuch I might promiſe my ſelf a favourable hearing, and not need to make an Apology for daring to vent any thing new to the World. But becauſe I am aware what weak Hands it’s likely to fall into, and what a ſevere Sentence I may expect from thoſe whoſe Ignorance or Zeal is too great; it may be worth the while to guard my ſelf beforehand againſt the Aſſaults of thoſe ſort of People.

[The Objections of ignorant Cavillers prevented.]

There’s one ſort who knowing nothing of Geometry or Mathematicks, will laugh at it as a whimſical and ridiculous Undertaking. It’s an incredible Thing to them to talk of meaſuring the Diſtance and Magnitude of the Stars: And for the Motion of the Earth, they count it, if not a falſe, at leaſt a precarious Opinion; and no wonder then if they take what’s built upon ſuch a ſlippery Foundation for the Dreams of a fanciful Head and a diſtemper’d Brain. What ſhould we anſwer to theſe Men, but that their Ignorance is the Cauſe of their Diſlike, and that if they had ſtudied theſe things more, and viewed the Works of Nature nicely, they would have fewer Scruples? But few People having had an opportunity of proſecuting theſe Studies, either for want of Parts, Learning or Leiſure, we cannot blame their Ignorance; and if they reſolve to find fault with us for ſpending time in ſuch Matters, becauſe they do not underſtand the Uſe of them, we muſt appeal to properer Judges.

[Theſe Conjectures do not contradict the holy Scriptures.]

The other ſort, When they hear us talk of new Lands, and Animals, and Creatures endued with as much Reaſon as themſelves, will be ready to cry out, that we ſet up our Conjectures againſt the Word of God, and broach Opinions directly oppoſite to Holy Writ. For we do not there read any thing of the Production of ſuch Creatures, no not ſo much as that they exiſt; nay rather we read the quite contrary. For, That only mentions this Earth with its Animals and Plants, and Man the Lord of them: To ſuch Perſons I anſwer, what has been often urged by others before me: That it’s evident, God had no deſign to make a particular Enumeration in the Holy Scriptures, of all the Works of his Creation. When therefore it is plain that under the general Name of Stars or Earth at the Creation, are comprehended all the Heavenly Bodies, even the Attendants upon Jupiter and Saturn, why muſt all that Multitude of Beings which the Almighty Creator has been pleaſed to place upon them, be excluded the Privilege, and not ſuffered to have a Share in the Expreſſion? And theſe Men themſelves can’t but know in what Senſe it is that all things are ſaid to be made for the Uſe of Man, not certainly for us to look at through a Teleſcope, for that’s very abſurd. Since then the greateſt part of God’s Creation, that innumerable multitude of Stars, is placed out of the reach of any Man’s Eye; and many of them it’s likely, of the beſt Glaſſes, ſo that they don’t ſeem to belong to us; is it ſuch an unreaſonable Opinion to think, that there are ſome reaſonable Creatures who ſee and admire thoſe glorious Bodies at a nearer diſtance?

[This Enquiry not over curious.]

But perhaps they’ll ſay, it does not become us to be ſo curious and inquiſitive in theſe Things which the Supreme Creator ſeems to have kept for his own Knowledge: For ſince he has not been pleaſed to make any farther Diſcovery or Revelation of them, it ſeems little better than preſumption to make any inquiry into that which he has thought fit to hide. But theſe Gentlemen muſt be told, that they take too much upon themſelves when they pretend to appoint how far and no farther Men ſhall go in their Searches, and to ſet bounds to other Mens Induſtry; as if they knew the Marks that God has placed to Knowledge: or as if Men were able to paſs thoſe Marks. If our Forefathers had been at this rate ſcrupulous, we might have been ignorant ſtill of the Magnitude and Figure of the Earth, or that there was ſuch a Place as America. We ſhould not have known that the Moon is inlightned by the Sun’s Rays, nor what the Cauſes of the Eclipſes of each of them are, nor a multitude of other Things brought to light by the late Diſcoveries in Aſtronomy. For what can a Man imagine more abſtruſe, or leſs likely to be known, than what is now as clear as the Sun? Whence it follows, that vigorous Induſtry, and piercing Wit were given Men to make Advances in the Search of Nature, and there’s no Reaſon to put any Stop to ſuch Enquiries. I muſt acknowledge that what I here intend to treat of is not of that Nature as to admit of a certain Knowledge; I can’t pretend to aſſert any thing as poſitively true (for how is it poſſible) but only to advance a probable Gueſs, the Truth of which every one is at his own liberty to examine. If any one therefore ſhall gravely tell me, that I have ſpent my Time idly in a vain and fruitleſs Enquiry after what by my own acknowledgment I can never come to be ſure of; The Anſwer is, that at this rate he would put down all Natural Philoſophy as far as it concerns it ſelf in ſearching into the Nature [Conjectures not uſeleſs, becauſe not certain.] of Things: In ſuch noble and ſublime Studies as theſe, ’tis a Glory to arrive at Probability, and the Search it ſelf rewards the Pains. But there are many degrees of Probable, ſome nearer Truth than others, in the determining of which lies the chief exerciſe [Theſe Studies uſeful to Religion.] of our Judgment. But beſides the Nobleneſs and Pleaſure of the Studies, may not we be ſo bold as to ſay, they are no ſmall help to the Advancement of Wiſdom and Morality? ſo far are they from being of no uſe at all. For here we may mount from this dull Earth, and viewing it from on high, conſider whether Nature has laid out all her Coſt and Finery upon this ſmall Speck of Dirt. So, like Travellers into other diſtant Countries, we ſhall be better able to judge of what’s done at home, know how to make a true Eſtimate of, and ſet its own Value upon every Thing. We ſhall be leſs apt to admire what this World calls Great, ſhall nobly deſpiſe thoſe Trifles the generality of Men ſet their Affections on, when we know that there are a multitude of ſuch Earths inhabited and adorned as well as our own. And we ſhall worſhip and reverence that God the Maker of all theſe things; we ſhall admire and adore his Providence and wonderful Wiſdom which is diſplayed and manifeſted all over the Univerſe, to the Confuſion of thoſe who would have the Earth and all things formed by the ſhuffling Concourſe of Atoms, or to be without beginning. But to come to our Purpoſe.

