PREFACE ΤΟ THE TENTH EDITION. THE author of this work-a private person with limited opportunities of study-first had his attention attracted to the early history of animated nature, on becoming acquainted with an outline of the Laplacian hypothesis of the solar system. Having previously been convinced that the Divine Governor of the world conducts its passing affairs by a fixed rule, to which we apply the term natural law, he was much impressed on finding reason to believe that the physical arrangements of the universe had been originated in the same manner, as it seemed to him to favour the idea of a perfect unity in the action of the One Eternal and Infinite. After this point was attained, he was not long in perceiving that the commencement of life and organization was very unsatisfactorily accounted for by "fiats," "special |