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special interference in the creation of man. (Hear, hear.) Whether he was 
developed or not, I will not undertake to say. As to the word “ perfection,” 
of course that cannot he defined, and each person may have his own particular 
view of it. Take a crystal. You may suppose a body to be mathematically 
correct in every angle, and the material and form so arranged as to be per- 
fectly transparent and without a flaw. But how often do you find a crystal 
which answers to that description ? 
The Chairman. — A crystal may be perfect even though it is quite opaque. 
Its perfection has nothing to do with its colour. You are going back to the 
derivation of the word crystal. 
Mr. Henslow. — No. I was merely assuming in my own mind that 
a crystal ought to be transparent. I simply mean a crystal that should 
be perfectly transparent. How often do you find a perfectly transparent 
crystal ? 
The Chairman. — You are introducing another element altogether. 
Mr. Henslow. — Well, take one that is not transparent 
The Chairman. — I do not think you would find imperfect crystals 
at all. 
Mr. Henslow. — But I should find many that I should call relatively 
imperfect. It is merely a matter of terms 
The Chairman. — You may find an imperfect crystal, if you find that 
it does not give you a mathematical shape, or what you conceive to 
be a mathematical shape. But even taking that view, I can give you many 
perfect examples. It would not follow that they would be imperfect. The 
perfection of a crystal depends upon its structure and the mode in which the 
particles are arranged. 
Mr. Henslow. — Without any interfering elements combined with it — no 
specks of minerals interfering, for instance 
The Chairman. — There is nothing abnormal or at all corresponding to 
disease in their structure. 
Mr. Henslow. — But you said that there was no imperfection in the 
mineral world. Mr. Row alluded to an earthquake, and asked whether that 
would be an imperfection. It may be an imperfection 
The Chairman. —The word “ perfection ” is often used erroneously, but it 
is not always possible to have exact definitions in such a discussion as this. 
Even mathematical definitions are only perfect so long as you deal with ideal 
abstractions. A mathematical fluid or a mathematical solid has no repre- 
sentation in nature ; and if you were to search for them in nature you would 
not find them. The same thing applies with regard to perfection. Perfection 
can only exist as an abstraction or as an attribute of the Deity. 
Mr. Henslow. — I maintain, as you do, that if you take the mathematical 
idea of perfection, you do not find it either in the mineral, the vegetable, or the 
animal kingdom. If you say the adjustment of organic life to the material 
world was ordained by God, then I would say that an earthquake would be a 
relative imperfection 
