On Elasticity. 143 



lorlc, and in part from the attractive force of these mo- 

 leculae." 



I should have been glad to have been able to have given 

 something more of Libes's theory than this short notice, 

 especially as this little seems to approach nearer to my ideas 

 of the true theory than any thing I have yet noticed ; but 

 I know not in what work it is given. This notice is from 

 the Journal de Phjsiqiie, vol. 1. p. 10. an 8. 



Thus have I given a short account of all the theories that 

 have been advanced to account for the phaenomena of elas- 

 ticity ; or, at least, of all I recollect v.-orthy of notice. Some 

 of them, we have seen, in passing, fall entirely short of the 

 object they aim at, and are therefore unworthy of further 

 notice. In others, however, the mode of argument is so 

 well managed, that had their authors attended to a single 

 fact or two, which they have overlooked, it is probable tha^t 

 the subject would, before this time, have received that full 

 elucidation of which I believe it is capable. 



Like those v.'ho have gone before me, \ may fail in the 

 task I have imposed upon myself; but I hope to avoid in- 

 consistency or unfair assumptions. It does not appear neces- 

 sary to admit even that elasticity belongs to matter consi- 

 dered simply. Indeed, I think the contrary is the fact. But 

 that my meaning may not be mistaken, I shall explain in 

 as few words as possible this part, which may be considered 

 as fundamental, of the doctrine I mean to propose. Bv 

 simple matter I mean the primitive moleculfe, or atoms, of 

 which bodies are formed. However complex mav be the 

 state in which we find bodies, thev consist of elementary 

 principles, which principles themselves are formed perhaps 

 of others, but ultimately of inelastic atoms of simple mat- 

 ter. Let us, for example, take some matter considered as 

 simple and elementary, sav caloric, I would affirm of it that 

 it is not necessarily elastic ; and so of any otiier simple 

 matter. 



But if elasticity be not essentially necessary to matter 

 considered simply, whence do bodies derive that property ? 

 I answer. From the same source whence they derive almost 

 every other quality that belongs to them — from their com- 

 position and internal arrangement. 



I would have said Ahi, i/ieir qualities, instead of liniiunc- 

 the expression to almost all of' t'lcm, but that they possess 

 one property which may, and probably does, depend on some 

 other cause, I mean that of attraction. Of the cause of 

 this wc know nothing ; but its existence and the laws bv 

 which it acts being knov.n, philosophers do not fail to avail 



themselves 



