WenzeL 215 



ing. Dalton's meaning is without doubt, and contained in 

 a few pages. 



Indeed, if we consider Wenzel's words carefully, we 

 may draw from them the conclusion that he sometimes 

 argued from the principles of Dalton's atomic theory, 

 scarcely conscious of it, and not sufficiently aware of his 

 own progress. It is in this way that men dispute about 

 discoveries in the past. Men sometimes use principles 

 which are beyond their own understanding ; they become 

 the unconscious tools of nature. 



There has been so much discussion on the question 

 whether Wenzel discovered reciprocal combining propor- 

 tion, that it is necessary to enter more fully on the subject ; 

 and the ' Life of Dalton and History of the Atomic Theory ' 

 will be more fully drawn upon. 



*We now come to Wenzel, one of those men whose 

 names have been brought forward as much-neglected 

 philosophers, and to whom almost every writer on the 

 history of science, who has had occasion to mention him 

 in later years, has been anxious to award the due honour. 

 We see his book constantly quoted. Some writers give us 

 his words, others give us what appears such a clear 

 explanation of his ideas that we feel no more to be 

 wanting. I had been long anxious to obtain his works, 

 but after advertising in Germany, and inquiring in several 

 towns and large libraries in this country, as well as in 

 France and Germany, I did not obtain the volume, and 

 proceeded without it. I afterwards found that a duplicate 

 copy existed at the Munich Royal Library, and was 

 fortunate enough to obtain it, duplicate copies being 

 generally" disposed of. Having read it carefully over, I 

 found no such passages as are imputed to him ; and, there- 



