78 THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCES OF 



theory of special creation is true, I hold that 

 as no one fact can be adduced in its favour, 

 whilst so vast a body of facts can be ad- 

 duced against it, the only possible explanation 

 of so extraordinary a circumstance is that of 

 a mendacious intelligence of superhuman power 

 carefully disposing all the observable facts of 

 his creation in such a way as to compel his 

 rational creatures, by the best and most im- 

 partial use of their rational faculties, to conclude 

 that the theory of evolution is as certainly 

 true as the theory of special creation is 

 conspicuously false. 



But having now concluded this brief review of 

 the leading arguments in favour of organic 

 evolution, and having expressed as forcibly as I 

 am able my own opinion upon them, I do not 

 wish it to be supposed, either that I am in- 

 tolerant of opinions which are held by others, 

 or that I have been trying to "make out a 



