viii PREFACE. 



inherent in the nebula. With this view, which is set 

 forth in the second volume, it seemed but fair to asso- 

 ciate the reasons which cause me to conclude that every 

 attempt made in our day to generate life independently 

 of antecedent life has utterly broken down. 



A discourse on the Electric Light winds up the 

 second volume. The incongruity of its position is to 

 be referred to the lateness of its delivery. 



