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Physical and Metaphysical Inquiries * 157
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to tk « fc £ Cepta % ce < rf both . The one views th m with dread and alarm , or wpuJd think himself injured were be obliged to afford them tlve sligfates-t consideration ; while the otfa-er feels his curiosity excited thereby , and determines to give them his whole attention , in hopes that some new truth may be the reward of his investigatio n *
These reflections were occasioned by the perusal of the work which we here announce to the public—the author " of which , while he advances doctrines that wilJ appear ^ e ry strange to the generality of readers , evinces such a strength of mind , and such talents for argumentation , as must stamp a value upon any of his productions
The volume before us contains three Essays ^ viz . u First , Of Matter . Second , Of Deify . Third , Of Free Will . " But we learn from the preface , that it is the Authors intention 4 < at some future period to take a more general view of the system of the universe , and to investigate the natural and moral state of man , and otht ? r subjects connected with these . "
1 In the present volume , the first 68 pages of the first Essay are occupied in discussing the theory of Bishop Berkeley , with the design , as the Author expresses himself , of restoring matter to its legitimate rank in the scale of existence , but as this ingenious hypothesis is now pretty generally exploded , we do not think it necessary to examine the arguments here made use of to confute it ; especially as the principal design of this essay sterns to be , to combat the pre-
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valent-opinion thaf ** matter is a dead and inert substance / ' la performing this task , the author avails himself of the principles of chemical science , by which he explains his ideas , and establishes the doctrine he wishes to inculcate , with considerable skill and ability .
We shall endeavour to lav before our readers the author ' s ideas in his own words . ,
" lhe experimental philosopher m contemplating matter , perceives * a great variety of substances possessecf of the most distinct properties and characters , "which so far from being dead and inert , have the capacity of acting and being acted upon , in various modes an
combination that makes matter appear dead and inert ; because its powers- being already exerted , the particles are , a * it were , held fast in each ethers arms , and are thus prevented from any fur * ther action , until the dissolution of their combination . Accordingly we find that those kinds of matter which are least subjected to the power of cohesion © r reduced to the solid state are always possessed 'of the greatest energy . Iti ^ among these that we find the most powerful agents in nature .
It has been discovered , that though most kinds of matter are capable of a great variety of combinations , they have in general certain predilections ( if they may be so termed ) , or capacities of uniting with some kinds in preference ttj others . In consequence of these elections , and , the active character of certain powers , innumerable changes are continually going on throughout the whole system of nature . Besides this capacity of forming elections , it has been found that all matter is capable of a pecujiar Icind of action called attraction , which the most minute particles , as well as
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1807, page 157, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2378/page/45/
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