ON THE BODIES TERMED SIMPLE. . J^^J 



and other combustibles may be formed of hidrot^en and azote. Y^'^r^ed of hi- 

 rv,, • • , • , ,.1 1 (Irogen and ni- 



Ihe opinion has gained some countenance trom the analogy trogca. 



between volatile and fixed alkalis, together with the iden- ^ome confir- 



tilication of the base of the fixed with metals. The reported 



amalgamation of the base of volatile alkali with quicksilver 



is an important link in the same chain of ideas; though the 



amalgamation of charcoal with iron, &c. may be opposed, I'^charcoalme- 



unless charcoal prove a metallic oxide or hidrogenate. 



One cannot proceed far in this train of speculation with- 

 out getting the prospect of all nature as consisting of two 

 elements, oxigen and hidrogen. 



In respect to heat, light, electricity, galvanism, and mag- Heat, light, 

 netisra, I see not the smallest reason to regard these as distinct vanism ' n'a^.' 

 substances, or other than as powers or influences, if we are netism, not 

 not to follow Beikeley. We have no right to consider any any^thino- biit 

 property whatever as essential to mattv°r. We have there- poweis, 

 fore no criterion of materiality. Yet it appears to me, that Perhaps <^iavi. 

 the absence of gravitation is a much stronger negative ar- Nation tiie only 

 gument than any positive yet produced: and J. have no mauer. 

 doubt but all thoie who have set themselves to weigh caloric, 

 under the notion of its being a separate substance, have 

 been miserably disappointed at the result of their experi- 

 ment; and that, had the result been opposite, they would 

 have triumphed, and justly, in this proof; for it must have 

 been received as decisive. Have not adversaries a right to 

 i-etaliate? 



The genius of accurate experimental investigation may be We may be oa 

 now in the art of striding from inanimate to living nature; ta\tjn«^ ^^ 

 very soon afterward one may venture to predict, that other knowledge of 

 influences, offering other means of analysis, will be disco- j'"'^^"*^®"^" 

 vered, less extensive probably than heat, and more so than Othei inSuen^ 

 magnetism, and constituting the difference between the par- ces, affordi, j, 

 tides of matter as they happen to be engaged in one class ana^'^^'i^t^b"^ 

 of compounds or the other. The Archaeus, vital principle, discovered. 

 Mr, Hunter's materia vitae diffusa, &c., will perhaps come Anticipations 

 to be considered as anticipations (clumsy and illogical ones 

 indeed) of such influences. 



I am, dear Sir, Yours respectfully, 



lOfh SepL 1808, THOMAS BEDDOES. 



XI. 



