134 The Rev. J. Bayma on Molecular Mechanics. [Feb. 11, 



■whicli is tetrahedric with two tetrahedric nuclei ; taking v, v\ w for the 

 respective actions of the elements acting from the centre, first and second 

 nuclei, and envelope ; taking r, r", p for the radii of the two nuclei and 

 the envelope, the equations of motion will be as follows : 



d^p_Mw—v , 



... +^ / (.' + .'7 j 



in which equations M=0*91856. 



The discussion of these equations and similar ones will afford a useful 

 occupation to mathematicians and natural philosophers. Whatever conclu- 

 sions may be drawn from them camiot fail to throw great light on the 

 question of the nature of bodies. 



It is evident that we might go further and pass on to trinucleate, qua- 

 drinucleate, &c. systems ; but the number of equations will increase in 

 proportion, together with the difficulty of dealing with them. 



It is not enough to consider the laws of motion and equilibrium in each 

 system separately, but it is also necessary to know what action one system 

 exercises on another, whether like or unhke, placed at a given distance. 

 For since many of the properties of bodies depend on the relation which 

 the different molecules bear to one another, e. g., liquidity, elasticity, hard- 

 ness, &c., it is not enough to know what is the state of a system of elements 

 {i. e. a molecule) in itself, but we must investigate also how several such 

 systems (or molecules) affect each other. Now in this ulterior investigation 

 it is clear that the difficulty increases exceedingly, since the equations 

 become exceedingly complex. Here also then may natural philosophers 



