72 Remarks on the Theories of PT. n. 



want of it. But Mr. Darwin's next step in his chain 

 of reasoning appears to be far more doubtful ; he 

 traces the creation of all the diversified forms of Life 

 to the results of the competition for food universally 

 going on throughout the World. This competition 

 he conceives crushes the weaker, gives advantage to 

 the stronger, and as he supposes that small varieties 

 begin in the production of different forms of Life, 

 that these small varieties where they tend to the 

 advantage of the being are gradually developed by 

 hereditary succession, by sexual selection, or by the 

 favouring conditions of climate and other causes, 

 into permanently different species. Now does this 

 theory rest upon the evidence of facts sufficient to 

 prove it, or are his facts eked out by a vast number 

 of hypotheses which he cannot prove? It is very 

 remarkable how often, in almost every page of his 

 work, he makes use of the verb Ho suppose.' He 

 is always asking us to suppose something which 

 explains or supports his reasoning, but we are not 

 disposed to admit these hypotheses (as facts) built 

 upon suppositions in so very intricate a labyrinth as 

 he calls upon us to enter. He finds it impossible to 

 construct his system upon the materials afforded by 

 the actually existing World : he must press into the 



