QUEENSLAND 
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 
(From the Queensland Guardian , September 21, 1864.) 
The monthly meeting of the above society 
was held on September 19, in the house of Alder- 
man Pettigrew. After the minutes of the 
previous meeting werd read and confirmed, two 
new members, namely, Mr. James Warner, and 
Kev. James Love, were received unanimously 
by ballot. The Hon. Arthur Majalister, 
Messrs. T. B. Stephens, Byrne, and 
Sheridan, (Maryborough), were proposed as 
members. A communication was read from 
Charles Tiffin, Esq., accompanying several 
specimens irom an iron furnace in New South 
Wales. A communication was also read from 
Mr. Gfrimaldi, Bowen, who forwarded a piece 
of alleged native bees’ comb, with the cells 
perfectly cylindrical. Several members of the 
association gave it as their opinion that it was 
not the comb of the bee. but that of a very 
small wasp. The comb had not the waxy 
character, but the papery quality of the comb 
of the wasp. Thanks were voted to these 
gentlemen for their presents to the society. 
The following valuable paper, which gave 
rise to a very animated and interesting con- 
versation, was read by Mr. Diggles : — 
Thoughts Suggested by the Theoey 
of Me. Daewin. 
No one can refuse to Mr. Darwin the credit 
of having for many years devoted an immense 
amount of learning and skill to the develop- 
ment of his theory, especially as in connection 
therewith he has brought to light a great 
number of valuable facts and observations 
which are to be estimated quite as much as 
contributions to the science of natural history 
in general, as they are, according to his mode 
of thinking, confirmatory of his favorite theory. 
The book emitted “The Origin of Species by 
means of Natural Selection,” is one which has 
had a large circulation, and been the means of 
making many converts to its doctrine, in- 
cluding some names of the highest standing 
and acquirements ; and it would ill become 
me, or anyone else, to approach this subject 
without the greatest respect for so painstaking 
and learned an author, though differing with 
him in many of the conclusions at which he 
has arrived. It might be argued thai the 
view held by Mr. Darwin has a tendency to 
lead men to materialism, or to acknowledge 
nature as the author of everything ; and I 
think not without good reason, though the 
author himself disclaims such an idea. It is 
not for me to dogmatise and say his 
opinion or theory is true or not true. 
If true, its tendency must be to good, and it 
will prevail over other theories ; if untrue, it 
will only last for a time and disappear, as truth 
progresses. But it does not seem reasonable in 
the judgment of many, that the Divine Being 
should have brought into ex stence some 
millions of years ago, four or five types of 
animals, and the same number of vegetables, 
each form endowed with a marvellous capacity 
for improvement, and then have left them to 
take their chance. It may be said this is 
stating the matter too broadly, but the whole 
theory condensed into few words ap' 'urs to 
amount to this. What should be the o ejection 
so often urged by Mr. D. against direct Divine 
interference ? Is not preservation only a per- 
petual form of creation ? Even as much as 
bringing into being of the ’ rable races 
both animal and vegetable, \ ach cover the 
earth. We are told by one greater than a 
philosopher that not a sparrow falls unnoticed^ 
