340 LAUGEL'S PROBLEMS OF NATURE AND LIFE. 



veries successively made and the new objects and 

 methods disclosed. The various problems left only 

 partially solved regarding atoms and molecules their 

 figure, magnitude, motion, relative weights and affini- 

 ties may well explain the difficulty of obtaining one 

 single system, sufficient and permanent. Take the 

 example of what are called ' compound radicals ' par- 

 ticular compounds having fixity enough to act as bases 

 in other combinations. This conception is forced upon 

 us by facts ; but these facts admit of being differently 

 construed, and actually are so by different chemists. 

 With all this, we cannot doubt that science, advancing 

 in every direction, will eventually construct some 

 chemical system more simple and complete than any 

 we now possess, though still not reaching that prin- 

 ciple of unity and power towards which, as a basis, 

 the aspirations of all scientific men are directed. 



From Chemistry we come, by the correlation of 

 numerous phenomena, to Electricity that wonderful 

 element scarcely three centuries ago recognised only 

 in the flashes of the thunderstorm, or in the trivial 

 attractive power of amber and a few other bodies 

 now known to us as one of the great powers of the 

 universe; penetrating and pervading all matter, and 

 present under one form or other in every act of phy- 

 sical change. In no department of science has the 

 research of the present century been more active and 

 successful. The advance of later years, indeed, has 

 consisted not so much in the discovery of new elemen- 

 tary laws, as in the application of those already known. 



