CHAPTER IV. 

 SCIENTIFIC LEVITY? 



AGNOSTIC Evolution, then, is merely an unveri- 

 fied hypothesis. And it is based on two sub- 

 ordinate hypotheses, equally unverified. And 

 in relation to it, these last are so essentially 

 necessary, so absolutely fundamental, that if 

 either of them be invalidated the entire super- 

 structure falls to the ground. The Evolution 

 here controverted, has no existence whatever, 

 has even no theoretical existence, apart from 

 these two postulates: (i) "Spontaneous Gene- 

 ration"; and (2) "Transmutation of Species." 

 Without the first, it would be destitute of its 

 starting-point, the " primordial form." Without 

 the second, it would still be destitute, on agnos- 

 tic principles, of all other forms than one. 



" Transmutation of Species," however, though 

 reserved for further examination below, may for 

 the present be dismissed, on the high authority 

 of Professor Mivart, as a " puerile hypothesis." 

 But when, on scientific grounds, we proceed to 



