con, and Mare Imbrum, or Imbrum Sea, you will perceive that (as is the fact,) astronomers have distinguished the different figures on the moon as if by geographical names; just as, in a map of the world, we talk of France, England, Mount Caucasus, and other mountains and countries.

You will have also perceived, both here and above, that at least our older astronomers supposed the existence of water (that is, rivers, seas, &c.) in the moon; and if a certain opinion which has been hazarded has good foundation, (namely, that there are no volcanoes upon our own globe, but where the neighbourhood of the sea affords the access of sea-water to the combustible materials of the mountains,) and that

Have astronomers given names to regions, mountains, valleys, and other places, upon the moon; as geographers give them upon the earth?

Has any thing ever been said about seas, rivers, and other waters, actually existing in the moon?

Has an opinion ever been expressed, that where there is no sea, there can be no volcano?

where the sea has retired, there ancient volcanoes have ceased to burn; then, our newer philosophers must explain, how there happen to be volcanoes in the moon, and yet no water? We have volcanoes in even the bed of the sea, but none where the sea is not at hand.

I confess, in the meantime, that I do not understand this history of the volcanoes of the moon; that is, of volcanoes where there is no water! I can just venture to suppose them (if so required) without smoke; but I cannot suppose them without coloured heat, and yet visible! I cannot, in short, suppose heat, or fire, or the action of combustible materials, without the presence of humidity or water; neither can I understand, that there should be, in any part of creation, the presence and activity of one element, or of any compound of elements, without the presence and activity of all elements, and of all the elemental compounds?

Happily, too, for the credit of my doctrine, Professor Gruïthuisen, of Munich, (an indefati

gable explorer of the moon,) has just now come to the belief, that the moon has clouds, and consequently an atmosphere. But, if the moon has clouds, it consequently has water; as you will more certainly understand, when you have read my Tales about Frost and Snow, and Clouds, and all objects of Meteorology, of which I spoke before. The Professor says, that his telescope has lately shown him those two mountains in the moon, that have been called Eudoxia and Aristotle, covered with a number of points, which have afterward changed their position; and these moveable points, he is of opinion, can be nothing else than clouds.

You will read about volcanoes, and about their dependence upon water for their existence, in my Tales about Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Gradual Risings of various Parts of the Earth; Burning Springs; Hot Springs; Burning Cliffs, and all the other operations of Subterraneous Fire upon our Globe. I must forewarn you, however, even here, that we are unacquainted with

any volcano, at present alive upon this globe of the earth, of which "the shining or burning matter must be more than three miles in diameter," like this of Helicon (so called) upon the little globe of the moon. Below is a picture of the volcano upon Mount Vesuvius.

CHAP. VII.

PARLEY STILL TELLS ABOUT THE MOON. WHAT THINGS MIGHT BE SUPPOSED TO BE SEEN UPON THE EARTH, IF THERE WERE ASTRONOMERS AND TELESCOPES IN THE MOON.

I SHOULD never have done, if I were to tell you only a hundredth part of what is to be said concerning the moon; but there are some particulars still untold, either so new, or so rarely mentioned, or so very entertaining, that I cannot omit to add them.

You have been startled by much that you have heard of the close acquaintance of modern astronomers with the moon. The old astrologers could hardly have pretended to more, though of a very different kind. But the acquaintance of the inhabitants of the moon (supposing that there are such, and that they are as well provided with telescopes as ourselves,) with most things upon the earth, is still closer than ours with the things of the moon, if we can believe