When silence was again restored, even in the most distant groups, the triumphant orator contented himself with adding the following considerations:-- "You will think, gentlemen, that I have hardly touched upon this grave question.

I am not here to give you an instructive lecture upon this vast subject.

There is another series of arguments in favour of the heavenly bodies being inhabited; I do not look upon that.

Allow me only to insist upon one point.

To the people who maintain that the planets are not inhabited you must answer, 'You may be right if it is demonstrated that the earth is the best of possible worlds; but it is not so, notwithstanding Voltaire.' It has only one satellite, whilst Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune have several at their service, an advantage that is not to be disdained.