20 Mechanical Philosophy. 



tractive forces, which vary according to the dis- 

 tance. At very small distances the particles of 

 matter repel each other; and this repulsive force 

 increases beyond all limits, as the distances arc 

 diminished ; and v\^ill, consequently, forever prevent 

 actual contact. When the particles of matter are 

 removed to sensible distances, the repulsive is ex- 

 changed for an attractive force, which decreases 

 in an inverse ratio with the squares of the distances, 

 and extends beyond the sphere of the most remote 

 comets. Besides these repulsive and attractive 

 forces, the particles of matter have that vis inertice 

 which is admitted by almost all modern philoso- 

 phers. These atoms, endued with these forces 

 and properties, form the basis of this celebrated 

 system — -a system unquestionably among the most 

 remarkable that have been proposed to the world 

 in modern times, and which leads to conse- 

 quences in a very high degree interesting. This 

 system has been, in substance, adopted by many 

 of the learned in various parts of Europe; and 

 is supposed, by those who embrace it, to af- 

 ford a very satisfactory solution of many difficul- 

 ties to which former theories evidently gave rise ; 

 to explain most happily the various phenomena of 

 matter to which its principles extend ; and to re- 

 ceive confirmation by the experiments and disco- 

 veries of every day. If we may rely on the doc- 

 trines of the ingenious Italian, the stumbling blocks 

 of the infinite divisibility and impenetrability of 

 matter will be taken out of the way; many of the 

 most fruitful sources of perplexity and dispute re- 

 specting extension, elasticity, &:c. will be cut off; 

 a large portion of the difficulties attending the af- 

 jinities, attractions and combinations in chemical 

 philosophy, hereafter to be noticed, will diminish, 

 if not disappear; and the path to a just under- 



