Prof.  M.  B.  Pell  on  the  Constitution  of  Matter.        185 
heat,  and  differ  sometimes  so  entirely  from  inorganic  substances 
formed  of  the  same  chemical  elements,  may  involve  abnormal 
molecular  arrangements  not  in  accordance  with  the  prevailing 
wave-length,  and  thus  be  liable  to  decay  when  removed  from  the 
local  influences  under  which  they  were  produced  ? 
The  present  uniformity  of  wave-length  is  a  condition  of  dy- 
namical equilibrium,  which  may  have  existed  from  the  begin- 
ning, but  which  may,  I  think,  have  been  brought  about  by  the 
operation  of  natural  causes.  Supposing  a  number  of  atoms, 
enough  to  make  a  solar  system,  to  have  been  created  anywhere 
in  space,  but  at  such  distances  apart  as  to  cause  by  their  conflu- 
ence, a  sufficient  amount  of  heat  to  animate  the  whole.  In  the 
beginning  there  would  be  a  true  chaos.  There  would  be  every 
variety  of  wave-length,  and  consequently  every  variety  of  mole- 
cular arrangement  with  no  stability  anywhere,  but  a  continuous 
process  of  composition  and  decomposition.  But  out  of  this 
chaos  order  would  be  gradually  evolved.  The  principle  of  na- 
tural selection  would  begin  to  operate  even  at  this  early  period. 
Every  radiating  molecule  would  endeavour  to  impress  its  own 
constitution  upon  others  within  its  influence,  to  propagate  its 
kind.  In  the  warfare  among  the  molecules  every  enemy  con- 
quered would  become  the  ally  of  the  conqueror.  The  mole- 
cules distinguished  by  numbers  and  strength  of  constitution 
svould  gradually  gain  the  ascendency  by  the  destruction  of 
weaker  kinds;  and  any  additional  stability  of  structure  which 
might  accidentally  arise  amongst  themselves  would  be  propa- 
gated and  become  general.  An  ascendency  having  once  been 
gained,  the  process  of  reduction  to  a  common  standard  would 
go  on  with  an  ever  increasing  rapidity  until  the  condition  of 
greatest  stability  was  attained.  If  such  a  relation  existed 
amongst  the  constants  upon  which  the  mutual  action  of  the 
atoms  depends,  as  to  render  it  possible  that  one  uniform  wave- 
length should  be  attained,  that  would  be  the  final  result.  In  that 
case  there  would  be  one  uniform  stability  of  moleculararrangement 
— a  hard  uncompromising  state  of  things,  without  the  possibility 
perhaps  of  that  continuous  round  of  composition  and  decomposi- 
tion upon  which  the  life  of  our  part  of  the  universe  depends. 
It  may  be,  then,  that  chaos  means  diversity  of  wave-length, 
and  that  cosmos  means  variety  in  unity,  and  that  absolute 
uniformity  of  wave-length  would  be  universal  death.  It 
is  a  curious  subject  for  reflection,  that  the  possibility  of  cosmos 
evolving  out  of  chaos  (that  is,  the  possibility  that  the  mate- 
rial universe  should  become  fitted  to  be  the  abode  of  organic 
life)  may  have  depended  upon  whether  or  not  a  few  constants 
were  so  arranged  in  the  beginning  as  to  satisfy  a  simple  ma- 
thematical condition. 
