“Thestuporandsurpriseproducedinmymindbythisextraordinarychangeinthepostureofaffairswasperhaps，afterall，thatpartoftheadventureleastsusceptibleofexplanation。Forthebouleversementinitselfwasnotonlynaturalandinevitable，buthadbeenlongactuallyanticipatedasacircumstancetobeexpectedwheneverIshouldarriveatthatexactpointofmyvoyagewheretheattractionoftheplanetshouldbesupersededbytheattractionofthesatelliteor，moreprecisely，wherethegravitationoftheballoontowardtheearthshouldbelesspowerfulthanitsgravitationtowardthemoon。TobesureIarosefromasoundslumber，withallmysensesinconfusion，tothecontemplationofaverystartlingphenomenon，andonewhich，althoughexpected，wasnotexpectedatthemoment。Therevolutionitselfmust，ofcourse，havetakenplaceinaneasyandgradualmanner，anditisbynomeansclearthat，hadIevenbeenawakeatthetimeoftheoccurrence，Ishouldhavebeenmadeawareofitbyanyinternalevidenceofaninversionthatistosay，byanyinconvenienceordisarrangement，eitheraboutmypersonoraboutmyapparatus。
“Itisalmostneedlesstosaythat，uponcomingtoaduesenseofmysituation，andemergingfromtheterrorwhichhadabsorbedeveryfacultyofmysoul，myattentionwas，inthefirstplace，whollydirectedtothecontemplationofthegeneralphysicalappearanceofthemoon。ItlaybeneathmelikeachartandalthoughIjudgedittobestillatnoinconsiderabledistance，theindenturesofitssurfaceweredefinedtomyvisionwithamoststrikingandaltogetherunaccountabledistinctness。Theentireabsenceofoceanorsea，andindeedofanylakeorriver，orbodyofwaterwhatsoever，struckme，atfirstglance，asthemostextraordinaryfeatureinitsgeologicalcondition。Yet，strangetosay，Ibeheldvastlevelregionsofacharacterdecidedlyalluvial，althoughbyfarthegreaterportionofthehemisphereinsightwascoveredwithinnumerablevolcanicmountains，conicalinshape，andhavingmoretheappearanceofartificialthanofnaturalprotuberance。Thehighestamongthemdoesnotexceedthreeandthree-quartermilesinperpendicularelevation；
butamapofthevolcanicdistrictsoftheCampiPhlegraeiwouldaffordtoyourExcellenciesabetterideaoftheirgeneralsurfacethananyunworthydescriptionImightthinkpropertoattempt。Thegreaterpartofthemwereinastateofevidenteruption，andgavemefearfullytounderstandtheirfuryandtheirpower，bytherepeatedthundersofthemiscalledmeteoricstones，whichnowrushedupwardbytheballoonwithafrequencymoreandmoreappalling。
“April18th。To-dayIfoundanenormousincreaseinthemoon’sapparentbulkandtheevidentlyacceleratedvelocityofmydescentbegantofillmewithalarm。Itwillberemembered，that，intheearlieststageofmyspeculationsuponthepossibilityofapassagetothemoon，theexistence，initsvicinity，ofanatmosphere，denseinproportiontothebulkoftheplanet，hadenteredlargelyintomycalculations；thistooinspiteofmanytheoriestothecontrary，and，itmaybeadded，inspiteofageneraldisbeliefintheexistenceofanylunaratmosphereatall。But，inadditiontowhatI
havealreadyurgedinregardtoEncke’scometandthezodiacallight，IhadbeenstrengthenedinmyopinionbycertainobservationsofMr。
Schroeter，ofLilienthal。Heobservedthemoonwhentwodaysandahalfold，intheeveningsoonaftersunset，beforethedarkpartwasvisible，andcontinuedtowatchituntilitbecamevisible。Thetwocuspsappearedtaperinginaverysharpfaintprolongation，eachexhibitingitsfarthestextremityfaintlyilluminatedbythesolarrays，beforeanypartofthedarkhemispherewasvisible。Soonafterward，thewholedarklimbbecameilluminated。Thisprolongationofthecuspsbeyondthesemicircle，Ithought，musthavearisenfromtherefractionofthesun’sraysbythemoon’satmosphere。I
computed，also，theheightoftheatmospherewhichcouldrefractlightenoughintoitsdarkhemispheretoproduceatwilightmoreluminousthanthelightreflectedfromtheearthwhenthemoonisabout32degreesfromthenewtobe1，356Parisfeet；inthisview，Isupposedthegreatestheightcapableofrefractingthesolarray，tobe5，376feet。Myideasonthistopichadalsoreceivedconfirmationbyapassageintheeighty-secondvolumeofthePhilosophicalTransactions，inwhichitisstatedthatatanoccultationofJupiter’ssatellites，thethirddisappearedafterhavingbeenabout1“or2“oftimeindistinct，andthefourthbecameindiscerniblenearthelimb。{*4}
