832 



A dance of metaphysical centres of force, or of mathematkal 

 points, is not within the compass of my argument. 



22. I do not_, however, either deny or omit to consider the 

 view of motion which pervades our modern discoveries as to the 

 constitution of matter, although I cannot but apprehend that 

 this^ our second step, will seem to many as perilous as leaving 

 the solid rock and planting our feet upon the sea. It is, 

 perhaps, impossible to discipline our minds to receive as a/ac/ 

 the idea of endless and perpetual motion. Yet, it is probable 

 that in the very least particles we have the reproduction of that 

 which meets our view in the largest agglomerations of matter. 

 ^Vhen we look up to the heavens on a calm, still night, repose 

 seems to be the very feature which stamps itself upon the mind 

 as marking the scene, and yet the instructed mental eye beholds 

 in the same scene nothiug but the orderly play of giant forces. 

 Even so must we regard that which appears to be most solid in 

 the earth itself, as the theatre of incessant motion. 



23. The old philosojDhy of the Grecian world was not unac- 

 quainted with speculative ideas of this kind, since Leucippus 

 accounted for the origin of all things by a certain whirling 

 motion [^ivr]) impressed in some undefined manner upon atomic 

 primaries. 



24. In the (so-called) oracles of Zoroaster I find much that in 

 the light of modern science is remarkable, and amongst others 

 the statement that all things remain in a restless whirling by 

 reason of the Divine will : so at least I should render the expres- 

 sions of the original, — 



Ilarpbc -tiOi'jrici [3ov\tj. (Note F.) 



25. It has been reserved to our days to bring out to the light 

 that which seems to be now demonstrated truth or scientific 

 fact on this subject. For though some great minds saw from 

 afar the distant outlines of the land, they could not go in to 

 possess it. Bacon wrote with remarkable foresight that heat 

 is a motion expansive, restrained and acting in its strife upon 

 the smaller particles of bodies; but the expansion [he says] is 

 thus modified, while it expands all ways, it has, at the same time, 

 an inclination upwards. And the struggle in the particles is 

 modified also. It is not sluggish, but hurried and with violence.^' 



26. Count Rumford, and afterwards Sir H. Davy, have since 

 shown that heat is a kind of molecular motion ; but no one has 

 contributed so much to our knowledge on this subject as Pro- 

 fessor Tyndall, who is always instructive when he describes that 

 which he understands. It might be well for himself and for 

 others if he did not venture on the elucidation of much more 

 important subjects, which it is evident are out of the compass of 

 his vision. 



