We can agree with Sir George B. Airy in his ideas about education, and now conclude by saying that he has given us a very clear and notable example of a theory being accepted very generally, without being thoroughly examined to the very end, and of how easy it is for such theories to be handed down to future generations for their admiration.
PAGE 33 The moon cannot have even an imaginary rotation on its axis, but is generally believed to have. Quotations to prove this. 35 Proofs that there can be no rotation. The most confused assertion that there is rotation shown to be without foundations. 37 A gin horse does not rotate on its axis in its revolution. 38 A gin horse, or a substitute, driven instead of being a driver. 38 Results of the wooden horse being driven by the mill. 39 The same results produced by the revolution of the moon. Centrifugal force sufficient to drive air and water away from our side of the moon. 40 That force not sufficient to drive them away from its other side. 41 No one seems ever to have thought of centrifugal force in connection with air and water on the moon. 41 Near approach made by Hansen to this notion. 42 Far-fetched reasons given for the non-appearance of air and water. 44 The moon must have both on the far-off hemisphere. 44 Proofs of this deduced from its appearance at change. 45 Where the evidences of this may be seen if looked for at the right place. The centrifugal force shown to be insufficient to drive off even air, and less water, altogether from the moon. 47 The moon must have rotated on its axis at one period of its existence. 48 The want of polar compression no proof to the contrary. 48 Want of proper study gives rise to extravagant conceptions, jumping at conclusions, and formation of "curious theories."
A good deal of theorising has been expended in accounting for the absence of all but traces of an atmosphere and water on the moon, which might have been avoided had astronomers not caught up the notion, and stuck to it, that it rotates on its axis once for every revolution that it makes round the earth. It might be difficult to find out with whom the notion originated; but perhaps it was first conceived to be the case by some celebrated astronomer, and has been accepted by almost all his successors without being properly looked into. Any one who chose to take the trouble to study the matter thoroughly, would have easily discovered that the moon can have no rotation of any kind on its axis, and immediately afterwards have found out the reason why nothing beyond traces of air and water were to be seen on the side of it constantly turned towards the earth. This is another example we can give of erroneous ideas leading to erroneous and impossible conclusions, and preventing the truth from being discovered. That the rotation of the moon on its axis is stated to be a fact, by recognised and celebrated astronomers, will be seen from the following quotations.