534 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



tions or anticipations of his doctrines may be found in the writings of 

 his predecessors ; the broad fact remains that since the publication, 

 and by reason of the publication, of the " Origin of Species," the fun- 

 damental conceptions and the aims of the students of living Nature 

 have been completely changed. From that work has sprung a great 

 renewal, a true " instauratio magna " of the zoological and botanical 

 sciences. 



But the impulse thus given to scientific thought rapidly spread be- 

 yond the ordinarily recognized limits of biology. Psychology, Ethics, 

 Cosmology were stirred to their foundations, and the " Origin of Spe- 

 cies " proved itself to be the fixed point which the general doctrine of 

 evolution needed in order to move the woild. " Darwinism," in one 

 form or another, sometimes strangely distorted and mutilated, became 

 an every-day topic of men's speech, the object of an abundance both 

 of vituperation and of praise, more often than of serious study. 



It is curious now to remember how largely, at first, the objectors 

 predominated ; but, considering the usual fate of new views, it is still 

 more curious to consider for how short a time the phase of vehement 

 opposition lasted. Before twenty years had passed, not only had the 

 importance of Mr. Darwin's work been fully recognized, but the world 

 had discerned the simple, earnest, generous character of the man that 

 shone through every page of his writings. 



I imagine that reflections such as these swept through the minds 

 alike of loving friends and of honorable antagonists when Mr. Darwin 

 died ; and that they were at one in the desire to honor the memory 

 of the man w r ho, without fear and without reproach, had successfully 

 fought the hardest intellectual battle of these days. 



It was in satisfaction of these just and generous impulses that our 

 great naturalist's remains were deposited in Westminster Abbey ; and 

 that, immediately afterward, a public meeting, presided over by my 

 lamented predecessor, Mr. Spottiswoode, was held in the rooms of the 

 Royal Society, for the purpose of considering what further steps should 

 be taken toward the same end. . 



It was resolved to invite subscriptions, with the view of erecting 

 a statue of Mr. Darwin in some suitable locality ; and to devote any 

 surplus to the advancement of the biological sciences. 



Contributions at once flowed in from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, 

 Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Rus- 

 sia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the British 

 colonies, no less than from all parts of the three kingdoms ; and they 

 came from all classes of the community. To mention one interesting 

 case, Sweden sent in 2,296 subscriptions " from all sorts of people," 

 as the distinguished man of science who transmitted them wrote, 

 " from the bishop to the seamstress, and in sums from five pounds to 

 two pence." 



The Executive Committee has thus been enabled to carry out the 



