It falls and reverts altogether to the element of matter.

The processes of decomposition and incorporation are longer, or shorter, according to circumstances; and these fossil remains of which your writers say so much, are merely cases that have met with accidental obstacles to their final decomposition.

As respects our two species, a very cursory examination of their qualities ought to convince any candid mind of the truth of our philosophy.

Thus, the physical part of man is much greater in proportion to the spiritual, than it is in the monikin; his habits are grosser and less intellectual; he requires sauce and condiments in his food; he is farther removed from simplicity, and, by necessary implication, from high civilization; he eats flesh, a certain proof that the material principle is still strong in the ascendant; he has no cauda---" "On this point, Dr.Reasono, I would inquire if your scholars attach any weight to traditions ?" "The greatest possible, sir.

It is the monikin tradition that our species is composed of men refined, of diminished matter and augmented minds, with the seat of reason extricated from the confinement and confusion of the caput, and extended, unravelled, and rendered logical and consecutive, in the cauda." "Well, sir, WE too have our traditions; and an eminent writer, at no great distance of time, has laid it down as incontrovertible, that men once HAD caudae." "A mere prophetic glance into the future, as coming events are known to cast their shadows before." "Sir, the philosopher in question establishes his position, by pointing to the stumps." "He has unluckily mistaken a foundation-stone for a ruin! Such errors are not unfrequent with the ardent and ingenious.