70 Remarks on the Theories of PT. n. 



It would be satisfactory if we knew with greater 

 precision to which hypothesis Mr. Darwin himself 

 adheres : whether that of his correspondent, or the 

 one which appears to follow from his own expla- 

 nations. The difference is very wide : in the one 

 case he admits the whole scheme of life to be the 

 creation of an Allwise and Omnipotent First Cause, 

 although he places that First Cause at a distance 

 infinitely remote ; in the latter case he ignores the 

 existence of a First Cause altogether. Supposing 

 that Mr. Darwin admits the first hypothesis, viz. 

 that of Ms correspondent, what is gained by re- 

 mitting the action of the Great First Cause to so 

 infinitely remote a period ? If He purposed and 

 designed this long series of causes and effects from 

 the very beginning, He is in fact just as much 

 the author of the whole as if He had resorted con- 

 tinually to a more immediate and direct exercise of 

 His Power and Will. Why conclude that he never 

 has exercised and never does exercise that Power 

 and Will directly through all those countless ages ? 

 We pay a ready tribute of admiration to the vast 

 amount of Mr. Darwin's knowledge, ranging through 

 the whole circle of the Natural Sciences ; the amount 

 of his materials is overwhelming ; still I cannot, for 



