Part 2

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.

’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 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.

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.

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.

But I perceive I am got ſomewhat too far: Let us firſt enquire a little concerning the bodily Senſes of theſe Planetary Perſons; for without ſuch, neither will Life be any Pleaſure to them, nor Reaſon of any Uſe. And I think it very probable, that all their Animals, as well their Beaſts as rational Creatures, are like ours in all that relates to the Senſes: For without the Power of Seeing we ſhould find it impoſſible for Animals to provide Food for themſelves, or be ſore-warn’d of any approaching Danger, ſo as to guard themſelves from it. So that where-ever we plant any Animals, except we wou’d have them lead the Life of Worms or Moles, we muſt allow them Sight; than which nothing can conduce more either to the Preſervation or Pleaſure of their Lives. Then if we conſider the wonderful Nature of Light, and the [Sight.] amazing Artifice in the fit framing the Eye for the Reception of it, we cannot but ſee that Bodies ſo vaſtly remote could not be perceived by us in their proper Figures and juſt Diſtances, any other way than by Sight. For this Senſe, and all others that we know of, muſt proceed from an external Motion. Which in the ſenſe of Seeing muſt come either from the Sun, the fix’d Stars, or Fire: whoſe Particles being put into a very quick Motion, communicate it to the Celeſtial Matter about, whence ’tis convey’d in a very ſhort time to the moſt diſtant parts, juſt like Sound through the Air. If it were not for this Motion of the intermediate Ætherial Matter, we ſhould be all in Darkneſs, and have Sight neither of Sun nor Stars, nor any thing elſe, for all other Light muſt come to us by Reflection from them. This Motion perceived by the Eyes is called Light. And the nice Curioſity of this Perception is admirable, in that it is cauſed by the ſmalleſt Particles of the luminous Body brought to us by that fine Matter, which at the ſame time determine the Coaſt from whence the Motion comes; and in that all theſe different Roads of Motion, theſe Waves croſſing and interfering with one another, are yet no hindrance to every one’s free Paſſage. All theſe Things are ſo wiſely, ſo wonderfully contrived, that it’s above the Power of humane Wit, to invent or frame any thing like them; nay, it is very difficult ſo much as to imagine and comprehend them. For what can be more amazing, than that one ſmall Part of the Body ſhould be ſo deviſed and framed, as by its means to ſhow us the Shape, the Poſition, the Diſtance, and all the Motions, nay, and all the Colours, of a Body that is far remote from us, that it may appear the more diſtinct? And then the artful Compoſition of the Eye, drawing an exact Picture of the Objects without it, upon the concave Side of the Choroides, is even above all Admiration, nor is there any Thing in which God has more plainly manifeſted his excellent Geometry. And theſe Things are not only contriv’d and fram’d with ſo great Wiſdom and Skill, as not to admit of better, but to any one that conſiders them attentively, they ſeem to be of ſuch a Nature as not to allow any other Method. For it’s impoſſible that Light ſhould repreſent Objects to us at ſo vaſt a diſtance, except by ſuch an intervening Motion; and it’s as impoſſible that any other Compoſition of the Eye ſhould be equally fitted to the Reception of ſuch Impreſſions. So that I cannot but think them greatly miſtaken, that maintain theſe Things might have been contrived many other Ways. It’s likely then, and credible, that in theſe Things the Planets have an exact correſpondence with us, and that their Animals have the ſame Organs, and uſe the ſame way of Sight that we do. They muſt have Eyes therefore, and two at leaſt we muſt grant them, otherwiſe they would not perceive thoſe Things cloſe to them, nor hardly be able to walk about with Safety. And if we muſt allow them to all Animals for the Preſervation of their Life, how much more muſt they that make more, and more noble Uſes of them, not be deprived of the Bleſſing of ſo advantageous Members? For by them we view the various Flowers, and the elegant Features of Beauty: with them we read, we write, we contemplate the Heavens and Stars, and meaſure their Diſtances, Magnitudes, and Journeys: which how far they are common to the Inhabitants of thoſe Worlds with us, I ſhall preſently examine. But firſt I ſhall enquire whether now we have given them one, we ought alſo to give them the other [Hearing.] four Senſes. And indeed as to Hearing many Arguments perſwade me to give it a Share in the Animals of thoſe new Worlds. For ’tis of great conſequence in defending us from ſudden Accidents; and, eſpecially when Seeing is of no uſe to us, it ſupplies its Place, and gives us ſeaſonable warning of any imminent Danger. Beſides, we ſee many Animals call their Fellow to them with their Voice, which Language may have more in it than we are aware of, tho’ we don’t underſtand it. But if we do but conſider the vaſt Uſes and neceſſary Occaſions of Speaking on the one ſide, and Hearing on the other, among thoſe Creatures that make uſe of their Reaſon, it will ſcarce ſeem credible that two ſuch uſeful, ſuch excellent Things were deſigned only for us. For how is it poſſible but that they that are without theſe, muſt be without many other Neceſſaries and Conveniences of Life? Or what can they have to recompenſe this Want? Then, if we go ſtill farther, and do but meditate upon the neat and frugal Contrivance of Nature in making the ſame Air, by the drawing in of which we live, by whoſe Motion we ſail, and by whoſe Means Birds fly, for a Conveyance of Sound to our Ears; and this Sound for the Conveyance of another Man’s Thoughts to our Minds: Can we ever imagine that ſhe has left thoſe other Worlds deſtitute of ſo vaſt [A Medium to convey Sound to the Ears.] Advantages? That they don’t want the Means of them is certain, for their having Clouds in Jupiter puts it paſt doubt that they have Air too; that being moſtly formed of the Particles of Water flying about, as the Clouds are of them gathered into ſmall Drops. And another Proof of it is, the neceſſity of breathing for the preſervation of Life, a Thing that ſeems to be as univerſal a Dictate of Nature, as feeding upon the Fruits of the Earth.

