434 CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



independently of the question of Natural Selection. 

 Such a conclusion, of indefinite or of unlimited results 

 from Natural Selection, involves the assumption that 

 the accretions of development, represented by the 

 strongest and most vigorous individuals and the 

 variations present in the varying individuals, proceed 

 forever, or without any limit : Whereas, as has been 

 before shown, such assumption of No Limit is both 

 (i) gratuitous, and (2) illegitimate, and (3) is negatived 

 by the fact that the sole law of which such variations 

 and such increments of development are susceptible, 

 viz., Reversion, imposes a limit to such variations and 

 increments, and consequently restricts the extent of the 

 accumulation of such, which is effected by Natural 

 Selection. 



Thus the controversy stood, before the positive dis- 

 proofs of Darwin's theory were developed. Such 

 theory was shown to be untenable because of three 

 salient objections. These were (to repeat) : 



First: This assumption of No Limit (which assump- 

 tion is absolutely essential to his theory) is invalidated 

 by being gratuitous ; i. e., for want of any evidence to 

 sustain it: 



Second: His assumption of No Limit is invalidated 

 by being illegitimate ; i. e., by reason of his precedent 

 (alleged) failure to resolve the law, or the cause, of 

 variations, which, if resolved, would presumably have 

 informed him whether these variations were, or were 

 not amenable to a limit. 



Third: His assumption of No Limit is invalidated 

 by reason of the fact that a certain law — viz., Rever- 



