Fi. B. Hunt on the Nature of Forces. 245 
gaseous states of aggregation, it really takes no account of heat, 
but at once refers these states to primary forces assumed for the 
purpose. Yet it is certainly the degree of heat, and that alone, 
which in fact mainly determines these forms of material exist- 
ence. If any relation is supposable between heat and the force 
spheres of Boscovich, it remains to be discovered what it may be. 
But as the theory now stands, heat is ignored, and force spheres 
usurp the work actually performed by heat.’ This theoretical 
false causation is a positive stumbling-block in the way to clearer 
iews of heat and molecular aggregation. ‘The more we reflect 
on the wide range of actions due to heat, the more incompetent 
to their representation will we find the conception of primary 
spheres of force. In nature, aggregation is actually almost abso- 
1—Curve of Boscovich. 
- fa) [») Grav ‘tation 
‘eoesaoS 
‘ists in his not having correctly extended his theory to masses of 
inatter, which, unfortunately for his theory, is the only case oc- 
curring in nature. Taking his exponential curve of force be- 
tween two atoms as it stands, and discussing a mass composed of 
such atoms, it appears that instead of the various types of aggre- 
gation and force manifestation hitherto supposed to result, there 
Will be but a single cohesive type, Which will be invariable for 

by 

