272 THE DARWINIAN THEORY. 
do more than this,—if they can transform one thing into another, that 
is, can effect a metamorphose,—if they can confer life where it did not 
previously exist,—then they effect spontaneous generation; and this 
is what several Transmutationists claim for matter. They affirm that 
spontaneous generation is a fact in nature, and, moreover, they boldly 
declare that there is no other alternative; and that for the origin of 
life and species we must select either creation or spontaneous genera- 
tion, for any other supposition, they say, is illogical and impossible. 
M. Pouchet here throws down the gauntlet, and openly defies the 
physiologists* to find another alternative ; either creation, says he, or 
spontaneous generation. No other medium of existence is possible; 
and the logic of this is sound, for all other substitutes for spontaneous 
generation in the school of transmutation are but words of vain pre- 
tence, which are found to mean nothing on a close examination. 
Mr. Darwin has his great contrivance of accidents, “a variation 
would be beneficial," and so that accidental variation is taken up, and 
worked out by natural selection into a new species. Thus, then, in his 
theory every organized being in the world is the result of innumerable 
accidental changes ; an eagle's eye, Mr. Darwin assures us, is the pro- 
duction of favoured accidents; the proboscis of an elephant, the wings 
of a bird, the organization and character of a lion, the tail and fins of 
a fish, the instincts of the honey-bee, and the form and intellect of 
man, are all “ favoured" accidents. There was no design, plan, or in- 
tention to form any animal or plant; but beneficial changes have been 
preserved, and so we see things as they are. Nevertheless, Mr. Dar- 
win objects to spontaneous generation, as the modern state of science 
does not confirm its pretensions according to his opinion; but to spon- 
taneous production he can have no objection, as his whole system rests 
on it ; or, if he should object to the word spontaneous, will he explain 
to us the difference, as a matter of fact, between accidental production 
and spontaneous generation? and will he show us how a long-con- 
tinued system of advaneing and improving organization, never ceasing, 
and going on to perfection, aecording to his.theory, can be only a long 
mg of accidents ? 
et iique euse d'un certain nombre d'animaux parfaits a l'étolotion nene 
DN "big Vide de Lamarck, m modifiée dans le Msn des connaissances 
it à notre époque, d'un cóté la géologie et de l'autre l'ana 
asi ghilisophique " in 182). iN — 
“ Nous défions qu'on sorte de cette — ou ies création instantan 
arfaits 