[Copernicus’s Syſtem explained.]

And now becauſe the chief Argument for the Proof of what we intend will be taken from the Diſpoſition of the Planets, among which without doubt, the Earth muſt be counted in the Copernican Syſtem, I ſhall here firſt of all draw two Figures. The firſt is a Deſcription of the Orbs the Planets move in, in that order that they are placed round the Sun, drawn as near as can be in their true Proportions, like what you have ſeen in my Clock at home. The ſecond ſhows the Proportions of their Magnitudes in reſpect of one another and of the Sun, which you know is upon that ſame Clock of mine too. In the firſt the middle Point or Center is the Place of the Sun, round which, in an order that every one knows, are the Orbits of Mercury, Venus, the Earth with that of the Moon about it; then thoſe of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn: and about the two laſt the ſmall Circles that their Attendants move in: about Jupiter four, and about Saturn five. Which Circles as well as that of the Moon are drawn larger than their true Proportion would admit, otherwiſe they could not have been ſeen. You may eaſily apprehend the Vaſtneſs of theſe Orbits by this, that the diſtance of the Earth from the Sun is ten or twelve thouſand of the Earth’s Diameters. Almoſt all theſe Circles are in the ſame Plane, declining very little from that in which the Earth moves, call’d The Plane of the Ecliptick. This Plane is cut obliquely by the Axis upon which the Earth turns it ſelf round with reſpect to the Sun in 24 Hours, whence ariſe the Succeſſions of Day and Night: The Axis of the Earth always keeping the ſame Inclination to the Ecliptick (except a ſmall Change beſt known to Aſtronomers) while the Earth itſelf is carried in its yearly Courſe round the Sun, cauſes the regular Order of the Seaſons of the Year: as you may ſee in all Aſtronomers Books. Out of which I ſhall tranſcribe hither the Periods of the Revolutions of the Planets, viz. Saturn moves round the Sun in 29 Years, 174 Days, and 5 Hours: Jupiter finiſhes his Courſe in 11 Years, 317 Days, and 15 Hours: Mars his in about 687 Days. Our Year is 365 Days 6 Hours: Venus’s 224 Days 18 Hours: and Mercury’s 88 Days. This is the now commonly received Syſtem, invented by Copernicus, and very agreeable to that frugal Simplicity Nature ſhows in all [Arguments for the Truth on’t.] her Works. If any one is reſolved to find fault with it, let him firſt be ſure he underſtands it. Let him firſt ſee in the Books of Aſtronomers with how much greater Eaſe and Plainneſs all the Motions of the Stars, and Appearances in the Heavens are explained and demonſtrated in this than either in that of Ptolomy or Tycho. Let him conſider that Diſcovery of Kepler, that the Diſtances of the Planets from the Sun, as well of the Earth as the reſt, are in a fix’d certain proportion to the Times they ſpend in their Revolutions. Which Proportion it’s ſince obſerved that their Satellites keep round Jupiter and Saturn. Let him examine what a contradictory Motion they are fain to invent for the Solution of the Polar Star’s changing its Diſtance from the Pole. For that Star in the end of the little Bear’s Tail which now deſcribes ſo ſmall a Circle round the Pole, that it is not above two Degrees and twenty Minutes, was obſerved about 1820 Years ago, in the Time of Hipparchus, to be above 12: and will within a few Ages more be 45 Degrees diſtant from it: and after 25000 Years more will return to the ſame Place it is now in. Now if with them we allow the Heavens to be turned upon their own Axis, at this rate they muſt have a new Axis every Day: a Thing moſt abſurd, and repugnant to the Nature of all Motion. Whereas nothing is eaſier with Copernicus than to give us Satisfaction in this Matter. Then he may impartially weigh thoſe Anſwers that Galilæus, Gaſſendus, Kepler, and others have given to all Objections propoſed, which have ſo ſatisfied all Scruples, that generally all Aſtronomers now-a-days are brought over to our Side, and allow the Earth its Motion and Place among the Planets. If he cannot be ſatisfied with all this, he is either one whoſe Dulneſs can’t comprehend it, or who has his Belief at another Man’s Diſpoſal.

