Ixxvi REPOET — 1873. 



evidence of the correctness of his. method, the Geologist is abnost entirely 

 destitute of any such means of verification. For the value of any prediction 

 that he may hazard — as in regard to the existence or non-existence of Coal 

 in any given area,— depends not only upon the truth of the general doctrines 

 of Geology in regard to the succession of Stratified Deposits, but still more 

 upon the detailed knowledge which he may have acquired of the distribution 

 of those Deposits in the particular locality. Hence no reasonably -judging 

 man would discredit either the general doctrines or the methods of Geology, 

 because the prediction proves untrue in such a case as that now about to 

 be brought in this neighbourhood to the trial of experience. 



AVe have thus considered Man's function as the Scientific Interpreter of 

 Nature in two departments of ISTatural Knowledge ; one of which affords an 

 example of the strictest, and the other of the freest method, which Man can 

 employ in constructing his Intellectual representation of the Universe. And as 

 it woiild be found that in the study of all other departments the same methods 

 are used, either separately or in combination, we may pass at once to an- 

 other part of our inquiry. 



The whole fabric of Geometry rests upon certain Axioms which every one 

 accepts as true, but of which it is necessary that the truth should be assumed, 

 because they are incapable of demonstration. So, too, the deliverances of our 

 " Common Sense " derive their trustworthiness from what we consider the 

 " self-evidence " of the propositions affirmed. There are, then, certain 

 Primary Beliefs, which constitute the groundwork of all Scientific reasoning ; 

 and we have next to inquire into their origin. 



This inquiry brings us face to face with one of the great Philosophical 

 problems of our day, which has been discussed by Logicians and Meta- 

 physicians of the very highest ability as Leaders of opposing Schools, with 

 the one result of showing how much can be said on each side. Ey the 

 Intuitionalists it is asserted that the tendency to form these Primary Beliefs 

 is inborn in Man, an original part of his mental organization ; so that they 

 grow up spontaneously in his Mind as its faculties are gradually unfolded 

 and developed, requiring no other Experience for their genesis, than that 

 which sufiices to call these faculties into exercise. But by the advocates of 

 the doctrine which regards Experience as the basis of all our knowledge, 

 it is maintained that the Primary Beliefs of each individual are nothing else 

 than generalizations which he forms of such experiences as he has either 

 himself acquired or has consciously learned from others ; and they deny 

 that there is any original or intuitive tendency to the formation of such 

 beliefs, beyond that which consists in the power of retaining and generalizing 

 experiences. 



I have not introduced this subject with any idea of placing before you 

 even a summary of the ingenious arguments by which these opposing 

 doctrines have been respectively suj^ported ; nor should I have touched on 

 the question at all, if I did not believe that a means of reconcilement between 

 them can be found in the idea, that the Intellectual Intuitions of any one 

 Generation are the cmhoclied Eiyerienccs of the previous Bace. For, as it 

 appears to me, there has been a progressive improvement in the Thinling 

 Power of Man ; every product of the culture which has preceded serving to 

 prepare the soil for yet more abundant harvests in the future. 



Now, as there can be no doubt of the Hereditary transmission in Man of 

 acquired constitutional peculiarities, which manifest themselves alike in 

 tendencies to Bodily and to Mental disease, so it seems equally certain that 

 acquired mental habitudes often impress themselves on his organization, with 



