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“hae | SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. | = 
| I. Cremistry. 
1 Atoms and Ray Vibrations.—In the ere and Paint 
Philosophical Magazine for May, 1846, we find an article by Pro- 
fessor Faraday, entitled, “Thoughts on Ray Vibrations,” in whieh, 
adopting Boscovich’s idea of matter, (that it consists altogether of 
“ forces,”) he sets aside the old hypothesis of an Ether producing heat 
and light by its vibrations, and offers in its stead, the forces, of which 
the atom, or ultimate particle, is composed. He’ considers all effects of 
attraction and repulsion as happening in certain “ ane of pe estab- 
lished between the atoms. 
It is somewhat curious that so abstract an opinion should’ have 
originated almost simultaneously on both sides the Atlantic ; for we find 
it distinctly announced by Mr. J. D. Whelpley, as a consequent of the 
Same views of matter, in the number of this Journal for April, 1845,* 
@ year previous to the publication of Professor Faraday’s article. The 
Same appeared also in a paper by the same gentleman, read before the 
American Association of Geologists and Naturalists, at New Haven, 
Conn., April, 1845.+ In an abstract of this paper published in a pam- 
phlet of the proceedings of that meeting, the existence of a light-produ- 
cing ether is controverted, on the ground that the forces of the atoms 
of matter, (which compose it) are substantially extended through all 
space, and ES thereby the true ether; whose Tibrlitions: are tg 
and radiant hea 
dee Paradese s argument is curious; and as this new isle 
~ to Gxvite much attention, we give the whole of it in a condensed 
Wy The question is, whether the vibrations of light may not occur in 
certain “lines of force,” which ‘* connect” particles and masses to- 
pam: If we admit these ** euniiootians,’* ait is No occasion = ers 
hesis of an ether, 
rs Matter should be pegavtidd as canyon not of dead pice, but 
Of active centers of forces. ‘These centers are mathematical points. 
The a atoms are ieee: ions of forces, from these —— a all 
: * American Journal of Science and Arts, for to 1845, xlviii, 352. Article 
es D. 
Idea of an Atom,’ by James 
) See Report of Sine jn which eres sind abstract of the paper above 
Sreox | Serizs, Vol. II, No. 6.—Nov., 1846. “52 
