23 
ness to the usual way by which truth forces herself upon the 
mind? for she is far more truly and oftener felt than reasoned 
out. Lotze may argue as much as he pleases, but his intuitions 
are evidently rebelling against his logic. The still small voice 
whispers behind, as it will and must do in time to all, “ There 
is a God for all that,” who made him and all the world. 
It will be desirable to observe, for it seems to have been 
overlooked by Mr. Lewes, that the notion of creative fiats in 
all probability arose from the interpretation of theologians of 
Genesis i. ; and that confirmatory evidences appeared to be 
unmistakably derived from nature, because, until compara- 
tively recent times, known species were few and their differences 
more obvious than their resemblances. I do not think, there- 
fore, that the charge of having “ inferred that species were ideas 
in the Divine Mind ” is so truly applicable to the theologian as 
opponents seem to suppose ; for it was simply regarded as an un- 
mistakable doctrine of .the Bible. All that the modern theologian 
has to do, therefore, is to confess that his interpretation of the first 
chapter of Genesis was inadequate, and requires correction ; and 
that he has to thank science for having pointed out his mistake. 
Design No. 6. — There is yet another phase of Design, and 
which forms the subject of one of the Bridgewater Treatises, 
viz. : “On the Adaptation of External Nature to the Physical 
Condition of Man,” by John Kidd, M.D., E.B.S. 
I cannot but think that many adaptations of man and animals, 
and plants, as well to their sphere of existence, have been much 
overrated ; for, in fact, they are practically greatly limited. The 
conclusion now arrived at from a study of such adaptations has 
been expressed by scientific men as follows : — Animals and 
plants [and I wdll include man] do not necessarily live where con- 
ditions may be best suited to them, but where other animals and 
plants, or physical conditions, will let them live. This is the 
result of that intense “struggle for existence” which is a uni- 
versal fact, and covers the sphere of man’s existence, as well as 
that of all other living organisms. It requires but a slight ob- 
servation, provided the mind free itself from preconceived 
ideas, to see that no animal or plant is absolutely and perfectly 
adjusted to its sphere of existence for every day of its life. 
These adjustments are ever varying round a mean condition 
of a fair state of comfort and happiness. Averages in this 
w^orld must be looked for only. A vast amount of very imper- 
fect adaptations must be taken into account in considering the 
conditions of life upon this planet. 
I do not think it necessary to enter into many details to 
establish these facts. Evidences of it can be found in many 
works, notably The Origin of Species, and Wallace on Natural 
