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.]