68 THE REIGN OF LAW. 



each other, in respect to combination and affi- 

 nity, is reduced to system under laws of this 

 kind, and of this kind only. Because, although 

 there is a probability that Electric or Galvanic 

 Force is the cause, or one of the causes, of the 

 series of facts exhibited in chemical phenomena, 

 this is as yet no better than a probability, and the 

 laws of Chemistry stand no higher than facts which 

 by observation and experiment • are found to fol- 

 low certain rules. 



But the ascertainment of a law in this First 

 and lower sense leads immediately and in- 

 stinctively to the search after Law in another 

 sense which is higher. An observed Order of 

 facts, to be entitled to the rank of a Law, 

 must be an Order so constant and uniform as 

 to indicate necessity, and necessity can only 

 arise out of the action of some compelling 

 Force. Law, therefore, comes to indicate not 

 merely an observed Order of facts, but that 

 Order as involving the action of some Force or 

 Forces, of which nothing more may be known 

 than these visible effects. Every observed Or- 

 der in physical phenomena suggests irresistibly 



