The Persistence of Force. 99 



contained in the cartridge cannot be estimated; nor 

 can they be summed up in the new forms into which 

 they pass. The persistence, in equality of amount, of a 

 force as manifested, cannot be ascertained experiment- 

 ally in any instance. To say that any manifested 

 force ever has been and ever shall be the same in 

 quantity is an illegitimate affirmation. 



It is supposable, however, that the sum total of 

 manifested force is that the amount of which is to 

 be held constant. This mode of conceiving persist- 

 ence also fails us. For there can be no experience 

 of a totality stretching beyond the bounds of attain- 

 able knowledge. Besides, manifestations are muta- 

 tions. It is their characteristic to be ever coming 

 into view and ever vanishing from observation. The 

 totality of manifestations cannot be summed; but 

 even if we were able at any one point in time to 

 sum up the total of manifested force, it would be im- 

 possible for us to affirm its perpetuity. For the 

 knowable touches the unknowable at every point in 

 space and time; we cannot, therefore, separate the 

 knowable to measure the sum of it. The law of the 

 manifestation of the inscrutable power is hidden 

 from us. Mr. Spencer, no doubt, assumes that the 

 manifestations of the absolute are throughout all 

 time " unchanged in quantity." But another thinker 

 is as free to conclude and has as much reason on 

 his side that the amount has not continued constant. 

 The manifestations of the unknowable power may at 