“CassinifrequentlyobservedSaturn，Jupiter，andthefixedstars，whenapproachingthemoontooccultation，tohavetheircircularfigurechangedintoanovalone；and，inotheroccultations，hefoundnoalterationoffigureatall。Henceitmightbesupposed，thatatsometimesandnotatothers，thereisadensematterencompassingthemoonwhereintheraysofthestarsarerefracted。
“Upontheresistanceor，moreproperly，uponthesupportofanatmosphere，existinginthestateofdensityimagined，Ihad，ofcourse，entirelydependedforthesafetyofmyultimatedescent。
ShouldIthen，afterall，provetohavebeenmistaken，Ihadinconsequencenothingbettertoexpect，asafinaletomyadventure，thanbeingdashedintoatomsagainsttheruggedsurfaceofthesatellite。And，indeed，Ihadnoweveryreasontobeterrified。Mydistancefromthemoonwascomparativelytrifling，whilethelaborrequiredbythecondenserwasdiminishednotatall，andIcoulddiscovernoindicationwhateverofadecreasingrarityintheair。
“April19th。Thismorning，tomygreatjoy，aboutnineo’clock，thesurfaceofthemoonbeingfrightfullynear，andmyapprehensionsexcitedtotheutmost，thepumpofmycondenseratlengthgaveevidenttokensofanalterationintheatmosphere。Byten，Ihadreasontobelieveitsdensityconsiderablyincreased。Byeleven，verylittlelaborwasnecessaryattheapparatus；andattwelveo’clock，withsomehesitation，Iventuredtounscrewthetourniquet，when，findingnoinconveniencefromhavingdoneso，Ifinallythrewopenthegum-elasticchamber，andunriggeditfromaroundthecar。Asmighthavebeenexpected，spasmsandviolentheadacheweretheimmediateconsequencesofanexperimentsoprecipitateandfullofdanger。Buttheseandotherdifficultiesattendingrespiration，astheywerebynomeanssogreatastoputmeinperilofmylife，I
determinedtoendureasIbestcould，inconsiderationofmyleavingthembehindmemomentlyinmyapproachtothedenserstratanearthemoon。Thisapproach，however，wasstillimpetuousintheextreme；anditsoonbecamealarminglycertainthat，althoughIhadprobablynotbeendeceivedintheexpectationofanatmospheredenseinproportiontothemassofthesatellite，stillIhadbeenwronginsupposingthisdensity，evenatthesurface，atalladequatetothesupportofthegreatweightcontainedinthecarofmyballoon。Yetthisshouldhavebeenthecase，andinanequaldegreeasatthesurfaceoftheearth，theactualgravityofbodiesateitherplanetsupposedintheratiooftheatmosphericcondensation。Thatitwasnotthecase，however，myprecipitousdownfallgavetestimonyenough；whyitwasnotso，canonlybeexplainedbyareferencetothosepossiblegeologicaldisturbancestowhichIhaveformerlyalluded。AtalleventsIwasnowcloseupontheplanet，andcomingdownwiththemostterribleimpetuosity。Ilostnotamoment，accordingly，inthrowingoverboardfirstmyballast，thenmywater-kegs，thenmycondensingapparatusandgum-elasticchamber，andfinallyeveryarticlewithinthecar。Butitwasalltonopurpose。Istillfellwithhorriblerapidity，andwasnownotmorethanhalfamilefromthesurface。Asalastresource，therefore，havinggotridofmycoat，hat，andboots，Icutloosefromtheballoonthecaritself，whichwasofnoinconsiderableweight，andthus，clingingwithbothhandstothenet-work，Ihadbarelytimetoobservethatthewholecountry，asfarastheeyecouldreach，wasthicklyinterspersedwithdiminutivehabitations，ereItumbledheadlongintotheveryheartofafantastical-lookingcity，andintothemiddleofavastcrowdofuglylittlepeople，whononeofthemutteredasinglesyllable，orgavethemselvestheleasttroubletorendermeassistance，butstood，likeaparcelofidiots，grinninginaludicrousmanner，andeyeingmeandmyballoonaskant，withtheirarmsseta-kimbo。Iturnedfromthemincontempt，and，gazingupwardattheearthsolatelyleft，andleftperhapsforever，behelditlikeahuge，dull，coppershield，abouttwodegreesindiameter，fixedimmovablyintheheavensoverhead，andtippedononeofitsedgeswithacrescentborderofthemostbrilliantgold。Notracesoflandorwatercouldbediscovered，andthewholewascloudedwithvariablespots，andbeltedwithtropicalandequatorialzones。
“Thus，mayitpleaseyourExcellencies，afteraseriesofgreatanxieties，unheardofdangers，andunparalleledescapes，Ihad，atlength，onthenineteenthdayofmydeparturefromRotterdam，arrivedinsafetyattheconclusionofavoyageundoubtedlythemostextraordinary，andthemostmomentous，everaccomplished，undertaken，orconceivedbyanydenizenofearth。Butmyadventuresyetremaintoberelated。AndindeedyourExcellenciesmaywellimaginethat，afteraresidenceoffiveyearsuponaplanetnotonlydeeplyinterestinginitsownpeculiarcharacter，butrendereddoublysobyitsintimateconnection，incapacityofsatellite，withtheworldinhabitedbyman，ImayhaveintelligencefortheprivateearoftheStates’
