"J'/ioiHCiK Sti')-r>/ Jhntf. — J''r<i.z<'r. 7 
Tvhen we (Midcavor l>y hypollieses of hard inirticlcs with void siloes, 
of atoms and molcouk's. with bonds and links to oxphiin choniioal 
.affinities, and when we ^ivc a concrete form to our mechanical 
conceptions of the ii real laws of delinite and niulti})le jiroportions 
•to which tile cliemical process is sulioidiiKited? Let ns not con- 
found the iuiauc witii the tliino- itself, until, in the iano-uaf^X' of 
Brodie. in the discussion of this very (|uestion. -we mistake the 
suggestions of fancy for tlie reidity of nature. :ind we cease to 
distinguish between conjecture and fact.' Tin- atomic liyi)othesis 
by the aid of which Daiton sought to exi)lain his great generaliza- 
;tions, has (h>negood sei-vicein chemistry. ;isthe Newtonian theory 
of light did in oi)tics. but is already hisiiig its hold on many ad- 
vanced thinkers in our science. " 
He says in :i previous part of the same iiddress: ''Tlie doctrine 
of tvites. tirst eiiuneiateil liy Pumas, advanced by Laurent and 
perfecteil liy tiie laiiors of (jtiiei's, may lie said to be the basis of 
our jtresent clu'mical theory. It was tlie coiicei)tion of tlic dual 
water tyi)e which liist rendered clear the theory of ethers and 
:a.nhydrous monobasic at-ids. an<l thence the generation of bibasic 
and tribasic acids, whose. derivation from the water tyite I taught 
as early as 1S4S, some years liefore these views were accepted by 
Williamson and (lerhanlt. whose names are usually associated 
with this extension of the original doctrine of Dumas." 
Kelating to his peculitii' viev.-s in regard to interstellar space and 
the connection of the nudter which he supposed to lill it with an 
.atmospiiere, he says (id. ): 
•If now we admit. ;is 1 am disposed to do with Mattieu A\'ill- 
iams, that our ntmosphere and ocean ;ire not sim|)ly terrestrial but 
-cosmical. nud :ne ;i poition of the medium which in ;iii attenuated 
form nils till' interstelhiry spaces, these sanu' neliuhe and their 
i'esulting woi-lds nuiy be evolve(l Ity a pi'ocess of chenueal con- 
densation from this uni\t'i'sal :itinos|)hei'e to which \\w\ would 
sustain a relation somewhat amilogous to th:it of clouds and rain 
to the :i(pU'ous vapoi' ai'ound us. 
Dr. Hunt claborate(.l this theme in his presidential iiddress lie- 
fore the .\mei'. Inst, of .Nlining Kugineers on another occasion, 
Ills (pu'ry being, whence is all the carl)(»n derived which is found 
in organic structure and comiiined in the rocks as carbonates?' and 
his conclusion that it was drawn from ••iuterstellary space, " per- 
haps indirectly from othei' planet^.. 
