  | Page | | PREFACE. | iii | | CONTENTS. | v | | INTRODUCTION. | ix | | CHAPTER I. | | | GENERAL CONDITIONS OF MATTER. | | | Its varied Characters, and constant change of external Form—The Grain of Dust, its Properties and Powers—Combinations in inorganic Masses and in organized Creations—Our knowledge of Matter—Theory of Ultimate Atoms—The Physical Forces acting on the Composition of Masses—The certainty of the exercise of subtile principles, which are beyond the reach of experimental Science | 1 | | CHAPTER II. | | | MOTION. | | | Are the Physical Forces modes of Motion?—Motion defined—Philosophical Views of Motion, and the Principles to which it has been referred—Motions of the Earth and of the Solar System—Visible Proofs of the Earth’s Motion on its Axis—Influence of the proper Motions of the Earth on the Conditions of Matter—Theory of the Conversion of Motion into Heat, &c.—The Physical Forces regarded as principles independent of Motion, although the Cause and often apparently the Effects of it | 7 | | CHAPTER III. | | | GRAVITATION. | | | The Forms of Matter—Shape of the Earth—Probability of the Mass forming this Planet having existed in a Nebulous State—Zodiacal Lights—Comets—Volatilization of Solid Matter by Artificial means—The principle of Gravitation—Its Influence through Space and within the smallest Limits—Gravitating powers of the Planets—Density of the Earth—Certainty of Newton’s Law of the Inverse Square—Discovery of Neptune—State of a Body relieved from Gravitation—Experiment explaining Saturn’s Ring, &c.—General inference | 21 | | CHAPTER IV. | | | MOLECULAR FORCES. | | | Conditions of Matter—Variety of organized Forms—Inorganic Forms—All matter reducible to the most simple conditions—Transmutation, a natural operation—Chemical Elementary Principles—Divisibility of Matter—Atom—Molecules—Particles—Molecular Force includes several Agencies—Instanced in the Action of Heat on Bodies—All Bodies porous—Solution—Mixture—Combination—Centres of Force—Different States of Matter (Allotropic Conditions)—Theories of Franklin, Æpinus, and Coulomb—Electrical and Magnetic Agencies—Ancient Notions—Cohesive Attraction, &c. | 35 | | CHAPTER V. | | | CRYSTALLOGENIC FORCES. | | | Crystallisation and Molecular Force distinguished—Experimental Proof—Polarity of Particles forming a Crystal—Difference between Organic and Inorganic Forms—Decomposition of Crystals in Nature—Substitution of Particles in Crystals—Pseudomorphism—Crystalline Form not dependent on Chemical Nature—Isomorphism—Dimorphism—Theories of Crystallogenic Attraction—Influence of Electricity and Magnetism—Phenomena during Crystallisation—Can a change of Form take place in Primitive Atoms?—Illustrative Example of Crystallisation | 50 | | CHAPTER VI. | | | HEAT—SOLAR AND TERRESTRIAL. | | | Solar and Terrestrial Heat—Position of the Earth in the Solar System—Heat and Light associated in the Sunbeam—Transparency of Bodies to Heat—Heating Powers of the Coloured Rays of the Spectrum—Undulatory Theory—Conducting Property of the Earth’s Crust—Convection—Radiation—Action of the Atmosphere on Heat Rays—Peculiar Heat Rays—Absorption and Radiation of Heat by dissimilar Bodies—Changes in the Constitution of Solar Beam—Differences between Transmitted and Reflected Solar Heat—Phenomena of Dew—Action of Solar Heat of the Ocean—Circulation of Heat by the Atmosphere and the Ocean—Heat of the Earth—Mean Temperature—Central Heat—Constant Radiation of Heat Rays from all Bodies—Thermography—Action of Heat on Molecular Arrangements—Sources of Terrestrial Heat—Latent Heat of Bodies—Animal Heat—Eremacausis—Spheroidal State Cold—Condensation—Freezing—Theories of Heat—Natural Phenomena—and Philosophical Conclusion | 62 | | CHAPTER VII. | | | LIGHT. | | | Theories of the Nature of Light—Hypotheses of Newton and Huygens—Sources of Light—The Sun—Velocity of Light—Transparency—Dark Lines of the Spectrum—Absorption of Light—Colour—Prismatic Analysis—Rays of the Spectrum—Rainbow—Diffraction—Interference—Goethe’s Theory—Polarisation—Magnetisation of Light—Vision—The Eye—Analogy—Sound and Light—Influence of Light on Animals and Vegetables—Phosphorescence arising from several Causes—Artificial Light—Its Colour dependent on Matter | 118 | | CHAPTER VIII. | | | ACTINISM—CHEMICAL RADIATIONS. | | | The Sun-ray and its Powers—Darkening of Horn Silver—Niepce’s Discovery—Prismatic Spectrum—Refrangibility of Light, Heat, and Actinism—Daguerre’s Discovery—Photography—Chemical Effects produced by Solar Radiations
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