Aſtronomy, we ſaid before, could never ſubſiſt without the writing down the Obſervations: Nor could the Art of Writing (any more than the Arts of Carpenters and Founders) ever be found out except in a Society of reaſonable Creatures, where the Neceſſities of Life forc’d them upon Invention: So that it follows from hence, (as was before ſaid) that the Planetary Inhabitants muſt in this be like us, that they maintain a Society and Fellowſhip with, and afford mutual Aſſiſtances and Helps to one another. Hereupon we muſt allow them a ſettled, not a wandring Scythian way of living, as more convenient for Men in ſuch Circumſtances. But what follows from hence? Muſt they not have every thing elſe proper for ſuch a manner of living granted them too? Muſt they not have their Governours, Houſes, Cities, Trade and Bartering? Why ſhould they not, when even the barbarous People of America and other Places were at their firſt Diſcovery found to have ſomewhat of that nature in uſe among them. I don’t ſay, that Things muſt be the ſame there as they are here. We have many that may very well be ſpared among rational Creatures, and were deſign’d only for the preſervation of Society from all Injury, and for the curbing of thoſe Men who make an ill uſe of their Reaſon to the Detriment of others. Perhaps in the Planets they have ſuch plenty and affluence of all good Things, as they neither need or deſire to ſteal from one another; perhaps they may be ſo juſt and good as to be at perpetual Peace, and never to lie in wait for, or take away the Life of their Neighbour: perhaps they may not know what Anger or Hatred are; and if ſo, they muſt be much happier than we. But it’s more likely they have ſuch a mixture of Good with Bad, of Wiſe with Fools, of War with Peace, and want not that School-miſtreſs of Arts Poverty. For, as was before ſhown, ſome good uſe may be made of theſe things, but if not, there is no Reaſon why we ſhould prefer their Condition to our own. [They enjoy the Pleaſures of Society.] What I am now going to ſay may ſeem ſomewhat more bold, and yet is not leſs likely than the former. For if theſe Nations in the Planets live in Society, as I have pretty well ſhow’d they do, ’tis ſomewhat more than probable that they enjoy not only the Profit, but the Pleaſures ariſing from Society: ſuch as Converſation, Amours, Jeſting, and Shews. Otherwiſe we ſhould make them live without Diverſion or Merriment; we ſhould deprive them of the great Sweetneſs of Life, which it can’t well be without, and give our ſelves ſuch an Advantage over them as Reaſon will by no means admit of.