As for Feeling, it ſeems to be given upon neceſſity to all Creatures that are cover’d with a fine and ſenſible Skin, as a Caution againſt coming too near thoſe Things that may injure or incommode them: and without it they would be liable to continual Wounds, Blows and Bruiſes. Nature ſeems to have been ſo ſenſible of this, that ſhe has not left the leaſt place free from ſuch a Perception. Therefore it’s probable that the Inhabitants of thoſe Worlds are not without ſo neceſſary a Defence, and ſo fit a Preſervative againſt Dangers and Miſhaps.

And who is there that doth not ſee the inevitable neceſſity for all Creatures that live by feeding to have both Taſte and Smell, that they may diſtinguiſh thoſe Things that are good and nouriſhing, from thoſe that are miſchievous and harmful? If therefore we allow the Planetary Creatures to feed upon Herbs, Seeds, or Fleſh, we muſt allow them Taſte and Smell, that they may chuſe or refuſe any Thing according as they find it likely to be advantageous or noxious to them.

I know that it hath been a Queſtion with many, whether there might not have been more Senſes than theſe five. [Their Senſes not very different from ours.] If we ſhould allow this, it might nevertheleſs be reaſonably doubted, whether the Senſes of the Planetary Inhabitants are much different from ours. I muſt confeſs, I cannot deny but there might poſſibly have been more Senſes; but when I conſider the Uſes of thoſe we have, I cannot think but they would have been ſuperfluous. The Eye was made to diſcern near and remote Objects, the Ear to give us notice of what our Eyes could not, either in the Dark or behind our Back: Then what neither the Eye nor the Ear could, the Noſe was made (which in Dogs is wonderfully nice) to warn us of. And if any thing eſcapes the notice of the other four Senſes, we have Feeling to inform us of the too near Approaches of it before it can do us any miſchief. Thus has Nature ſo plentifully, ſo perfectly provided for the neceſſary preſervation of her Creatures here, that I think ſhe can give nothing more to thoſe there, but what will be needleſs and ſuperfluous. Yet the Senſes were not wholly deſigned for uſe: but Men from all, and all other Animals from ſome of them, reap Pleaſure as well as Profit, as from the Taſte in delicious Meats; from the Smell in Flowers and Perfumes; from the Sight in the Contemplation of beauteous Shapes and Colours; from the Hearing in the Sweetneſs and Harmony of Sounds; from the Feeling in Copulation, unleſs you pleaſe to count that for a particular Senſe by it ſelf. [They have Pleaſure ariſing from the Senſes.] Since it is thus, I think ’tis but reaſonable to allow the Inhabitants of the Planets theſe ſame Advantages that we have from them. For upon this Conſideration only, how much happier and eaſier a Man’s Life is rendred by the enjoyment of them, we muſt be obliged to grant them theſe Bleſſings, except we would engroſs every thing that is good to our ſelves, as if we were worthier and more deſerving than any elſe. But moreover, that Pleaſure which we perceive in Eating or in Copulation, ſeems to be a neceſſary and provident Command of Nature, whereby it tacitly compels us to the preſervation and continuance of our Life and Kind. It is the ſame in Beaſts. So that both for their Happineſs and Preſervation it’s very probable the reſt of the Planets are not without it. Certainly when I conſider all theſe Things, how great, noble, and uſeful they are; when I conſider what an admirable Providence it is that there’s ſuch a Thing as Pleaſure in the World, I can’t but think that our Earth, the ſmalleſt part almoſt of the Univerſe, was never deſign’d to monopolize ſo great a Bleſſing. And thus much for thoſe Pleaſures which affect our bodily Senſes, but have little or no relation to our Reaſon and Mind. But there are other Pleaſures which Men enjoy, which their Soul only and Reaſon can reliſh: Some airy and brisk, others grave and ſolid, and yet nevertheleſs Pleaſures, as ariſing from the Satisfaction which we feel in Knowledge and Inventions, and Searches after Truth, of which whether the Planetary Inhabitants are not partakers, we ſhall have an opportunity of enquiring by and by. There