In the other Figure you have the Globes of the Planets, and of the Sun, repreſented to your Eyes as placed near one another. Where [The Proportion of the Magnitude of the Planets, in reſpect of one another, and the Sun.] I have obſerved the ſame Proportion, of their Diameters to that of the Sun, that I publiſhed to the World in my Book of The Appearances of Saturn: namely, the Diameter of the Ring round Saturn is to that of the Sun as 11 as to 37; that of Saturn himſelf about as 5 to 37; that of Jupiter as 2 to 11; that of Mars as 1 to 166; of the Earth as 1 to 111; and of Venus as 1 to 84: to which I ſhall now add that of Mercury obſerved by Hevelius in the Year 1661, but calculated by my ſelf, and found to be as 1 to 290.

If you would know the way that we came to this Knowledge of their Magnitudes, by knowing the Proportion of their Diſtances from the Sun, and the Meaſures of their Diameters, you may find it in the Book before-mentioned: And I cannot yet ſee any Reaſon to make an Alteration in thoſe I then ſettled, altho’ I will not ſay they are without their Faults. [The Lamellæ more convenient than Micrometers.] For I can’t yet be of their Mind, who think the Uſe of Micrometers, as they call them, is beyond that of our Plates, but muſt ſtill think that thoſe thin Plates or Rods of which I there taught the Uſe, not to detract from the due Praiſes of ſo uſeful an Invention, are more convenient than the Micrometers.

In this proportion of the Planets it is worth while to take notice of the prodigious Magnitude of the Sun in compariſon with the four innermoſt, which are far leſs than Jupiter and Saturn. And ’tis remarkable, that the Bodies of the Planets do not increaſe together with their Diſtances from the Sun, but that Venus is much bigger than Mars.

[The Earth juſtly likened to the Planets, and the Planets to it.]

Having thus explained the two Schemes, there’s no Body I ſuppoſe but ſees, that in the firſt the Earth is made to be of the ſame ſort with the reſt of the Planets. For the very Poſition of the Circles ſhows it. And that the other Planets are round like it, and like it receive all the Light they have from the Sun, there’s no room (ſince the Diſcoveries made by Teleſcopes) to doubt. Another Thing they are like it in is, that they are moved round their own Axis; for ſince ’tis certain that Jupiter and Saturn are, who can doubt it of the others? Again, as the Earth has its Moon moving round it, ſo Jupiter and Saturn have theirs. Now ſince in ſo many Things they thus agree, what can be more probable than that in others they agree too; and that the other Planets are as beautiful and as well ſtock’d with Inhabitants as the Earth? Or what ſhadow of Reaſon can there be why they ſhould not?

If any one ſhould be at the Diſſection of a Dog, and be there ſhewn the Intrails, the Heart, Stomach, Liver, Lungs and Guts, all the Veins, Arteries and Nerves; could ſuch a Man reaſonably doubt whether there were the ſame Contexture and Variety of Parts in a Bullock, Hog, or any other Beaſt, tho’ he had never chanc’d to ſee the like opening of them? I don’t believe he would. Or were we thoroughly ſatisfy’d in the Nature of one of the Moons round Jupiter, ſhould not we ſtraight conclude the ſame of the reſt of them? So if we could be aſſur’d in but one Comet, what it was that is the Cauſe of that ſtrange Appearance, ſhould we not make that a Standard to judge of all others by? [Arguments from their Similitude, of no ſmall weight.] ’Tis therefore an Argument of no ſmall Weight that is fetch’d from Relation and Likeneſs; and to reaſon from what we ſee and are ſure of, to what we cannot, is no falſe Logick. This muſt be our Method in this Treatiſe, wherein from the Nature and Circumſtances of that Planet which we ſee before our Eyes, we may gueſs at thoſe that are farther diſtant from us.

[The Planets are ſolid, and not without Gravity.]

