And while I am profoundly sensible of the
importance of the subject, and the difficulties attending its
consideration, still with humble boldness I present this paper and ask
for it a serious and careful consideration, hoping that the discussion
and investigation resulting therefrom may add to our knowledge of
physical science.
It is now a well established fact that matter, _per se_, is inert, and
that its energy is derived from the physical forces; therefore all
chemical and physical phenomena observed in the universe are caused by
and due to the operations of the physical forces, and matter, of
whatever state or condition it may be in, is but the vehicle through
or by which the physical forces operate to produce the phenomena.
There are but two physical forces, i.e., the force of attraction and
the force of caloric. The force of attraction is inherent in the
matter, and tends to draw the particles together and hold them in a
state of rest. The force of caloric accompanies the matter and tends
to push the particles outward into a state of activity.
The force of attraction being inherent, it abides in the matter
continuously and can neither be increased nor diminished; it, however,
is present in different elementary bodies in different degrees, and in
compound bodies relative to the elements of which they are composed.
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