210 Prof. \V. A. Norton on the Fundamental 



aether, — and one form of repulsive matter, viz. the molecular 

 envelope. 



If, after the explanation I have now given of my meaning in 

 the phraseology used and of the conceptions actually formed, our 

 author is still disposed to renew the question "on what evidence 

 arc we to grant that matter exists in three forms essentially dif- 

 ferent from each other/'' i. e. one attractive in the mutual action 

 of its elements, and two repulsive in the same sense, or all re- 

 pulsive in this sense, but exerting different intensities of repul- 

 sion, I will reply by asking him the same question, "on what 

 evidence are we to grant that matter exists in three forms/' viz. 

 one repulsive and two attractive. If he should refer me to his 

 f Molecular Mechanics' for the evidence, I should respond by re- 

 ferring him to my ' Molecular Physics' for the evidence. 



There is no occasion to add anything more on the question of 

 the three forms of matter, except to remark that Professor 

 Bayma's apparent success in exposing the "fallacy of my argu- 

 ment" about "gross matter''' is attributable to the fact that he 

 represents me as holding that gross matter is made up of mole- 

 cules, whereas, as I have already shown in my conception and 

 characterization of the three forms of matter, the gross or ordi- 

 nary matter is simply the central atoms of the molecules. It 

 may be as well to remark, also, that the term "gross matter'' 

 was adopted in conformity with common usage, in designation of 

 what is universally called matter, without intending to imply 

 that the atoms of necessity differed from the ^ethereal atoms, 

 except in the intensity of their active forces as compared with 

 the quantities of matter in the atoms. 



Two JEthers. — It is asked, "Why two ethereal fluids when 

 one might suffice." The "clear and positive am 



,ive 



is this : — for the simple reason that, as I have endeavoured 

 to show in my c Molecular Physics,' from the conception of two 

 aethers, the recognized molecular forces and the different classes 

 of molecular phenomena in their diverse mutual relations and 

 interdependence may be evolved, while all attempts to accom- 

 plish this result by means of the hypothesis of a single aether 

 have signally failed. If our author or any other physicist will 

 give us any substantial reason to believe that the notion of a 

 single ajthcr may really suffice to explain electric phenomena, 

 we shall be ready to admit that his query throws a shadow of 

 doubt on the hypothesis of two aethers. But we certainly can- 

 not make the same admission in deference to his mere assertion 

 that "one sether might suffice." 



The proof, or, rather, strong evidence (which is all that the case 

 admits of), that two rcthcrs, both repulsive, exist in nature, is that 

 optical and electric phenomena have given direct indications of 