And, Firſt, ’tis more than probable that the Bodies of the Planets are ſolid like that of our Earth, and that they don’t want what we call Gravity, that Virtue, which like a Loadſtone attracts whatſoever is near the Body to its Center. And that they have ſuch a Quality, their very Figure is a Proof; for their Roundneſs proceeds only from an equal preſſure of all their Parts tending to the ſame Center. Nay more, we are ſo skilful now-a-days, as to be able to tell how much more or leſs the Gravitation in Jupiter or Saturn is than here; of which Diſcovery and its Author you may read my Eſſay of the Cauſes of Gravitation.

But now to carry the Search farther, let us ſee by what Steps we muſt riſe to the attaining ſome knowledge in the deeper Secrets concerning the State and Furniture of theſe new Earths. And, firſt, how likely is it that they may be ſtock’d with Plants [Have Animals and Plants.] and Animals as well as we? I ſuppoſe no Body will deny but that there’s ſomewhat more of Contrivance, ſomewhat more wonderful in the Production and Growth of Plants and Animals, than in Lifeleſs Heaps of inanimate Bodies, be they never ſo much larger; as Mountains, Rocks, or Seas are. For the Finger of God, and the Wiſdom of Divine Providence, is in them much more clearly manifeſted than in the other. One of Democritus’s or Cartes’s Scholars may venture perhaps to give ſome tolerable Explication of the Appearances in Heaven and Earth, allow him but his Atoms and Motion; but when he comes to Plants and Animals, he’ll find himſelf non-plus’d, and give you no likely account of their Production. For every Thing in them is ſo exactly adapted to ſome Deſign, every part of them ſo fitted to its proper Uſe, that they manifeſt an Infinite Wiſdom, and exquiſite Knowledge in the Laws of Nature and Geometry, as, to omit thoſe Wonders in Generation, we ſhall by and by ſhow; and make it an Abſurdity even to think of their being thus happily jumbled together by a chance Motion of I don’t know what little Particles. Now ſhould we allow the Planets nothing but vaſt Deſerts, lifeleſs and inanimate Stocks and Stones, and deprive them of all thoſe Creatures that more plainly ſpeak their Divine Architect, we ſhould ſink them below the Earth in Beauty and Dignity; a Thing very unreasonable, as I ſaid before.

Well then, we have gain’d the Point thus far, and the Planets may be allowed ſome Creatures capable of moving themſelves, not at all inferior to ours; and theſe are Animals. And if this be allowed, it almoſt neceſſarily follows, that there muſt be Herbs [Not to be imagin’d too unlike ours.] for Food for them. And as for the Growth and Nouriſhment of all theſe, ’tis no doubt the ſame with ours, ſeeing they have the ſame Sun to warm and enliven them as ours have.

But perhaps ſome Body may ſay, we conclude too faſt. They will not deny indeed but that there may be Plants and Animals on the Surface of the Planets, that deſerve as well to be provided for by their Creator as ours do: but why muſt they be of the ſame Kind with ours: Nature ſeems to love variety in her Works, and may have made them widely different from ours either in their matter or manner of Growth, in their outward Shape, or their inward Contexture; ſhe may have made them ſuch as neither our Underſtanding nor Imagination can conceive. That’s the Thing we ſhall now examine, and whether it be not more likely that ſhe has not obſerv’d ſuch a Variety as they talk of. Nature ſeems moſt commonly, and in moſt of her Works, to affect Variety, ’tis true; But they ſhould conſider ’tis not the Buſineſs of Men to pretend to ſettle how great this Difference and Variety muſt be. Nor does it follow, becauſe it may be Infinite, and out of our Comprehenſion and Reach, that therefore Things in reality are ſo. For ſuppoſe God ſhould have pleaſed to have made all Things in the reſt of the Planets juſt as he has here, the Inhabitants of thoſe Places (if there are any ſuch) would admire his Wiſdom and Contrivance no leſs than if they were widely different; ſeeing they can’t come to know what’s done in the other Planets. Who doubts but that God, if he had pleaſed, might have made the Animals in America and other diſtant Countries nothing like ours? yet we ſee he has not done it. They have indeed ſome difference in their Shape, and ’tis fit they ſhould, to diſtinguiſh the Plants and Animals of thoſe Countries from ours, who live on this ſide the Earth; but even in this Variety there is an Agreement, an exact Correſpondence in Figure and Shape, the ſame ways of Growth, and new Productions, and of continuing their own Kind. Their Animals have Feet and Wings like ours, and like ours have Hearts, Lungs, Guts, and the Parts ſerving to Generation; whereas all theſe Things, as well with them as us, might, if it had pleaſed Infinite Wiſdom, have been order’d a very different Way. ’Tis plain then that Nature has not exhibited that Variety in her Works that ſhe could, and therefore we muſt not allow that Weight to this Argument, as upon the Account of it to make every Thing in the Planets quite different from what is here. ’Tis more probable that all the Difference there is between us and them, ſprings from the greater or leſs diſtance and influence from that Fountain of Heat and Life the Sun; which will cauſe a Difference not ſo much in their Form and Shape, as in their Matter and Contexture.

