New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-07


gen. But combined, and the motion conse-
quent on their combination has been expended no
further power can be gained from their mutual at
traction. AZ dynamic agents. they are dead. The
eaIths crust is for the most part composed of sub
stances whose atoms have already combined in
chemical union. Granite, for instance consists
chiefly OF silicon, oxygen, potassium. calcium, and
aluminium, the atoms Of which long ago met in
chemical combination, and therefore dead. This
is an example of the materials which compose the
earths crust. They sources of power in past
ages long before there anything on the surface
of the earth that could turn their power to account
but they are sources of power no longer This is
adapted to correct the opinion that the forces of
nature exist exclusively for human use Flowers
bloomed before men them; the stars shone be-
fore there were eyes globe to behold their
light; and the power wasted before it could be
utilized by man is all but infinite compared with
what now remains to be applied
few exceptions 70 this state OF union of tho
particles OF the earths crust-allimportaut TO MS but
trivial IN comparison to the total OF
which they are the residue-sun remain. They
constitute our main sources Of motive power.
beds of coal composed chiefly of carbon which has not
yet closed in chemical union with oxygen Distance s
n'eIVehes between the atoms of carbon and those OF
oxygen. across which the atoms may be impeled by
their mutual attractions and can do nothing more
tnan nthze the motion produced by this attraction
once the carbon and the oxygen have rushed together
so as 10 form carbonc acid their mutual attractions are
saSned ana, while they continue IN this condition az
dynamic agents they are dead A pound of coal pro
which, II mechanically applied, would raise weight OF
100 lbs TO hight OF twenty miles above the earts sur
face Conversely, 100 lbs. falling from hight OF twenty
miles, and striking against tho EARTH would generate an
amount OF heat equal 10 that developed by the conbs
ton OF pound Of coal Wherever work Is done by neat
heat disappears gun which fires ball Is less heated
than one which fires blank cartridge the quantity OF
heat communicated to the boiler Of a working steamen-
cine is greater than that which could be obtained from
the Ieeondensatlon OF the steam after II mad done is
equivalent OF the amount of heat missing. We dig
nualy nearly 100 millions Of tons OF coal from our pits
this quantity Of coal seems perfectly fabulous.
The combustion Of single pound Of coal, sup
equivalent to the work of 800 horses; and II we
suppose 200OooO OF horses working day and nght win
unmpaired strength, for year, their united energies
eouyaen TO the heat 10 Inc derived from the annual pro
duce Of our coaheds. Our woods and forests are also
sources Of mechanical energy because they also nave
the noccuar not6n PTodaced in the act of union may
be turned 70 mechanical account Passing from dead mat
20 living matter, find that the source of motive
here referred to is also the source of muscular
but this work is at bottom the molecular work OF the ee
mens of the food and the oxygen OF the air. We nhae
this vital gas, and bring it into sufficiently close prox-
unity with the carbon and the hydrogen OF the food
They unite in obedience 70 their mutual attractions. and
their motion toward each other properly turned 10 &C
count by the wonderful mechanism Of the body becomes
muscular motion.
The central thought which pervades all these
statements is the ancient maxim that nothing comes
from nothing No power is produced without the
expenditure Of some other power. Neither in the
plant nor in the animal is there any creation of
force In the growth of trees, and of animals the
of power is the Sum- 1t is his rays that sep
arate the carbon from the oxygen in the carbonie
acid of the atmosphere and thus enable them to re-
combine. In this we are all souls of fire and
children of the Sum-" But we share our celestial
pedigree with the meanest living things The frog
and the toad, the monkey and the gorilla draw their
power from the same source as man. With regard |
70 the power of science to present complete solu-
ton of the problem of the universes, Professor Tyn-
dali concludes the lecture with the following mod
est disclaimer
But while thus make the LARGEST demand for freedom
ural pride in scientific achievement, while I regard
science the most powerful instrument Of intellectual
material wants # men, IL you ask me whether science
has solved, likely in our day 10 solve. the problem
remember the first NapOeOn's question, when the SdcdnS
who accompanied him 10 Egypt discussed in his presence
parent Satisfaction He looked aoft TO the starry hes
cs ann n F ~, TIT very dSeSt g, s Tpmains man
swered and science makes attempt to answer It, AS far
~ can see there ia quality in the human intellect
which fit to he applied to the solution Of the problem
IL entirely uanscends us. The mind OF man may
be compared to musical Instrument with certain
range OF notes. beyond which in both directions have
an innitude OF silence The phenomena OF matter and
force lie within our intellectual range and as far as they
reach we will at al hazards push our inquiries But be-
and around all the real OF tins
universe lies us0yed, and far are concerned,
is incapable of solution Fashion this mystery you
viii, with that have nothing to do But be careful
that your conception Of it be not unworthy In
vest that conception with your highest and hottest
above all things. Of protesting to in tho phenomena
OF the material world the evidences OF Divine pleasure
displeasure. Doubt those VINO would deduce from
the fan Of the tower Of Sloan the anger Of the Lord
against those who were crushed Doubt those equally
who pretend TO in chol Cattloplague, and bad
harvests, evidences Of Divine anger Doubt those
snrn ~ a cone9ourIcc Of iTay tInveiing on sndav
Let them not, far as concerned, label aud
cseS We'll might the Iuirhtes Of living Scochmo tbat
hero OF the intellect who might have been hero in the
field that strong and earnest soul who has made every
from the sOude OF thought into this highest OF ques
lions; well, say. might your noble old Carlyle
fully rctort such interpreters of the ways Of God
= The Builder OF Iii. universe was wise.
TIE ps he tal5, Il. ' Td { nnd P os particles
Wss-Heayensl-was thy small nneand thirty artces
In the Discourse on the Scope and Limit of
Scientific Materiasm," which has already elected |
not a little comment the writer clears the discus
sion from several extraneous difficulties, and pre-
sents the subject in an aspect of peculiar interest
from the moderation Of his claims, end the beraly
of his concessions. The animal body, he maintains
is in the eye of science much the product of
lecuar force the stalk and of corn, the
crystal of salt sugar. Animal heat is the same in
kind the heat of a fire, and is produced by the
same chemical process AS regards matter, the
animal body creates nothing; regards force it
creates nothing. Every particle that enters into the
composition of muscle, nerve a BONE has been
placed in its position by molecular force. But
ciated with this wonderful mechanism of the animal
body are phenomena no less certain than those of
physics but between which and the mechanism we
discern no necessary connection. The facts Of con-
seriousness | feel think, WILL admit of no solu
-. n,nin nf