RELATIVE WEIGHTS OF MOLECULES. 



169 



The better to adapt the fractional parts of atomic 

 heights to the standard of a molecule of hydrogen, 

 the latter has been nominally doubled ; as shown 

 by the difference in the lists of the old and new 

 symbols in the foregoing table. 



The differences* of atomic weights and magni- 

 tudes of the several kinds of molecules demon- 

 strate their existence as varied atomic structures, 

 or machines ; and their several peculiar functions 

 are evidences of intelligence in the Constructor 

 of molecules, rather than in the created molecules 

 themselves. As Professor Dana sagaciously af- 

 firms, " Molecular law is the profoundest expres- 

 sion of the Divine will." 



Molecules, although too minute to be separately 

 weighed and measured, are large 

 enough to be shadowed by solar 

 microscopes, while moving on a 

 sheet of glass in the process of 

 crystallization. 



The relative weights and mag- 

 nitudes of the several kinds of 

 molecules are ascertained by de- 

 composing various compound 

 substances, such as water, car- 

 bonic-acid gas, &c. In forming 

 compounds, molecules are sup- 

 posed to be coupled together in 

 pairs. By decomposing a quan- 

 tity of water, and obtaining .its Fif , 



