36 EVOL UTION AND NA TURAL THEOL G Y. 



earth ; the earth on the sun ; and even the sun 

 on Alcyone (if astronomers are correct in be- 

 lieving that star to be the centre of the whole 

 star-system), while it is not unreasonable to 

 suppose that this system itself is but one of an 

 innumerable multitude scattered throughout 

 space. The Nebular Hypothesis is now the most 

 commonly received theory of astronomy ; and 

 it supposes the stars to have been gradually 

 condensed out of previously existing gaseous 

 matter. Be this as it may, all cosmical changes 

 are very gradual, and it is universally believed 

 that every star has gone through, or is passing- 

 through a series of changes analogous to those 

 of the earth. We are therefore fully justified 

 in regarding Evolution as a recognised principle 

 in Astronomy. 



We will now turn to Philology, and enquire 

 what is its teaching ? We find in Europe a 

 great number of languages and dialects, more 

 or less related to each other, most of which 

 could readily be classified, like natural objects, 

 into families, genera, and species. Some of 

 these run into one another, while others are 

 separated by considerable gaps. 



The history and literature of Europe, joined 



