‘PHYSICAL and LITERARY. 9 
feftores itfelf to its former fhape, without 
any external force, by an inherent power 
which is known by the name of elafticity. 
But’ we need not dwell upon particular in- 
ftances. Chemiftry difcovers various powers 
in matter of the moft active kind; and every 
man who is converfant with the operations of 
chemiftry, muft have a {trong impreffion | 
that matter is extremely active. 
For the fake of illuftration, let us fup- 
pofe a fubftance or thing having the follow- 
} Ing properties, that it makes no refiftance to 
bodies impinging upon it ; that when carried 
along in a-man’s hand, even withthe moft 
violent: motion, it does not increafe the mo- 
mentum of the hand, and that it ftops fhort 
the inftant the hand ceafes to. move. This 
would certainly be the moft inert of all con- 
ceivable things. And if fo, matter cannot 
be abfolutely inert or paffive, when its pro- 
perties differ fo widely from thefe defcribed. 
-Inmanycircumftances matter begins motion, 
ay ae es ee 
, 4 — = 
and ats often with great. violence. It has a 
_ conftant endeavour, when once fet in mo- 
tion, to preferve itfelf in the fame degree of 
_ motion, and, when at reft, is not put in 
motion without refiftance. 
a B Bur 
4 Res) 
