i S 85 .J A Theory of the Action of Chemical Forces. 643 
the positive individualisation of the inner life or spiritual 
principle. 
N.B. 1 he Key (this part of the work) was delivered 
fiom the second sphere. In the delivery of the following 
work he ascends gradually to the seventh sphere : the How, 
1 That, and Shall is then to be explained. 
(To be continued.) 
II. A THEORY OF THE ACTION OF CHEMICAL 
FORCES. 
t TOMICITY is considered by Mendelejeff to increase 
from the beginning to the end of the septenary 
series ; but it is seen that this is apparent rather 
than real if we examine the illustrations advanced in support 
of this view. 
First cycle (oxides) — 
(Li A G 2 0 2 
BA 
ca 
NA 
Second cycle (oxides) — 
Na 2 0 Mg 2 0 2 
ai 2 o 3 
Si A 
PA 
In the above table the succeeding elements in each of the 
two simple cycles combine successively with one, two, three, 
four atoms of oxygen, and upwards; and since the atomicity 
of oxygen is two, an element which combines with one atom 
of oxygen would seem to be a dyad, an atom which com- 
bines with two atoms of oxygen to be a tetrad, and so on. 
But while the first elements in each cycle are strongly 
positive, and produce oxides of a basic character, the last 
elements are negative, and their oxides are acid-producing 
bodies. And only in the middle of each cycle do the ele- 
ments form oxides which are approximately indifferent or 
neutral in character. Oxygen is itself negative, and when 
combined with positive elements its effedt is to neutralise to 
some extent their positive properties. Thus the oxides of 
the alkali and alkaline earth metals are powerful bases, while 