There are ſome other things to be conſider’d firſt, in which it’s probable they have ſome relation to us. That the Planets have thoſe Elements of Earth, Air and Water, as well as we, I have already made not unlikely. Let us now ſee whether they may not have Fire alſo: which is not ſo properly call’d an Element, as a very quick Motion of the Particles in the inflammable [All the Planets have Fire.] Body. But be it what it will, there are many Arguments for their not being without it. For this Earth is not ſo truly call’d the Place of Fire as the Sun: and as by the Heat of that all Plants and Animals here thrive and live; ſo, no doubt, it is in the other Planets. Since then Fire is cauſed by a moſt intenſe and vigorous Heat, it follows that the Planets, eſpecially thoſe nearer the Fountain of it, have their proportionate degrees of Heat and Fire. And ſince there are ſo many ways of its Production, as by the collection of the Rays of the Sun, by the reflection of Mirrors, by the ſtriking of Flint and Steel, by the rubbing of Wood, by the cloſe loading of moiſt Graſs, by Lightning, by the eruptions of Mountains and Volcanos, it’s ſtrange if neither Art ſhould have produced it, nor Nature effected it there by one of theſe many means. Then how uſeful and neceſſary is it to us? By it we drive away Cold, and ſupply the want of the Sun in thoſe Countries where his oblique Rays make a leſs vigorous Impreſſion, and ſo keep a great part of the Earth from being an uninhabited Deſert: which is equally neceſſary in all the Planets, whether we allow them Succeſſion of Seaſons, or a perpetual Spring and Æquinox: for even then the Countries near the Pole would receive but little Advantage from the Heat of the Sun. By the help of this we turn the Night into Day, and thereby make a conſiderable addition to the ſhortneſs of our Lives. Upon all theſe Accounts we ought not to think this Earth of ours enjoy it all alone, and exclude all the other Planets from ſo advantageous and ſo profitable a Gift.

But perhaps it may be asked as well concerning Brutes as rational Creatures, and of their Plants and Trees too, whether they are proportionably [The bigneſs of their Creatures not rightly gueſt at by the bigneſs of the Planets.] larger or leſs than ours. For if the Magnitude of the Planets was to be the Standard of their meaſure, there would be Animals in Jupiter ten or fifteen times larger than Elephants, and as much longer than our Whales, and then their Men muſt be all Giants in reſpect to us. Now tho’ I don’t ſee any ſo great Abſurdity in this as to make it impoſſible, yet there is no reaſon to think it is really ſo, ſeeing Nature has not always ty’d her ſelf to thoſe Rules which we have thought more convenient for her: For example, the Magnitude of the Planets is not anſwerable to their diſtances from the Sun; but Mars, tho’ more remote, is far leſs than Venus: and Jupiter turns round his Axis in ten Hours, when the Earth which is much leſs than him, ſpends 24. But ſince Nature, perhaps ſome will ſay, has not obſerved ſuch a Regularity in the proportion of Things, for ought we know there may be only a Race of Pygmies about the Bigneſs of Frogs and Mice, poſſeſs’d of the Planets. But I ſhall ſhow that this is very improbable by and by.

