The author of Derivation holds that the " struggle for existence" explains 

 in a great measure the extinction of species, but does not, as Mr. Darwin, 

 apply it also to the creation of species. 



The Derivation theory does not require such a multitude of intermediate 

 forms as the natural selection theory, and therefore, as far as geology shows at 

 present, is more supported by facts. The Derivation theory also better explains 

 how it is that among the lower forms of life, such as Foraminifera, and Polyps 

 generally, such a variety of structure is found under the same circumstances, 

 for derivation holds that mere beauty and variety are among the aims of the 

 Creator. 



Derivation and natural selection differ also in the hypothetical origin of 

 organic beings ; the latter holds that created organisms have descended from 

 a few, or perhaps /row one primarily created being, and since then direct creative 

 action has been dormant. The former holds that daily and hourly the Creator is 

 calling into life multitudes of beings by the conversion of physical and chemical 

 into vital modes of force. 



This last expression of opinion leads me to touch briefly in conclusion, on 

 a, subject of profound interest, but one shrouded in mysteiy, and which will 

 never, probably, in this world, be cleared up ; I mean the Origin of Life or 

 Vital Force. 



The subject of the correlation of forces has made such progress of late and 

 has obtained such sway over men's minds, that it is not surprising to find that 

 vital force or life is sought to be correlated to other physical and chemical 

 forces. The physiologist argues that the vital phenomena displayed by man 

 and those displayed by the protozoa are more different, both in kind and 

 degree, than the differences which are observable between the protozoa and the 

 magnetised steel ; and it is argued that as we say a magnetic bar becomes 

 unmagnetised, or in other words, loses magnetic force, and sarcode or protogenal 

 jelly becomes unvitalised, that is, loses vital force and becomes what we term 

 dead, so we may say magnetism is to the steel what vitality is to the sarcode, 

 both being affections of matter, but neither of them matter itself, and it is 

 concluded that as inorganic matter is endowed with this affection of magnetism, 

 BO organic matter is endowed with the affection of vitality, and that this vitality 

 of life is only an analogous force, and in some manner correlated to other 

 physical and chemical forces. 



Professor Owen's belief is that daily and hourly vital or living organisms 

 are called into being by the conversion of chemical and physical modes of force 

 into vital modes, and that then, through pre-ordained series, these organisms are 

 led up to the higher animals. These views of life almost necessarily lead one on, 

 in ascending the scale of animal life, to see how far mental and spiritual attri- 

 butes are regarded as affections of matter. In studying the views of certain 

 physiologists on these subjects, it is qxiite evident that they regard the soul, 



