PERSONALITY OF DEITT. 277 



hypothesis. In the present example., there seemed to be a 

 positive objection to the whole scheme upon the very face of 

 it ; which W'as, that if the case w^ere as here represented, 

 new combinations ought to be perpetually taking place ; new 

 plants and animals, or organized bodies which were neither, 

 ought to be starting up before our eyes every day. For this, 

 however, our philosopher has an answer. While so many 

 forms of plants and animals are already in existence, and 

 consequently so many " internal moulds," as he calls them, 

 are prepared and at hand, the organic particles run into 

 these moulds, and are employed in supplying an accession of 

 substance to them, as well for their growth as for their prop- 

 agation. By which means things keep their ancient course. 

 But, says the same philosopher, should any general loss oi 

 destruction of the present constitution of organized bodie? 

 take place, the particles, for want of " moulds " into which 

 they might enter, would run into different combinations, and 

 replenish the waste with new species of organized substances. 



Is there any history to countenance this notion ? Is it 

 known that any destruction has been so repaired ; any desert 

 thus repeopled ? 



So far as I remember, the only natural appearance men- 

 tioned by our author, by way of fact whereon to build his 

 hypothesis, is the formation of tuorms in the intestines ol 

 animals, which is here ascribed to the coalition of supera- 

 bundant organic particles floating about in the first passages ; 

 and which have combined themselves into these simple ani- 

 mal forms for want of internal moulds, or of vacancies in 

 those moulds, into which they might be received. The 

 thing referred to is rather a species of facts, than a single 

 fact ; as some other cases may, with equal reason, be includ- 

 ed under it. But to make it a fact at all, or in any sort 

 applicable to the question, we must begin with asserting an 

 equivocal generation, contrary to analogy, and without neces- 

 sity : contrary to an analogy which accompanies us to the 

 very limits of our knowledge or inquiries ; for wherever. 



