SCIENCE AND PSEUDO-SCIENCE. 223 



ror or the Revolt. In fact, the scientific world laughs most indeco- 

 rously at the notion of the existence of either ; and some are so lost to 

 the sense of the scientific dignity, that they descend to the use of 

 transatlantic slang, and call it a "bogus scare." As to my friend Mr. 

 Herbert Spencer, I have every reason to know that, in the " Factors 

 of Organic Evolution," he has said exactly what was in his mind, with- 

 out any particular deference to the opinions of the person whom he is 

 pleased to regard as his most dangerous critic and devil's advocate- 

 general, and still less of any one else. 



I do not know whether the Duke of Argyll pictures himself as the 

 Tallien of this imaginary revolt against a no less imaginary Reign of 

 Terror. But if so, I most respectfully but firmly decline to join his 

 forces. It is only a few weeks since I happened to read over again 

 the first article which I ever wrote (now twenty-seven years ago) on 

 the " Origin of Species," and I found nothing that I wished to modify 

 in the opinions that are there expressed, though the subsequent vast 

 accumulation of evidence in favor of Mr. Darwin's views would give 

 me much to add. As is the case with all new doctrines, so with that 

 of evolution, the enthusiasm of advocates has sometimes tended to 

 degenerate into fanaticism, and mere speculation has, at times, threat- 

 ened to shoot beyond its legitimate bounds. I have occasionally 

 thought it wise to warn the more adventurous spirits among us 

 against these dangers, in sufficiently plain language ; and I have 

 sometimes jestingly said that I expected, if I lived long enough, to 

 be looked on as a reactionary by some of my more ardent friends. 

 But nothing short of midsummer madness can account for the fiction 

 that I am waiting till it is safe to join openly a revolt, hatched by 

 some person or persons unknown, against an intellectual movement 

 with which I am in the most entire and hearty sympathy. It is a 

 great many years since, at the outset of my career, I had to think seri- 

 ously what life had to offer that was worth having. I came to the 

 conclusion that the chief good, for me, was freedom to learn, think, 

 and say what I pleased, when I pleased. I have acted on that convic- 

 tion, and have availed myself of the " rara temporum felicitas ubi sen- 

 tire qua? velis, et quae sentias dicere licet," which is now enjoyable, to 

 the best of my ability ; and though strongly, and perhaps wisely, 

 warned that I should, probably come to grief, I am entirely satisfied 

 with the results of the line of action I have adopted. 



My career is at an end 



I have warmed both hands at the fire of life ; 



and nothing is left me, before I depart, but to help, or at any rate to 

 abstain from hindering, the younger generation of men of science in 

 doing better service to the cause we have at heart, than I have been 

 able to render. 



And yet, forsooth, I am supposed to be waiting for the signal of 

 revolt," which some fiery spirits among these young men are to raise 



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