Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/245

Rh coins, which are raised, or lowered, as the exigencies of the State may require. Of this nature, for instance, is the Pound Sterling, as well as the nominal money of other countries.

Real money comprehends all coins or species of gold, silver, copper, &c. which do exist, and are commonly current. Such are guineas, half-guineas, seven shilling pieces; crowns, half-crowns, shillings, six-pences; two-penny and penny pieces; half-pence, and farthings.

As money is the common measure of every kind of commodities, the fabricating of base coin has at all times, and in every State, been considered as treasonable. Hence, to preserve public faith, the law of England considers not only the coining, but also the uttering of money or notes (knowing them to be forged) as felony without. These penalties are certainly dictated by the soundest policy; but, so long as the Bank of England notes are formed on a principle capable of being imitated by perverse ingenuity, we fear the wisdom of the legislature will be ineffectual; and the number of those, who are annually sacrificed to the offended laws of their country for this crime, far from being diminished, will probably continue to increase.  MOON, in astronomy, one of the heavenly bodies, usually, though erroneously, classed among the planets; for it is with more propriety considered as a satellite, or secondary planet.

The mean distance of the moon from the earth, is computed by astronomers, to be about 240,000 miles: her diameter is as 100 to 365, that is, about 2180 miles.

The moon appears to us under various forms; being sometimes horned, at others semi-circular; then full and round. Sometimes this celestial body increases; at others, it is on the wane: illumining the globe, we inhabit, at certain periods throughout the whole night, at others only for a few hours.—The cause of these appearances is believed to arise from the moon being an opaque dark body, which shines only with the light she receives from the sun; hence only the part turned towards that luminary can be illuminated, and consequently transmit light; as the other side is involved in its native darkness. These phenomena, however, it is not within our province to explain; and, as the inquisitive reader will doubtless consult the profound writings of, , and other astronomers, who have devoted their sleepless nights to the observation of this satellite, we shall not enter into any farther details.—See also.

Formerly, the moon was believed to possess considerable influence on the human body; but such opinion, though sanctioned by the name of, and other eminent physicians, is now generally exploded. This luminary, however, greatly influences the vegetable creation, and likewise appears to affect quadrupeds, especially horses. It is well known, that these useful animals are subject to a weakness of the eyes (particularly when they are somewhat advanced in years); and that such debility increases, or decreases, according to the course of the moon; whence they are said to have moon-eyes. Thus, in the wane, they are dull and muddy, or troubled; but, on the approach of the