He had so possess'd the Minister with this Notion, that my arguing against it was to no purpose. He told me one Day, That all the Philosophers allow'd, nay, maintain'd, that both Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals, were generated, grew, and were nourished, by the Spirit of the World: A Quintessence partaking of all the Four Elements, tho' it was no One, might be called Air, and was not; Fire, and was not Fire, &c. That this Spirit was assisted by the Influence of the Planets, and tended to the highest Perfection of Purity. That all Metals were generated by the said Spirit, and differ'd from one another, but according to the Purity or Impurity of the Matrices which receiv'd it. That as the Planets Influence was necessary, that of the Moon must, as the nearest to the Earth, be the most efficacious: That as it was visible to the Eye, the Moon was more depurated than the Earth; was surrounded by a thinner Air, in which the Spirit of the World is more abundant, and was nearer to the other Planets, he naturally concluded, that it must abound in Gold Mines; and this Conclusion was strengthened by the Mountains discernible in the Moon; and Mountains being mostly rocky, afforded the purest Matrice for the Universal Spirit; so that it seem'd to him impossible, that any other Metal, less pure, could be generated in that World. That such Metals, for their Use, were often preferable to Gold, and that in denying my Descent from thence, I was in Fact, doing an Injury to those I wish'd to serve, since by Intercourse with those Inhabitants, both Worlds might find their Advantage.
I answered his Excellency, That I wished he might ever find his and his Country's Good, in all his Undertakings, since I had so great Obligations to both; but that what I had told him of my self was every way consonant to Truth; that I was so far from being an Inhabitant of the Moon, that I did not believe it habitable; and if it were, I did not think a Voyage thither practicable, for Reasons I wou'd give the Projector, whenever his Excellency would condescend to hear my Objections and his Answers: That if he, after that, would persist in the Undertaking, she should find me ready to sacrifice that Life in the Attempt, which I held from his Goodness. Well, return'd he, to morrow I will have him at my House, don't fail being there at Dinner; I will be denied to every one else, and hope his Reasons will convince you; for I have, I own, a greater Opinion of your Veracity, in what relates to this Affair, than of your Judgment.
The next Day I waited on his Excellency, where I found the Projector mention'd. He began the Discourse, addressing himself to me, after the usual Ceremonies.
"I am sorry, said he, to find what I propos'd meet with any Objection from one whose Penetration makes me fear some Obstacle considerable, which has escaped my Scrutiny. However, if I have the Mortification to have my Views baffled, yet shall I reap the Advantage of being instructed in what I am ignorant of. His Excellency has commanded me to lay before you what my Reasons are, for supposing the Moon an inhabited Globe. I shall therefore, with all possible Brevity, obey his Excellency's Commands. I shall not name the ancient Sages, both of this and the neighbouring Nations, who have been of the same Opinion, because I have already cited them in my Memorial; but shall first offer you some Principles on which I have, beside the Authorities mention'd, founded my own.
"First, I esteem the Moon an opaque solid Body, as is our Earth, and consequently adapted for the Entertainment and Nourishment of its Inhabitants. Now, that it is a solid Body, is evident by the Repercussion of the Light which it receives from the Sun."
"Sir, said I, you are here begging the Question; for it is possible, that the Moon of itself is a luminous Body; and I am apt to believe it such for this Reason: Its Light is seen in more than one Place at a time, whereas a Body which gives a Light by Reflection only, that Light is perceivable in that Point alone, where the Angle of Reflection is equal to that of Incidence."
He answer'd,
"My Objection did not hold good in regard to a Body whose Surface is rugged and uneven, as is that of the Moon. That it is an opaque and solid Body, is visible by the Eclipses of the Sun; for a pellucid Body could not deprive us of the Light of that glorious Planet. That the Moon does eclipse the Sun in the same manner as our Earth eclipses the Moon (as all know it does) makes me conclude these two Bodies of a Nature, since the like Interposition produces the like Effect. When I say they are of a Nature, I mean opaque, which to prove, I argue thus: If this Planet be of it self luminous, it must appear much brighter when eclips'd in its perigée, or nearest Distance from the Earth, and its Light must be less consequently when in its Apogée, or greatest Distance from it; for the nearer a luminous Body approaches the Eye, the stronger Impression it makes upon the Sight. Beside, the Shadow of the Earth, had the Moon any innate and peculiar Light, cou'd not obscure it, but, on the contrary, would render it more conspicuous, as is evident to Reason.
"Now Experience shews us, that the Moon appears with the greater Light eclips'd in its Apogée, or greater Distance, and more obscure when in its Perigée, or nearer Distance, consequent has no peculiar Light of its own. That a Shadow could obscure its inherent Light, had it any, would be making a Body of a Shadow, which is so far from being corporeal, that it is nothing but a Deprivation of the Light of the Sun, by the Interposition of the opaque Body of the Earth.
"I could give many more Reasons, but to avoid Prolixity, I refer you to my Memorial, knowing how precious Time is to your Excellency.