360 On the Origin and Production of Matter, 



and neutralized liquid was finally freed from the lime contain- 

 ed in it, as gypsum, by means of oxalate of ammonia, was re- 

 duced to dryness, and exposed to a red heat. The salt ob- 

 tained in this manner weighed 0,758 gram., and proved on 

 trial to be pure sulphate of lime. The quantity of magnesia 

 contained in it amounted to 0,257 gram., and the deficiency 

 in 0,84'9 gram., or 0,592, must consequently be boracic acid. 

 100 parts of boracite contain, according to this analysis, 



Boi-acic acid 69,7 



Magnesia 30,3 



100,0 

 Gay-Lussac and Thenard have found boracic acid to con- 

 tain 33 per cent, of oxygen. If this bp the case, then the 

 quantity of oxygen in 69,7 parts of acid amounts to 23 ; 30,3 

 parts of magnesia, on the other hand, contain 11,73 parts ot 

 oxygen; but 11,73x2=23,46, that is to say, the boracic 

 acid would contain twdce as much oxygen as the magnesia. 

 So long as the composition of boracic acid remains in dispute, 

 I will not quote it as a proof of the correctness of my analysis, 

 by which Gay-Lussac's and Thenard's statement may per- 

 haps receive support. 



LXXII. On the Origin and Production of Matter, and on its 

 alleged Infinite Dixiisibility. 



To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine and Jo2irnal. 



SHOULD the following remarks on the Origin and Pro- 

 duction of Material Substance, and on the Infinite Divi- 

 sibility which is usually, though, I believe, erroneously, 

 ascribed to it, appear to be sufficiently philosophical, I shall 

 be gratified by their insertion in your useful Journal. 



I am, Gentlemen, yours respectfully, 



J. O.F. 



Bulk and extension pre-suppose solid elementary particles, 

 of which forms are compounded ; for if there be no such 

 primary solid particles, there can be no material solidity Avhat- 

 ever, either primary or derived; thus no material bulk or ex- 

 tension, — which is absurd. 



A solid or primai'y particle of matter must be the smallest 

 particle, and can aamit of no divisibility; for if it can be di- 

 vided into parts, it is not a solid or primary or the smallest 

 particle ; matter is therefore not infinitely divisible. 



Tliat original, elementary, or solid particle of matter, which 



admits 



