Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-11-08


Ny Dear Friead 1fiaAguiar-
hope ere this you have become reconcil-
ed TO my absence, surrounded as yon are,
with so many intellectual enjoyments and
especially with those interesting books-E.i-
cid, Eubrr Newton, and the entertaining
Algebraic trentises with which YOU are al
present engaged
For myself you know that of late. nv
mental Developments have been very rapid.
and like Alexander OF old, who sighed for a
new world to conquer have felt tina, the
earth was field too narrow for my obserya-
ton.
II was one evening soon after our late in.
teresting conversation upon the sublime ma
ture oil mathematical, metaphysical & preno-
logical truths, that walked forth in deep con-
temptation thereon. The sun was just sinking
IN the west The air was calm, but balmy ;
and gentle zephyrs waited 10 my delighted
senses. the fragrance OF many flower.
threw myself upon the grassy turf at The
foot OF mn old oak, and gave myself up TO
the influence of the scene
Around me every Thing was quiet save
the, paintive notes ofthe nightingale, and The
hnitering OF the evening breeze. as il coqnet.
ed among the flowers. The stars were tax
ing their places like so many sentinels. to
Keep guard during the repose Of nature
Then appeared the moon more resplendeni
than had before seen her was seized
with an irreprcssible desire 10 20 to that
planet, so near to us. and which seemed to
b. linked TO our earth by peculiar ties.
fell il TO he reproach 10 science. that she
had as yet offered to mankind no aerial rail
-. ~.
with all mans prctcnsions, he had not as yet
been ablrlo raise his body from the earth.
wilhouta continual tendency oil the latter to
return 10 this mnndaoe sphere Il appear.
I'd to me that il was the love. which man has
for the world. which thus attracts him to it,
! began 10 feel in myself an appraised at
traction. and ms il longcd TO spurn the
world beneath my feet. when fell myself
gently raised from the ground. and borne up
ward OH the delight OF that moment
when perceived mind thus triumphing over
matter and that thought was powerful
enough to raise me from the grovelllng
earth. looked towards the moon. aud in.
stintlv my course without any other effort
than that Of the mind was in that direction
Farewell for a season. exclaimed |, thou
pleasant earth hcnceforth, will thy inhab.
ilants be blest with the notes of a traveller,
whirh shall cause those Of Trollope and
Martincan 10 sink into insign6gance
As advanced. the objects below me d.
lninished 10 size. while those above increas-
ed in the same proportion; aud the stars shone
with greater brilnncy. As for me my mot,
10. like that ofother aspiran,s for knowledge
and lame. was upward and onward In the
delightful progression continued. until
finding myself in the neighborhood OF two
large bodies. | began to entertain some
fears. lest material attraction should operate.
and BY getting in a direct line betwean these
bodies, | should become equally attracted
and remain stationary. This would have
leen a most bumilating termination OF my
aerial excursion. My fears were however
soon quitted. as one ofthe bodies seemed to
recode. and the other TO approach nearer me.
Ny fears were soon awakened by another
cause. which gave il possible still more
alarm than the other. Iperceived small par
tcles OF something like dust, approaching
and adhering TO my clothing at first it was
only an annoyance. as my pride was alarm
ed about my appearance among the inhab-
tanls OF the moon. II soon began TO assume
serious aspect Theparlicles were fast gather
ing upon me. and was fearful lest should
become completely enveloped. and perhaps
become The nncleas of planet, for | was fast
assuming spherical form. and began TO feel a
tendency TO a rotary motion | slrove to dis
cover the cause OF this singular phenome-
non; but every effort was frnitless. and |
was beginning TO resign myself TO my fate.
when thought that | had magnet in my
pocket, occurred to me. and thrust il
IL n