Evolution audits Consequences 95 



misrepresents my statement in my book, and attributes to me 

 an absurdity which is not in it, but which is distinctly 

 pointed out and repudiated in thje Quarterly Review. In the 

 second place, he accuses me of neglecting a remark made 

 by Mr. Darwin, which remark is not only referred to, but 

 actually quoted in the same review. 



First, with regard to Mr. Darwin. In this matter Pro- 

 fessor Huxley accuses me of charging that gentleman ' with 

 being ignorant of the distinction between material and 

 formal goodness,' though Mr. Darwin himself ' discusses the 

 very question at issue in a passage well worth reading, and 

 also comes to a conclusion opposed to Mr. Mivart's axiom.' 

 As I have said, this passage is not only referred to but 

 actually quoted in the Quarterly Review. In that passage, 

 however, Mr. Darwin, though he notices, gives no evidence of 

 fully understanding my distinction, nor, though he notices an 

 objection, does he meet the difficulty in the least. Professor 

 Huxley seems to think that because Mr. Darwin has referred 

 to an objection, that that objection has thereby lost its force. 

 The objection, however, has not been refuted either by Mr. 

 Darwin or Professor Huxley, and hence it becomes probable 

 that, as I am convinced is the case, it cannot he refuted. 



We will turn now to the more serious misrepresentation 

 of which I have to complain. My critic exhibits me as com- 

 mitting the absurdity of maintaining that no act can be 

 ' good ' unless it is done with deUberate and actual advertence 

 in every instance — as if I thought that a man must stand 

 stiU, consider and reflect in each case in order to perform a 

 meritorious action. He also implies that I am so unreason- 

 able as to deny 'merit' to actions done unreflectingly and 

 spontaneously from the love of God or one's' neighbour. 



What I assert, however, is, that for an act to be 'good' it 

 must be really directed by the doer to a good end, either 

 actually or virtually. The idea of good, which he has in the 



