mate _cause_ of the forces that emanate from their
centres. As, therefore, none of the properties of matter can be due to
the atoms themselves, but only to the forces which emanate from the
points in space indicated by the atomic centres, it is logical
continually to diminish their size till they vanish, leaving only
localized centres of force to represent them. Of the various attempts
that have been made to show how the properties of matter may be due to
such modified atoms (considered as mere centres of force), the most
successful, because the simplest and the most logical, is that of Mr.
Bayma, who, in his "Molecular Mechanics," has demonstrated how, from the
simple assumption of such centres having attractive and repulsive forces
(both varying according to the same law of the inverse squares as
gravitation), and by grouping them in symmetrical figures, consisting of
a repulsive centre, an attractive nucleus, and one or more repulsive
envelopes, we may explain all the general properties of matter; and, by
more and more complex arrangements, even the special chemical,
electrical, and magnetic properties of special forms of matter.[I] Each
chemical element will thus consist of a molecule formed of simple atoms,
(or as Mr. Bayma terms them to avoid confusion, "material elements") in
greater or less number and of more or less complex arrangement; which
molecule is in stable equilibrium, but liable to be changed in form by
the attractive or repulsive influences of differently constituted
molecules, constituting the phenomena of chemical combination, and
resulting in new forms of molecule of greater complexity and more or
less stability.

+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| [I] Mr. Bayma's work, entitled "The Elements of Molecular |
| Mechanics," was published in 1866, and has received less |
| attention than it deserves. It is characterised by great |
| lucidity, by logical arrangement, and by comparatively |
| simple geometrical and algebraical demonstrations, so that |
| it may be understood and appreciated with a very moderate |
| knowledge of mathematics. It consists of a series of |
| Propositions, deduced from the known properties of matter; |
| from these are derived a number of Theorems, by whose help |
| the more complicated Problems are solved. Nothing is taken |
| for granted throughout the work, and the only valid mode o