Scientific Sophisms. 65 



is the more scientific, as being conformable to 

 the fact . . . ; whilst his is not supported 

 by any evidence that rotalines or nummulites 

 ever originate spontaneously, either in ' ooze ' or 

 anywhere else." l 



" Spontaneous generation " therefore, so far 

 from being a scientific verity, is pronounced 

 by the highest authority in England to be an 

 "astounding hypothesis," " not supported by 

 any evidence " ; while the scientific Abraham 

 declares it to be " absolutely inconceivable." 



" What displeases me in Strauss," says Hum- 

 boldt, " is the scientific levity which leads him 

 to see no difficulty in the organic springing from 

 the inorganic, nay, man himself from Chaldean 

 mud." 3 



But how ? The modus operandi: what was 

 that ? For answer we must turn first of alt to a 

 work which has at least the distinction of having 

 obtained honourable mention by Prof. Tyndall. 

 In the Belfast Address 3 we read of " the cele- 

 brated Lamarck, who produced so profound an 

 impression on the public mind through the 

 vigorous exposition of his views by the author 

 of the ' Vestiges of Creation.' " Turning then 



1 The Athenaum for 1863, p. 461. 



8 " Letters to Varnhagen." First Edition, p. 117. 



P. 37- 



