"Newton supposes all bodies to be composed of hard particles, and these are heaped up together and scarce touch in more than a few points.And how such very hard particles, which are only laid together, and touch only in a few points can stick together, and that so firmly as they do, without the assistance of something which causes them to be attracted or pressed towards one another, is very difficult to conceive."
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/A_History_of_the_Theory_of_Elasticity_and_of_the_Strength_of_Materials