an autobiography-第56章

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e　displayed　in　the　illustration；　some　of　them　being　upwards　of　20；000　feet　high。　　。。。＇

It　exhibits　a　very　different　appearance　from　that　of　our　mountain　ranges；　which　are　for　the　most　part　the　result　of　a　tangential　action。　In　the　case　of　the　earth；　the　hard　stratified　crust　had　to　adapt　itself　to　the　shrunken　diameter　of　the　once　much　hotter　globe。　This　tangential　action　is　illustrated　in　our　own　persons；　when　age　causes　the　body　to　shrink　in　bulk；　while　the　skin；　which　does　not　shrink　to　the　same　extent；　has　to　accommodate　itself　to　the　shrunken　interior；　and　so　forms　wrinklesthe　wrinkles　of　age。　　This　theory　opens　up　a　chapter　in　geology　and　physiology　well　worthy　of　consideration。　　It　may　alike　be　seen　in　the　structure　of　the　surface　of　the　earth；　in　an　old　apple；　and　in　an　old　hand。*　　＇footnote。。。　The　shrunken　hand　on　the　other　side　is　that　of　Mr。　Nasmyth；　photographed　by　himself。　　According　to　The　Psychonomy　of　the　Hand；　by　R。　　Beamish；　F。R。S。；　author　of　The　Life　of　Sir　M。　I。　Brunel；　it　exhibits　a　thoroughly　mechanical　hand；　as　well　as　the　hand　of　a　delicate　manipulator；　illustrating　that　remarkable　expression　in　the　Book　of　Job；　that　〃in　the　hand　of　all　the　sons　of　men　God　places　marks；　that　all　the　sons　of　men　may　know　their　own　works。〃ED。　　。。。＇

＇Image＇　　Shrunken　Apple　and　Hand。*　　＇footnote。。。　These　illustrations　serve　to　illustrate　one　of　the　most　potent　of　geological　agencies　which　has　given　the　earth's　surface　its　grandest　characteristics。　　I　mean　the　elevation　of　mountain　ranges　through　the　contraction　of　the　globe　as　a　whole。　　By　the　action　of　gravity　the　former　larger　surface　crushes　down；　as　it　were；　the　contracting　interior；　and　the　superfluous　matter；　which　belonged　to　a　bigger　globe；　arranges　itself　by　tangential　displacement；　and　accommodates　itself　to　the　altered　or　decreased　size　of　the　globe。　Hence　our　mountain　ranges；　which　though　apparently　enormous　when　seen　near　at　hand　are　merely　the　wrinkles　on　the　face　of　the　earth。　　。。。＇

While　earnestly　studying　the　details　of　the　moon's　surface；　it　was　a　source　of　great　additional　interest　to　me　to　endeavour　to　realise　in　the　mind's　eye　the　possible　landscape　effect　of　its　marvellous　elevations　and　depressions。　　Here　my　artisic　faculty　came　into　operation。　　I　endeavoured　to　illustrate　the　landscape。　　scenery　of　the　Moon；　in　like　manner　as　we　illustrate　the　landscape　scenery　of　the　Earth。　　The　telescope　revealed　to　me　distinctly　the　volcanic　craters；　the　cracks；　and　the　ranges　of　mountainsby　means　of　the　light　and　shade　on　the　moon's　surface。　　One　of　the　most　prominent　conditions　of　the　awful　grandeur　of　lunar　scenery　is　the　brilliant　light　of　the　sun；　far　transcending　that　which　we　experience　upon　the　earthenhanced　by　the　contrast　with　the　jet…black　background　of　the　lunar　heavens；　the　result　of　the　total　absence　of　atmosphere。　　One　portion　of　the　moon；　on　which　the　sun　is　shining；　is　brilliantly　illuminated；　while　all　in　shade　is　dark。

While　the　disc　of　the　sun　appears　a　vast　electric　light　of　overpowering　rayless　brilliancy；　every　star　and　planet　in　the　black　vault　of　the　lunar　heavens　is　shining　with　steady　brightness　at　all　times；　as；　whether　the　Sun　be　present　or　absent　during　the　long　fourteen　days'　length　of　the　lunar　day　or　night；　no　difference　on　the　absolutely　black　aspect　of　the　lunar　heavens　can　appear。　　That　aspect　must　be　eternal　there。　　No　modification*　　＇footnote。。。　a　small　degree　of　illumination　is；　however；　given　to　some　portions　of　the　Moon's　surface　by　the　Earth…shine；　when　the　earth　is　in　such　a　position　with　regard　to　the　Moon；　as　to　reflect　some　light　on　to　it；　as　the　Moon　does　to　the　earth。　　。。。＇　of　the　darkness　of　shadows　in　the　Moon　can　result　from　the　illuminative　effect；　as　in　our　case　in　the　earth；　from　light　reflected　into　shadows　by　the　blue　sky　of　our　earthly　day　The　intensity　of　the　contrast　between　light　and　shade　must　thus　lend　another　awful　aspect　to　the　scenery　of　the　Moon；　while　deprived　of　all　those　charming　effects　which　artists　term　〃aerial　perspective；〃　by　which　relative　distances　are　rendered　cognisable　with　such　tender　and　exquisite　beauty。　　The　absence　of　atmosphere　on　the　Moon　causes　the　most　distant　objects　to　appear　as　close　as　the　nearest；　while　the　comparatively　rapid　curvature　of　the　moon；　owing　to　its　being　a　globe　only　one…fourth　the　diameter　of　the　earth；　must　necessarily　limit　very　considerably　the　range　of　view。

