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the other minor branches of his argument, such as sexual selection, 
divergence of character, the effects of use and disuse, acclimatization, 
laws of variation and geographical distribution (on all of which, had 
I space and time, I see much which I feel disposed to modify or 
controvert). These must either stand or fall with the other parts 
of his theory already noticed, or do not come into direct collision 
with the more vital objections which I have to it. There is, how- 
ever, one topic still remaining which I should not wish so to pass 
over — viz., the effect of physical condition in influencing form origi- 
nally, and affecting it afterwards. On this point Mr Darwin and I 
are widely at issue. He believes that it has had little or no in- 
fluence upon them. “ Neither the similarity nor the dissimilarity 
of the inhabitants of various regions,” says he, ee can be accounted 
for by their climatal and other physical conditions.” To me, again, 
it appears that the effect of physical condition is one of the most 
powerful agents in determining the form of organic creatures ; and 
I must be pardoned if I devote a few sentences to this part of 
the subject, because I look upon it as of the greatest importance, 
and ranking in the same category and scarcely less powerful as 
a proof of design on the part of the Creator than that drawn from 
the anatomical structure of the animal frame. Some of the in- 
stances bearing on it, given by Mr Darwin, are certainly difficult 
of explanation ; but then, how little do we know of what the real 
essence of physical condition is ! Look at North America, which in 
temperature and many other respects has a physical condition not 
greatly differing from our own. See how the inappreciable diffe- 
rence in physical condition is telling upon the white race there ; the 
women in youth retaining the normal beauty of their race, but becom- 
ing prematurely old ; the men becoming thin and sallow ; the teeth 
decaying more rapidly ; the average duration of life diminishing, — 
besides various other tokens of unsuitableness of climate. We all 
know very well that Bangalore, Darjeeling, and other hill stations in 
India, are mere expedients, better than nothing, but that the only real 
remedy for the sick Englishman is home, — home to the native physical 
condition. Seeing, then, that the essential part of physical condition 
is something of so subtle and undetectable a nature, is it a fair esti- 
mate of its effect to say, as Mr Darwin does, that certain large tracts in 
South Africa and South America are placed under like physical con- 
ditions; therefore, if there is any value in them, show us like product 1 ? 
YOL. IY. 2 Q, 
