266 On the Species of Wombats. 
been hitherto invariably assumed by the advocates of the 
doctrine of liberty, as well as by those of that of necessity, 
that the justice of blame, whether asserted or denied, is in- 
volved in and inseparable from that of punishment. Even Mr. 
J.S. Mill is most unaccountably reticent on this point. He 
appears to evade entirely and constantly, any consideration 
whatever of praise and blame. But I believe I have shown 
that there is no necessary connection between the two ; that 
the one is powerful for evil, and the other for good. The 
_ vital inconsistencies, and therefore invalidity of all other 
moral systems with which I am acquainted, can be distin- 
guished almost as readily and clearly as their utter futility 
as guides of human conduct. I have long ceased to wonder 
at their abortive results. The appalling numbers of our 
fellow-creatures which our traditional systems consign or 
leave to a fate of hopeless degradation, crime, and misery, 
must be apparent to the most obtuse; and resignation to 
such results appears to me one of the worst and most lament- 
able of them all. Large numbers of men and women of all 
classes are notoriously immoral ; and current theories which 
pretend to be adequate or adapted to make them moral, are . 
therefore glaring failures or impostures. Therefore the pre- 
sent state, and the principles of society indisputably demand 
a radical reform. 
But should my system be proved, which I take leave to 
doubt, to be as inconsistent and worthless as the rest, still 
it seems not impossible that its consideration may give a clue 
to a better. Let my proposition, then, be discussed, and may 
the speedy result be such as all good men will delight to 
witness—consistency, and therefore truth, in the theory; and 
purity in the practice of morality. 
Art. XIX —On the Species of Wombats. (Abstract.) 
By Proressor M‘Coy. 
[Read 9th September, 1867.] 
Professor M‘Coy laid on the table well-preserved skins 
and osteological preparations from the series he had caused 
to be prepared for the National Museum, of all the known 
species, both good and doubtful, of the genus Phascolomys, 
and explained their characters in detail. 
