CHEMICAL ATTRACTION. 197 



greater uncertainty prevailed in regard to the 

 primary cause of chemical action, than at the 

 present time. The celebrated (Erstedt regards 

 the science of chemistry as in the same condi- 

 tion now, that mechanical philosophy was in the 

 age of Galileo, Descartes, Huygens, and New- 

 ton ; and maintains that no general principle has 

 been discovered which governs all affinities. (Sur 

 1'Identite des Forces Chimiques et Electriques.) 

 Notwithstanding the recent progress of atomic 

 chemistry, Dr. Prout observes, that this great 

 science " is founded solely on experience, for 

 tne phenomena of which we can assign no rea- 

 son." (Bri.dgewater Treatise, p. 29.) On the 

 same subject, the language of Professor Whewell 

 is still more emphatic and precise. In the con- 

 cluding chapter of his Treatise on Astronomy, 

 he states, that " no one has pointed out any common 

 feature between chemical affinity and the attractions 

 of which we know the exact effects ; and that we 

 are still more profoundly ignorant of the vital 

 principle" Alas ! if this be a true representation 

 of the actual state of human knowledge, is it 

 not high time that men should awake from their 

 lethargy, and observe more attentively all the 

 circumstances connected with chemical action ? 

 It was profoundly observed by Bacon, that " in 

 all generation and transformation of bodies, we 

 should inquire what is added, what remains, and 

 what is lost, ivhat is united, and what is sepa- 



