24 On the Constitution of Matter, 



tlie necessity tliat p should be a whole number allows. If u, 

 were not nearly constant for heat of considerable intensity, there 

 would be no stabilty in the constitution of matter ; for an arrange- 

 ment made under one wave length would be liable to be 

 decomposed under another. Suppose, that a mass of any 

 substance, such as iron, were brought from some other system, if 

 there is any such, where a much longer wave length prevails. 

 We should probably not recognize it as iron at all. If melted, 

 its atoms would be immediately arranged according to the 

 fashion of our system. It might perhaps be preserved in 

 its original state if carefully kept in a cool place. If 

 exposed to the heat of the day, it would probably be gradually 

 transformed, suifering disintegration in the process — it would 

 decay, in fact, much as a piece of wood does, and with more or 

 less rapidity according to the degree in which its constitution 

 differed from our standard. Is it possible that organic compounds, 

 which can be produced and exist under exceptional circumstances 

 only, which are so liable to decay, so sensitive to the action of 

 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 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 beginning, 

 but which may, I think, have been brought about by the opera- 

 tion of natural causes. Supposing a number of atoms, enough 

 to make a solar system, to have been created any where in space, 

 but at such distances apart as to cause by their confluence, a suf- 

 ficient 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 molecular arrange- 

 ment, with no stability any where, but a continuous process of 

 composition and decomposition. But out of this chaos order 

 would be gradually evolved. The principle of natural selection 

 would begin to operate even at this early period. Every radiat- 

 ing 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 conquered would be- 

 come the ally of the conqueror. The molecules distinguished by 

 numbers and. strength of constitution, would gradually gain the 

 ascendancy by the destruction of weaker kinds ; and any addi- 

 tional stability of structure which might accidentally arise 

 amongst themselves would be propagated and become general. 

 An ascendancy having once been gained, the process of reduction 

 to a common standard, would go on with an ever increasing ra- 



