336 EVOLUTION, OLD AND NEW. 



Finally, Lamarck declares that all, or nearly all, the 

 differences which we observe between various kinds of 

 animals and plants are due to this exceedingly gradual 

 and imperceptible accumulation, during many succes- 

 sive generations, of variations each one of which was 

 in the outset small : so does Mr. Darwin. But in the 

 above we have a complete statement of the fact of 

 evolution, or descent with modification wanting no- 

 thing, but entire, and incapable of being added to 

 except in detail, and by way of explanation of the 

 causes which have brought the fact about. As regards 

 the general conclusion arrived at, therefore, I am 

 unable to detect any difference of opinion between 

 Lamarck and Mr. Darwin. They are both bent on 

 establishing the theory of evolution in its widest 

 extent. 



The late Sir Charles Lyell, in his * Principles of 

 Geology,' bears me out here. In a note to his resumS 

 of the part of the ' Philosophie Zoologique ' which 

 bears upon evolution, he writes : 



" I have reprinted in this chapter word for word my 

 abstract of Lamarck's doctrine of transmutation, as 

 drawn up by me in 1832 in the first edition of the 

 * Principles of Geology.' * I have thought it right to 

 do this in justice to Lamarck, in order to show how 

 nearly the opinions taught by him at the commence- 

 ment of this century resembled those now in vogue 

 amongst a large body of naturalists respecting the in- 

 finite variability of species, and the progressive deve- 

 lopment in past time of the organic world. The reader 



* Vol. ii. cliap. i 



