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crosses any of the dark places； the line of division is found to be
rough and jagged； but； were these dark places liquid； it would
evidently be even。
The description of the wings of the man…bat； on page 21； is but a
literal copy of Peter Wilkins' account of the wings of his flying
islanders。 This simple fact should have induced suspicion； at least；
it might be thought。
On page 23； we have the following： 〃What a prodigious influence must
our thirteen times larger globe have exercised upon this satellite
when an embryo in the womb of time； the passive subject of chemical
affinity！〃 This is very fine； but it should be observed that no
astronomer would have made such remark； especially to any journal of
Science； for the earth； in the sense intended； is not only thirteen；
but forty…nine times larger than the moon。 A similar objection
applies to the whole of the concluding pages； where； by way of
introduction to some discoveries in Saturn； the philosophical
correspondent enters into a minute schoolboy account of that planet
this to the 〃Edinburgh journal of Science！〃
But there is one point； in particular； which should have betrayed the
fiction。 Let us imagine the power actually possessed of seeing
animals upon the moon's surface what would first arrest the
attention of an observer from the earth？ Certainly neither their
shape； size； nor any other such peculiarity； so soon as their
remarkable _situation_。 They would appear to be walking； with heels
up and head down； in the manner of flies on a ceiling。 The _real_
observer would have uttered an instant ejaculation of surprise
（however prepared by previous knowledge） at the singularity of their
position； the _fictitious_ observer has not even mentioned the
subject； but speaks of seeing the entire bodies of such creatures；
when it is demonstrable that he could have seen only the diameter of
their heads！
It might as well be remarked； in conclusion； that the size； and
particularly the powers of the man…bats （for example； their ability
to fly in so rare an atmosphereif； indeed； the moon have any）； with
most of the other fancies in regard to animal and vegetable
existence； are at variance； generally； with all analogical reasoning
on these themes； and that analogy here will often amount to
conclusive demonstration。 It is； perhaps； scarcely necessary to add；
that all the suggestions attributed to Brewster and Herschel； in the
beginning of the article； about 〃a transfusion of artificial light
through the focal object of vision；〃 etc。； etc。； belong to that
species of figurative writing which comes； most properly； under the
denomination of rigmarole。
There is a real and very definite limit to optical discovery among
the starsa limit whose nature need only be stated to be understood。
If； indeed； the casting of large lenses were all that is required；
man's ingenuity would ultimately prove equal to the task； and we
might have them of any size demanded。 But； unhappily； in proportion
to the increase of size in the lens； and consequently of
space…penetrating power； is the diminution of light from the object；
by diffusion of its rays。 And for this evil there is no remedy within
human ability； for an object is seen by means of that light alone
which proceeds from itself； whether direct or reflected。 Thus the
only 〃artificial〃 light which could avail Mr。 Locke； would be some
artificial light which he should be able to throw…not upon the 〃focal
object of vision；〃 but upon the real object to be viewed…to wit： upon
the moon。 It has been easily calculated that； when the light
proceeding from a star becomes so diffused as to be as weak as the
natural light proceeding from the whole of the stars； in a clear and
moonless night； then the star is no longer visible for any practical
purpose。
The Earl of Ross's telescope； lately constructed in England； has a
_speculum_ with a reflecting surface of 4；071 square inches； the
Herschel telescope having one of only 1；811。 The metal of the Earl of
Ross's is 6 feet diameter； it is 5 1/2 inches thick at the edges； and
5 at the centre。 The weight is 3 tons。 The focal length is 50 feet。
I have lately read a singular and somewhat ingenious little book；
whose title…page runs thus： 〃L'Homme dans la lvne ou le Voyage
Chimerique fait au Monde de la Lvne； nouuellement decouuert par
Dominique Gonzales； Aduanturier Espagnol； autrem閠 dit le Courier
volant。 Mis en notre langve par J。 B。 D。 A。 Paris； chez Francois
