ON THE NON-IMMORTALITY OF ANIMALS. 
at will, while to man, and to man alone, is granted the long lease 
of earth’s inheritance.” 
Among the sentient beings which have from time to time inha¬ 
bited the earth, do we not discover at successive periods the ap¬ 
pearance of new forms, which flourished awhile, and then passed 
away; while other modifications of life sprung up, and, after the 
lapse of ages, in their turn were annihilated] Yet the laws which 
governed their appearance and extinction were in perfect harmony 
with those which regulate the present existing races; every crea¬ 
ture was especially and wisely adapted to the peculiar state of the 
earth at the period of its development then as now; and, when 
the physical conditions were changed, and no longer favourable for 
the existence of such a type of organization, it necessarily became 
extinct. 
If I do not mistake, these phenomena teach us that we are placed 
in the middle of a scheme,—not a fixed one, as you would have 
me believe, but a progressive one; and, for aught we can tell, the 
whole human race will, some time or other, become extinct, and be 
succeeded by beings who excel us as much in power and wisdom 
as we excel the Inquanadons of the ancient world. 
For my part, when I reflect on “ the monstrous shapes that one 
time walked the earth,” that lived and died millions of years ago, 
creatures utterly swept away as entities from the face of the earth, 
yet their very forms, although “ blotted from the things that be,” 
are to me replete with voluble evidence, which bears strongly on 
the probability of the “Future Existence of the Brute Creation.” 
And I cannot possibly believe that, during the immense periods 
which they existed, their only use was that the earth should gra¬ 
dually progress for man’s shade. This is a narrow conclusion, de¬ 
pend on it. It may appear a mystery, and yet the phenomenon is 
not more unaccountable than the fact which we witness daily, that 
successive generations of living species should perish, some after a 
brief existence of a few hours, others after a protracted life of many 
years. 
Reflecting on these phenomena, the mind recalls the impressive 
exclamation of the Poet:— 
“ My heart is awed within me, when I think 
Of the Great Miracle which still goes on 
In silence round me—the perpetual work 
Of the Creation—finished, yet renewed 
For ever.” 
I am, my dear Sir, 
Your’s very truly, 
W. F. Karkeek. 
Mr. W. C. Spoonrr. 
