v] OF EVOLUTION 49 



Let us now consider the outside influences which 

 were at work on Lyell's mind in these early days. In 

 the year 181 8, the eminent palaeontologist Blumenbach 

 induced the University of Gottingen to offer a prize 

 for an essay on ' The investigation of the changes 

 that have taken place in the earths surface con- 

 formation since historic times, and the applications, 

 which can be made of such knowledge in investigating 

 earth revolutions beyond the domain of history.' A 

 young German, Von Hoff, won the prize by a most 

 able book, displaying great erudition, entitled The 

 History of those Natural Changes in the Earths 

 Surface, which are proved by Tradition. The 

 first volume of this work appeared in 1822, and 

 treated of the results produced on the land by the 

 action of the sea ; the second volume, published in 

 1824, dealt with the effects of volcanoes and earth- 

 quakes. Von Hoff's learned work was confined to 

 the collection of data from classical and other early 

 authors bearing on these subjects, and to reasonings 

 based on these records ; for, unfortunately, he did 

 not possess the means necessary for travelling and 

 making observations in the districts described by him. 

 Lyell acknowledges the great assistance afforded to 

 him by these two volumes of Von Hoff's work, but, 

 unlike that author, he was able to visit the various 

 localities referred to, and to draw his own conclusions 

 as to the nature of the changes which must have taken 



J. E. 4 



