JoLY — A Pre-Material Condition of the Universe. t>69 



On these grounds I contend that the present gravitational 

 properties of matter cannot be supposed as having acted for all 

 past duration. Universal equilibrium of gravitating particles had 

 been indestructible by internal causes. This our knowledge of 

 matter surely tells us. Perpetual instability or evolution is alike 

 untliinkable and contrary to the phenomena of the universe of 

 which we are cognisant. We therefore turn from gravitating 

 matter as affording no rational account of the past. We do so of 

 necessity, however much we feel our ignorance of the nature of 

 the unknown actions to which we have recourse. 



A prematerial condition of the universe was, we assume, a 

 condition in which uniformity as regards the average distribution 

 of energy in space prevailed, but heterogeneity and instability 

 were possible. The realization of that possibility was the begin- 

 ning we seek, and we to-day are witnesses of the train of events 

 involved in the breakdown of an eternal past equilibrium. We 

 are witnesses on this hj'pothesis, of a catastrophe possibly confined 

 to certain regions of space, but which is, to the motions and con- 

 figurations concerned, absolutely unique, reversible to its former 

 condition of potential by no process of which we can have any 

 conception. 



We may illustrate such a hypothesis of prematerial equi- 

 librium and its breakdown by the phenomena of suffusion, or 

 supersaturation. We observe that many salts, such as acetate of soda, 

 melted and allowed to cool may preserve their fluidity indefinitely 

 long. But unexpectedly, on the other hand, seemingly from 

 no external cause, a change occurs at some point within the 

 liquid. Once this change begins a very brief period suffices to 

 carry the change throughout the mass, and in a few moments 

 the liquid is a crystalline solid. We put our hand now on the 

 containing vessel, and find that the whole has grown hot. 



Now we know that all this heat energy, and a great deal 

 more, was contained all along in the clear liquid, and this involves 

 molecular agitation. In the clear liquid, therefore, there was all 

 along unceasing motion, but yet no change. Our days may 

 lengthen into thousands of years, and these again into infinite 

 1 ime, and yet there may be no change. But we may suppose the 

 particular configuration at one moment in eternity is attained, and 

 then all is change, accelerated progress, conflagrations of molecular 