There may ariſe another Queſtion, whether there be in the Planets but one ſort of rational Creatures, or if there be not ſeveral ſorts poſſeſſed of different degrees of Reaſon and Senſe. There is ſomething not unlike this to be obſerved among us. For to paſs by thoſe who have human Shape (altho’ ſome of them would very well bear that Enquiry too) if we do but conſider ſome ſorts of Beaſts, as the Dog, the Ape, the Beaver, the Elephant, nay ſome Birds and Bees, what Senſe and Underſtanding they are maſters of, we ſhall be forced to allow, that Man is not the only rational Animal. For we diſcover ſomewhat in them of Reaſon independent on, and prior to all Teaching and Practice.

But ſtill no Body can doubt, but that the Underſtanding and Reaſon of Man is to be preferr’d to theirs, as being comprehenſive of innumerable Things, indued with an infinite memory of what’s paſt, and capable of providing againſt what’s to come. That there is ſome ſuch Species of rational Creatures in the other Planets, which is the Head and Sovereign of the reſt, is very reaſonable to believe: for otherwiſe, were many Species endued with the ſame Wiſdom and Cunning, we ſhould have them always doing Miſchief, always quarrelling and fighting one with another for Empire and Sovereignty, a Thing that we feel too much of where we have but one ſuch Species. But to let that paſs, our next Enquiry ſhall be concerning thoſe Animals in the Planets which are furniſhed with the greateſt Reaſon, whether it’s poſſible to know wherein they employ it, and whether they have made as great Advances in Arts and Knowledge as we in our Planet. Which deſerves moſt to be conſidered and examined of any thing belonging to their Nature; and for the better Performance of it we muſt take our Riſe ſomewhat higher, and nicely view the Lives and Studies of Men.

