3*8 EVOLUTION, OLD AND NEW. 



between the species or stamp of life of one epoch from 

 that of every other. We are therefore led to admit 

 either a repeated miraculous conception, or a power 

 of change under change of circumstances to belong to 

 living organized matter, or rather to the congeries of 

 inferior life which appears to form superior." (By this 

 I suppose Mr. Matthew to imply his assent to the 

 theory, that our personality or individuality is but as it 

 were "the consensus, or full flowing river of a vast 

 number of subordinate individualities or personalities, 

 each one of which is a living being with thoughts and 

 wishes of its own.") " The derangements and changes 

 in organized existence, induced by a change of circum- 

 stances from the interference of man, afford us proof of 

 the plastic quality of superior life ; and the likelihood 

 that circumstances have been very different in the 

 different epochs, though steady in each, tend strongly to 

 heighten the probability of the latter theory. 



" When we view the immense calcareous and bitumi- 

 nous formations, principally from the waters and atmo- 

 sphere, and consider the oxidations and depositions 

 which have taken place, either gradually or during 

 some of the great convulsions, it appears at least pro- 

 bable that the liquid elements containing life have 

 varied considerably at different times in composition 

 and weight ; that our atmosphere has contained a much 

 greater proportion of carbonic acid or oxygen ; and our 

 waters, aided by excess of carbonic acid, and greater 

 heat resulting from greater density of atmosphere, have 

 contained a greater quantity of lime, and other mineral 

 solutions. Is the inference, then, unphilosophic that 



