230 THE REIGN OF LAW. 



cause of each particular variation."* Again he 

 says — " I believe in no law of necessary develop- 

 ment." -f- 



This distinction between Mr Darwin's theory and 

 other theories of Development, has not, I think, 

 been sufficiently observed. His theory seems to 

 be far better than a mere theory — to be an estab- 

 lished scientific truth — in so far as it accounts, in 

 part at least, for the success and establishment 

 and spread of new Forms when they have arisen. 

 But it does not even suggest the law under which, 

 or by which, or according to which, such new 

 Forms are introduced. Natural Selection can do 

 nothing except with the materials presented to 

 its hands. It cannot select except among the 

 things open to selection. Natural Selection can 

 originate nothing ; it can only pick out and choose 

 among the things which are originated by some 

 other law. Strictly speaking, therefore, Mr Dar- 

 win's theory is not a theory on the Origin of 

 Species at all, but only a theory on the causes 

 which lead to the relative success or failure of 

 such new Forms as may be born into the world. 



* Origin of Species, p. 131 (1st edition.) + Ibid., p. 351. 



