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angular masses of matter could uot move amongst each other without break- 
ing off their angles ; and this necessary friction of the different parts would 
produce three elements. The first a fine dust, formed from the broken 
angles ; the second, the spheres formed after their angularity was destroyed ; 
and the third, those spheres whose angles might remain entire, or be only 
partially destroyed. 
“ T| le dust, or the first of the three elements, would, according to the 
established laws of motion, take its place in the centre of such system or 
vortex, on account of its diminutive parts ; and this Descartes thinks, con- 
stitutes the sun and fixed stars. The second part, rendered smooth by 
the destruction of its angles, constitutes the atmosphere. The third element, 
with a portion of its angles, forms the earth, comets, &c. This is a concise 
view of this celebrated theory of vortices .” — History of the Philosophy of 
Mind, by K. Blakey, vol. ii. pp. 230 , 231 . 
The Chairman. — I am sure the meeting will return their thanks to Mr. 
Howard for his valuable and interesting paper. 
The Hon. Secretary. — Before the discussion commences I have to state 
that Professor Tyndall is prevented from being present on account of a prior 
engagement in this neighbourhood. 
Dr. H. Coleman. — In the first place I take exception to Mr. Howard’s 
statement that the Greeks knew nothing of exact science. Certainly, if he 
restricted that to the higher departments of Natural Science, it might be true, 
otherwise the assertion is not susceptible of proof. I would call his atten- 
tion to the speculations of Aristotle in his Natural History, and his treatise 
on the Principle of Life, and ask whether he has reviewed Cicero’s Be Natura. 
I think Mr. Howard has shown the point he set about to prove, namely, 
that Professor Tyndall favours materialism ; but I wish he had gone further 
and told us why he did so. It is much to be regretted that treatises like 
Professor Tyndall’s, which tend to Scepticism, receive so much support in 
the present day ; but I think it is because Scepticism is the only speculative 
school cultivated in England, and hence the great development of sceptica 
principles ; and we want, not to prove that these materialistic theories exist, 
but to account for their existence, and to devise a definite way of meeting 
them. 
Mr. L. T. Dibdin. — I feel towards Professor Tyndall’s address much as 
the friend of Lysias, in Plutarch’s story, did towards his defence. I 
admired it much on the first reading ; on the third thought it inconclusive. 
Though I cannot answer the address as Mr. Howard has done, I agree with 
that gentleman in his argument, and cannot follow Dr. Coleman in his objec- 
tions to it. But I want to draw attention to a little bit of mental philosophy, 
