An hiquiry into the Simple Bodies of Chemistry, 109 



chemistry, so called, might be resolvable into two — hydrogen and an 

 unknown base. Under the present supposition, the base is inferred 

 to be a known body, namely, carbon, or the elements of carbon. 



But hydrogen and carbon may, one or both, be compound bodies. 

 The author, pursuing the train of his reasoning, shews, that we must 

 then derive them from an order of molecules superior to that of 

 known forms of matter. We are, therefore, directly led to a conclu- 

 sion, favoured by the most eminent metaphysicians, regarding the 

 nature of matter, namely, that all matter is derived from some com- 

 mon form of existence. The author arrives at this generalization ; 

 but he does not pursue it to its results, because, as he states, it is 

 not necessary for his argument, which is designed simply to shew 

 that the bodies termed simple cannot be separated, as a distinct 

 order of natural products, from the bodies which are determined to 

 be compound, by experiment. 



It is difficult to comprehend why a speculation like this, within 

 the fair range of philosophical inquiry, should have been received 

 with so much bitterness by certain chemists. Are they afraid to 

 have preconceived opinions shaken by the progress of inquiry ? It 

 must be confessed, that the author presses hard on some favoured 

 opinions. He will have it, that chlorine is no more a simple body 

 than cyanogen, with which it preserves the closest parallelism in its 

 chemical actions ; that ammonia is not distinguished from the other 

 alkaline bodies by any essential difference in constitution ; that if 

 ammonium, II^N, be a metal, all the other metals must be com- 

 pound. He makes light of the many chemical formulae held to be 

 established by something little short of demonstration. He asserts 

 that we know nothing of the mode of existence of a compound mole- 

 cule, and that all that a chemical formula can express is, the number 

 and ratio of the elements which enter into any given body, or which 

 are derived from it. We express no opinion upon this, or the 

 author's other views. We only say that he argues the question fair- 

 ly and temperately ; and we doubt not he is able and prepared to 

 defend his opinions, and answer every fair objection. 



