translated from a French paper, will be new to most people and interesting to all, especially at a time when astronomy has become a subject of popular attention.

ARE THE PLANETS INHABITED

OR NOT?

There are physical truths which are obvious to the senses, and which poetry should respect in its boldest flights. There are other truths which not being of a nature to become popular ought not to exercise any influence over the arts of imagination.

When M. Chateaubriant wishes to make us find in the bosom of mountains those pearls which the intrepid diver seek at the bottom of the sea, he comes in collision with a generally received opinion, and deserves that the critic should recal to his recollection the example of Virgil and Homer, whose muse adorned with fables and peopled with wonders only those regions which were unknown. But when the same writer denies the plurality of inhabited worlds, and sees in the celestial bodies only shining solitudes, philosophy and astronomy have no reason to complain; they cannot even oppose any positive fact to this hypothesis. As good things may be said in favour of the opinion which refuse rational inhabitants to the other celestial bodies, as can be said to render the contrary hypothesis plausible.

Four planets only in all the system, offer a certain analogy which indices us to suspect much resemblance between their physical constitutions: these are Mercury, Venus, the Earth, and Mars. It is true that the orbits of the Earth aud Venus are nearly circular, whilst those of Mars and Mercury are very elliptic; but this difference, as it may proceed from their first impulse, ought not to influence For JUNE, 1812, VOL. V.

bodies. There are other more remarkable differences. The mountains which Schroeter observed in Mercury and Venus are from five to eight times more elevated than those of our globe, although these two planets have less bulk. It cannot be admitted that this difference owes its origin to a less compact state of the matter which constitutes the two planets, since, according to the best calculations, the density of Mercury is double that of the earth.

The planet Mars casts a reddish light which seems to announce that it is surrounded by a thick atmosphere like that in which we live; but the spots which cover its disk, too fixed to be clouds, too variable to be seas and continents, lead us to believe that this celestial body yet experiences those great revolutions of which our earth affords such dreadful traces.

Among the four planets which we have named, ours only is accompanied by a satellite. Every one knows that the disk of the moon presents fixed lights and shades which mark the inequalities of her surface. The dark spots have been long considered as seas like those which leave our earth; but the most recent discoveries by pointing out cavities in the circuit even of these spots, have induced astronomers to be. lieve them only great con-cavities void of water. Are these the basons of evaporated seas?Are they enormous volcanic craters? This is what no one will undertake to decide; but it is probable, on either supposition, that the moon has no watery surface. It is almost certain that she has but an extremely rarified atmosphere, scarcely distinguished from the ether which surrounds her. Schroeter, who by a long series of observations, has demonstrated the existence of a lunar atmosphere, has at the same time demonstrated its absolute difference from that of our planet; there is never any thing seen on her surface resem

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bling

bling the agitation that the wind occasions in the clouds which surround the earth.

Much has been said, for thirty or forty years past, of the hole in the moon observed by Don Uloa. Astronomers have agreed in rejecting the opinion of the philosopher as ridicu, lous and extravagant; they have explained, by a volcanic eruption, the luminous point which the Spanish astronomer had perceived on the disk of the moon when eclipsed. But this is a very forced explanation. Besides Uloa is not singular in supposing he had discovered a hole in the moon: Liefmann, a German astronomer, had announced a similar observation more than a century ago.

Who knows whether the moon be any thing else than a porous mass of Java and dross, without vegetables and without animated beings?

We agree, at least, that M. de Chateaubriant had reason to contemplate with dread the moment "when the moca shall show this other face which the earth has not yet seen." As it is in all probability the united, force of magnetism or electricity which obliges the satellites or moons to follow the planet, always turning towards it the same side, it is probable that a subversion of this order of things could not take place but by a total dissolution, or at least a general revolution of the principal planet. I think, then, that astronomers themselves would turn pale at seeing the other face of the moon, of which they at present generally perceive but a narrow stripe.

As soon as we have passed Mars, the planetary system assumes an aspect so widely differing from all that we see near us, that it becomes impossible to conclude by analogy whether the neighbouring celestial bodies have 'inhabitants or not. Ceres, Pallas, Ju no, and Vesta, travel in orbits nearly equally distant from the sun, but in different nodes and with a greater or less eccentricity; so that the osscyrac

the other, or, to use the language of astronomers, form knots. The plan of all their orbits cuts that of the orbit of the earth at very great angles; it is that which assimilates these stars to comets, and induces Mr. Herschel, though wrongly, to refuse them the name of planets. What a surprising phenomenon do they display to our senses. To how many new reflections may it give rise! These four little bodies, which seem almost to approach near enough to each other for their inhabitants if they had any, to communicate together: are they the wreck or remnant of a planet which has shivered to pieces from the explosion of the gaz which its bowels contained? Are they the yet disunited elements of which nature will one day form a planet? Or are they moon's satellites which have lost the chief or centre of the system of which they made a part? Whatever opinion is adopted, the eccentricity of their circuits and the very diminutive size of one of those stars, which according to Herschel is but seventy English miles in diameter, sufficiently demonstrate that no plusible aelogy can be established between them and our earth.

