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 tha