II 



THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES 



[1860] 



MR. DARWIN'S long-standing and well-earned 

 scientific eminence probably renders him indiffer- 

 ent to that social notoriety which passes by the 

 name of success ; but if the calm spirit of the 

 philosopher have not yet wholly superseded the 

 ambition and the vanity of the carnal man within 

 him, he must be well satisfied with the results of 

 his venture in publishing the " Origin of Species." 

 Overflowing the narrow bounds of purely scientific 

 circles, the " species question " divides with Italy 

 and the Volunteers the attention of general 

 society. Everybody has read Mr. Darwin's book, 

 or, at least, has given an opinion upon its merits 

 or demerits ; pietists, whether lay or ecclesiastic, 

 decry it with the mild railing which sounds so 

 charitable ; bigots denounce it with ignorant 

 invective ; old ladies of both sexes consider it a 



