HISTORY OF THE ATOMIC THEORY. 127 



the sense, though assisted with the most finished instruments, 

 nor have their figures and original differences been determined 

 by a just induction. Leaving, therefore, to other philosophers 

 the sublimer disquisition of primary corpuscles or atoms, of 

 which many bodies or worlds have been formed by the fancy, 

 genuine chemistry contents itself with grosser principles, 

 which are evident to the sense, and known to produce effects 

 in the way of corporeal instruments." 



As it is clear that matter has various appearances, so if 

 there be only one matter, it must be capable of putting on 

 various forms. This variation of forms has been given as an 

 innate power of matter, and if we extend this idea, we come 

 to the conclusion, more or less clearly expressed by many 

 writers, from the earliest times, that matter itself has no 

 qualities ; but that we perceive only the qualities it has put 

 on. Quality means, then, the true matter, or sensible thing 

 which we see. A great many metaphysical, as well as phy- 

 sical difficulties have been removed by allowing a greater 

 number of elements, leaving the difficulties to be solved of a 

 much more profound character. 



The remarkable position given to character, making it play 

 the part of matter, is seen well in Hooke's works.* 



" I conceive the whole of realities that in any way affect our 

 senses, to be body and motion. By body I conceive nothing 

 else but a reality that has extension every way, positive and 

 immutable ; not as to figure, but as to quality ; and that the 

 body, as body, is the same, whatever figure it be of: as a 

 quart of water is a quart of water, or a certain quantity of 

 body, though contained in a globe, cylinder, cone, cube, quart- 

 pot, or any other figured containing vessel ; and as body, it is 

 indifferent to receive any figure whatever; nor has it more 

 extension in the one than in the other vessel, nor can it have 



• The Posthumous Works of Robert Hooke, M.D., F.R.S. Folio. 1705. 

 Pages 17 1 .2. He died in 1 708. 



