13 



Besides, we never can be sure, that the 

 series of facts belonging to any subject is 

 full or complete; new ones may be dis- 

 covered, that would overturn our best es- 

 tablished theories. 



Upon the foregoing terms alone do I 

 wish to uphold Mr. Hunter's theory of life ; 

 and I do so on the present occasion, because 

 it seems highly probable, it was his think- 

 ing in the manner he was known to do, that 

 caused him to survey all the facts connected 

 with the subject of life in general with 

 so much accuracy, as well as to note its 

 disordered states and sympathies in a 

 manner which has so greatly contributed to 

 increase our practical knowledge. It is 

 highly probable that it was his hypo- 

 thesis respecting life which incited him 

 to enquiries by which he has been able 

 to supply the deficient facts, so as to es- 

 tablish his conjectures, or convert his hv- 



* 



pothesis into a theory. 



