CHARLES DARWIN. 131 



population, wages, profits, rent, etc. are exceedingly 

 simple, and they really do readily submit themselves to 

 the common sense that will look at them. In fact, as 

 regards political economy, even in its institutions, there 

 is but one standard. One has to ask simply, let the 

 relative consideration be as it may, what, in regard of it, 

 will as was said before pay. 



As was remarked, what concerned deduction and 

 induction showed Mr. Buckle on quite a similar eleva- 

 tion ; and it is in no wise different as regards that other, 

 his great leading theme, statistics. Where laws are 

 necessary, the numbers in account of them are necessary 

 also ; but it is vain to say as much of what is contingent. 

 To note facts, and enumerate facts, affirmative, negative, 

 on this side and on that, is to look for the key to them, 

 the principle that originates them, the law they obey. 

 But, in the absence of that law, that principle, that key, 

 that master-fact, to call the numbers themselves, mani- 

 pulate them as you will, principles and laws, master-facts 

 and keys, is simply idle. Averages may be prophecies 

 of a law, may hover dimly over a law, may lead to a 

 law ; but they are not themselves a law. Still by 

 average numbers in certain contingencies, one gets at 

 what may then answer as though it were a law for the 

 moment; but still it is only for the moment, support 

 that moment on what numbers you may. An average 

 that is only an average and an average is had recourse 

 to only when an average is all that can be had recourse 

 to such average names only what contingently happens, 

 and what all remaining the same may be loosely ex- 

 pected, as mere happening, to happen again ; but it is 

 not a concrete in rerum nattira, and brings no necessity 

 of such. Because, as Mr. Emerson quotes, French 

 statisticians show that one man in so many marries his 

 grandmother, or eats shoe-leather, must one man in so 



