38 DISCOURSE ON THE STUDY 



bulk ; and we have the strongest evidence that, al- 

 though there exist great and essential differences in 

 individuals among these atoms, they may yet all be 

 arranged in a very limited number of groups or 

 classes, all the individuals of each of which are, to 

 all intents and purposes, exactly alike in all their 

 properties. Now, when we see a great number of 

 things precisely alike, we do not believe this simi- 

 larity to have originated except from a common 

 principle independent of them ; and that we recog- 

 nise this likeness, chiefly by the identity of their de- 

 portment under similar circumstances, strengthens 

 rather than weakens the conclusion. A line of spin- 

 ning-jennies *, or a regiment of soldiers dressed 

 exactly alike, and going through precisely the same 

 evolutions, gives us no idea of independent exist- 

 ence : we must see them act out of concert before 

 we can believe them to have independent wills and 

 properties, not impressed on them from without. 

 And this conclusion, which would be strong even 

 were there only two individuals precisely alike in 

 all respects and for ever, acquires irresistible force 

 when their number is multiplied beyond the power 

 of imagination to conceive. If we mistake not, then, 

 the discoveries alluded to effectually destroy the 

 idea of an eternal self-existent matter, by giving to 

 each of its atoms the essential characters, at once, 

 of a manufactured article, and a subordinate agent. 



(29.) But to ascend to the origin of things, and 

 speculate on the creation, is not the business of the 

 natural philosopher. An humbler field is sufficient 



* Little reels used in cotton mills to twist the thread. 



