The Portland daily press., 1867-05-09
For the Press.l
ss-J
OF Unertin,

In the face and eyes of all the learning and
experience Of all the ages OF time, it may be
bold assertion for an old and oi scure man like
me, to say that no such thing exists, in nature,
as inertia. On the old theory that all matter
WAS dead and inert except animated nature, it
was assumed to be SO, and on that theory 1t was
probably true. But, when We come to right
understanding of nature and consider that all
matter in essence, is equally alive, and the
proper division OF matter is into fluid and sta
tionary, we fud that the old theory is wrong
1t wood in essence, that is, the several gases OF
which it is composed are not alive, how could
they compose and form that substance, and
how could that substance in combustion, sep
arate and form fame, and in that way return
to its original gaseous elements, for dead mat
ter, as such, can produce no action, neither to
compose nor decompose. How could the smith
weld two pieces of iron, if life is not in the
iron. Death, as such, can not perform any ac-
tion, pro nor con. But when we come to con-
slider and adopt the true theory of nature, that
all matter exists in a gaseous state, invisible
and alive, and only becomes visible when COM
bined and formed into the different substances
in the visible creation, we are relieved at once
from all these embarrassments and are pre-
sented with the simple truths OF nature as they
exist. And what sublime character it gives
us of the great Creator, when we sec all these
great works formed and adapted to our use and
convenience on the two great magnetic laws of
attraction and repulsion, when compared with
the vague theories OF artificial science and in
vention.
Another thing here, with regard to inertia,
and the theory on which 1t is founded, is the
distinction between magnetic action and reac-
ton, and mechanical action and reaction
These motions are invisible and without fric-
ton, wear and drag, always renewing them
selves, without loss or gain, and are therefore,
equal and opposite, as We see daily in the op-
erations Of the great works Of God in the great
creation. In the mechanic arts, it is not so.-
There the wear and drag, by friction and resis-
tance Of the atm osphere, have to be overcome
by some counter, mechanical force, for we can
| conform to nature, but cannot cheat nor con-
troll her. Another thing is to be considered in
| this case, the two laws of stsbilit and motion,
attraction and repulsion. 1t requires power,
strength and action, to combine aud hold as well
as to separate. 1t requires strength and pow
er to hold the particles of a granite block, or
any other substance together to unite them
If 1 hold stick or stone in my hand, it re-
quires the same power to hold it as it did to
grasp it. No action is here, because constant
effort is required to hold it. Another thing is
worthy of notice here; that, on the old theory,
when forms perish the composing matter
dies. 1t only changes its present form of exis-
ence to its original gases. Mr.. Pope has ex-
planned this item of philosophy better than al
the philosophers:
"All forms that perish, other forms supply,
BY turns we catch the living breath and die"
The final result is, that all nature is in con-
slant action to hold or to move, and that iner-
tia is a term of art and science and not of ma
ture. j. MORGAN.
Portland Nav l. 1867.