No. 1.] THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES. 9 



grounds be members and contributors to its funds, merely as a 

 public institute, creditable and useful to the city. But this is 

 not all : they should also take an interest in its work. Nearly 

 all the subjects which engage its attention possess some interest 

 to any intelligent mind ; and I believe that it is much more from 

 want of knowledae of that which we are doino', or from want of 

 thought, than from any other causes, that so many fail to take 

 advantage of the privileges which we offer. I am sure that there 

 is no intellio'ent man who will not find in the advantao-es to which 

 I have referred much more than an equivalent for his annual, 

 subscription. Experience has, however, shown us that we cannot 

 reckon on a work so unobtrusive as ours securing the attention it 

 deserves. It will, therefore, be incumbent on the new Council to 

 take steps as soon as possible for enlarging our membership by a 

 direct appeal to the public. I trust that this will be successful, 

 and that next year we shall be able to report that we have not 

 only done useful work, but that our list of members has been 

 greatly enlarged. 



THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES.^ 



(^From the New York " Kation.") 



The author of the '' Origin of Species " is more widely known, 

 more eagerly read, more cordially admired, and more emphatically 

 denounced than any other scientific man of the day. The inte- 

 rest in him is in great measure due to the natural desire of 

 humanity to penetrate that " mystery of mysteries " — its origin ; 

 encomiums which even his warmest opponents (excepting those 

 who are filled with the odium theologicuni) have bestowed upon 

 him, are just tributes to his long and faithful labours, and to the 

 modesty which has compelled others to award to him some of the 

 credit he seemed loth to claim ; but much, if not all, of the in- 

 dignation which many good persons feel towards him arises from 

 misconceptions of his ideas respecting the Creator, which have 



* " The Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, By 

 Charles Darwin, F. K. S." Fifth edition. (Am. reprint.) New York : 

 D. Appleton & Co. 1871. Pp. 447, 8vo. 



" The Genesis of Species. By St. George Mivart, F.R.S." London 

 and New York ; Macraillan & Co. 1871. Pp. 296 (with illustrations). 



