THEORY OF DEFINITE PROPORTIONS. 169 



(whom he knew; compare Schweigger, T., older 

 series, vol. x., p. 381 ;) in a ragged suit, patched 

 together of atoms; and now poor Richter comes 

 back to his own country in such a garb, like Ulysses, 

 and is not recognized." It is to be recollected, 

 however, that Richter says nothing of multiple 

 proportions. 



The general doctrine of the atomic theory is 

 now firmly established over the whole of the che- 

 mical world. There remain still several contro- 

 verted points, as, for instance, whether the atomic 

 weights of all elements are exact multiples of the 

 atomic weight of hydrogen. Dr. Prout advanced 

 several instances in which this appeared to be true, 

 and Dr. Thomson has asserted the law to be of 

 universal application. But, on the other hand, Ber- 

 zelius and Dr. Turner declare that this hypothesis 

 is at variance with the results of the best analyses. 

 Such controverted points do not belong to our his- 

 tory, which treats only of the progress of scientific 

 truths already recognized by all competent judges. 



Though Dalton's discovery was soon generally 

 employed, and universally spoken of with admira- 

 tion, it did not bring to him anything but barren 

 praise, and he continued in the humble employment 

 of which we have spoken, when his fame had filled 

 Europe, and his name become a household word in 

 the laboratory. After some years he was appointed 

 a corresponding member of the Institute of France ; 

 which may be considered as a European recognition 



