NOTE ON THE HYPOTHESIS 



OF 



SPONTANEOUS GENEBATION. 



PRESUMING that there is not a particle of evidence as 

 yet established in favour of the supposition known as 

 the doctrine of abwgenesis, it does not follow that no 

 such evidence ever will, or ever can, be forthcoming. 

 The advancement of science is continually doing away 

 with harsh, abrupt outlines, and revealing the softest 

 shades of transition in the varied scenery of nature. 

 Between organic and inorganic matter, between the 

 inert and the living mass, the line of separation has 

 been hitherto, to our minds, the hardest and sharpest 

 of all. We have indeed become so accustomed to this 

 violation of the cosmos, this harsh interruption to the 

 continuous order of nature, and to the simplicity of its 

 general plan, that we are apt to be rather annoyed than 

 pleased with the first efforts made to prove them only 

 imaginary. There is a dignity about life which requires, it 

 is thought, to be defended from too close a proximity in 

 character to the chemical solids and liquids amongst 



