Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-02-05
MtseeIIamp.
DR.. LARDNER's LECTURES.

THE PLURALITY OF WORLDS.
On Wednesday evening, Calvert Hall
again presented a select company of la
dies and gentlemen, capable of discrimin.
ating between the meretricious and the
real, and wisely choosing to improve the
brief opportunity for instruction and a.
greeable amusement, which the lectures Of
this accomplished and learned philosopher
now offer 10 our citizens. DR.. Lardner
commenced with some appropriate obser-
vaiions on the Divine purposes in the Gre
alton OF our system, and then directed at
tentlon to the means OF information with
regard to il which we possess. He spoke
OF the telescope as the chief aid in all as
Economical inquiries; but too much had
been expected from this instrument, and
consequently disappointment had been the
result. Unfortunately, just in the same
proportion that we endeavor TO gain in
one particular by its use, do we lose in
another, for as soon as we increase its
power beyond a certain extent, do we in
evitably diminish its efficiency 10 pre-
sent the object distinctly. The greatest
power, therefore, that can be practically
obtained from the best instrument, IS 1000;
that is, the means Of bringing any object
one thousand times nearer than il really is.
Now, if we apply this power to the moon,
we shall at once discover how little we
have 10 expect from lis use. The moon
we know is distant from the earth 24O,-
600 miles, and by the aid of The telescope
we are enabled TO bring it 1000 times
nearer or within 240 miles. Thus we
see the moon under exactly the same cir.
cumstances, that we should, could we look
with the naked eye upon any object al
the distance of $40 milos, with The ex.
ception that the eye observes with more
dlslinctness, for that was made by more
sklul hand. But what could we distin-
gulsh by the eye at that distance? A mani
No. A horse? No. An elephant? No. A city
even two miles in diameter would, if dis
cernlble at all, be but an indistinguishabIe
speck upon the surface. We at once see,
therefore, the hopelessness of the tele-
scope, as means of affording us any in.
formation as TO the character of the moon
from actual observation, and how much
less have we to expect from the same
source when directed TO the planets. We
must content ourselves, accordingly, with
such circumstantial evidence as we find
accessible. The solar system, | need
scarcely say TO you, is composed of num-
Der of planetary orbs, revolving round the
sun. With one Of these we are perfect
ly acquainted, and eHsypresent inquiry is,
shall we be able to acquire any knowledge
OF the purpose designated by the maker
OF the earth for others. IF we find that
the peculiar globe which we inhabit has
been provided with certain qualities adap-
ted to express purposes, and that the same
provisions have been made, down 10 the
rlemoIest particular in all the globes with
IN our system, the sun and moon excepted,
we must infer that it is for the same pur-
poses. The conclusion then will depend
on the closeness of the analogy. Lei us
then consider the provisions with regard to
lhe earth; IN doing this we must carefully
draw distinction between known proper.
ues OF matter and those which are imme-
dlately contributed by the hand of the
Creator. There are two prominent prin.
cples to be considered, first, light and heat
We find that they are impaired to US with
Gegree OF uniformity that is never in.
'errupted by the extreme of either, or by
sucn an extreme MS would be incumpali.
Ole with the well being of the creatures
VINO Inhabit the earth with rs. By the