1 5 2 Protoplasm. 



" perhaps it would not yet be safe to say that 

 all forms," etc. Nay, not only does he directly 

 say that " it is by no means his intention to 

 suggest that there is no difference between the 

 lowest plant and the highest, or between plants 

 and animals," but he directly proves what he 

 says, for he demonstrates in plants and animals 

 an essential difference of power. Plants can 

 assimilate inorganic matters, animals can 

 not, etc, 



18. "Mr. Huxley's ideas as to the composition 

 of protoplasm have already been noticed, and it 

 has been shown that they are clearly opposed 

 to the known facts of science. Here a simple 

 alternative presents itself ; either Mr. Huxley is 

 familiar with the elementary facts of organic 

 chemistry, In which case he would be aware of 

 the impossibility of such a composition ; or he 

 Is not so, on which supposition it was at least 

 indiscreet to found an important practical 

 doctrine like that of human automatism on a 

 purely fanciful chemical theory. Which alter- 

 native is to be adopted may perhaps receive 

 some illustration from a parallel passage in 

 the essay ' On the Formation of Coal,' l 



1 " Critiques and Addresses," pp. 109, I NX 



L 



