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important argument drawn from analogy ; but I think it would have been 

 well if there had also been reference to the fact, that just as each book of 

 Scripture has its definite object, so also had each stratum of the earth its 

 particular use, which affords an explanation of the reason existing for the 

 variety observable. The Book of Deuteronomy, in the Old Testament, had 

 its definite object, as also have the Epistles of St. Paul, each, in its own way, 

 fulfilling its destined purpose ; just as recent discoveries have shown that 

 there have been important eras in the history of geology, in which each 

 stratum, or series of laminae, have had their due relation to the work of the 

 Creator. I would therefore suggest, that in this way the point which has been 

 so well taken up by the writer of the paper might have been illustrated with 

 advantage. 



Mr. J. P. Harrison. — I will just oft'er a remark or two as to what has 

 been said about different races of man, and as to the negro being pictured on 

 the monuments of Egypt so soon after the Flood. There seems, to my mind, 

 no reason to suppose that there may not have been a black man in the ark, 

 because it is quite possible that the black race may have been developed 

 before the Deluge. It should be remembered that we have the four races of 

 mankind distinctly marked as they are, and corresponding with the four 

 patriarchs of the ark—namely, Noah and his three sons. If these all went in 

 diff'erent directions, to different parts of the world, the races would be thus 

 kept separate, and the peculiar features of each portion of the family would 

 become developed and spread, while, by intermarriages between the different 

 races, varieties would be very quickly produced. 



Captain M. S. Nolloth, R.N. — I should like, Sir, to make a brief observa- 

 tion in reference to what has been said about the varieties and origin of the 

 human species. I believe it is admitted that in both America and Australia, 

 a small but perceptible alteration is observable in the appearance of the race 

 during the brief periods of our connection with those countries respectively. 

 The peoples have become taller and thinner, and in minor respects different 

 from their European ancestors ; and the Australians are said to be ap- 

 proaching more nearly in each generation to the Anglo-American type. I 

 venture to think it somewhat strange that the darkest-skinned Hindoo should, 

 in the long frame-work, be more like the white Caucasian than the Mongolians, 

 many of whom are as white as ourselves, while their — the Mongolians' — 

 frame approaches in several respects to that of the Negro, as do their facial 

 features, in certain particulars, to that of the latter. I think that, with 

 many persons the difficulty of believing in a common origin lies more in 

 difference of mere colour of skin, than in that of osteological features. But 

 I do not profess to be learned in these matters. 



Mr. Weldon. — I have to thank those that have spoken, for the gentle 

 manner in which they have applied their criticisms to my paper. I must say 

 that I expected to have been much more " cut up " than I have been, and I 

 am glad to find that you have so generally agreed with the drift of my 

 observations, relative to the origin of species. I regard it as one of 



