42 LECTURE I. 



by its consequences, makes the firm earth 

 tremble, and throws up subterraneous mat- 

 ter from volcanos. 



When therefore we perceive in the uni- 

 verse at large, a cause of rapid and power- 

 ful motions of masses of inert matter, may 

 we not naturally conclude that the inert 

 molecules of vegetable and animal matter, 

 may be made to move in a similar manner, 

 by a similar cause ? 



It is not meant to be affirmed that elec- 

 tricity is life. There are strong analogies 

 between electricity and magnetism, and yet 

 I do not know that any one has been hardy 

 enough to assert their absolute identity. I 

 only mean to prove, that Mr. Hunter's 

 Theory is verifiable, by showing that a 

 subtile substance of a quickly and power- 

 fully mobile nature, seems to pervade every 

 thing, and appears to be the life of the 

 world ; and therefore it is probable that a 

 similar substance pervades organised bodies, 

 and produces similar effects in them. 



The experiments of Sir H. Davy seem 



