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priate and convert to its use ? There was, I am quite aware, 
an ancient theory that began the world or the universe itself, 
with an egg, and made it thus to grow from almost nothing, I 
don't know how, to its present dimensions. That was a 
thorough Darwinian system ! But, then, it was invented 
before the modern scientific doctrine, that matter can neither 
be lost nor destroyed, was put forth as scientific truth. Now, 
as regards this doctrine, that matter in our experience is 
never increased, nor decreased, nor destroyed, as it goes through 
its varying phases or Protean changes, I am glad to be able 
to say, — “ heretic " as I am accounted, and truly am, as 
regards some of the most important scientific doctrines, — that 
I consider this particular doctrine as nearly absolute scientific 
truth as anything ever propounded in philosophy. 
Well then, accepting this doctrine, let us now strip the 
world of its mud, and of its strata, and its crystalline rocks, 
down as deep and as far as we please — for this we may do in 
our imaginations ! — and what can we make after all, even in 
imagination, of the matter we thus strip off and try to get rid 
of? Was it nowhere, — was it not in existence, — before it was 
laid down as now, in its beds of strata or in the rocks under- 
neath ? Let Professor Huxley tell us that ! If his answer 
is, — (and it is the only answer he can possibly give, if he will 
not tell us that new matter can grow and comes into being 
day after day,) — that all of it must have existed in the world, 
in one form or another, before it was arranged under present 
conditions, — then, that is just our argument who believe 
in One Creation of matter, or “ of all things visible " ! Men 
may imagine as they please, what has been laid down here or 
there, at this time or that, but all material things so arranged 
must still have before existed. I find, however, that I am 
diverging into considerations quite beyond the limited range 
of Professor Huxley*s lecture; to which I must therefore return. 
And now as to the last of the scientific doctrines of which 
the learned Professor called himself the exponent. No doubt 
you are well aware of the doctrine of special creations deduced 
from the apparent succession of life upon the globe. And 
this doctrine the Professor's words do seem to teach. But 
perhaps you had reason to think this was a doctrine that had 
been given up, or (as it has been euphemistically described) 
one “ which was slowly yielding to other views." It was at any 
rate something new, to understand that it, or anything like it, 
was held by Professor Huxley ! However, if he has adopted 
it (as he has some other new “ scientific doctrines," within not 
many years), that may by some persons be regarded as a 
testimony to its probability. But if I remember aright, and 
