THE -WONDERS OF THE SHORE. 71 



Let US speak freely a few words on this im- 

 portant matter. Geology has disproved the old 

 popular belief that the universe was brought into 

 being as it now exists, by a single fiat. We 

 know that the work has been gradual ; that the 

 earth 



" In tracts of fluent heat began, 

 The seeming prey of cyclic storms, 

 The home of seeming random forms. 

 Till, at the last, arose the man." 



And we know, also, that these forms, seeming 

 random as they are, have appeared according to 

 a law, which, as far as we can judge, has been 

 only the whole one of progress, — lower animals 

 (though we cannot say the lowest) appearing 

 first, and man, the highest mammal, "the roof 

 and crown of things," one of the latest in the 

 series. "NVc liavc no more right, let it be ob- 

 served, to say that man, the highest, appeared 

 last, than that the lowest appeared first, l^oth 

 may have been tlic case ; but there is utterly no 

 proof of cither ; and as we know that species of 

 animals lower llian those which already existed 

 appeared again and again during tlie various 

 eras, so it is ciuite possible that they may be 

 appearing now, and may appear hereafter : and 



