THE SELF-FERTILIZATION OF PLANTS. 3T1 



but, it is for this, principally : For exalting converti- 

 ble platitudes into " explanations 1" 



Darwin, while gazing, contemplatively, upon this 

 "graduated series" of effects, which stands as a monu- 

 ment to his well-nigh phenomenal obtuseness, ejacu- 

 lates, with all the impressiveness of Pickwick, How 

 " interesting !" It is " interesting " to him (mark), be- 

 cause it is inscrutable. 



It may be " interesting," so to indulge a barbar- 

 ous wonder; to regard phenomena as due to chance, or 

 some innate tendency ; and to obviate the incongrui- 

 ties of his theory, by recourse to the proverbial 'idea 

 that Nature is capricious ; but, it should be infinitely 

 more " interesting," to a scientist, to resolve this 

 " graduated series ;" to discover the vera causa there- 

 of; and to note how this seemingly fortuitous diversity 

 of effects, corresponds most faithfully, in every in- 

 stance, and degree for degree, to like gradations in 

 the quantity of a given cause. It is more gratifying, 

 by far, to be able to place, side by side with this 

 "graduated series" of effects, a similarly graduated 

 series of departures from a normal type; than, to be 

 lost in dumb wonder, as Darwin is, at phenomena 

 which, with silent eloquence, tell him, who is so fer- 

 tile in "great laws of nature," to obey the injunction 

 which follows Pope's request to teach Omnipotence 

 how to rule. 



A man, of "liberal" ideas, may, when it subserves 

 his purpose, repose with perfect confidence, upon the 

 hypothesis, that there are phenomena which it is never 

 for Man to solve. But, woe betide the unlucky sprite, 



