104 
direction, A stone moving horizontally 
for the time has no -centripetal force. 
The greater force overcomes or absorbs, 
or neutralizes the less. Hence atoms 
in motion have no weight, and the test 
of weight is no test in regard to the 
number of atoms in circular motions, or 
in a volume of gas. 
What weight gas possesses must arise 
from adventitious circumstances, and not 
from. the gas itself: either from reactions 
against the embodied vessels, from dif- 
ferent reactions, or from fixed atoms 
contained in the volume. Atoms 
moving with the velocity which con- 
stitutes gas, have centripetal force or 
weight no more than a ball just emerging 
from the mouth of a cannon has con- 
tripetal force or weight. 
If weight therefore is not a test of 
the number of atoms in a volume of gas, 
we have no method of determining the 
quantity of atoms, but by considering 
their effects and phenomena. 
And as weight is no test, so there 
may be a plenum of moving atoms of 
various sizes and orbits, as dense as 
those in the heaviest fixed bodies, even 
as mercury or platinum; and owing to 
their orbits they may exhibit no resis- 
tance, and to their motions no weight 
or gravity, or contripetal force. 
Such a plenum of atoms, against which 
the test of weight has heretofore been’ 
opposed, would account for all the in- 
tense and delicate phenomena of sound, 
light, and propagation of force. In 
short, it accounts for all those hitherto 
inexplicable phenomena, and for those 
of the various gases in combination and 
separation. 
If we augment the velocity, we di- 
minish the weight and -increase the vo- 
lume; but this applies only to one spe- 
cies of atoms, blocks of Portland-stone 
compared to others, and the space is 
still full of power, and probably of atoms 
in increased motion, or of atoms not 
disturbed by the others. As all un- 
deflected motion is rectilinear, and as 
atoms turned into orbits, nevertheless 
seek right-lined motions, and would 
move in them but for continued reac- 
tion, so it follows as a corollary, that 
atoms flow towards every space which 
presents the least resistance or reaction, 
and that every equal space contains an 
equal quantity of power, and whenever 
from any cause it is not so, a conflict or 
action of atoms takes place till equa- 
lity of power is attained. What a new 
view these ideas give us of the fulness, 
Drying Sage Leaves to resemble Tea. 
[ Sept. 4, 
the continuity, and the combination of 
nature! How completely they illustrate 
the mysterious energies of gas in pro- 
ducing and extending the action of atoms 
in heat, animal energy, the tones of 
sound, the colours of light, the force of 
wind, the disturbances called electric, 
magnetic, &c. &c. &e. ! 
The idea of space filled with atoms in 
metion, and in motions which deprive 
them of weight, by which their quantity 
is indeterminate, places nature and phe- 
nomena in a new light to our under- 
standings, and reconciles all phenomena 
with Common SENSE. 
—= > 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
Sir, 
BOUT six months ago I put up a 
small retort for obtaining gas, and 
the other products from wood: my prin- 
ciple object was the gas and charcoal. 
Being disappointed in the gas not burn- 
ing clear, and my retort not being pro- 
perly set, I dropt the pursuit with an 
intention of resuming it ; but in the in- 
terim, if any of your correspondents 
would, through, your Magazine, inform 
me of the best and most advantageous 
means of obtaining gas from wood, 
the means of purifying it, and the other 
products, they will greatly oblige — / 
—<= > F 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
Sir, 
HE Monthly Review, in reviewing 
Phillips’ History of Vegetables, 
1822, respecting Sage, states “ that the 
Dutch have been long in the habit of 
drying sage leaves to resemble tea, for 
which they collect not only their own, 
but also great quantities from the south 
of France. They pack them in cases 
and take out to China; for every pound 
of sage they get in exchange four pounds 
of tea, the Chinese preferring it to the 
best of their own tea.” If this asser- 
tion be correct, and if it was possible 
that a similar trade could be carried on 
by the English (considering the great- 
ness of the consumption of foreign tea), 
the labour that would be caused by it 
would be extraordinarily great ; the pro- 
cess of drying and curling could be 
easily done, and it would employ both 
young and old in its preparation.  Per- 
haps some of your numerous corres- 
pondents will be able to give further 
particulars respecting it through your 
Magazine, and whether it is or has been 
tried in England. B.. 
; 
