VIL 

 ON THE PHYSICAL BASIS OF LIFE. 1 



IN order to make the title of this discourse generally 

 intelligible, I have translated the term "Protoplasm," 

 which is the scientific name of the substance of which I 

 am about to speak, by the words "the physical basis of 

 life." I suppose that, to many, the idea that there is 

 such a thing as a physical basis, or matter, of life may 

 be novel so widely spread is the conception of life as a 

 something which works through matter, but is independent 

 of it ; and even those who are aware that matter and 

 life are inseparably connected, may not be prepared for 

 the conclusion plainly suggested by the phrase, "the 

 physical basis or matter of life," that there is some one 

 kind of matter which is common to all living beings, 

 and that their endless diversities are bound together by 

 a physical, as well as an ideal, unity. In fact, when first 



1 The substance or this paper was contained in a discourse which was 

 delivered in Edinburgh on the evening of Sunday, the 8th of November, 

 1868 being the first of a series of Sunday evening addresses upon non- 

 theological topics, instituted by the Rev. J. Cranbrook. Some phrases, which 

 could possess only a transitory and local interest, have been omitted ; 

 instead of the newspaper report of the Archbishop of York's address, his 

 Grace's subsequently-published pamphlet "On the Limits of Philosophical 

 Inquiry "is quoted; and I have, here and there, endeavoured to ex press my 

 meaning more fully and clearly than I seem to have done in speaking if I 

 may judge by sundry criticisms upon what I am supposed to have said, which 

 have appeared. But in substance, and, so far as my recollection serves, in 

 form, what is here written corresponds with what was there aaid. 



