ISO POPULAR LECTURES AND ADDRESSES. 



inconceivable in the infinite subdivision of space. 

 Why, even time was divided into moments 

 (time-atoms !), and the idea of continuity of 

 time was involved in a halo of argument, and 

 metaphysical I will not say absurdity but 

 metaphysical word-fencing, which was no doubt 

 very amusing for want of a more instructive 

 subject of study. There is in sober earnest 

 this very important thing to be attended to, 

 however, that in chronometry, as in geometry, 

 we have absolute continuity, and it is simply 

 an inconceivable absurdity to suppose a limit to 

 smallness whether of time or of space. But on 

 the other hand, whether we can divide a piece 

 of glass into pieces smaller than the i/ioo,oooth 

 of a centimetre in diameter, and so on without 

 breaking it up, and making it cease to have 

 the properties of glass, just as a brick has not 

 the property of a brick wall, is a very practical 

 question, and a question which we are quite 

 disposed to enter upon. 



I wish in the beginning to beg you not to 

 run away from the subject by thinking of the 



