374 



ON THE LAWS OF NATURE, 



count de Buffon # , from two primitive powers, that 

 which caufes gravity, and that which engenders heat. 



The force of impullion is fubordinate to them. At-, 

 traction is an univerfal, a Hated, a continued effect. 

 Collilion is, however, in moft bodies, only a particu- 

 lar, neither ftated nor continuing effect, and depends 

 on attraction, as a particular effecl: on a general one. 



If all collifion were removed, attraction would ne- 

 vertheless continue and operate. But if attraction 

 lhould ceafe, collilion would lofe its exiftence. 



This effential difference fubqrdinates the impulsion 

 of attraction. 



But ffill more immediately and univerfally does im- 

 pullion depend on the energy which produces heat, ac- 

 cording to the limple and elevated theory of the french 

 Pliny. Impullion pervades organized bodies princi- 

 pally by means of heat. By heat they are formed, 

 they grow, and expand. From attraction alone we 

 may derive all the operations of unorganifed matter, as 

 we may deduce, according to Buffon's apparently 

 well-founded theory, all the phenomena of living matter 

 from the fame attractive force, in connection with the. 

 force of heat. 



That great philofopher — unqueftionably one of the 

 greatefr. this century has produce^ — teaches, that not 

 only all animals and plants are to be comprehended 

 tinder the head of living matter, but alfo all living or- 

 ganifed particles, moleculae, which are fcattered among 

 the ruins of organifed bodies, together with the prime 



$ See particularly Buffon's Introduction a Thiftoire naturelle fc* 

 BQiueraux, in the chapter on Elements. 



fub? 



