-290 TOILERS IN THE SEA. 



perfect a hypothesis, it does not reconcile so many 

 facts, or account for so many phenomena, and, pro- 

 vided that the new facts are established, it is by no 

 means certain that they are inconsistent with the 

 original hypothesis of subsidence. If the new hypo- 

 thesis is really so much more conclusive, so much 

 more feasible, so much more consistent than the old 

 one, how does it happen that it has failed, and still 

 continues to fail, in securing the support of the think- 

 ing and reasoning public, especially that portion 

 which are specially interested, and most competent 

 to judge ? Surely, if the theory had been so clear, 

 so convincing, so evident, as some have contended, a 

 period of eight years is sufficient to have established 

 It in public opinion. Whatever its ultimate destiny 

 may be, we recognise no valid reason, at present, for 

 rejecting the hypothesis of Darwin and Dana, in 

 favour of that propounded, or supported, by Murray 

 and Argyll. 



