Transcriber's Note: Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by =equal signs=. SYMMES'S THEORY OF CONCENTRIC SPHERES; DEMONSTRATING THAT THE EARTH IS HOLLOW, HABITABLE WITHIN, AND WIDELY OPEN ABOUT THE POLES. _By a Citizen of the United States._ "There are more things in Heaven and EARTH, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy!" SHAKSPEARE. "If this man be erroneous, who appears to be so sanguine and persevering in his opinions, what withholds us but our sloth, our self-will, and distrust in the right cause, that we do not give him gentle meetings and a gentle dismission; that we debate not and examine the matter thoroughly, with liberal and frequent audience; if not for his sake, yet for our own; seeing that no man who hath tasted learning, but will confess the many ways of profiting by those, who, not content with stale receipts, are able to manage and set forth new positions to the world. And were they but as the dust and cinders of our feet, so long as in that notion, they may yet serve to polish and brighten the armory of truth; even for that respect they are not utterly to be cast away." MILTON. CINCINNATI: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY MORGAN, LODGE AND FISHER. 1826. DISTRICT OF OHIO, TO WIT. BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty six and in the fiftieth year of the American independence, MESSRS. MORGAN, LODGE AND FISHER, of said District, hath deposited in this office, the title of a book, the right whereof they claim as proprietors, in the words and figures following, to wit: "Symmes's theory of concentric spheres; demonstrating that the earth is hollow, habitable within, and widely open about the poles: by a citizen of the United States. 'There are more things in Heaven and Earth Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy' Shakespeare, 'If this man be erroneous who appears to be so sanguine and persevering in his opinions, what withholds us but our sloth, our self-will, and distrust in the right cause, that we do not give him gentle meetings and a gentle dismission; that we debate not and examine the matter thoroughly, with liberal and frequent audience: if not for his sake, yet for our own; seeing that no man who has tasted learning but will confess the many ways of profiting by those, who, not content with stale receipts, are able to manage and set forth new positions to the world. And were they but as the dust and cinders of our feet, so long as in that notion, they may yet serve to polish and brighten the armory of truth: even for that respect, they are not utterly to be cast away.' Milton."