82 LIFE AND ORGANISATION. 



this enquiry strikes its roots into the mysteries of creation, 

 that it should be presented in such form, as to make clear 

 the distinction between what is speculation only, and what a 

 sound induction from the facts which science has disclosed. 

 We may fairly use the word vague here, as descriptive of the 

 manner in which the doctrine of transmutation is propounded 

 to us. There has been no distinct understanding as to the 

 foundation, or first steps, of the scheme supposed. With 

 some it is a notion of gross materialism altogether. Grenera 

 and species of living beings come into existence through 

 undefined combinations of matter, and are mutable without 

 limit from material causes acting upon them ; or, as some 

 prefer to phrase it, from a nisus of the animal itself to 

 obtain new scope and powers of existence. Others, more 

 modest in their assumptions, have supposed a few original 

 created forms, capable of gradual developement into new 

 species, unlimited in variety, if unlimited time be given to 

 work the transformation. We cannot reasonably require any 

 actual date for the time thus demanded. But we may fairly 

 complain of the vague asseveration on which the whole 

 scheme is built. We have a right to ask for some denota- 

 tion, however general, of these primitive beings, the parent 

 stems of the genera and species we now see around us. The 

 doctrine of types, as already explained, furnishes no reply 

 here ; nor to the questions we have a further right to ask, 

 whether any of the primitive forms yet remain in existence 

 as such ? Or whether the principle of change is now ex- 

 hausted in power, and the existing genera and species represent 

 a scheme of transmutation worked out to its end ? Other 

 questions equally press for answer, showing how unstable the 

 hypothesis is in its first principles ; and how little fitted, upon 

 present proof, to meet the demands of a sound inductive 

 philosophy. 



In arguments of this nature, it is of great value to obtain 



