Mr, Exleys Application of Mathematics, Sfc. 267 

 Article III. 



Important Facts derived Mathematically from a General 

 Theory, embracing many Results in Chemistry, which are 

 denominated ultimate facts. By Thomas Exley, A.M. 



(Communicated to the Chemical Section of the British Association, -Aug. 23rd, 1836.) 



It is not for one man to build the temple of science, many- 

 must be employed. 



You, veterans in science, you have collected an immense 

 mass of materials. Many have digged for a foundation, 

 but every one yet examined has proved sandy. It has been 

 my lot, through the guidance of the Great Architect, to 

 find the rock on which you may safely build. 



My object is to place chemistry under the domain of 

 mathematical science, and to establish my new theory by 

 easy calculation and mathematical proofs. 



The two principles, which form the foundation, are 

 these ; viz. 



1st. Every atom of matter consists of an indefinitely 

 extended sphere of force, which varies inversely as the 

 square of the distance from the centre ; and that this force 

 acts towards the centre, and is called attraction at all dis- 

 tances, except in a small concentric sphere, in which it 

 acts ^rom the centre, and is there called repulsion. 



2nd. That there is a difference in atoms, arising from a 

 difference in their absolute forces, or in the radii of their 

 spheres of repulsion, or in both these respects. 



The theories of Newton and Boscovich agree perfectly 

 with this, as far as regards the attraction in the first prin- 

 ciple : after that Newton and Boscovich go together in 

 conceiving a series of alternate spheres of attraction and 

 repulsion, governed by unknown laws, but, as regards 

 change of direction the forces graduate into each other. 

 Boscovich reaches the centre with a sphere of repulsion 

 which varies inversely as the simple distance, making the 

 force at the centre infinite ; while Newton closes with a 

 solid nucleus, which is only an infinite force long before 

 we reach the centre. The new theory rejects all these 

 hypothetical, unsubstantiated forces, and their feigned 

 alterations; and, with the utmost possible degree of sim- 

 plicity, admits of but one sphere of repulsion, in which, 

 without interruption, the law of gravitation in the attractive 