＇Image＇　　Lunar　Mountains　and　Extinct　Volcanic　Craters

It　is　the　combination　of　all　these　circumstances；　which　we　know　with　absolute　certainty　must　exist　in　the　Moon；　that　gives　to　the　contemplation　of　her　marvellous　surface；　as　revealed　by　the　aid　of　powerful　telescopes；one　of　the　grandest　and　most　deeply　interesting　subjects　that　can　occupy　our　thoughts；　especially　when　we　regard　the　physical　constitution　and　the　peculiar　structure　of　her　surface；　as　that　of　our　nearest　planetary　neighbour；　and　also　as　our　serviceable　attendant　by　night。

Then　there　are　the　Tides；　so　useful　to　man；　preserving　the　sanitary　condition　of　the　river　mouths　and　tide…swept　shores。　We　must　be　grateful　for　the　Moon's　existence　on　that　account　alone。　She　is　the　grand　scavenger　and　practical　sanitary　commissioner　of　the　earth。　Then　consider　the　work　she　does！　　She　moves　hundreds　of　ships　and　barges；　filled　with　valuable　cargoes；　up　our　tidal　rivers；　to　the　commercial　cities　on　their　banks。　　She　thus　performs　a　vast　amount　of　daily　and　nightly　mechanical　drudgery。　　She　is　the　most　effective　of　all　Tugs；　and　now　that　we　understand　the　convertibility　and　conservation　of　force；　we　may　be　able　to　use　her　Tide…producing　powers　through　the　agency　of　electricity　for　mechanical　purposes。　It　is　even　possible　that　the　Tides　may　yet　light　our　streets　and　houses！*　　＇footnote。。。　It　is　not　quite　a　century　since　London　was　in　part　supplied　with　water　by　the　Moon；　through　employing　the　tidal　action　by　the　waters　at　Old　London　Bridge；　where　the　tide　mills　worked　the　water…supplying　pumps。　　。。。＇

Is　the　moon　inhabited？　　It　seems　to　me　that　the　entire　absence　of　atmosphere　and　water　forbids　the　suppositionat　least　of　any　form　of　life　with　which　we　are　acquainted。　　Add　to　this　adverse　condition；　the　fact　of　the　moon's　day　being　equal　to　fourteen　of　our　days；　the　sun　shining　with　much　more　brilliancy　of　effect　in　the　moon　than　on　the　earth；　where　atmosphere　and　moisture　act　as　an　important　agent　in　modifying　its　scorching　rays；　whilst　no　such　agency　exists　in　the　moon。　The　sun　shines　there　without　intermission　for　fourteen　days　and　nights。　During　that　time　the　heat　must　accumulate　to　almost　the　melting　point　of　lead；　while；　on　the　other　hand；　the　absence　of　the　sun　for　an　equal　period　must　be　followed　by　a　period　of　intense　cold；　such　as　we　have　no　experience　of；　even　in　the　Arctic　regions。　　The　highest　authorities　state　that　the　cold　during　the　Moon's　long　night　must　reach　as　low　as　250　degrees　below　the　freezing　point　of　water。　　These　considerations；　I　think；　reasonably　suggest　that　the　existence　of　any　form　of　life　in　the　Moon　is　in　the　highest　degree　improbable。

The　first　occasion　on　which　I　exhibited　my　series　of　drawings　of　the　Moon；　together　with　a　map　six　feet　in　diameter　of　its　entire　visible　surface；　was　at　the　meeting　of　the　British　Association　at　Edinburgh　in　1850。　　I　always　looked　forward　to　these　meetings　with　great　pleasure；　and　attended　them　with　supreme　interest。　　My　dear　wife　always　accompanied　me。　　It　was　our　scientific　holiday。　　It　was　also　our　holiday　of　friendship。　　We　met　many　of　our　old　friends；　and　made　many　new　friends。　　Alas；　how　many　of　them　have　departed！　　Herschel；　Faraday；　Robinson；　Taylor；　Phillips；　Brewster；　Rosse；　Fairbairn；　Lassell；　and　a　host　of　minor　stars；　who；　although　perhaps　wanting　in　the　brightness　or　magnitude　of　those　I　have　named；　made　good　amends　by　the　warmth　of　their　cheerful　rays。　　We　saw　the　younger　lights　emerging　above　the　horizon：　　the　men　who　still　continue　to　shed　their　glory　over　the　meetings　of　the　Association。

