.382 PICTURESQUE SKETCHES 



I am quite prepared to admit that the advance of 

 accurate scientific knowledge may be so considerable 

 as to enable man at some future day to comprehend 

 not only a few of the details, but even the general 

 nature of this great plan of development. But he 

 is certainly not yet in a condition to perceive the 

 bearing of all those facts which are presented for his 

 study, or to obtain a comprehensive view of the broad 

 generalisations they involve ; and in the attempt to 

 include them within the compass of his imagination, 

 and express their true relation in language, he has 

 hitherto always failed. Convinced as I am of this, 

 I offer with great diffidence those general conclusions 

 on the subject in question which I have to suggest ; 

 and if I should be myself accused of speaking less 

 cautiously or more dogmatically than may seem fit, I 

 can only repeat this expression of my earnest endea- 

 vour to avoid such a form of speech. On the other 

 hand, while I would not wish to blame others for 

 giving decided expression to their own views, I 

 would still caution my readers against the premature 

 and unwise attempts that have been made by some 

 authors to explain and bring within the compass of 

 an assumed law of development the obscure and 

 isolated phenomena hitherto observed and apparently 

 bearing on this subject,* whatever those views may be. 

 If, from the study of fossils, we seem to attain 

 any definite notions concerning the general plan of 

 creation, these, it must be remembered, are only 

 valuable so far as they can bear comparison with 



* The law of development to which I here allude, supposes the suc- 

 cessive elaboration of organic beings, each new form exhibiting higher or 

 more complex organization. 



