TRANSMUTATION OF MATTER. 37 



differing from, indeed bearing but a slight relation to, 

 those which mark the earth's mutations exhibit, in a 

 most striking view, the endless variety of characters 

 which matter can assume. 



We are so accustomed to all these phenomena 01 

 matter, that it is with some difficulty we can bend 

 ourselves to the study of the more simple conditions 

 in which it exists. 



The solid crusts of this telluric sphere the waters 

 and the atmosphere the diversified fabrics of the vege- 

 table kingdom and the still more complicated struc- 

 tures of men and animals are, altogether, but the 

 aggregation of minute particles in accordance with 

 certain fixed laws. By mechanical means all kinds of 

 matter may be reduced to powder, the fine particles of 

 which would not appear very different from each other, 

 but each atom has been impressed with properties 

 peculiar to itself, which man has no power to change. 



To nature alone belongs the mysterious property of 

 transmutation. The enthusiastic alchemist, by the 

 agency of physical forces, dissipates a metal in vapour ; 

 but it remains a metal, and the same metal still. By the 

 Hermetic art he breaks up the combination of masses ; 

 but he cannot alter the principles of any one of the 

 elements which form the mass upon which his skill is 

 tried. 



Every atom is invested with properties peculiar to all 

 of its class ; and each one possesses powers, to which in 

 mute obedience it is compelled, by which these proper- 

 ties are modified, and the character of matter varied. 

 What are those properties ? Do we know anything of 

 those powers ? 



The earth, so far as we are acquainted with it, is 

 composed of about sixty principles, which we call 

 elementary. These are the most simple states to which 

 we can reduce matter, and from them all the forms of 

 creation yet examined by the chemist are produced. 