How　delightful　was　our　visit　to　Edinburgh　in　1850。　It　was　〃mine　own　romantic　town。〃　　I　remembered　its　striking　features　so　well。　There　was　the　broad　mass　of　the　Old　Town；　with　its　endless　diversity　of　light　and　shade。　　There　was　the　grand　old　fortress；　with　its　towers　and　turrets　and　black　portholes。　　Towards　evening　the　distant　glories　of　the　departing　sun　threw　forward；　in　dark　outline；　the　wooded　hill　of　Corstorphine。　　The　rock　and　Castle　assumed　a　new　aspect　every　time　I　looked　at　them。　　The　long…drawn　gardens　filling　the　valley　between　the　Old　Town　and　the　New；　and　the　thickly…wooded　scars　of　the　Castle　rock；　were　a　charm　of　landscape　and　a　charm　of　art。　　Arthur's　Seat；　like　a　lion　at　rest；　seemed　perfect　witchcraft。　　And　from　the　streets　in　the　New　Town；　or　from　Calton　Hill；　what　singular　glances　of　beauty　were　observed　in　the　distancethe　gleaming　waters　of　the　Firth；　and　the　blue　shadows　among　the　hills　of　Fife。

I　remembered　it　all；　from　the　days　in　which　I　sat；　as　a　child；　beside　the　lassies　watching　the　〃claes〃　on　the　Calton　Hill　and　hearing　the　chimes　of　St。　Giles's　tinkling　across　the　Nor'　Loch　from　the　Old　Town；　the　walks；　when　a　boy；　in　the　picturesque　country　round　Edinburgh；　with　my　father　and　his　scientific　and　artistic　friends；　my　days　at　the　High　School；　and　then　my　evenings　at　the　School　of　Arts；　my　castings　of　brass　in　my　bedroom；　and　the　technical　training　I　enjoyed　in　the　workshop　of　my　old　schoolfellow；　my　roadway　locomotive　and　its　success；　and　finally；　the　making　of　my　tools　and　machines　intended　for　Manchester；　at　the　foundry　of　my　dear　old　friend　Douglass。　　It　all　came　back　to　me　like　a　dream。　　And　now；　after　some　twenty　years；　I　had　returned　to　Edinburgh　on　a　visit　to　the　British　Association。　　Many　things　had　been　changedmany　relatives　and　friends　had　departedbut　still　Edinburgh　remained　to　me　as　fascinating　as　ever。

The　excursions　formed　our　principal　source　of　enjoyment　during　these　scientific　gatherings。　　The　season　was　then　at　its　happiest。　Nature　was　in　her　most　enjoyable　condition；　and　the　excursionists　were　usually　in　their　holiday　mood。　　The　meeting　of　the　British　Association　at　Edinburgh　was　presided　over　by　Sir　David　Brewster。　　The　geologists　visited　the　remarkable　displays　of　volcanic　phenomena　with　which　the　neighbourhood　of　Edinburgh　singularly　abounds。　　Indeed；　Edinburgh　owes　much　of　its　picturesque　beauty　to　volcanoes　and　earthquake　upheavings。　Our　excursions　culminated　in　a　visit　to　the　Bass　Rock。　The　excursion　had　been　carefully　planned；　and　was　successfully　carried　out。　The　day　was　beautiful；　and　the　party　was　of　the　choicest。　After　reaching　the　little　cove　of　Canty　Bay；　overlooked　by　the　gigantic　ruins　of　Tantallon　Castle；　we　were　ferried　across　to　the　Bass；　through　a　few　miles　of　that　capricious　sea；　the　Firth　of　Forth；　near　to　where　it　joins　the　German　Ocean。　　We　were　piloted　by　that　fine　old　British　tar；　Admiral　Malcolm；　while　the　commissariat　was　superintended　by　General　Pasley。

We　were　safely　landed　on　that　magnificent　sea…girt　volcanic　rock　the　Bass。　　After　inspecting　the　ruins　of　what　was　once　a　castellated　State　prison；　where　the　Covenanters　were　immured　for　conscience'　sake；　we　wandered　up　the　hill　towards　the　summit。　　There　we　were　treated　to　a　short　lecture　by　Professor　Owen　on　the　Solan　Goose；　which　was　illust