332 Remarks on Chemical Theory, and ou 



mitted as such, to be ultimately reduced to two, (which is 

 physically possible) — and although it is self evident that 

 there cannot be fewer than two elements ; — still it is clear- 

 ly possible that the two which appear to be elements, may 

 be in their turn, decomposed — each may contain one new 

 body and one before known or possibly each may consist 

 of two new bodies, and these again may contain each one 

 new body or more ; and thus, when the subject has appar- 

 ently reached the point of greatest simplicity, it may again 

 become more complex and ultimately carry the enquirer 

 farther than ever from the desired result.* This is one great 

 reason why the researches of chemistry are boundless. 

 Another is, that independently of our theoretical views as 

 to the number and nature of the elements, we can n^ver 

 know when we have formed every possible combination ; 

 the progress of chemistry has constantly evinced that com- 

 pounds are produced which, as we have every reason to be- 

 lieve, exist no where in nature, and not a few of them are 

 possessed of astonishing properties. For these reasons 

 principally, chemistry has, in our times exhibited more fluc- 

 tuations, than any other science ; immense activity has been 

 exerted in its various departments and a great number of in- 

 genious and able men, spread over all enlightened countries, 

 have been and still are constantly occupied in its numerous and 

 diversified operations. From all these causes it has arisen, that 

 chemistry has, during the last twenty or thirty 'years, produced 

 more elementary books than perhaps any other branch of 

 science. This has resulted, in a considerable degree, from 

 the necessity of the case, because the progress of the sci- 

 ence has been so rapid, that it has required but a few years 

 to throw a particular edition of a good elementary work into 

 the back ground, and therefore new editions and new books 

 have been frequently multipHed. In this view of the subject, 

 (although there were already many good works on chemis- 

 try,) Professor Gorham had undoubtedly the same right as 

 other authors who have preceded him, to give the science a 

 new elementary treatise. 



* We do not menn to say that this will be the fact ; its possibility is suffi» 

 cient for our purpose. In point of fact, it appears probable that most of the 

 bodies now admitted as elements will retain that character. 



