68 ORIGINATION OF LIVING BEINGS. 



which we obtain scientific conclusions and theories.* 

 Having granted that the inquiry is a proper one, and 

 having determined on the nature of the methods we 

 are to pursue and which only can lead to success, I 

 must now turn to the consideration of our knowledge 

 of the nature of the processes which have resulted in 

 the present condition of organic nature. 



Here, let me say at once, lest some of you misunder- 

 stand me, that I have extremely little to report. The 

 question of how the present condition of organic nature 

 came about, resolves itself into two questions. The first 

 is : How has organic or living matter commenced its 

 existence ? And the second is : How has it been per- 

 petuated ? On the second question I shall have more 

 to say hereafter. But on the first one, what I now 

 have to say will be for the most part of a negative 

 character. 



If you consider what kind of evidence we can have 

 upon this matter, it will resolve itself into two kinds. 

 We may have historical evidence and we may have 

 experimental evidence. It is, for example, conceivable, 

 that inasmuch as the hardened mud which forms a 

 considerable portion of the thickness of the earth's 

 crust contains faithful records of the past forms of 

 life, and inasmuch as these differ more and more 

 as we go further down, — it is possible and conceiv- 

 able that we might come to some particular bed 

 or stratum which should contain the remains of those 



* Those who wish to study fully the doctrines of which I have 

 endeavoured to give some rough and ready illustrations, must read 

 Mr. John Stuart Mill's " System of Logic." 





