Motion, the Natural State of Matter. 153 
It has been 96 that we come to the knowledge of mat- 
ter by —. 
The mind can conceive of one commen amr point hav- 
ing infinite velocity, being not only apparently in all the 
parts of the circumference, but in all ke; se parts of a 
disk at the same time; but as such a velocity is necessarily 
always the same, so it is evident that phenomena like those 
objective to us, could not be thus constituted, for there could 
be no resistance. One point projected with infinite volocity, 
and having an exclusive existence, could not resist itself. 
Its velocity could not overtake itself because all the parts 
of the line of motion are of the same degree of velocity. 
o produce erage? there must be more than one body, 
one moving with one degree of velocity, another moving 
with a different pales of velocity would constitute a resis- 
ae when meeting. The greater velocity would repel the 
less 
Motién appears to be a necessary ihe gee of both light 
and heat. Lightis nate from the sun. Heat is projec- 
ted from calorific bodie ey are both reflected from snr-: 
faces. The rays of light coming with a velocity of one hun- 
dred and seventy thousand miles ina second, pass through 
glass into opaque bodies. Yet being greatly ‘diverged, they 
do not disintegrate bodies by their velocity. They fall with 
a mild influence upon surfaces, and must be concentrated be- 
fore they are destructive. Why is the sensation of heat 
more intense than the sensation produced by light? Is it 
because the rays projected from a fire, do not diverge, are 
concentrated, and act ina mass? In proportion as we recede 
from the source of the heat: is the force of the se nD 
If light and heat were attenuated states of ie site pow- 
er why do we not see a hot iron in a dark room? Is it be- 
cause the heat or light in the body, 4 in its way to the surface 
is obstructed, and not coming out in parallel lines cannot be 
visible? When the calorific quantity is increased, the at- 
mosphere in contact with the surface being cha rged, the 
rays come in parallel lines and are visible. 
If all the rays which fall upon bodies, were reflected back, 
would -— not be so brilliant that it would be painful to look 
upon them? Supposing bodies to absorb the greater portion 
of the light which falls on them, we have thus a source for 
the maintenance of animal heat, and for the heat which 
is found latent in ui bodies, Wet becomes of the vast 
Vor. XVI.—No. 
