1 857.] The Chemical Force The Dual Forces. 455 



the former are hid amongst those of the latter, we do not for 

 an instant doubt the conservation, but are moved to look for 

 the manner in which the forces are, for the time, disposed, or if 

 they have taken up another form of force, to search what that 

 form may be. 



Even chemical action at a distance, which is in such antithe- 

 tical contrast with the ordinary exertion of chemical affinity, 

 since it can produce effects miles away from the particles on 

 which they depend, and which are effectual only by forces 

 acting at insensible distances, still proves the same thing, the 

 conservation of force. Preparations can be made for a che- 

 mical action in the simple voltaic circuit, but until the circuit 

 be complete that action does not occur ; yet in completing we 

 can so arrange the circuit, that a distant chemical action, the 

 perfect equivalent of the dominant chemical action, shall be 

 produced ; and this result, whilst it establishes the electro- 

 chemical equivalent of power, establishes the principle of the 

 conservation of force also, and at the same time suggests many 

 collateral inquiries which have yet to be made and answered, 

 before all that concerns the conservation in this case can be 

 understood. 



This and other instances of chemical action at a distance, 

 carry our inquiring thoughts on from the facts to the physical 

 mode of the exertion of force'; for the qualities which seem 

 located and fixed to certain particles of matter appear at a di- 

 stance in connexion with particles altogether different. They 

 also lead our thoughts to the conversion of one form of power 

 into another : as for instance, in the heat which the elements of 

 a voltaic pile may either show at the place where they act by 

 their combustion or combination together ; or in the distance, 

 where the electric spark may be rendered manifest ; or in the 

 wire or fluids of the different parts of the circuit. 



When we occupy ourselves with the dual forms of power, 

 electricity and magnetism, we find great latitude of assumption ; 

 and necessarily so, for the powers become more and more 

 complicated in their conditions. But still there is no apparent 

 desire to loosen the force of the principle of conservation, 

 even in those cases where the appearance and disappearance 

 of force may seem most evident and striking. Electricity ap- 

 pears when there is consumption of no other force than that 



