$2 Ghemkal Philosophy, 



the continent, the French doctrines and nomen- 

 clature made their way rather more slowly than in 

 Great-Britain. Nearly two years after they had 

 met with a general reception among the British 

 chemists, they were introduced to those of Ger- 

 many, chiefly by Van Mons and Girtanner. 

 They were received, on this introduction, in a 

 favourable manner, and after surmounting the first 

 prejudices, which a change so radical and exten- 

 sive is always apt to excite, soon became gene- 

 rally popular. Since that time the prevalence of 

 the new system has become almost universal. In- 

 deed, there is no example, since the revival of 

 learning, of a theory being more promptly and 

 generally received, or defended with more ability 

 and zeal, by the great body of philosophers, in all 

 parts of the world, than this. If we except Dr. 

 Priestley, Mr. Keir, and the Lunar Society of 

 Birmingham, in Great-Britain ; M.Sage, and a few 

 others, in France; and Crell, Mayer, Gmelin, 

 and A^^estrumb, in Germany, we now hear of no 

 distinguished advocates for the old opinions. 



Besides the signal revolution in chemical theory 

 Avhich has been stated, every part of the century 

 under consideration, and especially the latter half 

 of it, has abounded in experiments and discoveries 

 of great importance, particularly w^hen considered 

 with reference to their systematic relations. 



The experiments and discoveries with respect to 

 heat^ or the substance lately denominated caloric, 

 have been very numerous within the period in 

 question, and hold a very important place in the 

 chemical history of the age. It was before observ- 

 ed, that, at the beginning of the century, Jieat 

 seemed to be considered, by a great majority of 

 the most eminent philosophers, as a mere property^ 

 of matter, like gravity or mobility, and as con- 

 sisting in a peculiar kind of 'vibration of the par- 



