LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 73 



of vitality," a property which enables it to resist 

 the ordinary agencies of chemical affinities to which 

 common matter is subjected. A seed is an instance 

 in which a germ of matter intended to live (for a 

 seed does not live it merely possesses vitality, or 

 the aptitude to live) preserves its integrity, in virtue 

 of the vital affinity, and in defiance of the common 

 chemical agencies. A melon-seed a hundred years 

 old, will grow, if planted in a proper soil. 



But the term organism is not only used to indi- 

 cate a peculiar condition of the elements of matter, 

 but also a peculiar condition of masses of matter. 

 Here it signifies that state of existence in which 

 masses of matter grow and preserve their integrity 

 by virtue of a power which may be said to consist 

 in the affinities of assimilation a power withdraw- 

 ing them from the influence of common chemical 

 agencies, until they shall have accomplished the final 

 cause of their organization a power enabling them 

 to assimilate other matter to their own nature and 

 substance *. 



* It is perfectly correct to call the assimilating processes by 

 the term of " affinities of assimilation." For what is affinity, 

 but an alliance or relation ? And is there not a relation be- 

 tween the food, and the body which it nourishes ? Is there 

 not an alliance between them ? And what are the assimila- 

 ting or nutritive processes or actions, but those actions or 

 E changes 



