It Is Right That We Should Stand

But I Must Confess I Am Jealous Of The Term Atom; For Though It Is Very Easy To Talk Of Atoms, It Is Very Difficult To Form A Clear Idea Of Their Nature, Especially When Compounded Bodies Are Under Consideration.

Your Remarks Upon Chemical Notation With The Variety Of Systems Which Have Arisen, &c., &c., Had Almost Stirred Me Up To Regret Publicly That Such Hindrances To The Progress Of Science Should Exist. I Cannot Help Thinking It A Most Unfortunate Thing That Men Who As Experimentalists & Philosophers Are The Most Fitted To Advance The General Cause Of Science & Knowledge Should By Promulgation Of Their Own Theoretical Views Under The Form Of Nomenclature, Notation, Or Scale, Actually Retard Its Progress.

The Condition Of Matter I Have Dignified By The Term Electronic, The Electronic State. What Do You Think Of That? Am I Not A Bold Man, Ignorant As I Am, To Coin Words?

I Could Trust A Fact And Always Cross-question An Assertion.

Nature Is Our Kindest Friend And Best Critic In Experimental Science If We Only Allow Her Intimations To Fall Unbiased On Our Minds.