[Planets have Water.]

And as for the Matter whereof the Plants and Animals there conſiſt, tho’ it is impoſſible ever to come to the Knowledge of its Nature, yet this we may venture to aſſert (there being ſcarce any Doubt of it) that their Growth and Nouriſhment proceeds from ſome liquid Principle. For all Philoſophers agree that there can be no other way of Nutrition; ſome of the Chief among them having made Water to be the Original of all Things: For whatſoever’s dry and without Moiſture, is without Motion too; and without Motion, it’s impoſſible there ſhould be any Increaſe. But the Parts of a Liquid being in continual Motion one with another, and inſinuating and twiſting themſelves into the ſmalleſt Places, are thereby very proper and apt to add not themſelves only, but whatſoever elſe they may bring along with them, to the Increaſe and Growth of Bodies. Thus we ſee that by the Means of Water the Plants grow, bloſſom, and bear Fruit; and by the Addition of that only, Stones grow together out of Sand. And there’s no doubt but that Metals, Cryſtals, and Jewels, have the ſame Method of Production: Tho’ in them there has been no opportunity to make the ſame Obſervation, as well by reaſon of their ſlow Advances, as that they are commonly found far from the Places of their Generation; thrown up I ſuppoſe by ſome Earthquakes, or Convulſions. That the Planets are not without Water, is made not improbable by the late Obſervations: For about Jupiter are obſerved ſome Spots of a darker Colour than the reſt of his Body, which by their continual change ſhow themſelves to be Clouds: For the Spots of Jupiter which belong to him, and never remove from him, are quite different from theſe, being ſometimes for a long time not to be ſeen for theſe Clouds; and again, when theſe diſappear, ſhowing themſelves. And at the going off of theſe Clouds, ſome Spots have been taken notice of in him, much brighter than the reſt of his Body, which remained but a little while, and then were hid from our Sight. Theſe Monſieur Caſſini thinks are only the Reflection from the Snow that covers the Tops of the Hills in Jupiter: But I ſhould rather think that it is only the Colour of the Earth, which happens to be free from thoſe Clouds that commonly darken it.

Mars too is found not to be without his dark Spots, by means of which he has been obſerved to turn round his own Axis in 24 Hours and 40 Minutes; the Length of his Day: but whether he has Clouds or no, we have not had the ſame opportunity of obſerving as in Jupiter, as well becauſe even when he is neareſt the Earth, he appears to us much leſs than Jupiter, as that his Light not coming ſo far, is ſo brisk as to be an Impediment to exact Obſervations: And this Reaſon is as much ſtronger in Venus as its Light is. But ſince ’tis certain that the Earth and Jupiter have their Water and Clouds, there is no Reaſon why the other Planets [But not juſt like ours.] ſhould be without them. I can’t ſay that they are exactly of the ſame nature with our Water; but that they ſhould be liquid their Uſe requires, as their Beauty does that they ſhould be clear. For this Water of ours, in Jupiter or Saturn, would be frozen up inſtantly by reaſon of the vaſt diſtance of the Sun. Every Planet therefore muſt have its Waters of ſuch a temper, as to be proportioned to its Heat: Jupiter’s and Saturn’s muſt be of ſuch a Nature as not to be liable to Froſt; and Venus’s and Mercury’s of ſuch, as not to be eaſily evaporated by the Sun. But in all of them, for a continual ſupply of Moiſture, whatever Water is drawn up by the Heat of the Sun into Vapours, muſt neceſſarily return back again thither. And this it cannot do but in Drops, which are cauſed as well there as with us, by their aſcending into a higher and colder Region of the Air, out of that which, by reaſon of the Reflection of the Rays of the Sun from the Earth, is warmer and more temperate.

Here then we have found in theſe new Worlds Fields warm’d by the kindly Heat of the Sun, and water’d with fruitful Dews and Showers: That there muſt be Plants in them as well for Ornament as Uſe, we have ſhewn juſt now. And what Nouriſhment, what manner of Growth ſhall we allow [Plants grow and are nouriſhed there as they are here.] them? Probably, there can be no better, nay no other, than what we here experience; by having their Roots faſtned into the Earth, and imbibing its nouriſhing Juices by their tender Fibres. And that they may not be only like ſo many bare Heaths, with nothing but creeping Shrubs and Buſhes, we may allow them ſome nobler and loftier Plants, Trees, or ſomewhat like them: Theſe being the greateſt, and, except Waters, the only Ornament that Nature has beſtowed upon the Earth. For not to ſpeak of thoſe many uſes that are made of their Wood, there’s no one that is ignorant either of their Beauty or Pleaſantneſs. Now what way can any one imagine for a continual Production and Succeſſion of theſe Plants, but their bearing Seed? A Method ſo excellent, that it’s the only one that Nature has here made uſe of, and ſo wonderful, that it ſeems to be deſigned not for this Earth alone. In fine, there’s the ſame reaſon to think that this Method is obſerved in thoſe diſtant Countries, as there was of its being followed in the remote Quarters of this ſame Earth.