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The stately Jupiter, accompanied with his four satellites, turns round his axis with a rapidity at which we stand amazed: the day in this planet, which has a bulk four hundred and seventynine times greater than that of the earth, is but five hours long, and every point of its equator, in a second, travels over a space of six thousand five hundred and fifty toises. The density of this planet is nothing in proportion to its bulk; it is to that of the earth as 23 to 100; and we are tempted to regard Jupiter as a hollow ball. It is known that its flatness towards the poles is very considerable; and we may add that the luminous bands which surround its globe, not only move like the rings of Saturn, but they seem to bend, almost to break, and to change their dimension. What

human

human being shall dare to decide whether this planet be inhabited, or even whether it can ever be? Has this remote world seen the generations which peopled it pass away, or has it yet to see them born? Does the rapid motion which hurls it along announce the dissolution or the consideration of this celestial body?

The system of Saturn offers to close observers many unexpected wonders. The ring of this planet is found to be composed of two distinct parts, of which each has its own distinct motion. Among the seven moons of Saturn, the last, a striking contrast to all other satellites or secondary planets, seems to move freely round its axis. But the most surprising discovery is that which Mr. Herschel has made in regard to the figure of this planet, which according to him, is at the same time Battened at its poles and the region of the equater; so that its profile resembles a square rounded at its four angles, or, if you will, a circle flattened on four sides. Let the astronomers laugh, then if it pleases them, at the ring of widowhood borne by Saturn, according to M. Chateaubriant; but let them, at the same time, confess their own ignorance in respect to a celestial body, the structure of which, remote from our conceptions, does not permit us to form a conjecture upon its destination and its state.

The immensity of distance which separates us from Uranus has not prevented Mr. Herschel discovering two rings which surround it, the one composing the poles, the other the equator, 80 as to cut each other at right angles.

These astonishing varieties, among the planets, which obey our sun; these indications of great revolutions which are passing, in the words, near our earth; these multiplied phenomena ought they not, at the same time that they terrify us, to rein in our imagination, and induce us not to affirm dogmatically that all the celestial bodies

ate like the earth destined to serve as habitations for our species?

The best, the only argument, which could be brought in favour of a plurality of habitable worlds, is not derived from natural philosophy; this would be the idea of a Supreme Intelligence which may have supplied us with them, but the examination of such an argument would far exceed the bounds which we have prescribed to ourselves.

AMERICAN PROSPERITY.

From the Speech of Mr. Mitchell, on the Bill concerning a Naval Establishment, in the House of Representatives, Jan. 20, 1812.

Independence was nevertheless atchieved, and our citizens were thereby emancipated from their colonial thraldom. Immediately they became more commercial than ever. They quickly doubled the Stormy Cape, and made voyages to India and China. They braved the billows, and bade defiance to the tempests. They proved themselves daring and intrepid, almost beyond example. Shall I attempt a few sketches in the maritime history of these sons of Liberty? They wield the axe better than any other people. They vanquish the stately tenants of the forest, and subject the oak, and the pine, and the cedar, and the locust, to their power. They model and construct ships, more skilfully than any nation on the globe. I quote the naval architects of New-York, Philadelphia, Boston, Norfolk, and Charleston, in proof of my assertion. The excellence of their structures, whether you regard their burden, or their speed, is without a parallel an ancient or modern times. Nor are our countrymen de

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ficient in the management and direction of such floating machines. They can spring a cable, and weigh an anchor, more expertly than the transatlantic sailors. They can hand, reef, and steer better. They can perform a prescribed piece of service quicker. They equal the most able of the foreign mariners in expedients to lessen the dangers of the storm, and to extricate themselves from the horrors of a lee-shore. Their enterprize has really wrought wonders.- While some of them are exploring high latitudes for a southern continent, another is peopling the Chesapeake, the remote island of Tristian d'Acunha; or others, again teaching the arts of civilization to the natives of the Sandwich islands, or planting the seeds of the empire on the banks of the Columbia river. To belt the globe, is become with them a common featan ordinary act of commercial outfit. The sandal-wood of the Fejee islands, the pearls of the Carolines, and the Buchedemer of the Philippines, are sought almost as familiarly as the productions of the West Indies.If they find force necessary to carry on their commerce, they apply that force, remove difficulties abroad, and provoke no discussions at home about their proceedings. By individual ef. fort, the science of physical geography, and the art of circumnavigation, are as much improved now-a-days, and in this country, as they have heretofore been by the munificence of nations with European monarchs at their head. And what is worthy of particular notice in these under takings, those who engage in them know how curiosity may be blended with profit, and how the air, the water, and the earth, may be so laid under contribution as to afford them a rich reward for their toils.

DUBLIN THEATRE.

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If Feddy Jones, who has the exclu sive monopoly of the fallen Dublin Stage, should condescend to give a safer form, and more convenient manner of escape in cases of Fire, to the Theatre, we submit to his Highness the following description of the Theatre in Bostan, America, as a guide to him:

There is an iron curtain which can be interposed so as to divide the audience from the stage; but in case any difficulty should prevent this interposition, there are several avenues by which the spectators could obtain egress from the building.-From the boxes there are three doors, one at each side of the house, and a double one in front, which can be opened in a minute, and on all evenings of performance is unlocked; these would discharge the people in the boxes in five minutes after any accident, without any danger. From the pit there are two doors of egress, and the same number from the gallery; besides which, there is a thick brick areli, just above the front curtain," which sustains a battlement above the roof, and all the doors leading from the stage, to every part of the amphitheatre, are of heavy iron, as well as all those to the several apartments attached to the theatre. There is also a large hose, leading from an aque duct in the cellar, which, in case of fire, could be brought to bear on any part of the house. The scenes are all of canvass, and not liable to take fire suddenly-the lights on the stage are of patent lamps, with globe glasses-the dressing rooms are in a separate building, and all the audience doors open outwards.