PART I. 



GEI^EEAL EYOLTJTIOK 



I. 



EVOLUTION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. 



The broad theory of evolution includes the theories of devel- 

 opment of the solar system and its members, as expressed by the 

 nebular hypothesis ; the theory of development of life by molecu- 

 lar movements consequent upon certain combinations of non-living 

 matter ; and, lastly, the theory of development of the species of 

 animals and plants by descent, the later from the earlier, with 

 accompanying change of form and character. It attempts noth- 

 ing less than a history of the process of creation of the universe, 

 so far as we can behold it ; and is, therefore, an attempt to formu- 

 late the plans and thoughts of tlie Author of that universe. 

 Hence, it is not surprising that it excites the interest of the best 

 of men, especially as it is one of the results of the efforts of a 

 class of these, crowning many centuries of labor and thought. 



The object of the present essay is to discuss familiarly the 

 latter of these theories of evolution, viz., that respecting the 

 species of animals and plants. As all are aware, this mode of 

 accounting for the creation of organized beings has attained 

 especial prominence at the present time, and possesses more of 

 interest to most readers because of its explanation of our own 

 origin. Moreover, it rests on more indubitable evidence than the 

 two other theories. The constitution and arrangement of the 

 members of the solar system point to their origin by derivation 

 from primal masses of vaporous matter through the mutual opera- 

 tion of the ordinary laws of attraction and motion. The position- 

 ing is precisely as it should be hud such process taken i>lace, but 

 the process itself, that is, the change from type to type of celes* 



tial body, has not been observed. 

 1 