[The ſame true of their Animals.]

’Tis much the ſame in Animals as ’tis in Plants, as to their manner of Nouriſhment, and Propagation of their Kind. For ſince all the living Creatures of this Earth, whether Beaſts, Birds, Fiſhes, Worms, or Inſects, univerſally and inviolably follow the ſame conſtant and fix’d Inſtitution of Nature; all feed on Herbs, or Fruits, or the Fleſh of other Animals that fed on them: ſince all Generation is performed by the impregnating of the Eggs, and the Copulation of Male and Female: Why may not the ſame Rule be obſerved in the Planetary Worlds? For ’tis certain that the Herbs and Animals that are there would be loſt, their whole Species deſtroyed without ſome daily new Productions: except there be no ſuch thing there as Misfortune or Accident: except the Plants are not like other humid Bodies, but can bear Heat, Froſt, and Age, without being dry’d up, kill’d or decay’d: except the Animals have Bodies as hard and durable as Marble; which I think are groſs Abſurdities. If we ſhould invent ſome new Way for their coming into the World, and make them drop like Soland Geeſe from Trees, how ridiculous would this be to any one that conſiders the vaſt Difference between Wood and Fleſh? Or ſuppoſe we ſhould have new ones made every Day out of ſome ſuch fruitful Mud as that of Nile, who does not ſee how contrary this is to all that’s reaſonable? And that ’tis much more agreeable to the Wiſdom of God, once for all to create of all ſorts of Animals, and diſtribute them all over the Earth in ſuch a wonderful and inconceivable way as he has, than to be continually obliged to new Productions out of the Earth? And what miſerable, what helpleſs Creatures muſt theſe be, when there’s no one that by his Duty will be obliged, or by that ſtrange natural fondneſs, which God has wiſely made a neceſſary Argument for all Animals to take care of their own, will be moved to aſſiſt, nurſe or educate them?

As for what I have ſaid concerning their Propagation, I cannot be ſo poſitive; but the other Thing, namely, that they have Plants and Animals, I think I have fully proved, viz. from hence, that otherwiſe they would be inferiour to our Earth. And by the ſame Argument, they muſt have as great a Variety of both as we have. What this is, will be beſt known to him that conſiders the different Ways our Animals make uſe of in moving from one Place to another. Which may be reduc’d, I think, to theſe, either that they walk upon two Feet or Four; or like Inſects, upon Six, nay ſometimes Hundreds; or that they fly in the Air bearing up, and wonderfully ſteering themſelves with their Wings; or creep upon the Ground without Feet; or by a violent Spring in their Bodies, or paddling with their Feet, cut themſelves a Way in the Waters. I don’t believe, nor can I conceive, that there ſhould be any other Way than theſe mentioned. The Animals then in the Planets muſt make uſe of one or more of theſe, like our amphibious Birds, which can ſwim in Water as well as walk on Land, or fly in the Air; or like our Crocodiles and Sea-Horſes, muſt be Mongrels, between Land and Water. There can no other Method be imagined but one of theſe. For where is it poſſible for Animals to live, except upon ſuch a ſolid Body as our Earth, or a fluid one like the Water, or ſtill a more fluid one than that, ſuch as our Air is? The Air I confeſs may be much thicker and heavier than ours, and ſo, without any Diſadvantage to its Tranſparency, be fitter for the volatile Animals. There may alſo be many ſorts of Fluids ranged over one another in Rows as it were. The Sea perhaps may have ſuch a fluid lying on it, which tho’ ten times lighter than Water, may be a hundred Times heavier than Air; whoſe utmoſt Extent may not be ſo large as to cover the higher Places of their Earth. But there’s no Reaſon to ſuſpect or allow them this, ſince we have no ſuch Thing; and if we did, it would be of no Advantage to them, for that the former Ways of moving would not be hereby at all increas’d: But when we come to meddle with the Shape of theſe Creatures, and conſider the incredible Variety that is even in thoſe of the different parts of this Earth, and that America has ſome which are no where elſe to be found, I muſt then confeſs that I think it beyond the Force of Imagination to arrive at any knowledge in the Matter, or reach to Probability concerning the Figures of theſe Planetary Animals. Altho’ conſidering theſe Ways of Motion we e’en now recounted, they may perhaps be no more different from ours than ours (thoſe of ours I mean that are moſt unlike) are from one another.

