COHESION AND GRAVITATION. 49 



cannot tell; but our reason leads us, with firm con- 

 viction, to the belief that it is a principle which is, 

 beyond all others in its subtile influences which equally 

 universal with, appears to rise superior to gravitation ; 

 and which, like a spirituality, shadows forth to our 

 dwarf conceptions the immensity of the divine power of 

 the omniscient Creator. 



The molecular forces involve a consideration of all the 

 known physical powers, the study of which, in their 

 operations on matter, will engage our attention. But it 

 is pleasant to learn, as we advance step by step in our 

 examination of the phenomena of creation, that we may 

 study the grand in what externally appears the simple, 

 and learn, in the mysteries of a particle, the high 

 truths which science lias to tell of a planet. 



It may appear that the forces of gravitation and cohe- 

 sion are regarded as identical. Many phenomena, which 

 we are enabled to reach by the refinements of inductive 

 inquiry, certainly present to us a striking similarity in 

 the laws which regulate the operations of these powers ; 

 but it must be remembered that their identity is not 

 established. So far from this, we know the law of gra- 

 vitating force. Newton determined with surprising 

 accuracy, that the action of this power diminishes with 

 the distance as the universe square, but cohesive force is 

 exerted only at such distances that it is impossible to 

 determine whether or not it is subjected to the same law. 

 To quote the words of Young: "The whole of our 

 inquiries respecting the intimate nature of forces of any 

 kind must be considered merely as speculative amuse- 

 ments, which are of no further utility than as they 

 make our views more general, and assist our experi- 

 mental investigations."* 



* Young's Lectures en Natural Philosophy and the Mechanical 

 Arts. Lecture 49, On the Essential l j rof jet ties oj Matter. 



