Progression of Animate Beings. 27 



III. Doctrine of Progression with respect to Animate Beings. 



The discovery in a single year of so much incontrovertible evi- 

 dence of the extension of reptilian remains into some of the lowest 

 fossiliferous strata is very remarkable, and calculated to add 

 greatly to the interest of the discussion of the theory of the pro- 

 gression of organic forms during successive geological epochs, 

 which has lately occupied the minds of geologists.* 



It will be recollected that the advocates of the doctrine of pro- 

 gression, as well as the distinguished geologist who has been their 

 principal opponent, distinctly repudiate the idea of the progression 

 here spoken of involving any notion of the transmutation of 

 species, a theory to which, as you well knoAV, they have been most 

 strongly opposed. They merely assert their belief that there has 

 been upon the whole " a gradual ascent towards a higher type of 

 being," f from the earliest to the latest geological periods. They 

 would also contend for a certain progression in the physical state 

 of our planet, " a gradual improvement in the style and character 

 of the dwelling-place of organised beings.' 'J These are the pro- 

 positions which your late distinguished President combated in the 

 two addresses which he delivered from this chair. 



It would be absurd to contend that either the first of these 

 propositions or its negative have been yet established by demon- 

 strative evidence. The advocate of progression can only reason 

 on the confessedly imperfect evidence which we at present possess 

 respecting the extent and variety of organic beings which existed 

 at the earliest geological period to which we can refer the organic 

 remains with which we are acquainted ; and so far as his opponent 

 proves to us more clearly the incompleteness of this evidence, and 

 thus inspires us with due caution in forming our opinions, he 

 renders service to the sound progress of speculative views on the 

 subject. But if he goes further than this, and asserts the truth 

 of the opposite proposition, he places himself in a position at least 

 as untenable as that which he combats. If land existed when 

 the earth first became the abode of animate beings, it would seem 

 probable that animals adapted for such a dwelling-place should 

 have been then created, and possibly in much greater numbers 

 than the organic remains of the earlier geological periods might 

 at present seem to indicate ; nor need we be surprised at any 



* The discovery of reptilian remains, alluded to by Mr Hopkins, refers to the 

 impression of a reptile in the so-called Devonian sandstone of Elgin, and of 

 reptilian footprints in the Potsdam sandstone of North America. We may 

 remark, in regard to these statements, that the formation at Elgin has not been 

 proved to be Devonian, and that the footprints in the Potsdam sandstone Pro- 

 fessor Owen now considers as crustacean, not reptilian. — Editor, 



t Prof. Sedgwick — "Discourse on the studies of Cambridge," Preface, p. cliv. 



\ Mr Hugh Miller -" Footprints of the Creator." 