If a Man were admitted to a Survey of Jupiter or Venus, he would no doubt find as great a Number and Variety as he had at home. Let us then, that we may make as near a Gueſs at, and as reaſonable a Judgment of the Matter as we can, conſider the many Sorts, and the admirable Difference in the Shapes of our own Animals; running [Great Variety of Animals in this Earth.] over ſome of the Chief of them (for ’twould be tedious to ſet about a general Catalogue) that are notoriouſly different from one another, either in the Figure or ſome peculiar Property belonging to them; as they belong to the Land, or the Water, or the Air. Among the Beaſts we may take notice of the great Diſtance between the Horſe, the Elephant, the Lion, the Stag, the Camel, the Hog, the Ape, the Porcupine, the Tortoiſe, the Cameleon: in the Water, of that between the Whale, and the Sea-Calf, the Skait, the Pike, the Eel, the Ink-Fiſh, the Pourcontrel, the Crocodile, the Flying-fiſh, the Cramp-fiſh, the Crab, the Oiſter, and the Purple-Fiſh: and among Birds, of that between the Eagle, the Oſtrich, the Peacock, the Swan, the Owl, and the Bat: and in Inſects, of that between the Ants, the Spider, the Fly, and the Butterfly; and of that Prodigy in their wonderful change from Worms. In this Roll I have paſs’d by the creeping Kind as one Sort, and skip’d over that vaſt Multitude of leſs different Animals that fill the intermediate Spaces. But be they never ſo many, there is no [And no leſs in the Planets.] reaſon to think that the Planets cannot match them. For tho’ we in vain gueſs at the Figures of thoſe Creatures, yet we have diſcover’d ſomewhat of their manner of Life in general; and of their Senſes we ſhall ſpeak more by and by.

[The ſame in Plants.]

The more conſiderable Differences in our Plants ought to be thought on, as well as the other. As in Trees, that between the Fir and the Oak, the Palm, the Vine, the Fig, and the Coco-Nut Tree, and that in the Indies, from whoſe Boughs new Roots ſpring, and grow downwards into the Earth. In Herbs, the Difference is notable between Graſs, Poppy, Colewort, Ivy, Pompions, and the Indian Fig with thick Leaves growing up without any Stalk, and Aloe. Between every one of which again there are many leſs differing Plants not taken notice of. Then the different Ways of raiſing them are remarkable, whether from Seeds, or Kernels, or Roots, or by grafting or inoculating them. And yet in all theſe, whether we conſider the Things themſelves, or the Ways of their Production, I make no doubt but that the Planetary Worlds have as wonderful a Variety as we.

But ſtill the main and moſt agreeable Point of the Enquiry is behind, [Rational Animals in the Planets.] which is the placing ſome Spectators in theſe new Diſcoveries, to enjoy theſe Creatures we have planted them with, and to admire their Beauty and Variety. And among all, that have never ſo ſlightly meddled with theſe Matters, I don’t find any that have ſcrupled to allow them their Inhabitants: not Men perhaps like ours, but ſome Creatures or other endued with Reaſon. For all this Furniture and Beauty the Planets are ſtock’d with ſeem to have been made in vain, without any Deſign or End, unleſs there were ſome in them that might at the ſame time enjoy the Fruits, and adore the wiſe Creator of them. But this alone would be no prevailing Argument with me to allow them ſuch Creatures. For what if we ſhould ſay, that God made them for no other Deſign, but that he himſelf might ſee (not as we do ’tis true; but that he that made the Eye ſees, who can doubt?) and delight himſelf in the Contemplation of them? For was not Man himſelf, and all that the whole World contains, made upon this very account? That which makes me of this Opinion, that thoſe Worlds are not without ſuch a Creature endued with Reaſon, is, that otherwiſe our Earth would have too much the Advantage of them, in being the only part of the Univerſe that could boaſt of ſuch a Creature ſo far above, not only Plants and Trees, but all Animals whatſoever: a Creature that has ſomething Divine in him, that knows, and underſtands, and remembers ſuch an innumerable number of Things; that deliberates, weighs and judges of the Truth: A Creature upon whoſe Account, and for whoſe Uſe, whatſoever the Earth brings forth ſeems to be provided. For every Thing here he converts to his own Ends. With the Trees, Stones, and Metals, he builds himſelf Houſes: the Birds and Fiſhes he ſuſtains himſelf with: and the Water and Winds he makes ſubſervient to his Navigation, as he doth the ſweet Smell and glorious Colours of the Flowers to his Delight. What can there be in the Planets that can make up for its Defects in the want of ſo noble an Animal? If we ſhould allow Jupiter a greater Variety of other Creatures, more Trees, Herbs and Metals, all theſe would not advantage or dignify that Planet ſo much as that one Animal doth ours by the admirable Productions of his penetrating Wit. If I am miſtaken in this, I do not know when to truſt my Reaſon, and muſt allow my ſelf to be but a poor Judge in the true Eſtimate of Things.