And in thoſe things wherein Men provide and take care only of what’s abſolutely neceſſary for the preſervation of their Life; in defending themſelves from the Injuries of the Air; in ſecuring themſelves againſt the Incurſions of Enemies by Walls; and againſt Fraud and Diſturbances by Laws; in educating their Children, and providing for themſelves and them: In all theſe I can ſee no great reaſon that Man has to boaſt of the Pre-eminency of his Reaſon above Beaſts and other Animals. For moſt of theſe Things they perform with greater Eaſe and Art than we, and ſome of them they have no need of. For that Senſe of Virtue and Juſtice in which Man excels, of Friendſhip, Gratitude and Honeſty, of what uſe are they, but either to put a ſtop to the Wickedneſs of Man, or to ſecure us from mutual Aſſaults and Injuries, Things wherein the Beaſts want no Guide but Nature and Inclination? Then if we ſet before our Eyes the manifold Cares, the Diſturbances of Mind, the reſtleſs Deſires, the dread of Death, that are the reſult of this our Reaſon; and compare them with that eaſy, quiet, and harmleſs Life which other Animals enjoy, we ſhould be apt to wiſh a Change, and conclude that they, eſpecially Birds, lived with more Pleaſure and Happineſs than Man could with all his Wiſdom. For they have as great a Reliſh of bodily Pleaſures as we, let the new Philoſophers ſay what they will, who would have them to be nothing but Clocks and Engines of Fleſh; a Thing which Beaſts ſo plainly confute by crying and running away from a Stick, and all other Actions, that I wonder how any one could ſubſcribe to ſo abſurd and cruel an Opinion. Nay, I can ſcarce doubt but that Birds feel no ſmall Pleaſure in their eaſy, ſmooth ſailing through the Air; and would much more if they but knew the Advantages it hath above our ſlow and [Men chiefly differ from Beaſts in the Study of Nature.] laborious Progreſſion. What is it then after all that ſets human Reaſon above all other, and makes us preferable to the reſt of the Animal World? Nothing in my Mind ſo much as the Contemplation of the Works of God, and the Study of Nature, and the improving thoſe Sciences which may bring us to ſome knowledge in their Beauty and Variety. For without Knowledge what would be Contemplation? And what difference is there between a Man, who with a careleſs ſupine Negligence views the Beauty and Uſe of the Sun, and the fine golden Furniture of the Heaven, and one who with a learned Niceneſs ſearches into their Courſes; who underſtands wherein the Fix’d Stars, as they are call’d, differ from the Planets, and what is the Reaſon of the regular Viciſſitude of the Seaſons; who by ſound Reaſoning can meaſure the Magnitude and Diſtance of the Sun and Planets? Or between ſuch a one as admires perhaps the nimble Activity and ſtrange Motions of ſome Animals, and one that knows their whole Structure, underſtands the whole Fabrick and Architecture of their Compoſition? If therefore the Principle we before laid down be true, that the other Planets are not inferiour in Dignity to ours, [They have Aſtronomy.] what follows but that they have Creatures not to ſtare and wonder at the Works of Nature only, but who employ their Reaſon in the Examination and Knowledge of them, and have made as great Advances therein as we have? They do not only view the Stars, but they improve the Science of Aſtronomy: nor is there any thing can make us think this improbable, but that fond Conceitedneſs of every Thing that we call our own, and that Pride that is too natural to us to be eaſily laid down. But I know ſome will ſay, we are a little too bold in theſe Aſſertions of the Planets, and that we mounted hither by many Probabilities, one of which, if it chance to be falſe, and contrary to our Suppoſition, would, like a bad Foundation, ruin the whole Building, and make it fall to the Ground. But I would have them to know, that all I have ſaid of their Knowledge in Aſtronomy, has Proofs enough, antecedent to thoſe we now produced. For ſuppoſing the Earth, as we did, one of the Planets of equal Dignity and Honour with the reſt, who would venture to ſay, that no where elſe were to be found any that enjoy’d the glorious Sight of Nature’s Theatre? Or if there were any Fellow-Spectators, yet we were the only ones that had dived deep into the Secrets and Knowledge of it? So that here’s a Proof not ſo far fetch’d for the Aſtronomy of the Planets, the ſame which we uſed for their having rational Creatures, and enjoying the other Advantages we before talk’d of, which ſerves at the ſame time for the Confirmation of our former Conjectures. But if Amazement and Fear at the Eclipſes of the Moon and Sun gave the firſt occaſion to the Study of Aſtronomy, as probably they did, then it’s almoſt impoſſible that Jupiter and Saturn ſhould be without it; the Argument being of much greater force in them, by reaſon of the daily Eclipſes of their Moons, and the frequent ones of the Sun to their Inhabitants. So that if a Perſon diſintereſted in his Judgment, and equally ignorant of the Affairs of all the Planets, were to give his Opinion in this Matter, I don’t doubt he would give the Cauſe for Aſtronomy to thoſe two Planets rather than us.

This Suppoſition of their Knowledge and Uſe of Aſtronomy in the Planetary Worlds, will afford us many new Conjectures about their manner of Life, and their State as to other things.

