New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-21
THE LECTURE.

jJADlFS AND NENlltshEN. III NY ltCbuf6 OI MUS
day night pointed out to yOu that there three
hypothesis which may be entertained, aud which
have been entertained respecting the past history
of life upon the globe. According to the first Of
these hypothesis. life, such now know it, has
existed from all eternity upon this earth. We
tested that hypothesis by the circumstantial evil
dence as called it, which is furnished by the fossil
remains contained in tho earts crust and we found
that it was obviously untenable. i then pro-
cecded TO consider the second hypothesis, which
termed the iltonic hypothesis, not because it is of
any particular consequence TO me whether John Mil
ton seriously entertained it not but because it is
stated in clear and unmstakable manner in his
great pOem Ipointed out to you that the evidence
at our command as completely and fully negatives
that hypothesis as it did the preceding one. And
confess that had too much respect for your intelli
gGsce to think it necessary to add that that mega
ton was equally strong and equally valid whatever
the source from which that hypothesis might be de-
rived, or whatever the authority it might be sup
ported by.
The HYPOTHESIS OF EVOLUTION.
further stated that according TO the hypothesis
of evolution the existing state of things at tho
last term of long series of antecedent states,
which when traced back, would be found to show
no interruption and breach of continuity. Ipro-
pose in this and following lecture to show that no
less vigorously by the evidence at command, and to
inquire how far that evidence could be said TO he in
different to it, how far it could be said to be favor
able to it, and finally, how far it could be said to
be demonstrative. From almost the origin of these
discussions upon the existing conditiOn-and the
causes which have led to it-Of the animal and veee-
table world an argument has been pat forward
as an objection to evolution, which We shall have to
consider very seriously. / think that that argu-
ment was first clearly stated by Cuver in his oPpo-
sition to tho doctrines propounded by his great CO
temporary, Lanarck. AT that time the French OK
petition TO Egypt had called the attention of learned
men to the wonderful stores of antiquities in that
country and there had been brought back to France
numerous mummifed corpses of animals which
the ancient Egyptians revered and preserved, the
date of which at a reasonable computation
a computations may say, which has been verified
By all subsequent researches-cannot be placed at
less than 5000 or 1000 years before the time at
which they were thus brought 20 light. Cuvier en-
deayored to ascertain by a very just and proper
method what foundation there for the belief IN
a gradual aud progressive change of animals bY
comparing the skeletons and all accessible parts OF
these animals, such as crocOdilcs, birds, dogs,
cats, and the like, with those which arc now
found living in Egypt and he came to
the conclusion-a conclusion which has been
appreciable change had taken place in the animals
which inhabited Egypt And he drew thence tho
conclusion, and hasty one that the evidence of
such fact was altogether against the doctrine of
evolution. The progress of research since Cuyiers
time has furnished far stronger cases than those
which he drew from the munmifed bodies OF
Egyptian ANIMALS A remarkable case is to be found
in your own country in the neghbOrhoOd OF tho
magnificent Falls of Niagara In the Immediate
vicinity of the whirlpool, and again upon Goat
Island in the superficial deposits which cover the
surface of the soil of the rock in those regions there
are found remains of animals in perfect preservation
shells belonging to exactly the same form rs at
present inhabit the still waters of Lake Erie. 1t is
evident here from the formation OF tue country
that these animal remains were deposited in the
beds in which they are found at the time at whl:h
the lake extended over the region IN when they are
found and that involves the necessity that they ex-
iSted and lived and died before the falls had cut
their way back through the gorge OF Niagara ana
indeed it is possible to determine that at tat time
the falls of Niagara must have been Mt least SIX
miles further down the river than they are at pres
ent. Many computations have been made OF the
rate at which Niagara Is thus cutting It's way PACK
Those computations have varied greatly, but be-
lisye am speaking within the bounds OF prudence,
if | assume that at IFS greatest rate of cutting
back the falls of Niagara have not retreated
at a greater pace than about a foot year. SIX
miles, speaking roughly. are 3OOOO feet; 3O,VOo
feet at foot a year are 10000 years, ana we are
fairly Justified IN cOnCluCllDS Ludt less
than that has passed since these shehSh whose re-
mains are left in the beds to which we have REFERRED
were deposited. Admit that it rs true that Tor tlat
immense period of time no change has taken place
in these animals, there are still stronger evidences
on this point even than this. AS we WORK our way
through the great series of tho tertiary formation
we lind species Of animals Identical with those
which live at the present day, diminishing IN num-
bers it is true but still existing in certain number
in the oldest of the tertiary rocks And not only So
but when we examine the rocks OF the cfetaceous
epoch itself we find the remains OF some animals
Witch the eIosest scrutiny cannot show to be in
any respect different from those which I'VE
at the present time That is the with one OF the
lamp Shells the terebratula, which is found IN the
chalk, and which has continued as it was tOund OF
with insignificant variation, through to the present
day. Such is the case with the goDergetiins, Ine
skeletons of which aggregated together form the great
mass of our chalk i'm England. That globergerina
can be traced down ito the globergerlne, wnich
lived AT the surface of great oceans, ana the re-
mains of which falling to the bottom OF the sea
gye rise TO chalk material So that 1t must De al
United that certain species OF creatures nylng az
the present day show no sign OF modilicaton VI
transformotion as great as that winch carries US
hack 10 tho period Of chalk ana we ma some
gT',nns or speces so closely allied together tnas
Re needs the eye of naturalist 10 ols-
tinOuish them one from another III we pay
ATTENTION to these, we ind that Vastly gfea.eI
nerod must be allotted in some cases 10 these PEI
sistant FORMS In chalk itselt Tor example tnslS
the dsh beIelging to the highest group OF hsnJzs
md tie most differentiated of osseons fishes, wnIsn
40 nv the name Of Beryx. That iish Is one OF tns