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periods, which is tantamount to a high probability that they 

 never did exist in them, I assert that they did exist, basing my 

 assertion on the mainstay of negative evidence. It is true that 

 when it suits my purpose I can turn round and argue that 

 negative evidence is worthless. 



I believe this is not too barefaced a piece of contradiction to 

 palm off on the credulity of weak-minded persons. 



I believe that the geological record is imperfect to an" extreme 

 degree," but if you can bring yourself at my dictation to dis- 

 believe the facts which geology does attest, then you see you 

 will take in my theory, and si populus milt decipi, decipiatur. 



I believe that the extinct rhinoceros was more advantageously 

 organised than the existing one 7 so that it ought, on my theory, 

 to have " infallibly exterminated the inferior ones." I don't 

 doubt it. The contrary is before me, but black I always make 

 white when I choose. You may say that some day I shall try to 

 prove that two and two make five. Perhaps I may, what then ? 



I believe that in the race for existence the weakest must 

 succumb to the stronger, though I see before my eyes that the 

 whole of creation contradicts this. 



I believe that there must have been, and therefore were, an 

 infinite number of previous forms of the large elephant and the 

 mighty mammoth, though the fragment even of the remains of 

 not one of these has ever been discovered, while those of the 

 most fragile and delicate shells are found in abundance in the 

 chalk in the lower rocks. 



I believe anything and everything as it suits my purpose. 



I believe that Natural Selection selects itself, that Nature has a 

 il power of selection," that she is more powerful than "feeble 

 man," so that if he can do so much in improving animals, why 

 can't she do all I choose to imagine, only time enough be given 

 beyond the power of imagination. 



I believe that if feeble man can do so much, I can see no limit 

 to the amount of change in the beauty and infinite complexity 

 which may be effected in the long course of time by " Natures 

 power of Selection" so that " powerful " nature is superior to 

 feeble man. It is true I have argued elsewhere that Natural 



