‘ On tBe.§ Syftem of Forces. 2797 
upon any fortuitous circumftances. As I have fince learned ' 
from two well-informed naturalifts, that it was commonly 
- believed that the garden fpider merely fuffered, iis threads, to 
float in the wind by chance, I thought it might be of fome 
utility to publifl the refult of my obfervations, 
ee te tt te 
1X. Ox the Syftem of Forces. By J. C. DELAMETHERIE. 
-. From Journal de Phyfique, Brumaire, An. VII. 
Geometric [ANS, accuftomed to precife mathematical 
demonitration, cannot reconcile themfelves to the difficulties 
which occur in the explanations given by phyfics to the dif- 
ferent phenomena of nature. They prefer the method of 
the great Newton, which is, to calculate the effects whatever 
may be the caufes; and hence has been introduced the 
fyfiem of forces, which feems to gain ground in a, fingular 
‘manner. Kant is one of the firft who announced it in 
Germany. He diftinguifhes two kinds of phyfics, the dyya- 
mic and atomif?. He calls atomift phyfics that which teaches 
that the primitive parts of matter are compofed of atoms 
or indivifible parts, and which endeavours to. explain all the 
phenomena of nature by the action or impulfe of different 
fluids. The fecond, which he calls dynamic phyfics, ap- 
pears to him preferable. It fuppofes matter to be compofed 
_~ of'molecule always divifible. This matter is “ a@tuated by 
4worforces: ft. the attractive; and, ad. the repulfive.. The 
- atomifts confider fluids as compofed of {mall folid moleculz. 
’ Kant does not admit thefe folid molecule. Fluids, according 
to ‘him, are fuch originally, fo that we cannot conceive 
blsaid of a fluid which is not fluid. Thefe two forces, fie 
ing to Kant, produce feveral other forces, viz. 3d, the calo- 
vie force, which is the principle of heat and of all the pheno- 
* mena afcribed to: fire; 4th, the luminous force, which is 
‘the principle of light and all the phenomena depending on 
it; 5th, the electric ferce, which is the caufe of all the phe- 
fe Rae, nomena 
