182 
place in eacli individual molecule, and all spin on their axes or 
vibrate according to arrangements which are as invariable as 
those which guide the earth in sweeping round the sun and give 
us the seasons in their appointed course. No possible mutual 
agreement or spontaneous action can be supposed to take place 
among such bodies; and the idea of “ molecular machinery 
of any description displays as much ignorance, chemically, as, 
astronomically , the old conceit that the stars were really fixed, 
and moved in their orbits by a grand celestial orrery Uycle 
and epicycle, orb in orb.”* . . 
30. It must be fully understood that it is not m any way 
essential to my argument to show that the particular form 
assigned to the molecule of idocrase , or the exact constituent, 
must necessarily be correct in all points. It. is simply a con- 
venient illustration, and any other mineral mig t answer e 
purpose. I do not insist on those who are not equal to the task 
of grasping the mathematical and chemical proofs adopting the 
chemical theory of molecules; but I think all ought to insist on 
this— that the self-ordained instructors of the people should cease 
to use language such as “ molecular machinery, which is either 
wonderfully ignorant or wilfully misleading. 
31 I now come to the phenomena of crystallization, which 
are but a modified action of the same forces, working with the 
same mathematical regularity, with the same precision, adding 
molecule to molecule, in balanced, orderly arrangement. O ten 
have I watched with interest the beautiful play of polarities 
which is manifested in crystals forming on the surface of a 
cooling solution ;f when the small needles seek or are repelled by 
their neighbours, according to the magnetic poles as they are 
developed ; but I never should have dreamed of any person, 
however ignorant, making the above strange assertion, that a 
body in a crystallizing state, is to that in an amorphous state, as 
life is to death, or living matter to dead matter. Who is 
that cannot see the difference between motion impede y 
electrical current, and motion the result of voluntary choice 
aU 32 W “ If we pour into a saturated solution of sulphate of 
potash a moderately concentrated solution of sulphate of 
alumina, and stir this mixture briskly with a glass rod there 
follows immediately a disturbance in the liquid, and, at the end 
C01 + m potasdTehlorate is a good substance to observe. 
