The story of the Sun, New York: 1833-1928 / by Frank M. O'Brien ; with an introduction by Edward Page Mitchell ...

RICHARD LOCKE'S MOON HOAX

41

It may as well be said here that although there had
been an Edinburgh Journal of Science, it ceased to exist
several years before 1835. The periodical to which Dr.
Dick, of Dundee, contributed his moon theories was, in
a way, the successor to the Journal of Science, but it
was called the New Philosophical Journal. The likeness
of names was not great, but enough to cause some confusion. It is also noteworthy that the sly Locke credited
to a supplement, rather than to the Journal of Science
itself, the revelations which he that clay began to pour
before the eyes of Sun readers. Thus he started:
In this unusual addition to our Journal we have
the happiness of making known to the British public,
and thence to the whole civilized world, recent discoveries in astronomy which will build an imperishable monument to the age in which we live, and confer upon the present generation of the human race
proud distinction through all future time.
After solemnly dwelling on the awe which mortal man
must feel upon peering into the secrets of the sky, the
article declared that Sir John
paused several hours before he commenced his observations, that he might prepare his own mind for
discoveries which he knew would fill the minds of
myriads of his fellow men with astonishment.
It continued:
And well might he pause! From the hour the first
human pair opened their eyes to the glories of the
blue firmament above them, there has been no accession to human knowledge at all comparable in