2 The First Lines of Morphology 
better. It is inevitable, because wherever there is a form or 
a transformation, there is a phenomenon taking place in the 
field of geometry ; and with regard to organic forms, as with 
respect to all others, there is only one alternative possible ; 
either they must be shaped in accordance with geometrical 
principles and proprieties, or else in violation of them. There 
is no neutral ground in reference to form, on which the prin- 
ciples of geometry may be simply ignored, or their silence 
secured, if they be violated. Neither are these two geome- 
tries, one, for instance, for the heavens, and another for the 
earth. Two are not possible. All geometrical principles and 
propositions whatsoever, do form, and must form, part and 
parcel of one and the same consistent code of doctrine. It is, 
indeed, but a few only of the simpler facts in geometry which 
have been deciphered by human intelligence; but it is certain 
that those which transcend the reach of our minds are con- 
sistent with those which we know. Geometry is, in fact, simply 
the expression of intelligence operating upon pure space, 
developing the pure forms which are possible to its parts, and 
discovering and describing the properties which necessarily 
attach to these forms. Nor can there be more satisfactory 
evidence that a Perfect Intelligence has framed the universe, 
expanded as it is in space, or that a Perfect Intelligence 
presides continually over it, than the discovery that geometri- 
cal principles are everywhere respected and acted upon in it. 
Other interests, indeed, besides those of form, may have to be 
attended to; and other interests obviously are attended to in 
the economy of nature—the interests of sensibility, for in- 
stance. And respecting sensibility, there is no assurance @ 
priori that its laws are the same as the laws of form. We 
ought, therefore, to hold ourselves prepared for finding that 
possibly in certain regions of nature the principles of geometry 
are kept in abeyance by other, and it may be higher princi- 
ples. But this we are not warranted to regard as a fact until 
we find it to be so; for in assuming it we are gratuitously 
limiting @ priori the infinite resources of Almighty power. 
And if it be ascertained, as undoubtedly it has been, that the 
forms and movements of the heavenly bodies (those of light 
and heat included, to which nature owes everything) are ex- 
