52 INORGANIC AND ORGANIC 



serving all its distinguishing features ; and in the other, 

 we have a regular order of cohesion occurring under the 

 influence of a power which draws like to like, and 

 arranges the whole into a form of beauty. 



This appears to be the proper place for correcting an 

 error too prevalent, relative to the formation of crystals > 

 the development of cells, and the yet more fatal false- 

 hood of referring the great phenomena of Life to any 

 of the physical forces with which we are acquainted. 



THE CRYSTAL forms, by the accretion of particle to 

 particle, along lines determined by some yet unknown 

 power. There is no change in the character of any 

 particle like coheres to like ; the first atom and the 

 last of the series being identical in character. 



THE PLANT grows, not by the gathering together of 

 similar particles of matter, but by the absorption of a 

 compound particle by that one which must be regarded 

 as the primary nuclear atom or cell. After this absorption 

 in virtue of a power which we call LIFE, excited into 

 action by LIGHT the compound particle is decomposed, 

 and one constituent is retained to effect the formation 

 of a new cell, whilst the other is liberated as an invisible 

 air. Here we have a change of chemical constitution 

 effected ; and this takes place through the whole period 

 of vegetable growth, from the development of the plu- 

 mule up to the formation of the latest leaf upon the 

 topmost branch of the most lordly tree. 



Life has been referred to electricity and to chemical 

 power as the effect of a known cause. Without doubt, 

 during the operations of life the whole of the physical 

 powers are necessary to the production of all the pheno- 

 mena of growth in the vegetable and the animal world. 

 But these powers are ever subsidiary to vital force, and 

 are like attendant spirits chained to do an enchanter's 

 bidding. 



Life is a force beyond the reach of human search, and 

 he who fancies he has a hold upon the principle which 



