376 THE CAUSES OF THE 



XI 



conclusions and theories. 1 Having granted that 

 the inquiry is a proper one, and having determined 

 on the nature of the methods we are to pursue 

 and which only can lead to success, I must now 

 turn to the consideration of our knowledge of the 

 nature of the processes which have resulted in the 

 present condition of organic nature. 



Here, let me say at once, lest some of you mis 

 understand me, that I have extremely little to 

 report. The question of how the present condition 

 of organic nature came about, resolves itself into 

 two questions. The first is : How has organic or 

 living matter commenced its existence ? And the 

 second is : How has it been perpetuated ? On the 

 second question I shall have more to say hereafter. 

 But on the first one, what I now have to say will 

 be for the most part of a negative character. 



If you consider what kind of evidence we can 

 have upon this matter, it will resolve itself into 

 two kinds. We may have historical evidence and we 

 may have experimental evidence. It is, for example, 

 conceivable, that inasmuch as the hardened mud 

 which forms a considerable portion of the thick 

 ness of the earth s crust contains faithful records 

 of the past forms of life, and inasmuch as these 

 differ more and more as we go further down, it 

 is possible and conceivable that we might come to 



1 Those who wish to study fully the doctrines of which I 

 have endeavoured to give some rough-and-ready illustrations, 

 must read Mr. John Stuart Mill s System of Logic. 



