26 OF REPRODUCTION 



every opinion which infallibly leads to the idea 

 of adual exiftence, upon no better authority 

 than what is derived from geometrical or nume- 

 rical infinity, ought to be rejeded. 



The partizans of this opinion are now redu- 

 ced to the necefhty of acknowledging, that 

 their infinity of fucceflion and of multiplica- 

 tion is only an indeterminable or indefinite 

 number. But, fay they, the firft feed, of an 

 elm, for example, which weighs not a grain, 

 adual iy contains all the organic particles requi- 

 fite for the formation of this tree, and of all the 

 individualsof the fame fpecies which fhall ever 

 appear. Is this a folution of the difficulty ? Is 

 it not cutting the knot, in place of untying it ? 



When, in reply to the queftion, how beings 

 are multiplied? it is anfwered, that the multi- 

 plication was completed in the creation of the 

 firft individuals, is not this both an acknow- 

 ledgment of ignorance, and a renouncing of all 

 defire of farther improvement ? We afk how 

 one being produces its like ? and we receive for 

 anfvver, that the whole was created at once. A 

 flrange folution; for, whether one only or a 

 thoufand generations had paffed, the fame diffi- 

 culty remains, and, inftead of removing it, the 

 fuppofition of an indefinite number of germs, all 

 exifting and contained in a fingle germ, increa- 

 fes and renders it altogether incomprehenfible. 



I allow, that it is much eafier to find fault, 

 than to inveftigate truth, and tliat the queftion 



concerning 



