PT. ii. Mr. Darwin and Mr. Buckle. 61 



fluid once made, and the means devised of utilising 

 it having become a permanent addition to human 

 knowledge, it will be preserved and extended by its 

 own utility. No conceivable revolution in society 

 can ever again wrest it from us ; it must remain a 

 permanent addition to the powers of Man. 



The strongest example, however, which can be 

 adduced of the permanent nature of every solid 

 advance in Science may be drawn from the estab- 

 lishment of that Solar .System from which I have 

 already drawn several illustrations. It would be 

 impossible ever to revert to the erroneous systems of 

 Pythagoras or Ptolemy. The Earth can never again 

 be enthroned as the centre of the Universe, but must 

 be contented through all time to occupy her assigned 

 place whirling about the vast orb of the Sun, to 

 which we bear about the same proportion as a cricket 

 ball to the dome of St. Paul's. 



The same observation applies to every discovery 

 which human invention has made in the domain of 

 Science ; each, when once proved to rest upon truth, 

 is in its nature indestructible. It is fortunate that 

 these victories of Science have always proved to be 

 blessings, and it is one presumption in favour of the 

 truth of any new discovery that it is beneficial in its 



