A dance of metaphysical centres of force, or of mathematical 
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 fact 
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. 
When 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 nothing 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 philosophy 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 (dtvrj) 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, — 
Uarpo^ ireidyvih (3ov\y. (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 Eumford, 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. 
