S56 Mr. P. Cooper's Notice of a Theory of Molecular Action, 



each otlier, forming the force of gravitation, the atoms will be 

 neutral ; the opposing forces of attraction and repulsion being 

 equal." 



Hence as these forces are obedient to the same law of di- 

 stance, light, whether disengaged in the form of caloric, or 

 united in a more compressed state to the atmosphere of an 

 atom of matter, must be imponderable ; the attraction of the 

 surrounding matter being everywhere counteracted by the re- 

 pulsive force of the light attached to it. 



My theory, it will be observed, differs from M. Mossotti's, 

 among other particulars, in confining the repulsive force to 

 the atmospheres of light which surround the atoms of mat- 

 ter; but as these atmospheres are connected with their re- 

 spective atoms by a powerful attraction, the repulsive force of 

 contiguous atmospheres will be equivalent in effect to a re- 

 pulsion between the atoms themselves. 



Every known operation of nature may be inductively traced 

 from the simple principles assumed in this theory without the 

 slightest deviation from the laws assigned to matter and light, 

 its only agents. But by far the most interesting and important 

 part of these phaenomena are produced by the derangement 

 of the atmospheres of light which surround the atoms of mat- 

 ter, arising from their repulsive action upon each other. The 

 quantity of light attached to each atom is not materially altered 

 by this derangement ; but, as the neutral state of the atoms is 

 derived from an exact equilibrium between the attractive and 

 repulsive forces, to which an uniform state of their atmo- 

 spheres is essential, the unequal distribution of the light which 

 forms these atmospheres must give them polarity, by render- 

 ing the part of the atmosphere where the light is in excess, 

 positive, in comparison with the part of the atmosphere of the 

 same atom from which this excess is taken, and which must 

 be in an equal degree negative. The polarity thus induced, 

 which requires the contiguity of dissimilar atoms, or atoms 

 the atmospheres of which differ in density, and consequently 

 in electrical force, is the foundation of the attraction by which 

 these atoms are united when in a state of cohesion ; and a 

 similar polarity, induced by the action of contiguous masses, 

 or bodies of atoms thus united, which also for this purpose 

 are required to exhibit to each other surfaces of light of dif- 

 ferent intensities, is the foundation of all the phaenomena of 

 electricity. I remain, Gentlemen, yours, &c. 



Bawlish, Shepton Mallet, Paul Cooper. 



April 10, 1837. 



P.S. I am preparing a paper in which these principles will 

 be applied to the explanation of the peculiar condition of iron 

 discovered by Dr. Schcenbein; and which, in connexion with 



