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harmony ? It is the perception of the manifestations of infinite wisdom 
evidenced by that design upon which all those works are framed. The 
man who can rightly trace the design manifested in the adaptation of 
his own eyes to the laws of light,— the anatomist who can read a similar 
perfection of design in every animate structure, — is the one who can feel 
ravished by the sublimest harmonies which the soul of man can perceive. 
He finds symmetry and harmony ruling everywhere. To him, like the 
Psalmist of old, these harmonies tune his affections to perceive the still 
higher harmonies of God’s love and care for the spiritual as well as the 
material well-being of his creature, Man. I say, Darwinism is to me incre- 
dible, because it would rob me of all perception of this harmony— a harmony 
the sense of which I believe to have led the best observers of nature to a 
more intimate knowledge of the animate world — a harmony which has led to 
a greater perception of truth than any other human endowment. The men 
who have been the best interpreters of nature have ever been those, I 
believe, who have the acutest perception of that universal hymn, sung by all 
God’s works, “ The hand that made us is divine ! ” (Applause.) 
Professor Macdonald. — Sir, I thoroughly agree with you in the great 
object that you have had, of illustrating the great truth of God in nature. 
But I am going to put a small objection to the dogmatism with which you 
have laid it down, as against the reception of this hypothesis, from the 
examples already given of the calculations of two great discoverers of modern 
times, in regard to the planet Neptune. You pointed out that Adams and 
Le Verrier had acted each upon their own independent views and calculations, 
and had hit upon the spot where this planet was to appear — 
The Chairman. — Pardon me, Professor Macdonald ; you were not present 
on the last occasion, and therefore did not hear what I was referring to. It 
was an argument of Mr. Reddie’s ; and it was this (the very reverse of what 
you are stating), that the calculations of Le Verrier and Adams disagreed 
with one another ; and that when the planet was discovered, the discrepancy 
was found to be still greater between its true place, &c., and that given by 
either of their calculations. 
Professor Macdonald.— I merely say that a theory should not be aban- 
doned until proved to be useless. I assume that so long as a theory may 
assist us, from its credibility — (hear, hear) — we may make use of it ; but it 
must fall when it fails in producing truth — 
Tne Chairman. — That is just what I was maintaining. 
Professor Macdonald. — I wish to have a saving clause against the con- 
demnation of an apparently incredible theory. With regard to the question, 
which I have only picked up from what I have known of Darwin’s theory, 
I quite agree with you in not receiving the theory. I think that Darwin, 
one of our best observers, one who has traversed and navigated the globe, 
and given the greatest possible sound information upon natural history, has 
unfortunately stretched a small pigeon-theory beyond what he ought to have 
done. You have also pointed out the hybridism of the different races, and 
how that has been effected. Who was it, as you have said, effected that ? 
YOL. II. i 
