256 Researches in the Theory and Calculus of Operations. 



together both through the diameter sr' and the surface of 

 the sphere c, the result will be that s' will be brought to O 

 and r to O', and c will take the position of b. A further 

 sufficient compression would give the position a. We see 

 here the status of the atomic forces corresponding to the 

 four states of matter, etherial, aerial, fluid and solid, and 

 may readily trace their cosmogonical origination. For, apply 

 such compression at A to the atomic spheres AB and B 

 B', the radii which meet at B are annihilated, and the 

 opposing radii terminating at A and B' approximated by 

 circumferential action through A A', etc., and condensation 

 results. Beyond the atmosphere of the sun and planets, 

 towards the boundary between the solar and surrounding 

 systems, the etherial medium, constantly generated as above 

 delineated, acts as a (metallic) conductor between the 

 systems ; the atomic molecules coalesce as it were in a sin- 

 gle stratum, the oscillatory movement being from the 

 central bodies of the system to its limit. Just above the 

 atmosphere, the oscillation of tenuous substance may be 

 as in d', d; becoming in the gaseous atmosphere as in c, 

 in the aqueous medium as in 6, and as a, a' in solids. The 

 amplitudes, in all the four states, are represented as rs and 

 sV. 



Heat is evolved by condensation or compression as else- 

 where explained, and consequently increases as the centre 

 is approached in the above process, while at the same time 

 it is constantly passing outwards and converting into ether 

 as above shown. Compression or condensation as above 

 originated, acting under various and varying degrees of 

 temperature upon the forming strata of the globe, deter- 

 minately fixed the different mineral elements, gaseous, 

 liquid and solid, according to their respective temperatures : 

 at 1500°, iron reaches it freezing point, lead at 334°, water 

 at 32°, mercury at — 40°, etc. F. So finally every elementary 

 substance resolves itself into nothing more than a peculiar 



