HISTORY OF THE ATOMIC THKOKY. 3 



considered it better to confiiic myself to certain aspects of 

 Dalton's life and discoveries, thus preventing any reason for 

 asking why another memoir should have at all appeared. The 

 portion which I have most carefully worked out is the History 

 of the Atomic Theory. Much has been said of it; some have 

 g^ven the credit to Dalton, some have taken it from him; 

 most writers have confusedly mixed him up with others* 

 Some have looked forward to the probable developments of 

 truth in after times, and undervalued the laws of combination 

 as they now stand, and with them the discoverers. It has 

 been my desire to shew distinctly what of importance each 

 celebrated thinker or worker has said or done in the matter 

 before Dalton, and what he has himself accomplished. This is 

 done by bringing the original words of the authors, and 

 endeavouring to find what amount of meaning can be at- 

 tached to them. As for all future developments of the 

 present laws I can only say that, believing as I do in the 

 infinite wisdom with which creation is ordered, I am ready 

 to believe in infinite developments of any law ; but strange 

 as may be the new and possible combinations of elements, 

 and interesting also the breaking up of these our present 

 elements into other elements, or even into mere pieces, it is 

 not to be imagined that even nature has any thing in store 

 for us fitted to answer the same purpose within the same limits 

 and still simpler and more extensive than the laws of com- 

 bination as Dalton has expressed them. 



Of the man it has been attempted to give only a short 

 sketch, and the whole merely to serve as an enlarged epitaph, 

 written here instead of on his tomb, a token of remembrance 

 for ourselves especially, like the coffin of some departed friend 

 to preside at our feasts, and as a contribution to his defence if 

 he should be assailed. 



It will also be more in accordance with his own life if little 

 is said about his personal affairs, which took such a very 

 inferior place in his occupations. Unlike many men of the 



