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The lecturer commenced his address by remarking that, since 

 the days of Butler's immortal work, the argument from analogy 

 had been frequently employed, and that it was a popular one 

 on many accounts. It was, however, always to be employed 

 with caiition. Unless founded on a real resemblance between 

 the facts or things compared, it would mislead ; and even when 

 legitimately used, its conclusions never could attain to the 

 certainty of mathematical proof, but at best only to a high 

 amount of probability. These remarks were intended to intro- 

 duce a subject which was of late much debated, and which he 

 would name " The Continuity of Creation." Various theories 

 had been advanced on this subject from the most remote periods, 

 and of late the argument of analogy had been attempted by Mr. 

 Darwin and his followers. The object of this paper was to 

 point out the true channel wherein this analogical argument should 

 flow, and to examiue the statements made by those who had so 

 employed it. The lecturer went on to take a rapid but extensive 

 view of the laws which prevailed in the world which we inhabit, 

 bearing on the matter of continuity, and, in so doing, examined 

 at considerable length these laws, which were reduced to the 

 following heads : — 1. Uniformity with variety ; 2. Stability 

 and periodical mutation ; 3. Continuity and segregation ; 4. 

 Origination and extinction. These features of nature were all 

 prevailing, and along with their exercise was noted the links of 

 connexion which bound into one whole the mineral, vegetable, 

 and animal kingdoms. Life and death, arising from the last 

 two named laws, characterised all known organism ; but even 

 in these the continuity of creation was preserved, inasmuch as 

 whole generations became extinct only to re-appear — changed, 

 yet in a sense the same in their offspring. Mr. Macllwaine next 

 proceeded to examine the Darwinian theory, as it had been most 

 recently expounded by two of its ablest advocates in as many 

 very remarkable treatises — viz., the inaugural address of the 

 President of the British Association at Manchester — W. Grove, 

 Esq. ; and the opening address to the Belfast Natural History 

 and Philosophical Society, by Joseph John Murphy, Esq. The 

 lecturer spoke in high terms of commendation of these papers, 

 both as regards their matter and the spirit that pervaded them, 