For, Firſt: No Obſervations of the Stars that are neceſſary to the Knowledge of their Motions, can be made without Inſtruments; nor can theſe be made without Metal, Wood, or ſome ſuch ſolid Body. Here’s a neceſſity of allowing them the Carpenters Tools, the Saw, the Ax, the Plane, the Mallet, the File: and the making of theſe requires the Uſe of Iron, or ſome equally hard Metal. [Geometry and Arithmetick:] Again, theſe Inſtruments can’t be without a Circle divided into equal Parts, or a ſtrait Line into unequal. Here’s a neceſſity for introducing Geometry and Arithmetick. Then the Neceſſity [And Writing.] in ſuch Obſervations of marking down the Epochas or Accounts of Time, and of tranſmitting them to Poſterity, will force us to grant them the Art of Writing; perhaps very different from ours which is commonly uſed, but I dare affirm not more ingenious or eaſy. For how much more ready and expeditious is our Way, than by that multitude of Characters uſed in China; and how vaſtly preferable to Knots tied in Cords, or the Pictures in uſe among the barbarous People of Mexico and Peru? There’s no Nation in the World but has ſome way or other of writing or marking down their Thoughts: So that it’s no wonder if the Planetary Inhabitants have been taught it by that great School-miſtreſs Neceſſity, and apply it to the Study of Aſtronomy and other Sciences. In Aſtronomical Matters the Neceſſity of it is moreover apparent from hence, that the Motion of the Stars is as ’twere to be fancied and gueſs’d at in different Syſtems, and theſe Syſtems to be continually improved and corrected, as later and more exact Obſervations ſhall convince the old ones of Faults: all which can never be deliver’d down to ſucceeding Generations, unleſs we make uſe of Letters and Figures.

But after all theſe large and liberal Allowances to Them, they will ſtill be behind-hand with us. For we have ſo certain a Knowledge of the true [And Opticks.] Syſtem and Frame of the Univerſe; we have ſo admirable an Invention of Teleſcopes to help our failing Eye-ſight in the view of the Bigneſs and different Forms of the Planetary Bodies, in the diſcovery of the Mountains, and the Shadows of them on the Surface of the Moon, in the bringing to light an innumerable multitude of Stars otherwiſe inviſible, that we muſt neceſſarily be far their Maſters in that Knowledge. Hence it is almoſt neceſſary (except we have a Mind to flatter and complement our ſelves as the only People that have the Advantage of ſuch excellent Inventions) either to allow the Planetary Inhabitants ſuch ſharp Eyes as not to need them, or elſe the uſe of Glaſſes to help the Deficiency of their Sight. And yet I dare not aſſert this, leſt any one ſhould be ſo diſturbed at the Extravagancy of ſuch an Opinion, as to take the meaſure of my other Conjectures by it, and hiſs them all off, upon the account of this alone.

But ſome Body may perhaps object, and that not without reaſon at firſt ſight, that the Planetary Inhabitants it’s likely are deſtitute of all refined Knowledge, juſt as the Americans were before they had Commerce with the Europeans. For if one conſiders the Ignorance of thoſe Nations, and of others in Aſia and Africa equally barbarous, it will appear as if the main Deſign of the Creator in placing Men upon the Earth was that they might live, and, in a juſt ſenſe of all the Bleſſings and Pleaſure they enjoy, worſhip the Fountain of their Happineſs; but that ſome few went beyond the Bounds of Nature in their Enquiries after Knowledge. There does not want an Anſwer to theſe Men. For God could not but foreſee the Advances Men would make, in their enquiring into the Heavenly Bodies: that they would diſcover Arts uſeful and advantageous to Life: that they would croſs the Seas, and dig up the Bowels of the Earth. Nothing of all this could happen contrary to the Mind and Knowledge of the Infinite Author of all Things. And if he foreſaw theſe Things would be, he ſo appointed and deſtin’d them to humane kind. And the Studies of Arts and Sciences cannot be ſaid to be contrary to Nature, ſince in the ſearch thereof they are employ’d: eſpecially if we conſider how great the natural, deſire and love of Knowledge, rooted in all Men is. For it’s impoſſible this ſhould have been given them upon no Deſign or Account. But they will urge, that if ſuch a Knowledge is natural, if we were born for it, why are there ſo very few, eſpecially in Aſtronomy, that proſecute theſe Studies? For Europe is the only Quarter of the Earth in which there have been any Advancements made in Aſtronomy. And as for the Judicial Aſtrology, which pretends to foretel what is to come, it is ſuch a wretched and oftentimes miſchievous piece of Madneſs, that I do not think it ought to be ſo much as named here. And even in Europe, not one in a hundred Thouſand meddles with theſe Studies. Beſides, its Original and Riſe is ſo late, that many Ages were paſt before the very firſt Rudiments of Aſtronomy or Geometry (which is neceſſary to the learning of it) were known. For every Body is acquainted almoſt with its firſt Beginnings in Egypt and Greece. Add to this, that ’tis not yet above fourſcore Years ſince the bungling Epicycles were diſcarded, and the true and eaſy plain Motion of the Planets was diſcovered. For the Satisfaction of theſe Scruples, to what we ſaid before, concerning the Fore-knowledge of God, may be added this; That God never deſigned we ſhould come into the World Aſtronomers or Philoſophers; theſe Arts are not infuſed into us at our Birth, but were ordered, in long Tracts of Time, by degrees to be the Rewards and Reſult of laborious Diligence; eſpecially thoſe Sciences which are now in debate, are ſo much the more difficult and abſtruſe, that their late Invention and ſlow Progreſs are ſo far from being a Wonder, that it is rather ſtrange they were ever diſcover’d at all. There are but few, I acknowledge one or two perhaps in an Age, that purſue them, or think them their Buſineſs: but their Number will be very conſiderable if we take in thoſe that have lived in all the Ages in which Aſtronomy hath flouriſhed: and no Body can deny them that Happineſs and Contentment which they have pretended to above all others. In fine, it was ſufficient that ſo ſmall a Number ſhould make it their Study, ſo that the Profit and Advantage of their Inventions might but ſpread it ſelf over all the World. Since then the Inhabitants of this Earth, let them be never ſo few, have had Parts and Genius ſufficient for the Attainment of this Knowledge; and there’s no reaſon to think the Planetary Inhabitants leſs ingenious or happy than our ſelves; we have gain’d our Point, and ’tis probable that they are as skilful Aſtronomers as we can pretend to be. So that now we may venture to deduce ſome Conſequences from ſuch a Suppoſition.

