“Are you a Whewellite or a Brewsterite, or a t'othermanite, Mrs Bold?” said Charlotte, who knew a little about everything and had read about a third of each of the books to which she alluded.

“Oh!” said Eleanor; “I have not read any of the books, but I am sure that there is one man in the moon at least, if not more.”

“You don't believe in the pulpy gelatinous matter?” said Bertie.

“I heard about that,” said Eleanor; “and I really think it's almost wicked to talk in such a manner. How can we argue about God's power in the other stars from the laws which he has given for our rule in this one?”

“How indeed!” said Bertie. “Why shouldn't there be a race of salamanders in Jupiter, why shouldn't the fish there be as wide awake as the men and women here?”

“That would be saying very little for them,” said Charlotte. “I am for Dr. Whewell myself; for I do not think that men and women are worth being repeated in such countless worlds. There may be souls in other stars, but I doubt their having any bodies attached to them. But come, Mrs Bold, let us put our bonnets on and walk round the close …”

This exchange, just before a moonlit walk, comes in Anthony Trollope's novel Barchester Towers, published in 1857, two years before the Origin appeared. It was the topic of the hour.