PROFESSOR VIRCHOW AXD EVOLUTION. 393 



thus renewing a pre-existing form, to be gathered first- 

 hand from nature, and placed in the exact relative posi- 

 tions which they occupy in the body. Supposing them 

 to have the same forces and distribution of forces, the 

 same motions and distribution of motions would this 

 organised concourse of molecules stand before us as a 

 sentient, thinking being? There seems no valid reason 

 to assume that it would not. Or supposing a planet 

 carved from the sun, set spinning round an axis, and 

 sent revolving round the sun at a distance equal to that 

 of our earth, would one consequence of the refrigeration 

 of the mass be the development of organic forms? I 

 lean to the affirmative.' This is plain speaking, but 

 it is without ' dogmatism/ An opinion is expressed, a 

 belief, a leaning not an established * doctrine.' 



The burthen of my writings in this connection is as 

 much a recognition of the weakness of science as an 

 assertion of its strength. In 1867, I told the working 

 men of Dundee that while making the largest demand 

 for freedom of investigation; while considering science 

 to be alike powerful as an instrument of intellectual 

 culture, and as a ministrant to the material wants of 

 men; if asked whether science has solved, or is likely 

 in our day to solve, ' the problem of the universe,' I must 

 shake my head in doubt. I compare the mind of man 

 to a musical instrument with a certain range of notes, 

 beyond which in both directions exists infinite silence. 

 The phenomena of matter and force come within our 

 intellectual range; but behind, and above, and around 

 us the real mystery of the universe lies unsolved, and, 

 as far as we are concerned, is incapable of solution. 



\Yhile refreshing my mind on these old themes I 

 appear to myself as a person possessing one .idea, which 

 so over-masters him that he is never weary of re- 

 peating it. That idea is the polar conception of the 



