THE EVOLUTION- HYPOTHESIS. 355 



ately inflicted? Whatever may be thought of them, it is 

 clear that they do not imply gratuitous malevolence. 



§ 121. In all respects, then, the hypothesis of evolution 

 contrasts favourably with the hypothesis of special creation. 

 It has arisen in comparatively-instructed times, and in the 

 most cultivated class. It is one of those beliefs in the uni- 

 form concurrence of phenomena, which are gradually sup- 

 planting beliefs in their irregular and arbitrary concurrence ; 

 and it belongs to a genus of these beliefs which has of late 

 been rapidly spreading. It is a definitely- conceivable hypo- 

 thesis : being simply an extension to the organic world at 

 large, of a conception built from our experiences of individual 

 organisms ; just as the hypothesis of universal gravitation, 

 was an extension of the conception which our experiences 

 of terrestrial gravitation had produced. This definitely- con- 

 ceivable hypothesis, besides the support of numerous ana- 

 logies, has the support of direct evidence : we have positive 

 proof that there is going on a process of the kind alleged ; 

 and though the results of this process, as actually witnessed, 

 are minute in comparison with the totality of results ascribed 

 to it, yet they bear to such totality, a ratio as great as that by 

 which an analogous hypothesis is justified. Lastly, that senti- 

 ment which the doctrine of special creations is thought neces- 

 sary to satisfy, is much better satisfied by the doctrine of evolu- 

 tion ; since this doctrine raises no contradictory implications 

 respecting the Unknown Cause, such as are raised by the 

 antagonist doctrine. 



And now, having observed how, under its most general 

 aspects, the hypothesis of evolution commends itself to us, 

 by its derivation, by its coherence, by its analogies, by its 

 direct evidence, by its implications ; let us go on to consider 

 the several orders of facts which yield indirect support to it. 

 "We will begin by noting the harmonies that exist between 

 it, and sundry of the inductions set forth in Part II. 



