PT. n. Mr. Darwin and Mr. Buckle. 99 



the whole scheme of Nature, and the forces which 

 move, guide, and control it, are perfectly conceivable. 

 But this theory of accounting for everything by the 

 operation of secondary causes, by whatever name they 

 may be distinguished, whether Natural Selection, 

 Sexual Selection, or any other, is to me perfectly 

 incomprehensible. I can neither trace their opera- 

 tion in the actual world, nor can I imagine it by any 

 exercise either of reason or of fancy. 



There is one consideration with reference to this 

 subject which appears to me entitled to considerable 

 weight. It is this : if the operation of the Divine 

 Will is supposed (as Mr. Darwin in parts of his work 

 appears to suppose It) to have any influence in the 

 economy of nature, It must have the whole power ; 

 we cannot conceive It to be partial, indirect, or 

 divided : if he admits It in any degree, he must allow 

 It to be universal, direct, and supreme. A partner- 

 ship in the exercise of Omnipotence is the most 

 irrational of all suppositions. 



In conclusion, it appears to my comprehension that 

 Mr. Darwin's theory for accounting for all the innu- 

 merable varieties of animal and vegetable Life in 

 this globe is not proved. It must depend upon the 

 evidence of facts ; and facts are so far from bearing 



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