454 . ■ TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



considered it wortt between eight and nine dollars, and this amount o'btaine(3 

 from about a pound of Cjuartz. 



From this experiment, I came to the conclusion that none of the modes- 

 yet adopted, (my son's new mode included, though he says his excels all 

 the modes in use), will ever eflFectually extract all the gold contained in 

 either the quartz or sand, and that by melting alone can the whole be 

 saved. 



I have no doubt in my mind that millions on millions will yet be obtained 

 from the tailings, or what is now treated as refuse, by this or the future 

 generation, when more effectual means will be discovered for obtaining it. 



The subject of the evening, "The Ultimate Sources of Power," being 

 now called up, some general informal discussion occurred as to the meaning 

 of the phrase "Ultimate Sources of Power," which led the Chairman to 

 call upon Dr. Reuben to open Ihe discussion. 



Dr. Reuben. — When we speak of the " Ultimate Sources of Power," we 

 mean only that the sources to which we can trace power are the last we can 

 reach, without going to that One Great Source from which All Power proceeds 

 — the fountain head of all power, chemical, mechanical, magnetic, and vital. 

 In 1850, Professor Carpenter and Mr. Grove suggested the idea that power 

 cannot be annihilated — that a force which acts once acts forever, and can- 

 not cease to exist. The same thought has been expressed by Professor 

 Faraday, viz ; that power, force, or energy is eternal. And we are com- 

 pelled to accept that thought- — that doctrine — -in all material things. We 

 have a conception that matter is cne thing, and force another. Now no 

 atom of matter can be destroyed, how then can we suppose a force to cease 

 to exist 1 Has there, then, any atom or element of power or force been 

 created since matter was created ? To this we are compelled to answer, 

 no ! The reasons for this answer can be found in the science of mechanics. 

 Matter can simply convey power — it cannot destroy it. We are, therefore, 

 compelled to refer all power, chemical, mechanical, vital, &c., ultimately 

 to Intelligence as the " Ultimate Source." If, then, we accept the doctrine 

 that force can no more be made than destroyed, we must conclude that there 

 is no such thing as utter destruction in nature. 



Professor Hedrick agreed with Dr. Ileubcn's views. A force which doe» 

 not act is an impossibility. If a mill runs, it must throw off a certain 

 effect, and this effect is the phenomenon due to the cause or force working 

 or operating in the mill. If we leave out of the consideration spiritual 

 causes, we may class all motors as causes, and the work they perform as the 

 effects, In this sense force accomplishes nothing without having time 

 during which to operate, and if a force operates for any time, there must be 

 some result produced. Although the effect of electricity seems to be in- 

 stantaneous, it takes some time to be produced. A force may to-day act so 

 as to produce light; lo-morrow it ...ay produce heat, &c. What is to pre- 

 vent this being the case ? We know that forces act variously at various 

 times. 



The Chairman wished to know in what sense the word cause was used. 



