100 MEMOIR OF DR. DALTON, AND 



ning of matter, properly so called, it is in vain to look for a 

 beginning of such elements as cannot be convertible, even 

 if they had not expressly stated that all are capable of trans- 

 formation. 



The early stages of chemistry and metaphysics have uncon- 

 sciously met. From Alexandria, with its spiritual or mystic 

 views, the ars sacra^ Uga rcx^*?? came, perhaps carried by 

 some who had little to teach, at least speaking of matter in 

 terms too mystical to bear to us any distinct meaning, and 

 holding their knowledge too sacred to be given to ordinary 

 mortals. 



The spiritual faculty was becoming developed in man. It 

 had existed before that time in its greatest powers in in- 

 dividuals, but it had not as yet educated nations. Christianity 

 had directed man to the consideration of God and the moral 

 part of our nature with such power and success, that philosophy 

 was carried away by the current, and at length became entirely 

 absorbed. But to philosophize on morals and upon spiritual 

 phenomena, so to speak, is to become mystic, unless great 

 care be used; and this current of thought induced, acted a long 

 and important part in the history of the world. The course 

 of this philosophy, for many ages, seldom led it to touch on 

 matter with any firmness of step. Man lived in his thoughts, 

 still fancying himself capable of living independent of mere 

 external things, his spirit still disinclined to believe in the 

 great power which the base creations under his feet were 

 capable of exercising over his finest feelings. There was a 

 struggle against matter, one which cost thousands of victims, 

 buried or slain in the ranks of asceticism, or made useless by 

 the perverted consciences which they carried with them into 

 common life. Matter was not seriously believed in, it was a 

 strange power, a thing capable of every action, acted on by 

 the Deity, or by the spirits of those who either in this world, 

 or the next, had obtained a share of the primeval influence of 

 the Creator. With such men there could be no true philosophy 



