Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

OF MATTER, MIND, AND SPIRIT.3G9which must perpetuate liis fauic ? (See Appendix for FurraJay's Speculationson Electric Conduction and the Nature of Matter.)On WhewclVs demonstration that all matter is Jieav?/.1793. "While the speculations of Farraday, isolate gravitation, as theonly matter endowed with weight, and treat all other matters as weightless,those of another eminent philosopher, Whewell, would tend to provethat all matter is heavy.1794. This subject may be interesting now, when we are anxious to understandwell the nature of matter, which Comte would represent as thebasis of mind, and when it becomes a point of departure in forming ideasof spirit and mind, as they must be contemplated by Spiritualism. Itherefore subjoin a critique upon the allegation that all matter can beheavy, and on the relation between vis incrtice and gravitation.1795. One consideration seems to be usually overlooked in contemplatingthese forces. It is forgotten that inertia is the property of onebody, while gravitation requires two for its existence. If there were onlyone body in nature, it might move on, in obedience to its vis inertia:, forany length of time ;but, during an isolated existence, could neither attractnor be attracted. Whewell's theorem, in his own language, is as follows1796. ^' We see," alleges Whewell, ^^ that the propositions that all bodiesare heavy, and that inertia is proportional to weight, necessarily followfrom those fundamental ideas which we unavoidably employ in all attemptsto reason concerning the mechanical relations of bodies." (See Demonstrationthat all Matter is heavy, by the Rev. William Whewell, B.D. Silliman'sJournal, vol. 42, page 265.)To Professor Whewell :1797. Dear Sir : I thank you for your kind attention m sending mea copy of your pamplilet, entitled a ^^Demonstration that all Hatter islieavy^^ comprising a communication made to the Cambridge PhilosophicalSociety.1798. I conceive that to demonstrate that all matter is heavy, is, inother words, to prove that all matter is endowed with attraction of gravitation,or that general property which, when it causes bodies to tend towardthe centre of the earth, is called weight. Hence to assert that all matteris heavy, is no more than to say, that attraction of gravitation exists betweenallor any masses of matter.1799. You say, '^it may be urged that we have no difficulty in conceivingof matter which is not heavy." I have no hesitation in assertingthat there should be no difficulty in entertaining such a conception ;sinceI cannot understand why any two masses may not be as readily conceivedto repel, as to attract each other, or neither to attract nor to repel. Is itnot easier to imagine two remote masses indifferent to each other, than that24