130 WRITINGS OF JOSEPH HENRY. [1855- 



universe, is due to the movements produced by attraction 

 and repulsion of the atoms in passing from a primordial 

 state of instability to one of final stability or relative rest. 

 It must be evident to any person who is acquainted with the 

 simplest principles of mechanics, that in a universe in which 

 all the atoms are in equilibrium, or have approached each 

 other as nearly as possible, there can be no spontaneous 

 motion. Such a universe must ever remain, in all its parts, 

 a dead, inert, and lifeless mass. It can only be awakened 

 to life and motion by the application of power from without. 

 Mechanical energy is only exhibited while two atoms are 

 rushing together ; when they have united in combination, 

 they exhibit an apparent neutralization of all power to pro- 

 duce change in themselves or other bodies. 



" Fill," says Professor Faraday, " an India-rubber bag with a 

 mixture of oxygen and hydrogen in the proportion of 8 parts 

 to 1 by weight; and blowing with it a number of soap-bubbles 

 in a large dish, apply a lighted taper to the bubbles and 

 observe the result. It is a violent deafening explosion, at- 

 tended with the evolution of light and heat, giving evidence 

 of tremendous power. But now we come to the result of 

 this explosion, which is water — nothing but water. To 

 me the whole range of natural phenomena does not pre- 

 sent a more wonderful result than this. Well known, and 

 familiar though it be, a fact standing on the very threshold 

 of chemistry, it is one over which I ponder again and again 

 with wonder and admiration. To think that these two vio- 

 lent elements, holding in their admixed parts such energy, 

 should wait until some disturbance is effected, and then rush 

 furiously into combination, and form the bland and un-irri- 

 tating liquid water, is to me, I confess, a phenomenon which 

 awakens new feelings of wonder as often as I view it."* 



Wonderful as this may appear, it is but a simple illustra- 

 tion of a general law. The power exhibited was in the mo- 

 mentum produced by the energetic action of the two atoms 

 on each other, and the consequent high velocity with which 

 they rushed into union. The noise produced was due to the 

 intense agitation given to the air; the light and heat to the 



*[raraday's Six Lectures on the non-metallic Elements. Lect. iii, pp. 

 175, 176.] 



