AND ITS SELF-CONSERVATION. 47 



And here it is to be remarked, that not only is there no 

 necessary limit to the ultimate " sphere/' or total volume 

 of matter in the universe; in reality it would seem that 

 no such limit is possible. For, on the assumption that 

 such limit existed, the particles of matter at the surface 

 would then be bounded on one side by pure space. That 

 is, in all directions from the center there would be repul- 

 sion outward, which would, indeed, on first view, seem 

 to develop itself into attraction about the center of the 

 sphere. But, on the other hand, at the surface there 

 would be complete absence of reaction; that is, there 

 would be absolutely no resistance to the thrust outward 

 from the center. Hence the sphere must go on expand- 

 ing indefinitely through space, and result at length in 

 the complete dissipation of whatever energy may be 

 allowed to have been accumulated, by whatever incom- 

 prehensible means, upon the supposed center in past 

 time. 



Thus I find that in reality it is impossible for me to 

 conceive that any definite portion of " matter" should 

 be so aggregated as to present a definite surface and an 

 appreciable resistance (through which alone I could ever 

 become conscious of its existence) otherwise than upon 

 the condition that the total volume of matter is co-exten- 

 sive with s]face; that is, upon the condition that the total 

 quantity of matter is infinite. 



It appears, then, that every portion of matter exists, 

 not merely on its own account, but also and necessarily 

 that is, in its very nature for every other portion of 

 matter. It has just been seen that resistance the primary 

 characteristic of the objects of sense-perception proves 

 this to be true. And the conviction that such is the 



