Newton, Leibnitz, and Boscovich to the Atomic Theory. 67 



ng phenomena may obviously be obtained. It is, however, to be remem- 

 bered, that every system of undulations is, in its own right, accompanied 

 by an equivalent system in harmonic relationship with it, and vibrating 

 or tending to flow simultaneously in an opposite direction, so that the 

 view here advanced is not to be taken as at variance with the ordinary 

 explanation of the phenomena of induction and decomposition of elec- 

 tricities. But these phenomena, as well as the whole subject, cannot be 

 satisfactorily explained, until we become acquainted with the molecular 

 structure of the bodies which display them. Towards this object, there- 

 fore, let us now direct our endeavours. 



Htdeosen. 



It is easy to conceive many conditions of the medium of light in 

 which two of its constituent particles shall unite together, and form 

 a coupled particle thereafter. Thus, let a red ray be met by a green 

 ray, or a yellow by a blue — the particles constituting these dissimilarly 

 affected rays are for the time dissimilar to each other. Their elements 

 will therefore tend to unite. And although the first effect of that 

 union usually will be their mutual assimilation, productive of the vanish- 

 ment of the colour of both, and the restoration of mutual elasticity to 

 both, and therefore the restoration and conservation of the integrity 

 of the aether, or medium of light, yet in certain circumstances the 

 setherial atoms may remain united, and form a couple. Thus, should 

 the act of union have discharged so much of the insulative atmo- 

 sphere, or " atmosphere of electricity or caloric," of each setherial 

 atom, that the resulting united atmosphere is more similar in volume 

 to that of a single setherial atom than to that of two, the law of 

 assimilation will forbid their separation until the lost volume can b© 

 restored. It will, on the contrary, tend further to unite them, so as 

 to reduce the volume of the couple to the same dimensions as that of a 

 single particle. And of this operation, if allowed to take full effect, 

 the result will be the confluence of both into one, with the recovery of 

 sphericity of the atomosphere of the couple (now merged into one centre 

 of double force). But such an issue is resisted by the law of assimilation 

 in its primary function (which is assimilation to self in successive 

 moments)— that is, self-conservation, the permanence of the individual, 

 the species, the type. There will remain, therefore, a coupled atom, 

 consisting of two centres of force, more or less distant from each other, 

 invested by a common atomosphere, of which they are the foci, and 

 which, therefore, cannot but possess a prolate form. This atomosphere 

 is therefore very ill conditioned with respect to the law of assimilation, 

 which, as has been shown, always calls for sphericity. It is, in fact, 



