EXPLANATIONS. 3 



in jny boo k. In doing so, I shall study to direct 

 attention solely to fact and argument, or what 

 appear as such, overlooking the uncivil expressions 

 which the work has drawn forth in various quarters, 

 and which, of course, can only be a discredit to 

 their authors. 



I m ust start with a more explicit statemgnt_of 

 the gener al argument of the Vestige s, for this has 

 been extensi vely misunde rstood. The book is 

 - not primarily designed, as many have intimated 

 in their criticisms, and as the title might be thought 

 partly to imply, to establish a new theory respect- 

 ing the origin of animated nature ; nor are the chief 

 arguments directed to that point. The object is 

 one to which the idea of an organic creation in the 

 manner of natural law is only subordinate and 

 ministrative, as likewise are the nebular hypothesis 

 and the doctrine of a fixed natural order in mind 

 and morals. This purpose^ is to^ show that the 

 whole revelation of jhe works of God presented^ o 

 our_ senses and reason, is -a systeiiL .iased^iii 

 what we axe_compelled, for wauimf-aJbetter term^ 

 t a call LAW; by wh ich, ho weverj_is._Pot^ mea,nt 

 a system independent or exclusive of Deity, but 

 o ne which onl y proposes a certain mode o f h is 

 h -2 



