Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-06-12
MIR. LOCKE's MOON STORY.


MIR. LOCKE'S MOON STORY.
All our readers probably remember tie diver
ting hoax which YVES played oTby r. A. Locke,
Chen, we believe, the editor of the New-lork
Sun) some years ago, purportjng 20 he a letter
from Sir W. IIcrschell, giving an account Of
the wonderful discoveries lie had made III tie
Moon, by the agency of his improved telescope.
The story was rcpublished-read with avidity
received as sober fact by a fow-and read by
all as a most ingenious piece of harmless pleas
antry. The editor of the New York Signal has
recently requested of Mr.. Locke an authentic
copy of the Letter." and a statement of the
circumstances that suggested its composition.
With the latter part of this request Mr.. Locke
has complied. His reply is not less amusing
than the original Moon Story, and the way in
which he soberly c~riticises the s~eciarian absur-
dities and refutes the philosophical conjectures
of the Rev. Thomas Dick, is rot to be disre-
garded. We have added a copious extract, and
may give the remainder hereafter, if not pre-
vented by a press Of more important matter.
! had long been seriously, and even painfully
impressed with the conviction that the nnagina-
tie Scb0oi # ihjloSophy, so popular at the pres
cnt day, particularly in reference 10 astronomy
the chief glory of which is the absolute GER
tainty, both in mathematics and experience, Of
its many sublime dcvelopemcnts-was rapidly
emasculating the minds of our studious youth
uniting them for those steiner labors in the
field Of the exact sciences which yielded sucf
an immortal harvest in the two preceding
centuries-and fostering a puerilc and prurlen
appetite for the @ianciiul and the marvellous
most unfavorable to a healthlul desire for these
solid and substantial acquisitions without whlcl
science evarorates in capricious theories.
was convinced. moreover, that the Theological
and Gcr0ti0uGi ncroaclments upon the Legitimate
province of science, which have become 81
, manifest and avowed an o. ject of the schoo
to which ! alludc, were calculated, if unchecke,
$ and urreproved, again to bind IN the chains Q
sectdridn faith and conventional dogmatlsiil, IL
4 uuiries into matters of fact that should he ire
g as the mountain air and Ill chartered as the llgl
. Of heaven. saw the geology of the presen
' age struggling against the seii-sane letters th1
+ were rlvctcd upon astronomy in the age {
+ CoPERNICus and CALLED, and which so s.oWi
: oXidized away III the succeeding century. III
, same impious array of s~cctarian and lit
/, crate Interpretation of the "Word of God,
against the demonstrate evidence of the VI
f questionable worLS of God, that had crushed tn
astronomical system OF Pythagoras for more tha
o a thousand years that long deprived the Worl
: of the precious treatise OF Copernlcus, in Wblc
that system was rc-diacovcrcd and more full
n revealed and that consigned Calico, who Ia
e confirmed it BY actual observation. TO TIE dur
y geon and probably 10 the rack of torturc-i sa'
- consirniny Tie ulpreiudiced students Of geolog
to the eXcoI"munication Of i~niidelty, with all il
cruel obloquy. 1t had occurred within til
n sphere OF my own social intercourse, that scyc,
r al intelliGen, minds which were mixing sa!aab,
IIlscoYeries inthiS Grand and peculiarly ~attract.y
, study, were TTatdt5a44 to re!in2Iish if, Lecaus
/ they perceived it was leading tlta--t5 ttedwil
discovery that the globe on which We live wa
no. formed ia literally six days Of tventy-iou
y hours each! 1t was idle to tel them that tire
o. those DAYS had e,apscd before tie LeaIenl
t bod es WAith HOW make and measure our da
{ are said to have been created, and, therefor,
: that the Scripture day Of creation. from It's oW
showing, and indie evidently Of all geologIci
+ evidence upon the question, C0hhi nat have bee
s. days such - ours. Ii was IN VAIN to say III;
a the Scripture statement might be true. an
y trausla'ors and pastors false: that the prmity
% text might quadra,e very well with the PrimitE
rocks; AID, indeed. that @co.ogy furnished coz
If elusive indications OF distinct periods in the 10,
S nation Of or glohe, admirably harmon.l,-r VII
q the several progressive stGGcs in the creation
organizedhe iag, described in the Mosaic accoGr
!. All was useless tie imaginative and devotion
e philosophy prevailed the s~ec,al.Sn theology
the pulpit triumpled over the theological, sc,
tons OF the hilr. II was with Gnic'Gned pa
that ] saw this 2lthra..iog loWer ct marrow
minded prejudice receiving tribute and hcmag
h from a'Mcst every scientific work th,t issue
from the press even the most gired minds
IS the day. tie Bycwaters ond the @i.ersche Is,