445 



One of these principles is, that a species must possess certain per- 

 maneiit characters by which it may be known : unless this is assumed, 

 our idea of a species becomes a mere metaphysical abstraction, having 

 no foundation in nature. The other principle is one laid down by 

 Mr. Watson, viz., that the changes effected in plants are simply the 

 natural results of certain conditions to which they are subjected: a 

 principle which admits, if it does not absolutely require, that when 

 the changed plant is no longer exposed to distorting influences, it 

 will naturally and immediately begin to revert to the original form. 

 It seems to be a groundless figment to suppose that the abnormal cha- 

 racters of the variety could be perpetuated, apart from those condi- 

 tions, on the principle of "like producing like," which has no meaning 

 if we do not confine it to some law impressed on organized matter, a 

 law which becomes unintelligible or rather nullified by the supposition 

 that a new inherent tendency is imparted. It has indeed yet to be 

 proved that a variety does acquire an idiosyncrasy of such a perma- 

 nent and independent character that no conditions will alter it. The 

 probability is, that a susceptibility of change must remain in all plants 

 which have been once effected by previous influences, greater even 

 than what may be supposed to reside in unchanged plants, unless we 

 assume that the very same conditions will invariably produce the very 

 same results in every individual subjected to their action : a position 

 which can scarcely be established from any experiments hitherto 

 made. Mr. Watson says it cannot be disproved that there exist per- 

 manent varieties which possess the essential characters of a species. 

 It is not at all necessary to disprove it ; and is it not enough to show 

 its iraprobabihty ? If we admit the possibihty of such a permanent 

 change, we virtually adopt the views of the transitionists, without their 

 having brought out anything in the shape of facts to require our 

 assent. 



I believe it is Spence who remarks that when we say " we are in- 

 clined to think so and so," we say much more than we mean — are 

 more candid than discreet. The views of the transitionists appear to 

 be very much the result of temperament, unless we suppose that they 

 have been subjected to certain conditions which have brought them 

 into an unhealthy state, unfitting them for making sound conclusions 

 firom given premises. There are varieties oi men as well as oi plants, 

 though I never yet heard of human monsters producing their like (a 

 race of Calibans) in unchangeable perpetuity ; but with Mr. Watson 

 I should be very unwilling to think the advocates for transition so far 

 gone in absurdity as to be incapable of hearing reason. To those 

 Vol. II. 3 I 



