CH. vn] THE COMING OF EVOLUTION 69 



in 1831, when, in response to an invitation given to 

 him, he consented to become a candidate for the 

 Chair of Geology at King's College, London, then 

 recently founded. 



The election was in the hands of an Archbishop, 

 two Bishops and two Doctors of Divinity, and Lyell 

 relates their decision, as communicated to him, in 

 the following words : 



' They considered some of my doctrines startling enough, but 

 could not find that they were come by otherwise than in a straight- 

 forward manner, and (as / appeared to think) logically deducible 

 from the facts, so that whether the facts were true or not, or my 

 conclusions logical or otherwise, there was no reason to infer that 

 I had made my theory from any hostile feeling towards revela- 

 tion 61 .' 



The appointment was, in the end, made with only 

 one dissentient, and it is pleasing to find that Cony- 

 beare, the most determined opponent of Ly ell's evolu- 

 tionary views, was extremely active in his efforts in 

 his support. The result was equally honourable to all 

 parties, and affords a pleasing proof of the fact that 

 in the hah century which had elapsed since the 

 persecution of Priestley and Button, theological 

 rancour must have greatly declined. But while 

 the reception of the Principles of Geology by the 

 general public was of such a generally satisfactory 

 character, Lyell had to acknowledge that his reasoning 

 had but little effect in modifying the views of his 



