133 DARWINIANA. 



the two Boston reviewers against an hypothesis of the 

 derivation of species — or at least against Darwin's 

 particular hypothesis — is, that it is incompatible with 

 the idea of any manifestation of design in the uni- 

 verse, that it denies final causes. A serious objection 

 this, and one that demands very serious attention. 



The proposition, that things and events in Nature 

 were not designed to be so, if logically carried out, is 

 doubtless tantamount to atheism. Yet most people 

 believe that some were designed and others were not, 

 although they fall into a hopeless maze whenever they 

 undertake to define their position. So we should not 

 like to stigmatize as atheistically disposed a person 

 who regards certain things and events as being what 

 they are through designed laws (whatever that expres- 

 sion means), but as not themselves specially ordained, 

 or who, in another connection, believes in general, but 

 not in particular Providence. We could sadly puzzle 

 him with questions ; but in return he might equally 

 puzzle us. Then, to deny that anything was specially 

 designed to be what it is, is one proposition ; while to 

 deny that the Designer supernaturally or immediately 

 made it so, is another : though the reviewers appear 

 not to recognize the distinction. 



Also, "scornfully to repudiate" or to "sneer at 

 the idea of any manifestation of design in the mate- 

 rial universe," l is one thing ; while to consider, and 

 perhaps to exaggerate, the difficulties which attend the 

 practical application of the doctrine of final causes to 



1 Vide North Anerican Review, for April, 1860, p. 475, and Chris- 

 Han Examiner, for May, p. 457. 



