324 
Scepticism in Geology. 
[June, 
matter, out of which species and all other things are said to 
be formed. As a sceptic, he is indeed in many directions 
unanswerable ; but fails greatly when, relinquishing his 
assumed character, he sets up as a teacher. 
Whilst admitting that the modus operandi by which the 
forces now operating are producing geological changes the 
same in kind and degree as those in the remotest times is 
not satisfactorily explained by Sir Charles Lyell, I never- 
theless believe that the several processes propounded by him 
have — subject to some correction — performed a part in pro- 
ducing existing results. “ The Unity of Nature,” so ably 
elucidated in the “ Contemporary Review,” by the Duke of 
Argyll, is so complete that whatever affeCts a part must 
exercise an influence — though not necessarily apparent to 
our senses — upon every other part ; and hence it is often 
difficult to determine what may be logically described as 
secondary causes, and what may be more correCtly recog- 
nised as primary. In my book on “ The Constitution of the 
Earth ” I have propounded certain laws which are observ- 
able in all the changes of Nature, and which, in connection 
with known phenomena, lead to the conclusion that the 
Earth has been derived from the Sun by a progressive deve- 
lopment still in operation ; a conclusion entirely consistent 
with the formula of Lyell, that “ the forces now operating 
upon the Earth are the same in kind and degree as those 
which, in the remotest times, produced geological changes.” 
I believe, however, that the Earth is a growing body, and that 
such vitality as the term expresses may be properly described 
as the primary cause of the several secondary processes 
which have issued in its existing biological and geological 
condition. 
“ Verifier ” objects to the theory which attributes to 
earthquakes a large share in the conformation of the globe, 
and points to remarkable cases from which, he says, “ it 
would appear that although parts of the Earth’s surface 
may be raised by the jar of an earthquake, like the lifting 
of the lid of a box, the truth, as it emerges, proves that this 
rise is only temporary, and the ground subsides again gra- 
dually into place when the shocks are over.” I have referred 
to such phenomena as “ the more demonstrative evidences 
of that vital adtion which is continually, though with great 
slowness, adding to the bulk of the Earth.” 
“ Verifier ” truly says that “The difficulties of modern 
Geology are greatly increased owing to its undertaking to 
produce vast effedts with means which, on investigation, 
appear utterly inadequate to perform them. . . . ' To 
