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have, too, the fact that uo two things are ever exactly alike. If you assume 
that God created man, you have this question to meet, Has a God of 
infinite wisdom and capacity made man in perfection? The theory that is 
most consistent with the belief we all hold is, that the work was the most 
perfect in the first instance. The mind of man works as a whole, though 
it is made up of many faculties. Various men have various faculties more 
or less developed. Butit is difficult to imagine that our minds are superior 
to those that the Creator directly made. The Creator gave man all the 
faculties required to enable him to develope language, and we find the older 
languages superior in simplicity and completeness of arrangement to the 
more recent. Man being thus gifted, it may be assumed that language was 
very soon brought to perfection. Civilisation—or what are commonly regarded 
as the evidences or tokens of civilisation—is very much a matter of opinion, 
of custom, of circumstance. Among the Hindoos, the most correct form of 
dress is a garment made without a seam. “Among them such a garment 
becomes evidence of civilisation. Characteristics of this kind are largely 
due to hygienic conditions. The whole subject is one involved in the 
greatest complexity. 
Mr. 8. R. Parrison, F.G.S.—I have not much to offer in the way of 
remarks upon the able paper we have heard. The subject is one of 
extreme difficulty. The question of the evolution and degradation of 
man by a gradual process is exceedingly important, and is related to 
many others of almost equally great importance, and I am very glad that it 
has been brought under consideration here. The paper which Mr. Allen 
has read has made some additions to our knowledge of the subject; 
or perhaps, rather, I should say that the paper has served to put our 
knowledge in order ; and we are thus much better equipped to discuss the 
question. I would very strongly deprecate the discussion of a subject like 
this, that would deal with it without the full consideration which it demands. 
I think the general conclusions of the author have been well sustained ; but 
it is essentially necessary that we should abstain from hasty generalisations, 
such as have been assumed upon the finding of flint implements—that they 
are a proof that the people have been in asavage condition. Such arguments 
should be dismissed. Upon the whole, there is no decisive circumstance 
that can put the matter beyond dispute. The balance of evidence is in 
favour of the theory that mankind has fallen from a higher estate. The 
argument from language is very strong, and is strikingly supported by 
others. 
Mr. H.C. Dent, C.E., F.L.S.—I am entirely in accord with the views the 
lecturer has expressed, but the line of thought I have worked out on this subject 
is not entirely the same. Before reading the few notes I have prepared I may 
mention one point. I refer to pottery. This is very often found in ancient 
remains; but in some parts of the interior of Brazil, whence I have lately 
returned, almost the only pottery used is the tiles on the roofs of the houses, 
which are sold at about £3 per 1,000. These are so friable that they would 
inevitably be destroyed, and leave no remains. With regard to the degene- 
