CHAPTER XVII. 



THE LAW OF EVOLUTION CONCLUDED. 



§ 139. The conception of Evolution elaborated in the 

 foregoing chapters, is still incomplete. True though it is 

 it is not the whole truth. The transformations which all 

 things undergo during the ascending phases of their exist- 

 ence, we have contemplated under three aspects; and by 

 uniting these three aspects as simultaneously presented, we 

 have formed an approximate idea of the transformations. 

 But there are concomitant changes about which nothing 

 has yet been said; and which, though less conspicuous, are 

 no less essential. 



For thus far we have attended only to the re-distribution 

 of Matter, neglecting the accompanying re-distribution of 

 Motion. Distinct or tacit reference has, indeed, repeatedly 

 been made to the dissipation of Motion, that goes on along 

 with the concentration of Matter; and were all Evolution 

 absolutely simple, the total fact would be contained in the 

 proposition that as Motion dissipates Matter concentrates. 

 But while we have recognized the liltimate re-distribu- 

 tion of the Motion, we have passed over its proximate re-dis- 

 tribution. Though something has from time to time been 

 said about the escaping motion, nothing has been said 

 about the motion that does not escape. In proportion as 

 Evolution becomes compound — in proportion as an aggre- 

 gate retains, for a considerable time, such a quantity of 



motion as permits secondarv re-distributions of its com- 



392 



