Page:Scientific Memoirs, Vol. 1 (1837).djvu/462

450 of the two fluids constitutes only a single force, equal to each of the two attractive forces. If then, with the equilibrium of the fluids, it is desired to find the equilibrium of the masses also, an equal repulsion must be allowed between the molecules; since the bodies would otherwise forcibly attract each other. But such an attraction is contrary to what we learn from experience. He felt at first a strong objection to the admission of such a repulsive force between the material molecules, as being opposed to the idea entertained of their mutual attraction, which was so clearly demonstrated on Newton's principles. But a little reflection satisfied him that this admission contained nothing that was opposed to facts, or, as he might rather have said, that was not confirmed by facts. Universal attraction itself may follow as a consequence from the principles which regulate the electric forces: for if we suppose that, the masses being equal, the repulsion of the molecules of matter is a little less than their attraction of the atoms of the æther, or than the mutual repulsion of the atoms themselves, this will be sufficient to leave an excess of attraction which, being directly as the product of the masses and inversely as the square of the distance, would exactly represent the universal attraction.

2. While reflecting on these principles, in a course of lectures on natural philosophy which I gave at the University of Buenos Ayres, I conceived the idea, that if the molecules of matter, surrounded by their atmospheres, attract each other when at a greater, and repel each other when at a less distance, there must be between those two distances an intermediate point at which a molecule would be neither attracted nor repelled, but would remain in steady equilibrium; and that it was very possible this might be the distance at which it would be placed in the the composition of bodies. I thought the idea of sufficient importance to fix it in my memory, but did not at the time pursue its development further.

On my return to Europe I learned, through the reading of some memoirs, and in the course of conversation with men of science, that the attention of geometers was particularly directed to the molecular forces, as being those which may lead us more directly to the knowledge of the intrinsic properties of bodies. I was thus led to recall my ideas on the subject, and set about subjecting them to analysis. The results of my first investigations I here submit to the judgement of philosophers.

I have supposed that a number of material molecules are plunged into a boundless æther, and that these molecules and the atoms of the æther are subject to the actions of the forces required by the theory of Æpinus, and then endeavoured to ascertain the conditions of equililibrium of the æther and the molecules. Considering the æther as a continuous mass, and the molecules as isolated bodies, I found that, if