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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
or wholly true, or whether it he false, its author has already contributed 
a noble chapter to the history of nature. So may our author’s views 
in regard to man’s simian descent prove to be correct, but at present bis 
reasoning on the subject can only be compared to that of the servant- 
maid, who was asked by her mistress why she had placed the oysters 
out in the yard to be eaten by the cats? Her reply was that there were 
no cats about ; and when her mistress inquired how she knew that, 
her ready response was, “ because, if there had been any cats about, she 
would not have put out the oysters.” The author may imagine that we 
quote this anecdote in a satirical vein ; but it is not so. It occurred to 
us as an apt illustration in common life (and lie has advised his pupils thus 
to test such arguments) of the substitution of intuitive impressions for 
calm and unprejudiced investigation. 
Such reasoning may be expected from those who are unaccustomed to 
dispassionate inquiry, but we do not expect to meet with it in such 
works as this. 
And the author does not content himself with applying Mr. Darwin’s 
theory to the ape-origin of man. He speaks of new “systems of theology 
or philosophy,” propounded from time to time by men of genius, leaving 
his readers in doubt as to whether they must include Darwin’s theory in the 
first or second system. Whether or not Professor Huxley lays claim to the 
authorship of a new doctrine, he certainly propounds one which partakes of 
the character both of aneosophy and of a neology ; and although we find it 
somewhat difficult to make out exactly what are his dogmas, we shall endea- 
vour to put them into a shape “ convenient for common purposes,” as he 
has done those of Mr. Darwin — with this difference, that we shall adhere 
as closely as possible to our author’s own words, and let them speak for 
themselves. From his two recent works we thus extract the substance of 
bis teachings : — 
On the Universe in general. 
All the phenomena of the universe have been produced alone by “what 
are termed secondary causes.”* 
1st. On, Organic Nature . — The lirst creation of organic matter is a mystery 
which man is unable to solve, owing to the finite and restricted 
character of his faculties.!' 
2nd. Organic matter was created with certain properties, known as ata- 
vism and variability ; the first being a tendency in the parental 
organisms to reproduce themselves in all their features ; J the 
second a tendency in the offspring to vary from the original stock. 
And the interaction of these properties of organic matter, with all 
the conditions of existence, vital and physical, which affect organ- 
ized forms, has caused all the phenomena of organic nature.§ 
* “Evidences,” p. 108. + Lectures, p. 135. 
X Lectures. Compare p. 80, 1. 9 and 10 ; and 21, &c. 
§ Lectures, p. 137. 
