MACINTOSH ON THE THEORY OF MATTER. 
223 
This sketch is published rather with a 
view to elicit the opinions of scientific men 
upon the subject than to establish a theory. 
With regard to the mere theory, perhaps no 
one cares less than the author himself, and 
if the voice of the scientific world should pro- 
nounce it visionary and absurd, no one will 
smile with more complacency. If the ap- 
pearances of truth or probability shall be 
found in the estimation of the world in favour 
of his system, it will gain ground in every 
discussion that may ensue upon its promul- 
gation ; on the other hand, if the appearances 
of probability shall be found against it, it 
will soon be consigned to oblivion. 
Theory of Matter. 
All matter contained in the solar system, 
of whatever description, has, at one time or 
other, emanated from the sun, into, whose 
body it will again return, again to emanate, 
again to return, and so on ad infinitum. 
1 . A comet is an immense volume of aeri- 
form or gaseous matter, in a highly electrified 
state, expelled from the sun by an extraor- 
dinary eifort ; and is the result of certain spe- 
cific modifications of electricity in due ac- 
cordance with the laws of nature. 
2. A comet is projected from the sun in an 
elliptical curve ; and the eccentricity of its 
orbit is determined conjointly by the sun’s 
rotatory motion, and the tangent at which it 
is at first projected. 
3. In the course of a series of revolutions 
the component parts of a comet become more 
dense and compacted, its orbit less elliptical, 
its projected distance from, and its approxi- 
mation to, the sun become less in nearly an 
equal ratio. 
4. When the orbit of a comet has become 
nearly a circle, and its component parts are 
sufficiently settled and condensed, it takes its 
station on the verge of the solar system and 
becomes a planet. 
5. When several comets are matured and 
settle into the planetary state about the same 
time, the largest and densest of the group 
becomes the primary, attracts the smaller 
comets to its sphere, and these become its 
secondaries. 
6. Through every successive revolution the 
secondaries approximate nearer and nearer to, 
and ultimately fall into, the body of their 
primaries. 
7. The planets through every successive re- 
volution approximate nearer and nearer to, 
and ultimately fall into, the body of the sun. 
Theory of Motion. 
All motion throughout the solar system is 
effected by the agency of electricity, both the 
larger operations exhibited in the motion of 
the planets and the minuter processes of vege- 
tation, oxidation, and vitrification ; and each 
specific and distinct mode of motion or action 
is caused and directed by specifically distinct 
modifications of electricity, the relative cir- 
cumstances controlling its operations being 
appreciated. 
1 . The earth and all the planets of the 
solar system are maintained at their respec- 
tive distances from the sun and from each 
other by the relative proportions of positive 
and negative electricity with which each is 
charged. 
2. In carrying on the vegetative and other 
processes of nature, the electric flrud of the 
earth and other planets is gradually dissipa- 
ted, and the repulsive power between the sun 
and planets is weakened in a corresponding 
ratio. 
3. As the electric fluid of Mercury, Venus, 
the Earth, and other planets, becomes each 
necessarily exhausted, the repulsive power 
will become extinct, and each will, in the 
order of their succession, merge in the body 
of the sun. 
4. In like manner, as the electric fluid of 
the moon and other secondaries becomes ex- 
hausted, the repulsive force between the pri- 
maries and their secondaries will become ex- 
tinct, the moon will merge in the earth, and 
each secondary will m^rge in the body of its 
primary. 
5. The earth’s rotatory motion is an effect 
of the electrical agency of the sun acting 
upon electrical matter contained and circula- 
ting within the cavernous body of the earth, 
and diffused throughout the external crust 
composing the earth’s surface. 
6. As the earth and other planets are con- 
tinually approximating towards the sun in 
spiral orbits, they are in effect propelled down 
an inclined plane by the power of electricity. 
There are two theories of electricity ; one 
is called the Franklinian theory, from being 
proposed by Dr. Benjamin Franklin, wherein 
it is assumed : — 
1. That there exists in all bodies a subtle 
fluid called the electric fluid. 
2. That some bodies called conductors are 
capable of holding or retaining a larger quan- 
tity of electricity than other bodies called 
non-conductors. 
3. That non-conductors have so little affi- 
nity for electricity, that the quantity they 
contain can be extracted from them by fric- 
tion, and transferred to conducting bodies, 
which have more affinity for electricity. 
4. That the body that is filled or positively 
charged with electricity will attract the body 
that is emptied or negatively charged ; and 
that the attraction will be powerful or weak 
in proportion as the positive body contains 
more, or the negative body less, than its 
natural quantity of electricity. 
5. That two bodies, both filled or positively 
charged with electricity, will repel each other. 
6. That two bodies, both emptied or nega- 
tively charged with electricity, will repel each 
other. 
It is objected to the 6th article of this 
theory, that as two bodies both emptied of 
electricity repel each other, the electric fluid 
cannot be the cause of this repulsion, seeing 
they are both emptied. Some attempt to ex- 
plain this difficulty by saying, that if the 
electric fluid be withdrawn, matter has an 
affinity for, and will attract, other matter ; 