[Vices of Men no hindrance to their being the Glory of the Planet they inhabit.]

Nor let any one ſay here, that there’s ſo much Villany and Wickedneſs in Man that we have thus magnified, that it’s a reaſonable Doubt, whether he would not be ſo far from being the Glory and Ornament of the Planet that enjoys his Company, that he would be rather its Shame and Diſgrace. For firſt, the Vices that moſt Men are tainted with, are no hindrance, but that thoſe that follow the Dictates of true Reaſon, and obey the Rules of a rigid Virtue, are ſtill a Beauty and Ornament to the Place that has the Happineſs to harbour them. Beſides, the Vices of Men themſelves are of excellent Uſe, and are not permitted and allowed in the World without wiſe Deſign. For ſince it has ſo pleaſed God to order the Earth, and every Thing in it as we ſee it is (for it’s abſurd to ſay it happen’d againſt his Will or Knowledge) we muſt not think that ſo great a Diverſity of Minds were placed in different Men to no End or Purpoſe: but that this mixture of bad Men with Good, and the Conſequents of ſuch a Mixture, as Misfortunes, Wars, Afflictions, Poverty, and the like, were permitted for this very good End, viz. the exerciſing our Wits, and ſharpening our Inventions; by forcing us to provide for our own neceſſary Defence againſt our Enemies. ’Tis to the Fear of Poverty and Miſery that we are beholden for all our Arts, and for that natural Knowledge which was the Product of laborious Induſtry; and which makes us that we cannot but admire the Power and Wiſdom of the Creator, which otherwiſe we might have paſſed by with the ſame indifference as Beaſts. And if Men were to lead their whole Lives in an undiſturbed continual Peace, in no fear of Poverty, no danger of War, I doubt they would live little better than Brutes, without all knowledge or enjoyment of thoſe Advantages that make our Lives paſs on with Pleaſure and Profit. We ſhould want the wonderful Art of Writing, if its great Uſe and neceſſity in Commerce and War had not forced out the Invention. ’Tis to theſe we owe our Art of Sailing, our Art of Sowing, and moſt of thoſe Diſcoveries of which we are Maſters; and almoſt all the Secrets in experimental Knowledge. So that thoſe very Things on account of which the Faculty of Reaſon ſeems to have been accuſed, are no ſmall helps to its Advancement and Perfection. For thoſe Virtues themſelves, Fortitude and Conſtancy, would be of no uſe if there were no Dangers, no Adverſity, no Afflictions for their Exerciſe and Trial.

If we ſhould therefore imagine in the Planets ſome ſuch reaſonable Creature as Man is, adorn’d with the ſame Virtues, and liable to the ſame Vices, it would be ſo far from degrading or vilifying them, that while they want ſuch a one, I muſt think them inferior to our Earth.

[Reaſon they are not different from what ’tis here.]

But if we allow theſe Planetary Inhabitants ſome ſort of Reaſon, muſt it needs, may ſome ſay, be the ſame with ours? Certainly it muſt, whether we conſider it as applied to Juſtice and Morality, or exerciſed in the Principles and Foundations of Science. For Reaſon with us is that which gives us a true Senſe of Juſtice and Honeſty, Praiſe, Kindneſs and Gratitude: ’tis That that teaches us to diſtinguiſh univerſally between Good and Bad; and renders us capable of Knowledge and Experience in it. And can there be any where any other Sort of Reaſon than this? or can what we call juſt and generous, in Jupiter or Mars be thought unjuſt Villany? This is not at all, I don’t ſay probable, but poſſible. For the Aim and Deſign of the Creator is every where the Preſervation and Safety of his Creatures. Now when ſuch Reaſon as we are Maſters of, is neceſſary for the preſervation of Life, and promoting of Society (a thing that they are not without, as we ſhall ſhow) would it not be ſtrange that the Planetary Inhabitants ſhould have ſuch a perverſe Sort of Reaſon given them, as would neceſſarily deſtroy and confound what it was deſign’d to maintain and defend? But allowing Morality and Paſſions with thoſe diſtant Inhabitants to be ſomewhat different from ours, and ſuppoſing they may act by other Principles in what belongs to Friendſhip and Anger, Hatred, Honeſty, Modeſty, and Comelineſs, yet ſtill there would be no doubt, but that in the Search after Truth, in judging of the Conſequences of Things, in Reaſoning, particularly in that Sort which belongs to Magnitude or Quantity, about which their Geometry (if they have ſuch a Thing) is employ’d, there would be no doubt, I ſay, but that their Reaſon here muſt be exactly the ſame, and go the ſame way to work with ours, and that what’s true in one part will hold true over the whole Univerſe; ſo that all the difference muſt lie in the Degrees of Knowledge, which will be proportional to the Genius and Capacity of the Inhabitants.

[They have Senſes.]