We have before ſhow’d the neceſſary Dependence and Connexion, not only of Geometry and Arithmetick, but of Mechanical Arts and Inſtruments with this Science. This leads us naturally to the Enquiry how they can uſe theſe Inſtruments and Engines for the Obſervation of the Stars, how they can write down ſuch their Obſervations, and perform other Things which we do with our Hands. So that we muſt neceſſarily give them [They have Hands.] Hands, or ſome other Member, as convenient for all those Uſes, inſtead of them. One of the ancient Philoſophers laid ſuch Streſs upon the Uſe and Conveniency of the Hands, that he made no ſcruple to affirm, they were the Cauſe and Foundation of all our Knowledge. By which, I ſuppoſe, he meant no more, than that without their Help and Aſſiſtance Men could never arrive to the Improvement of their Minds in natural Knowledge: And indeed not without Reaſon. For ſuppoſe inſtead of them they had had Hoofs like Horſes or Bullocks given them, they might have laid indeed the Model and Deſign of Cities and Houſes in their Head, but they would never have been able to have built them. They would have had no Subject of Diſcourſe but what belong’d to their Victuals, Marriages, or Self-preſervation. They would have been void of all Knowledge and Memory, and indeed would have been but one degree diſtant from brute Beaſts. What could we invent or imagine that could be ſo exactly accommodated to all the deſign’d Uſes as the Hands are? Elephants can lay hold of, or throw any thing with their Proboſcis, can take up even the ſmalleſt Things from the Ground, and can perform ſuch ſurpriſing Things with it, that it has not very improperly been call’d their Hand, tho’ indeed it is nothing but a Noſe ſomewhat longer than ordinary. Nor do Birds ſhow leſs Art and Deſign in the Uſe of their Bills in the picking up their Meat, and the wonderful Compoſure of their Neſts. But all this is nothing to thoſe Conveniences the Hand is ſo admirably ſuited to; nothing to that amazing Contrivance in its Capacity of being ſtretched, or contracted, or turned to any Part as Occaſion ſhall require. And then, to paſs by that nice Senſe that the Ends of the Fingers are endued with, even to the feeling and diſtinguiſhing moſt ſorts of Bodies in the Dark, what Wiſdom and Art is ſhow’d in the Diſpoſition of the Thumb and Fingers, ſo as to take up or keep faſt hold of any Thing we pleaſe? Either then the Planetary Inhabitants muſt have Hands, or ſomewhat equally convenient, which it is not eaſy to conceive; or elſe we muſt ſay that Nature has been kinder not only to us, but even to Squirrels and Monkeys than them.

