MEMOIR OF LAMARCK. 63 



premises. But the very extravagance of the con- 

 clusions ought to have created a suspicion that the 

 premises were erroneous; and they are, in fact, 

 almost invariably found to be wholly inadmissible. 



While, therefore, we acknowledge Lamarck's pre- 

 eminent excellence in the ordinary subjects of na- 

 tural history, we cannot fail to lament that his 

 attention was so often engrossed by fanciful specu- 

 lations ; speculations of which, all things considered, 

 it is no undue depreciation to affirm that they 

 are at once absurd and impious — alike opposed to 

 reason and religion ; and the regret which must be 

 felt in making such an assertion in regard to so 

 celebrated a man, is not a little enhanced by the 

 accompanying reflection, that, with Lamarck and 

 others of his school, the latter imputation would be 

 regarded as infinitely less discreditable than the 

 former. 



