New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-01

% rom I'll The Frcnch by A. r MacdOnough l2mo PIP
1863 d. Appleton Co.
The scientific world 10 France has not yet ceaseo
"a depore the early death of the author OF THESE
ESSAYS who was no less remarkable for ms lhsigh'
INFO the principles Of spiritual philosophy. than for
his devotion TO the laws of physical research. Nj
PapiIlon fully accepted the conclusions of such ex
tremists as Bachner, Moeschot and Vogt in regard
10 the conditions of animal life, far AS they were
purey negative in their character while nc rs stre
uously denied their claims TO being an exhaustive
system of the philosophy of matter ana oil m'hu,
which he sought in the revival and refrigeration OF
the transcendental ideas of Descartcs and es-
pecially of Leibntz. In his view, there were
eertaintes apart from the eXperimentaf metlo"'
Utility is not the measure of progress. NOT can
the problem of the constitution of matter ne
solved by the exclusive lights OF physlcal mVesu-
cation. OF the existence of atoms, the researches
of modern scientistsleave no room for doubt Bt
atoms NJ Papillou airns not the real principles
The sn,ple AID irreducible elegcnts OF the world
After accomplishing sensible matter into atoms, we
,rnst subieet the latter TO similar analysis Con
slider anv two heterogeneous atoms whatever anu eA
anime in what respect they differ IRON each Quiet
Not in any popularity of form, sohdity or coior.
These pronerties evidently depend on the mutual
Arrangement of the atoms. For they are nor rVitF0
To the individuality Of each atom, hut 10 'iaI oI '0
whole when grouped together Nor Is 1t any
or optic or electric, magnetic quality SINCE
+bese ouaNtes result from the ether WITHIN tne
.ouplex a,ureeate of the respective atoms. NOW II
,hoss atoms dffer from each other III none OF the
above mentioned properties, they can Only NC us
similar IA regards two attributes, namely 'lnc'.Si"'
and weight But difference in weight results NON
d;tier,uce in dimension and is only quantitanVe'
not qualitative, difference. Hence any V"o nc'e''
geneons atoms whatever, compared 'oee"ei 10
ato,us represent no more than two uis'i"c' 4"'
- on. and the same primitive quality or energy
The unty of substance, according Z" NJ. I"pi'oi' "
fins established, not as a more or less piauS'O'e
.Is;ol L,,potbesis bnt rs n necessary physical GER
t;ntv lf now il be admitted that corporeal extern
60, nc I eihnitz affirmed and rs Macy has recently
moved Is ONLY resultant of force, 1t VIII become
evident that matter in tho Last analysis is re0uc'"
to force.
On ofthe favorite experiments of Faraday, accord
ing 70 Professor Tyndal, was in Illustration o ln'9
idea He loved to show how water IN OUTSTANDING
eliminates ali foreign substances, and becomes pure
and limuid. This experiment, GAYS NJ. Papiion, is
the true image of what Faraday was as metapny-
s;cian. Nothing had so great charm for nm as
,los. say.ne TRANSPARENT regions in which science.
cleared of impurities appeared to him in all its glo
rious power and splendor. he especially dellghted
IN the problem of matter and force. p" What DO We
know of an atom apart from forcep he eXeialms-
"You conceive 4 nucleus which may oe c'eed q,
and Won surround il with forces winch may oo cane"
M: 10 my mind your q OF nucleus Val1shes' ahu SUI
stance consists in the energy of m. In fact' wna'
notion can we form Of a nucleus independents Oh us
euerry7" As he holds, matter fills all space uraV-
itaiion is nothing else than one OF the essen'liiy
constituent forces of matter perhaps even the only
one This is in accordance with the view OF the EN-
inent chemist sainte Claire Devie, who asserts that
when bo,lies deemed to he simple combine with one
another they vanish and are, in fact, individually
,nrih,,ated He maintains, for instance That III
slnhate of copper there is neither sulphur, nor oxy
cen nor conner Each of these elements ~ com
posed by distinct system of definite VioIaiios Ut
one energy-one single substance. The compound
s,rhate Of corner answers to different system, IN
which the motions are confOunded chat woald
nn,duce the respective iHdividualities of its Gle
Inents, sulphur oxygen and copper. Moreover as
long ago as 1864, NJ. BerthelOt expressed the same
idea. declaring that the atoms of simple bodies
might he composed of one aid the same matter, dis
tinp,lished only by the nature of the motions re-
spectyely This is now regarded. with good reason,
nv many philosophers in France and elsewhere, as
the expression Of a substantial truth.
II the smallest parts which imagine and disn-
csh in bodies d,Ger from each other 0ly ny te mature
OF the motions 10 which they are sUDec'eu MOTION
alone rules and determines variety OF diLerent atb-
utes which characterze these atoms, H. III wOIL Ie
fundamental and primary matter whence al tle resi- pro
cecdi How s,a We represent u to ou minds ES,My-
thing leads Ia the belief that II Is not essentially dD-
gused from the eaer aud consists 10 atoms :" e.iei
more or less STRONGLY Iela soget nar I OIL
lection. Doubtless 10 cannot be weighed; 10 90 ua We
inns space led with ether to space empty OF
ether AMI evidently unable 10 Isolate tAis Subtle
agent whose particles cOunt rpoise eacL other "D per
foct equilibrium throughout the uVefse 1et many laes
efles It's prodIgons elasticity nash OF nshthis ~
notniug than disturbance OF equilibrium III INC
immense work. However this may be- II Is Impossible to
Link Of the energies tn' oaE sb up is U whose
cncs demonstrated by the whole OF ph 5lcs can be no
eerWisc deuued than by the attributes OF i0ce IL fOI
lows roH this tha atoms, the last conclusion OF cleD-
siry ana ether the last conclusion OF ply scs are sub
two UNEQUAL values Of the original activity All
those physechemlcal encrgies as well 49, the analogous
eSel,ions clothed with that uniform we c,'l matter
single Of these energies SHOWS forth Stripped OF ths
them all without their knowingit IL 70 FOL power merely
otherwise force in its pufest essence since We
hook upon IL tie marble Of the antique III Splendid
lakedDess- WHICH "a radiant Deauty Io0t
qhe final result of the vigorous analysis of pbe-
,epa is the conception of an infnity Of centers OF
similar forces of simple and eternal energies with
os,t form or extension II ask what these forces
are we can only answer that 1T is impossible to dis
tirgush them from motion. Force may be con |
eeiyed, but no. shaped to the fancy Tie only |
force of which we have consciousness" says Salute
saire Deyille, is will" Motion Hay serve to meas
an, force but not to explain it, II u subordinate
H. she latter AZ speech 10 thought Motion, in TACT
~ nothing else than the ssEes OF Successive positions
al x body in different points Of space.
torce On the other hand, is the tendency the tension
which determines the body to pass continually from one
4. 1e other points; that ~ 10 say lEe power by
NicD body. considered at any ss; IN us course
di;eIs rom the identical body al rest Eydchty ms
eoscthng which Is in OF tuesc two bOu.s dud Is not
q, lc otner tis somctihng thai mathematician ot INC
au.ality OF nIvtDn which transformed, On sudden
af