Contributions to the theory of natural selection. A series of essays ... By Alfred Russel Wallace ...

CREATIONV BY LAW. 277
the stones and pebbles and gravel, that would otherwise block up its course. In every part of this system
he would see exact adaptation of means to an end.
He would say, that this system of channels must have
been designed, it answers its purpose so effectually.
Nothing but a mind could have so exactly adapted
the slopes of the channels, their capacity, and frequency, to the nature of the soil and the quantity of
the rainfall. Again, he would see special adaptation
to the wants of man, in broad quiet navigable rivers
flowing through fertile plains that support a large
population, while the rocky streams and mountain
torrents, were confined to those sterile regions suitable only for a small population of shepherds and
herdsmen. He would listen with incredulity to the
Geologist, who assured him, that the adaptation and
adjustment he so admired was an inevitable result of
the action of general laws. That the rains and rivers,
aided by subterranean forces, had modelled the country,
had formed the hills and valleys, had scooped out the
river beds, and levelled the plains; —and it would only
be after much patient observation and study, after
having watched the minute changes produced year
by year, and multiplying them by thousands and ten
thousands, after visiting the various regions of the
earth and seeing the changes everywhere going on,
and the unmistakable signs of greater changes in past
times,- that he could be made to understand that
the surface of the earth, however beautiful and harmonious it may appear, is strictly due in every detail