CollegeofAstronomersoffarmoreimportancethanthedetails，howeverwonderful，ofthemerevoyagewhichsohappilyconcluded。
Thisis，infact，thecase。Ihavemuchverymuchwhichitwouldgivemethegreatestpleasuretocommunicate。Ihavemuchtosayoftheclimateoftheplanet；ofitswonderfulalternationsofheatandcold，ofunmitigatedandburningsunshineforonefortnight，andmorethanpolarfrigidityforthenext；ofaconstanttransferofmoisture，bydistillationlikethatinvacuo，fromthepointbeneaththesuntothepointthefarthestfromit；ofavariablezoneofrunningwater，ofthepeoplethemselves；oftheirmanners，customs，andpoliticalinstitutions；oftheirpeculiarphysicalconstruction；
oftheirugliness；oftheirwantofears，thoseuselessappendagesinanatmospheresopeculiarlymodified；oftheirconsequentignoranceoftheuseandpropertiesofspeech；oftheirsubstituteforspeechinasingularmethodofinter-communication；oftheincomprehensibleconnectionbetweeneachparticularindividualinthemoonwithsomeparticularindividualontheearthaconnectionanalogouswith，anddependingupon，thatoftheorbsoftheplanetandthesatellites，andbymeansofwhichthelivesanddestiniesoftheinhabitantsoftheoneareinterwovenwiththelivesanddestiniesoftheinhabitantsoftheother；andaboveall，ifitsopleaseyourExcellenciesaboveall，ofthosedarkandhideousmysterieswhichlieintheouterregionsofthemoonregionswhich，owingtothealmostmiraculousaccordanceofthesatellite’srotationonitsownaxiswithitssiderealrevolutionabouttheearth，haveneveryetbeenturned，and，byGod’smercy，nevershallbeturned，tothescrutinyofthetelescopesofman。Allthis，andmore-muchmore
wouldImostwillinglydetail。But，tobebrief，Imusthavemyreward。Iampiningforareturntomyfamilyandtomyhome，andasthepriceofanyfarthercommunicationonmypartinconsiderationofthelightwhichIhaveitinmypowertothrowuponmanyveryimportantbranchesofphysicalandmetaphysicalscienceImustsolicit，throughtheinfluenceofyourhonorablebody，apardonforthecrimeofwhichIhavebeenguiltyinthedeathofthecreditorsuponmydeparturefromRotterdam。This，then，istheobjectofthepresentpaper。Itsbearer，aninhabitantofthemoon，whomIhaveprevailedupon，andproperlyinstructed，tobemymessengertotheearth，willawaityourExcellencies’pleasure，andreturntomewiththepardoninquestion，ifitcan，inanymanner，beobtained。
“Ihavethehonortobe，etc。，yourExcellencies’veryhumbleservant，HANSPFAALL。”
Uponfinishingtheperusalofthisveryextraordinarydocument，ProfessorRub-a-dub，itissaid，droppedhispipeuponthegroundintheextremityofhissurprise，andMynheerSuperbusVonUnderdukhavingtakenoffhisspectacles，wipedthem，anddepositedtheminhispocket，sofarforgotbothhimselfandhisdignity，astoturnroundthreetimesuponhisheelinthequintessenceofastonishmentandadmiration。Therewasnodoubtaboutthematterthepardonshouldbeobtained。Soatleastswore，witharoundoath，ProfessorRub-a-dub，andsofinallythoughttheillustriousVonUnderduk，ashetookthearmofhisbrotherinscience，andwithoutsayingaword，begantomakethebestofhiswayhometodeliberateuponthemeasurestobeadopted。Havingreachedthedoor，however，oftheburgomaster’sdwelling，theprofessorventuredtosuggestthatasthemessengerhadthoughtpropertodisappearnodoubtfrightenedtodeathbythesavageappearanceoftheburghersofRotterdamthepardonwouldbeoflittleuse，asnoonebutamanofthemoonwouldundertakeavoyagetosovastadistance。Tothetruthofthisobservationtheburgomasterassented，andthematterwasthereforeatanend。Notso，however，rumorsandspeculations。Theletter，havingbeenpublished，gaverisetoavarietyofgossipandopinion。Someoftheover-wiseevenmadethemselvesridiculousbydecryingthewholebusiness；asnothingbetterthanahoax。Buthoax，withthesesortofpeople，is，Ibelieve，ageneraltermforallmattersabovetheircomprehension。Formypart，Icannotconceiveuponwhatdatatheyhavefoundedsuchanaccusation。Letusseewhattheysay：
Imprimus。ThatcertainwagsinRotterdamhavecertainespecialantipathiestocertainburgomastersandastronomers。
Don’tunderstandatall。