﻿348 Prof. J. Bayma on the Fundamental 



regret that I was not able to finish the series of observations, 

 and to repeat them with the use of artificial light. 



Yours &c., 

 L. Soret. 



I hope my friend Soret will compare the action of the water 

 of the Lake of Geneva upon light with that of other waters. By 

 intensifying his illuminating beam he may be able to operate 

 upon small masses. His method of experiment holds out a pro- 

 mise of a definite solution of a much discussed and still open 

 question. 



An elaborate memoir, " Sur la Polarisation Atmospherique," 

 published in 1864 by Br. Rubenson of Upsala, has just reached 

 me. I promise myself much instruction from the perusal of this 

 essay. 



Royal Institution, J. TYNDALL. 



April 21, 18G9. 



XLIX. Fundamental Principles of Molecular Physics. 

 By Professor J. Bayma, S. J. } of Stony hurst College. 



[Continued from p. 287-] 



III. 



N his paper on the u Fundamental Principles of Molecular 

 Physics " Professor Norton undertakes not only to answer 

 my objections against his theory, but also to show, as far as he 

 can, that some of my own views on the same subject are question- 

 able, and others inadmissible. Having in my last article exa- 

 mined briefly his system of defence, I come now to a rapid re- 

 view of his means of attack. 



The reader, if he has watched attentively the progress of our 

 controversy, will have already noticed the striking ability dis- 

 played by my learned opponent in framing arguments out of 

 objections. The last example of such tactics I have reserved for 

 this part of my reply as a natural introduction to what I shall 

 say concerning his other arguments. 



Bulk of atoms. — As Professor Norton had assumed the atom 

 of " gross matter " to be indivisible and spherical in form, I 

 took the liberty to object that atoms " indivisible " cannot be 

 either extended or spherical in form ; for " if they were extended 

 and indivisible, they would be so many pieces of continuous 

 matter, which we have already proved to be impossible.-" 



To this the learned Professor gives no less than six distinct 

 replies, which I am now going to examine. The first is as 

 follows : 



