STATE OF THE ARGUMENT. 7 



case supposed would be evident, in whatever way we ac- 

 counted for the irregularity of the movement, or whether 

 we could account for it or not. It is not necessary that a 

 machine be perfect, in order to show with what design it 

 was made ; still less necessary, where the only question is, 

 whether it were made with any design at all. 



III. Nor, thirdly, would it bring any uncertainty into the 

 argument, if there were a few parts of the watch, concern- 

 ing which we could not discover, or had not yet discovered, 

 in what manner they conduced to the general effect ; or 

 even some parts, concerning which we could not ascer- 

 tain whether they conduced to that effect in any manner 

 whatever. For, as to the first branch of the case ; if, by 

 the loss, or disorder, or decay of the parts ia question, the 

 movement of the watch were found in fact to be stopped, 

 or disturbed, or retarded, no doubt would remain in our 

 minds as to the utility or intention of these parts, although 

 we should be unable to investigate the manner according 

 to which, or thf; connexion by which, the ultimate effect 

 depended upon their action or assistance ; and the more 

 complex is the machine, the more likely is this obscurity to 

 arise. Then, as to the second thing supposed, namely, 

 that there were parts, which might be spared without prej- 

 udice to the movement of the watch, and that we had prov- 

 ed this by experiment — these superfluous parts, even if we 

 were completely assured that they were such, would not 

 vacate the reasoning which we had instituted concerning 

 other parts. The indication of contrivance remained, with 

 respect to them, nearly as it was before. 



IV. Nor, fourthly, would any man in his senses think 

 the existence of the watch, with its various machinery, ac- 

 counted for, by being told that it was one out of possible 

 combinations of material forms ; that whatever he had 

 found in the place where he found the watch, must have 

 contained some internal configuration or other ; and that 

 this configuration might be the structure now exhibited ; 

 viz. of the works of a watch, as well as a different struc- 

 ture. 



V. Nor, fifthly, would it yield his inquiry more satisfac- 

 tion to be answered, that there existed in things a principle 

 of order, which had disposed the parts of the watch into 

 their present form and situation. He never knew a watch 

 made by the principle of order ; nor can he even form to 

 himself an idea of what is meant by a principle of order, 

 4jstinct from the intelligence of the watch-maker. 



