As a general term, _matter_, means substance; with scientific
precision, the term is confined to the elementary state, in
contradistinction to the term _body_, applied to matter consolidated
into solids and fluids.
Matter consists of atoms, which are hard, opaque, _unalterable_, of
homogeneous substance, of the spheric shape, and naturally _inert_,
therefore of inactive essence; being _inert_, various species of
substance would be useless. The spherical shape admits immediate atomic
contact, and leaves interstices uniformly throughout all bodies.
There cannot be either communication or alteration of the essence of
inert matter; and what the essence of unalterable matter may be, is
impossible, and would be useless, to know.
An element is any volume of atoms of the same size. There is no
difference between elements but in the size of their atoms.
Every element is a rarer medium to every other element of larger atoms;
the minor is as a partial vacuum to the major, which involves the
principle of _inequality_, on which motion depends.
Correlative elements are any two, the atoms of one of which are fitted
for the interstices of the other, and for no other interstices. Such
elements will naturally be together. On the correlative principle
magnetism depends.
All bodies consist of several elements; there is nothing simple, but
an element. Bodies are divisible, matter is not.
All bodies include a portion of _elementary_ or _electric_ matter,
which is removed without injury to their general texture.
Matter can suffer no change but change of place.
Weight is an accident of matter, the effect of motion: all _effect_
consists in motion; there is no result until effect has ended in rest.
Rest being natural to inert matter, is no effect, has no cause.
_There is no power but impulsive pressure_; nor is there any effect
whatever attributable to _inertia_.
The fundamental principle of _inertia_ is that only from which the
philosophy of nature is deducible: all philosophy is false which is not
consistent throughout with this universal, all-directing principle.
* * * * *
_Note._--The terms _electric_ and _elementary_ are of the same
signification, which is, _highly rare_: quality and power to act are
wholly out of the question with the inert atoms of the elements of
bodies and matter.