Piot； pres la Fontaine de Saint Benoist。 Et chez J。 Goignard； au
premier pilier de la grand'salle du Palais； proche les Consultations；
MDCXLVII。〃 Pp。 76。
The writer professes to have translated his work from the English of
one Mr。 D'Avisson （Davidson？） although there is a terrible ambiguity
in the statement。 〃J' en ai eu；〃 says he 〃l'original de Monsieur
D'Avisson； medecin des mieux versez qui soient aujourd'huy dans la
c騨oissance des Belles Lettres； et sur tout de la Philosophic
Naturelle。 Je lui ai cette obligation entre les autres； de m' auoir
non seulement mis en main cc Livre en anglois； mais encore le
Manuscrit du Sieur Thomas D'Anan； gentilhomme Eccossois；
recommandable pour sa vertu； sur la version duquel j' advoue que j'
ay tir？le plan de la mienne。〃
After some irrelevant adventures； much in the manner of Gil Blas； and
which occupy the first thirty pages； the author relates that； being
ill during a sea voyage； the crew abandoned him； together with a
negro servant； on the island of St。 Helena。 To increase the chances
of obtaining food； the two separate； and live as far apart as
possible。 This brings about a training of birds； to serve the purpose
of carrier…pigeons between them。 By and by these are taught to carry
parcels of some weight…and this weight is gradually increased。 At
length the idea is entertained of uniting the force of a great number
of the birds； with a view to raising the author himself。 A machine is
contrived for the purpose； and we have a minute description of it；
which is materially helped out by a steel engraving。 Here we perceive
the Signor Gonzales； with point ruffles and a huge periwig； seated
astride something which resembles very closely a broomstick； and
borne aloft by a multitude of wild swans _（ganzas） _who had strings
reaching from their tails to the machine。
The main event detailed in the Signor's narrative depends upon a very
important fact； of which the reader is kept in ignorance until near
the end of the book。 The _ganzas； _with whom he had become so
familiar； were not really denizens of St。 Helena； but of the moon。
Thence it had been their custom； time out of mind； to migrate
annually to some portion of the earth。 In proper season； of course；
they would return home； and the author； happening； one day； to
require their services for a short voyage； is unexpectedly carried
straight tip； and in a very brief period arrives at the satellite。
Here he finds； among other odd things； that the people enjoy extreme
happiness； that they have no _law； _that they die without pain； that
they are from ten to thirty feet in height； that they live five
thousand years； that they have an emperor called Irdonozur； and that
they can jump sixty feet high； when； being out of the gravitating
influence； they fly about with fans。
I cannot forbear giving a specimen of the general _philosophy _of the
volume。
〃I must not forget here； that the stars appeared only on that side of
the globe turned toward the moon； and that the closer they were to it
the larger they seemed。 I have also me and the earth。 As to the
stars； _since there was no night where I was； they always had the
same appearance； not brilliant； as usual； but pale； and very nearly
like the moon of a morning。 _But few of them were visible； and these
ten times larger （as well as I could judge） than they seem to the
inhabitants of the earth。 The moon； which wanted two days of being
full； was of a terrible bigness。
〃I must not forget here； that the stars appeared only on that side
of the globe turned toward the moon； and that the closer they were to
it the larger they seemed。 I have also to inform you that； whether it
was calm weather or stormy； I found myself _always immediately
between the moon and the earth。_ I_ _was convinced of this for two
reasons…because my birds always flew in a straight line； and because
whenever we attempted to rest； _we were carried insensibly around the
globe of the earth。 _For I admit the opinion of Copernicus； who
maintains that it never ceases to revolve _from the east to the west；
_not upon the poles of the Equinoctial； commonly called the poles of
the world； but upon those of the Zodiac； a question of which I
propose to speak more at length here…after； when I shall have leisure
to refresh my memory in regard to the astrology which I learned at
Salamanca when young； and have since forgotten。〃
Notwithstanding the blunders italicized； the book is not without s