i.'iS Chanlcal Philosophy. [Chap. II, 



ifs value ill the view of many serious inquirers. 

 A few extravagant and enthusiastic votaries of 

 elK^mistry have undertaken, on chemical princi- 

 ples, to account for all the phenomena of 7notion, 

 lift, and mind^ and on those very facts which 

 clearly prove wise design, and the superintending 

 care of an infinite Intelligence, have attempted 

 to build a fabric of atheistical philosophy. This is 

 a striking instance of those opposiiions of sd-^ 

 ence falsely so called, of which an inspired writer 

 speaks, and for which the past age has been re- 

 markably distinguished. 



How far the present fashionable system of che- 

 mical doctrine and language may stand the test of 

 future experiments, and command the assent of 

 future generations, is far from being certain. He 

 who has attended to the course of things in the 

 short space of time since it was published, will see 

 little reason to expect for it that undisturbed and 

 permanent reign which its advocates have fondly 

 hoped. It is somewhere remarked by lord Bacon» 

 that the sciences are apt to suffer by being too- 

 soon reduced to a system. There are probably 

 few sciences to which this remark applies with 

 such peculiar force as to chemistry. The struc- 

 ture at present most popular is fair and beautiful. 

 An engaging simplicity reigns in ahiiost every 

 part. But many believe that this simplicity is de- 

 ceptive. Some of the doctrines which hold an im- 

 portant place in the fabric are too vague and con- 

 jectural to be admitted with full confidence, and 

 others are daily undergoing modifications, which 

 thrraten still further and more essential changes. 

 Notwithstanding the mathematical precision with 



