OF THE ATOMIC THEORY. 31 



With respect to the notion entertained by Bos- 

 covich, that the ultimate atoms of bodies are 

 homogeneous, we are incapable at present of 

 deciding whether it be well or ill founded. It 

 is not likely that any of these ultimate elements 

 has ever come under our inspection. All our 

 simple bodies are most probably compounds. It 

 is possible that the ultimate elements of bodies 

 may be very few it is even conceivable that 

 they may be reduced to two ; but in what way 

 all the variety of bodies with which we are ac- 

 quainted, could be produced from one single 

 kind of elementary body or atom, I cannot, for 

 my own part, form any conception. 



If the atoms of bodies be incapable of farther 

 division or diminution, it seems requisite that we 

 should adopt the opinion of Leibnitz, that these 

 atoms are unextended. This notion involves 

 us in a maze of metaphysical subtilties, through 

 which Boscovich has piloted his way with infinite 

 address. But such discussions being quite unsuit- 

 able to a system of chemistry, or to the science 

 of chemistry in its present state, it will be 

 better to avoid them altogether. By atom, Meaning of 



J the word 



then, in the following pages, I would be under-a/omintim 

 stood to mean, the ultimate particles of which 

 any body is composed, without considering whe- 

 ther the farther division of these particles be pos- 

 sible or not. They differ from each other in 

 weight ; but whether this difference be owing to 



