LITERARY NOTICES. 



2 45 



" In the preparation of this work, the 

 author has formed his opinions, to a great 

 extent, from the results of direct observa- 

 tion and experiment, as the true basis of 

 what is positively known in physiology; 

 and, while the earlier volumes might be 

 modified by the addition of new facts, they 

 contain comparatively little that has been 

 disproved by recent investigations. Ex- 

 perimental observations have been studied 

 and criticised from a practical point of 

 view ; and in this the author's training, as 

 an experimentalist and a public teacher for 

 more than fifteen years, has given him a 

 certain degree of confidence. It is the 

 practical physiologist who is best qualified 

 to judge of the correctness of physiological 

 experiments, and of the accuracy of meth- 

 ods of investigation; and the author has 

 learned, from his own attempts at original 

 observation, to estimate the difficulties of di- 

 rect research, and to appreciate the inaccu- 

 racies into which careless, inexperienced, or 

 over-enthnsiastic workers are liable to fall." 



Evolution and Progress : An Exposition 

 and Defense. The Foundation of Evolu- 

 tion philosophically expounded, and its 

 Arguments succinctly stated. By Rev. 

 William I. Gill, A. M. New York : 

 Authors' Publishing Company, 30 Bond 

 Street. 295 pages. Price, $1.50. 



This little volume has some striking 

 characteristics which take us somewhat by 

 surprise. It is a prize essay of the Au- 

 thors' Publishing Company, and a thor- 

 oughgoing defense of the doctrine of Evo- 

 lution by a working orthodox clergyman. 

 Its dedication is significant of the progress 

 of catholic views, such as we hardly expected 

 to see in this generation : " To Herbert 

 Spencer, Esquire, and the great brother- 

 hood of evangelical divines, the author 

 dedicates 'Evolution and Progress,' in to- 

 ken that the full complement of truth must 

 ensphere all the antipodes of thought." The 

 volume is mainly a discussion of the prin- 

 ciple of Evolution in its highest philosophi- 

 cal aspects, and the argument is conducted 

 in the most interesting manner, by taking 

 up the objections of its leading opponents, 

 as Dawson, Winchell, and Bowne, and its 

 quasi opponents, as Dr. Carpenter and Prof. 

 Le Conte. The author writes from his 

 point of view as a clergyman, not in the 



narrow professional sense, but as an un- 

 compromising devotee of truth in its unity 

 and completeness. He has his own views, 

 and, while accepting Evolution in its broad- 

 est sense, and shrinking from none of its 

 consequences, he yet holds it to be but a 

 part of a larger order of philosophy yet to 

 be worked out. In his preface, he says : 



" For himself, the writer cares very little 

 for Evolution as an ultimate system of phi- 

 losophy. "We think its method, so far as it 

 goes, is philosophical, its arguments sound 

 and logical, and its conclusions invulnerable 

 against any thing that has yet been brought 

 to bear against them. But we want, how- 

 ever, to go farther and get something broad- 

 er and more profound something that 

 leaves intact what Evolution has disclosed, 

 but finds it a place in a larger scheme, and 

 ennobles it by the new and higher relations 

 into which it is thus brought. But incom- 

 prehensive and uncomprehending dogma- 

 tism, whether for or against Evolution (for 

 it belongs to both sides), stands in the way, 

 and demands that progress shall be in a cir- 

 cle. But it is orthodox dogmatism which, on 

 this subject, is most obstructive of progress ; 

 and it therefore requires to be startled, if 

 not stunned, into the perception of its phil- 

 osophically defenseless and helpless con- 

 dition, so as to make it see a new light, and 

 accept the offer of more effective weapons. 

 Kant confessed that the skepticism of Hume 

 broke the dogmatic slumbers which he was 

 indulging on the iron bed of the Leibnitzo- 

 Wolfian philosophy, and thus quickened the 

 world afresh into thought. Evolution is 

 surely destined to perform the same office 

 more healthfully for the complacent slum- 

 berers of this age, whether physical, meta- 

 physical, or theological slumberers. To 

 make a small contribution toward this re- 

 sult, is the object of this monograph. 



" There are many who are crying, ' Peace, 

 peace ! ' where there is no peace ; and they 

 are healing their theological hurt slightly 

 daubing with untempered mortar. They 

 bless their superannuated philosophy with 

 the wild belief that Evolution is becoming 

 exhausted going off into a decline, and that 

 it will soon die of inanition. On the con- 

 trary, it is like the mountain-stream, making 

 fresh acquisitions, and increasing in strength 

 and volume as it rolls ; and must continue 

 so to do till it is lost in the ocean. Evolu- 

 tion is now made the foundation of religious 

 rationalism in England and America ; and 

 the best foundation it has ever had one 

 which can easily be exhibited to the com- 



