suggested by Mr. Babbage's notice of it. 503 



tage and to that of others ; while, on the other hand, if it be 

 found that the interests of philosophy have been promoted by 

 my labours, it will yield me a gratification and pleasure 

 amply repaying my toils in the field of science. 



Permit me to present, by way of conclusion, a brief view of 

 what I consider to be done, and may, as it seems to me, be 

 done, by this theory ; first observing that all which remains 

 in addition to its principles, in order to render every depart- 

 ment of natural philosophy a mathematical science, is to obtain 

 approximatively, 1st. A knowledge of the absolute forces of 

 at least tenacious atoms ; 2nd. The radii of the spheres of re- 

 pulsion ; 3rd. The quantities of each class and sort. The 

 first is in a tolerable degree made out in the atomic weights 

 of elements, which are obviously as the absolute forces, or 

 masses, since these weights depend simply on the force of the 

 earth's attraction at a given place. A rude approximation of 

 the two others may be attained from phaenomena, and the 

 more accurately as science proceeds. Respecting these three 

 particulars, the most likely assumptions may be admitted, and 

 from them calculations instituted, and when these are compared 

 with actual phaenomena, such alterations may be made, in the 

 constants assumed, as the results may indicate. It may here 

 be observed that every phenomenon of physical astronomy is 

 explicable on this theory, since as far as that elegant science 

 is concerned, it agrees precisely with that of Newton. 



But what greatly raises my expectation in favour of the truth 

 of the theory is, that, 1st. The general properties of bodies 

 are derivable from it, as extension, divisibility, mobility, vis 

 inertiae, &c. 2nd. The laws of motion or of vis inertiae are 

 necessary consequences. 3rd. The principle, which as the re- 

 sult of experiment forms the foundation of hydrostatics and 

 pneumatics, viz. that pressure communicated to a mass of fluid 

 in equilibrium is equally transmitted through the whole, may 

 by it be easily proved. 4th. The three forms of bodies, as well 

 as cohesion, capillary attraction, and the attraction of floating 

 bodies, with elasticity, tenacity, &c, equally are the offsprings 

 of these principles. 5th. The polarity of particles in certain 

 circumstances, and consequently crystallization and chemical 

 affinity, in like manner result from the same views. 6th. The 

 same may be said of the important law of the diffusion of gases 

 and vapours, of Mariotte's law, definite proportions, the theory 

 of volumes, and the electrical condition of elements. 7th. The 

 leading phenomena of electricity, galvanism, magnetism, 

 electro-magnetism, and optics flow freely and clearly from the 

 same fountain. I am deeply interested in the wish that some 

 mathematical philosopher would take up the subject. Were I 

 thirty, instead of almost seventy years of age, I would enter 



