102 EXPLANATIONS. 



shifting hypotheses to be modified by every new fact , 

 till at length they become accordant vnth all the ■phe- 

 nomena of nature. In retreating, where we have 

 advanced too far, there is neither compromise of 

 dignity nor loss of strength ; for in doing this we 

 partake but of the common fortune of every one 

 who enters on a field of investigation like our 

 own," 



The contrast between the philosophic modesty 

 of this passage, and the above extract from the 

 Edinburgh reviewer, must be very striking. The 

 reader, who has seen the liollowness of so many of 

 this writer's particular objections to the develop- 

 ment theory, can be little at a loss to form an 

 estimate of the personal investigations of which he 

 speaks. He seems to have yet to learn that the 

 necessarily partial investigations which any single 

 geologist may be able personally to make, can give 

 no such amount of the requisite knowledge as may 

 be acquired in another mode of study ; that the 

 intellectual powers and preparations of the personal 

 inquirer ought also to be known, before we can 

 set much store even by that light which may be 

 attained by his examinations. It is not uncommon 

 for ordinary mariners to boast of their knowledge 

 of a country from having sailed several times 



