And what shall we say of the infinite variety of those exquisite
and regular polyhedrons in which the world of crystals is so rich? In
the organic world, also, is not that geometry most wonderful which
presides over the distribution of the foliage upon certain plants, which
orders the nearly symmetrical, star-like figures of the flowers of the
field, as well as of the sea, and which produces in the shell such an
exquisite conical spiral that excels the most beautiful masterpieces of
Gothic architecture? In all these objects the geometrical form is the
simple and necessary consequence of the principles and laws which govern
the physical and physiological world. That these principles and these
laws are but an indication of a higher intelligent Power we may admit,
but this has nothing to do with the present argument.
Having regard, then, for the principle that in the explanation of
natural phenomena it is universally agreed to begin with the simplest
suppositions, the first hypotheses of the nature and cause of the
geminations have for the most part put in operation only the laws of
inorganic nature. Thus, the gemination is supposed to be due either to
the effects of light in the atmosphere of Mars, or to optical illusions
produced by vapors in various manners, or to glacial phenomena of a
perpetual winter, to which it is known all the planets will be
condemned, or to double cracks in its surface, or to single cracks of
which the images are doubled by the effect of smoke issuing in long
lines and blown laterally by the wind.
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