122 Thoughts on Chemical Affinity. [March, 
There remain only their affinities, their specific gravities, 
and their thermal and eledtrical relations. It is to their 
affinities we wish here to particularly refer. The minute 
particles of elementary matter attradt each other with a 
vigour which differs with every change of substance, being 
powerful in some cases, and weak or non-existent in others. 
And this attraction is more powerful between elementary 
atoms than between compound molecules. If Chemistry be 
rigidly separated from other sciences, the above phrases 
almost completely embrace it. 
But what are the true characteristics of the attractions 
which thus tend to combine chemical atoms and molecules 
into more complex molecules ? Or we might first ask, What 
are the characteristics of attraction ? It has, as we know, 
one general form, that of gravitation, which affedts all mat- 
ter alike, without discrimination. It has, also, one special 
form, that of magnetism, which affedts all compounds of 
matter, but which specially discriminates. In its general 
form of gravitation I have argued in a preceding paper that 
the attractions of matter are balanced by their repulsions, 
but that the attractive matter has everywhere gathered into 
globes and systems, so that repulsive vigour, in its general 
aspects, now only exists between widely separated masses of 
matter. In its special form of magnetism the attractions 
are visibly balanced by the repulsions, these conditions oc- 
curring together in every mass of matter. Beyond these 
two modes of attraction there is no positive evidence that 
any other exists ; for eleCtric attraction may possibly be a 
special display of magnetic energy, while physical cohesion 
and adhesion resemble gravity in their characteristics. There 
remains but chemical attraction, and we may reasonably ask 
Is this a special mode of attraction, or is it a manifestation 
of gravitative or of magnetic energy ? It cannot be a result 
of gravity, since it discriminates in its action. It therefore 
must be magnetic, or else a special mode of attraction. 
As to which of these explanations should be adopted we 
have a useful rule of guidance. If it were impossible to 
explain chemism by any known mode of energy, then there 
would be some warrant for ascribing it to our unknown 
mode. But if it can be shown to be explainable by a known 
mode, this obviates the necessity of seeking any unknown 
mode ; since it is undeniable that whatever tends to simplify 
and reduce the seeming complexity of natural principles is 
in the true path of corredt discovery. Let us try, then, if 
we can apply the laws of magnetic energy to the phenomena 
of chemical affinity. 
