522 
REPLY TO MR. W. C. SPOONER’S PAPER. 
which may happen, both in heaven and earth, that are not dreamt 
of in his philosophy. 
Believing you. Sir, to be embued with a taste for natural science, 
one, indeed, to whom Nature unfolds “her hoards of poetry and 
her hidden spells,” I would ask you, to what purpose was the 
earth impelled in its annual and diurnal course by the hand of 
Omnipotence! Why did it present new beauties every opening 
spring, and bring forth its treasures of autumn, and display so 
many sublime and variegated landscapes! Why did the Sun diffuse 
its light in every region, and the Moon cheer the shades of night 
from one generation to another during so many myriads of years; 
and during which immense period it was successively inhabited 
by living creatures, some of them wondrous monsters, dragons of 
the deep, 
“Resembling somewhat the wild inhabitants 
. Of the deep woods of earth, the hugest which 
Roar mightily in the forest, but tenfold 
In magnitude or terror,” 
although no human eye was there to behold them 1 
That these creatures were especially adapted to some peculiar 
state of the earth at the period of its development, and presented 
the same principles of structure, the same unity of purpose, and 
the impress of the same almighty hand, there can be no question;— 
can you, then, believe that they were created only to perish, and 
to have no future existence; whilst man, whose creation we are 
taught, both by revelation and by natural records, took place but 
a few thousand years ago, is alone immortal! 
If your theory is true, what could possibly be the use of all this 
elaborate design, without an ulterior object! Can it be pos¬ 
sible that the intelligent Creator formed such a world, peopled it 
with inhabitants furnished with instincts necessary to their exist¬ 
ence, simply for the purpose of devouring each other! I cannot 
believe that they only existed but to shew that life had been, but 
is no longer, any more than I can believe that cold and heartless 
philosophy which teaches that death is the end of our existence. 
In conclusion I would say, that how far I have succeeded in 
combatting your two propositions it is impossible for me to decide: 
my manuscript goes from the desk to the press, and from the press 
to my veterinary brethren, to stand or fall by a judgment which 
“casts no shadows before.” 
I have the honour to remain. Sir, 
• Your’s most faithfully, 
W. F. Karkeek. 
Truro, July 8, 184*0. 