That they have Feet alſo ſcarce any one can doubt, that does but conſider what we ſaid but juſt now of Animals different Ways of going along, which it’s hard to imagine can be perform’d any other ways than what we there recounted. And of all thoſe, there’s none can agree ſo well with the ſtate of the Planetary Inhabitants, as that that we here make uſe of. Except (what is not very probable, if they live in Society, as I ſhall ſhow they do) they have found out the Art of flying in ſome of thoſe Worlds.

The Stature and Shape of Men here does ſhow forth the Divine Providence ſo much in its being ſo fitly adapted to its deſign’d Uſes, that it is not without reaſon that all the Philoſophers have taken notice of it, nor without Probability that the Planetary Inhabitants have their Eyes and Countenance upright, like us, for the more convenient and eaſy Contemplation and Obſervations of the Stars. For if the Wiſdom of the Creator is ſo obſervable, ſo Praiſe-worthy in the Poſition of the other Members; in the convenient Situation of the Eyes, as Watches in the higher Region of the Body; in the removing of the more uncomely Parts out of ſight as ’twere, we cannot but think he has almoſt obſerved the ſame Method in the Bodies of thoſe remote Inhabitants. Nor [It follows not therefore that they have the ſame Shape with us.] does it follow from hence that they muſt be of the ſame Shape with us. For there is ſuch an infinite poſſible variety of Figures to be imagined, that both the Structure of their whole Bodies, and every part of them, both outſide and inſide, may be quite different from ours. How warmly and conveniently are ſome Creatures cloth’d with Wool, and how finely are others decked and adorn’d with Feathers? Perhaps among the rational Creatures in the Planets there may ſome ſuch diſtinction be obſerv’d in their Garb and Covering; a Thing in which Beaſts ſeem to excel Men in here. Unleſs perhaps Men are born naked, for this reaſon to put them upon employing and exerciſing their Wits, in the inventing and making that Attire that Nature had made neceſſary for them. And ’tis this Neceſſity that has been the greateſt, if not only occaſion of all the Trade and Commerce, of all the Mechanical Inventions and Diſcoveries that we are Maſters of. Beſides, Nature might have another great Conveniency in her Eye, by bringing Men into the World naked, namely, that they might accommodate themſelves to all places of the World, and go thicker or thinner cloth’d, according as the Seaſon and Climate they liv’d in requir’d. There may ſtill be conceived a greater difference between us and the Inhabitants of the Planets; for there are ſome ſort of Animals, ſuch as Oyſters, Lobſters, and Crab-fiſh, whoſe Fleſh is on the inſide of their Bones as ’twere. But that which hinders me from aſcribing ſuch a kind of Frame and Compoſition to the Planetary Inhabitants, is that Nature ſeems to have done it only in a few of the meaneſt Sort of Creatures, and that hereby they would be deprived of that quick eaſy motion of their Hands and Fingers, which is ſo uſeful and neceſſary to them, otherwiſe I ſhould not be much affected with the odd Shape and Figure.

For ’tis a very ridiculous Opinion, that the common People have got, that ’tis impoſſible a rational Soul ſhould dwell in any other Shape than ours. And yet as ſilly as ’tis, it has been the occaſion of many Philoſophers allowing the Gods no other Shape; nay, the Foundation of a Sect among the Chriſtians, that from hence have the Name of Anthropomorphites. This can proceed from nothing but the Weakneſs, Ignorance, and Prejudice of Men; the ſame as that other concerning humane Shape, that it is the handſomeſt and moſt excellent of all others, when indeed it’s nothing but a being accuſtomed to that Figure that makes us think ſo, and a Conceit that we and all other Animals naturally have, that no Shape or Colour can be ſo good as our own. Yet ſo powerful are theſe, that were we to meet with a Creature of a much different Shape from Man, with Reaſon and Speech, we ſhould be much ſurpriſed and ſhocked at the Sight. For if we try to imagine or paint a Creature like a Man in every Thing elſe, but that has a Neck four times as long, and great round Eyes five or ſix times as big, and farther diſtant, we cannot look upon’t without the utmoſt Averſion, altho’ at the ſame time we can give no account of our Diſlike.