3t8 EVOLUTION, OLD AND NEW. 



between the species or stamp of life of one epoch from 

 that of every other. We are therefore led to admit 

 either a repeated miraculous conception, or a power 

 of change under change of circumstances to belong to 

 living organized matter, or rather to the congeries of 

 inferior life which appears to form superior." (By tin's 

 I suppose Mr. Matthew to imply his assent to the 

 theory, that our personality or individuality is but as it 

 were "the consensus, or full flowing river of a vast 

 number of subordinate individualities or personalities, 

 each one of which is a living being with thoughts and 

 wishes of its own.") " The derangements and changes 

 in organized existence, induced by a change of circum- 

 stances from the interference of man, afford us proof of 

 the plastic quality of superior life ; and the likelihood 

 that circumstances have been very different in the 

 different epochs, though steady in each, tend strongly to 

 heighten the probability of the latter theory. 



When we view the immense calcareous and bitumi- 

 nous formations, principally from the waters and atmo- 

 sphere, and consider the oxidations and depositions 

 which have taken place, either gradually or during 

 some of the great convulsions, it appears at least pro- 

 bable that the liquid elements containing life have 

 varied considerably at different times in composition 

 and weight ; that our atmosphere has contained a much 

 greater proportion of carbonic acid or oxygen ; and our 

 waters, aided by excess of carbonic acid, and greater 

 heat resulting from greater density of atmosphere, have 

 contained a greater quantity of lime, and other mineral 

 solutions. Is the inference, then, unphilosophic that 



