128 EXPLANATIONS. 



Here, we have the view of exceptions which is 

 entertained by one of the chief writers of the day, 

 and the superior of one of our greatest academical 

 institutions. The professional position of Dr. 

 Whewell may be held to imply that we should re- 

 ceive from him a view at once leaning to the phi- 

 losophical, and accommodated as far as possible 

 to the prepossessions expected in a large class of 

 persons. It is remarkable, but not surprising, 

 how weak is the barrier which he has raised to stop 

 our course towards a theory of universal arrange- 

 ment by ordinary natural hiw. 



The necessity alleged by Dr. Whewell for a 

 different set of causes in the early times of our 

 globe, and with regard to the formation of that 

 globe, is, at the very first, liable to strong suspi- 

 cion, as reminding us much of that well-known 

 propensity of nations to fill up the first chapters 

 of their history with mythic heroes and giants. 

 The subjects of investigation are remote from 

 common research ; they are not, and never could 

 have been, chronicled in the manner of modern 

 facts ; we are in the regions of the comparatively 

 unknown — hence, something more magnificent or 

 impressive than ordinary must be supposed. 

 Such is the reasoning, or rather no-reasoning. 



