[ Autographs ] (EARLY SCIENCE FICTION) An interesting manuscript, 2pp 4to., Chattanooga, June 21, 1851, a school essay written by a PorterC. Bliss concerning an imagined trip to the moon. The essay reads in part: "...Sometime since I formed the plan of visiting the moon on an exploring tour. Accordingly I made me a large balloon and taking with me a sufficient quantity of bread and cheese I set out on my expedition. I went upwards fast and in the course of a week found my self on the moon. My first step toward it exploration was to visit thecelebrated `Man on the Moon.' This I found to made of very large pieces of stone...I was utterly at a loss to account for its origin till my eye as attracted by something which appeared to be writing engraved in a block of stone...and found that it contained the historyof the `Man in the Moon'. It seemed from the story that the moon was once inhabited by a very intelligent and civilized people who had emigrated there from another planet. But they soon found that the barren and sterile rock of which the moon is principally composed could produce nothing for their support. It was therefore decided to remove to some more inviting region. But before they went they determined to build a monument that might inform aeronauts that they had once had their residence on the moon..." After about a month of exploring young Porter got back in his balloon and "descended to the earth". Very good condition.