234 MEMOIR OF DR. DALTON, AND 



as in a given space of the universe, the number of stars and 

 planets cannot be infinite." 



" Chemical analysis and synthesis go no farther than to the 

 separation of particles one from another, and to their reunion. 

 No new creation or destruction of matter is within the reach 

 of chemical agency. We might as well attempt to introduce a 

 new planet into the solar system, or to annihilate one already 

 in existence, as to create or destroy a particle of hydrogen. 

 All the changes we can produce consist in separating particles 

 that are in a state of cohesion or combination, and joining 

 those that were previously at a distance. 



" In all chemical investigations it has justly been considered 

 an important object to ascertain the relative weights of the 

 simples which constitute a compound. But unfortunately 

 the inquiry has terminated here ; whereas from the relative 

 weights in the mass, the relative weights of the ultimate 

 particles or atoms of the bodies might have been inferred, 

 from which their number and weight in various other com- 

 pounds would appear, in order to assist and to guide future 

 investigations and to correct their results. Now it is one 

 great object of this work to shew the importance and advan- 

 tage of ascertaining the relative weights of the ultimate 

 particles^ both of simple and compound bodies, the number of 

 simple elementary particles which constitute one compound 

 particle, and the number of less compound particles which 

 enter into the formation of one more compound particle, 



" If there are two bodies A and B which are disposed to 

 combine, the following is the order in which the combinations 

 may take place, beginning with the most simple : namely, 



1 atom of A-|-l atom of B=l atom of C, binary. 



1 atom of A-\-2 atoms of B=:l atom of D, ternary. 



2 atoms of A-j-l atom of B=l atom of E, ternary. 



1 atom of A-f 3 atoms of B=:l atom of F, quaternary. 



3 atoms of A-f 1 atom of B=l atom of G, quaternary. 



&c., &c. 



