No. XXIIL] APPENDIX. 317 



No. XXIII. 

 THE MONOGENESIS OF PHYSICAL FORCES. A LECTURE 



DELIVERED AT THE LONDON INSTITUTION, FEBRUARY 18TH, 



1857. By ALFRED SMEE. 



IN our intercourse with Nature and natural phenomena, we, each of us, 

 according to the peculiarity of our minds, view the same phenomena in a 

 somewhat different manner; some of us perceive more vividly by our 

 organs of sensation, whilst others with less powers of perception store up 

 facts more accurately. Some generalize simple facts into extensive laws, 

 whilst it is permitted to a few to compare and bring into relation nume- 

 rous generalizations at first sight apparently distinct. From this diversity 

 in the powers of the human mind, I have always strongly felt that society 

 is benefited by each person unfolding the impressions which his own 

 mind receives, as by that means all are made acquainted with the various 

 aspects from which external nature may be viewed. 



This evening it will be my endeavour to carry out the suggestion, that 

 this year the soiree lectures should be undertaken by amateurs, and chiefly 

 by the managers of your Institution. I have chosen for my theme the 

 ' Production of Physical Forces,' and this lecture will be a cursory glance 

 of that view of natural phenomena which I published in the year 1843, in 

 a work entitled ' The Sources of Physical Science,' and which constitutes 

 one of that series of metaphysical works which I have made it the business 

 of my life to develop from Nature. Some of these views you have done me 

 the honour on former occasions to allow me to unfold in this room ; and 

 from the kind manner in which you received those speculations, I venture 

 to hope that you will neither be surprised nor offended in my submitting 

 this view of Nature, especially as I have myself practically applied it for a 

 period of fourteen years in the ordinary transactions of life, and I trust 

 not altogether without some advantage to the public. 



We live in a material world, but we can neither make nor destroy 

 matter. However many times matter may be combined or acted upon by 

 matter, it remains the same in amount ; and even when it is so changed 

 that it possesses no vestige of its former state, yet it is neither increased 

 nor diminished. 



When our great poet in his lofty flight says 



" Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay, 

 Might stop a hole to keep the wind away ; " 



the change is not more wonderful than the daily transmutations in our 

 manufactories, where offensive offal is converted into beautiful pigments 

 for the dresses of our fairest daughters, and noxious residues are changed 

 into exquisite flavours for sweetmeats. 



In every case in which we observe matter, we notice that it possesses 

 a power whereby two portions are drawn together or mutually attracted. 

 From this we deduce a law, " That whatever attracts is matter, and what- 

 ever cannot attract is not matter." To my mind, attraction is an inherent 



