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Page 29
"Now Experience shews us, that the Moon appears with the greater
Light eclips'd in its _Apog�e_, or greater Distance, and more
obscure when in its _Perig�e_, 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.
"I shall now speak of the principal and constituent Parts of this
Planet; to wit, the Sea, the firm Land; its Extrinsicks, as Meteors,
Seasons, and Inhabitants."
"I find, _said his Excellency_, you have forgot what you promised,
the being concise; you have already couch'd what you are going to
repeat, in Writing. I am satisfied that you have in your Memorial
demonstrated, that the Moon is like ours, a World, and this Earth,
like that, a Planet; I would willingly hear if _Probusomo_ can bring
any Objection of Weight to the undertaking the Journey; for I look
upon the Distance which you have computed to be about 179712
_Lapidians_ (answerable to so many _English_ Miles) to be none at
all, since we have _Cacklogallinians_, who, with Provisions for a
Week, will fly 480 _Lapidians_ a Day, and hold it for many Days. But
this Swiftness, as you have made appear, is not requisite, since you
judge, that in ascending some five _Lapidians_, you will have
reach'd the Atmosphere, and the rest will be attended by no other
Fatigue, than that of preventing too swift a Descent. Propose what
you have to object, _Probusomo_, for I will provide you able
Bearers, who shall carry you, and with the Strength of theirs,
supply your Defect of Wings."
I answer'd, That since his Excellency commanded, I would give in those
Objections which occurr'd: The first was the extream Coldness of the
Air; the second its great Subtlety, which to me made this Undertaking
impracticable; besides, the Distance is such, by the learned Gentleman's
Calculation, that could the _Cacklogallinians_, without resting, fly at
the rate of 1500 _Lapidians_ a Day, the Journey could not be ended in
less than six Moons: That there were no Inns in the Way, nor Places to
rest in; and supposing we could carry Provisions for that Length of
Time, I could not perceive how they could be always on Wing, and subsist
without Sleep.
His Excellency seem'd to think the Difficulties I rais'd merited
Consideration, and after some Pause, asked the Projector, if he could
solve them.
"As to the first Objection, my Lord, _said he_, I answer, that altho'
the second Region may be endow'd with Coldness proper for the
Production of Meteors, yet may it not be unsupportable; neither can
we suppose, that the Air above, which if not destin'd to the same
End, is of the same Nature, but on the contrary, we may rather
suppose it exempt from all Extremes, consequently our Passage thro'
this cold Region being performed, which we have Reason to conclude
but short, for this condens'd Air which encompasses the Earth on
every Part, weighs about 108 _Liparia_'s on a Square Inch (_Liparia_
is near a Sixth of our Pound) and we may very easily compute from
thence, what Space of this Air we have to pass, by computing what is
necessary to support this Globe of Earth, we shall find the �therial
altogether temperate.
"As to the second Objection, I anwer, that the Subtlety of the Air I
look upon no Obstacle; for the Air near the Earth, especially in dry
Places, where there are no impure Exhalations, by the intense Heat
of the Sun, it is perhaps as thin, and as much rarified, as the
�therial. This I suppose from the Tenuity of the Air on the top of
the Mountain _Tenera_, where 'tis said none can inhabit on that
account. But I have my self flown to the top of this Mountain, and
carry'd with me a wet Spunge, thro' which I drew my Breath for some
time, but by Degrees I became habituated to this Tenuity, and
respired with Ease; nay, after staying there some few Days, I found
the denser Air, on my Descent, caus'd a Difficulty in my
Respiration: From whence I concluded, that, by Degrees, the thinnest
Air may become Natural; and as I felt no Hunger while on the
Mountain, I may suppose the same Air we breathe may also nourish us.
And this is no vain Imagination, for the _Aker_ (that is, Viper) we
see live by the Spirit included in the Air, which is the Principle
of Life in all; but in case I am out in this Conjecture, we may
carry Provisions with us.
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