Not satisfied with this conclusion, we proceeded to examine all the books, journals, magazines, and _papers_ we could get hold of, to see whether we could find any indication of such a conception having been published previously, and the nearest approach to anything of the kind having been conceived of by anyone, we found in Chambers's work--already referred to--at page 134, Vol. I., where we read, "Professor Hansen has recently started a curious theory from which he concludes that the hemisphere of the moon which is turned away from the earth may possess an atmosphere. Having discovered certain irregularities in the moon's motion, which he was unable to reconcile with theory, he was led to suspect that they might arise from the centre of gravity of the moon not coinciding with the centre of figure. Pursuing this idea, he found upon actual investigation that the irregularities could be almost wholly accounted for by supposing the centre of gravity to be at a distance of 33-1/2 miles _beyond_ the centre of figure. Assuming this hypothesis to be well founded, Professor Hansen remarks that the hemisphere of the moon, which is turned towards the earth, is in the condition of a high mountain, and that consequently we need not be surprised that (little or) no trace of an atmosphere exists; but that on the opposite hemisphere, the surface of which is situated _beneath_ the mean level, we have no reason to suppose that there may not exist an atmosphere and consequently both animal and vegetable life. Professor Newcomb has disputed these conclusions of Hansen, which it is obvious must be very difficult of either proof or disproof."