320 SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT. 



genetic aspect, which have since become familiar, were 

 very ably stated by scientific as well as by popular 

 writers. Earlier anticipations of the genetic view were 

 recalled, the historical sketch given in Lyell's ' Prin- 

 ciples ' was supplemented by reference to many great and 

 many forgotten authorities, who in more or less distinct 

 terms had given expression to their belief in a gradual 

 development of the existing forms and phenomena of 

 nature out of simpler beginnings, which they described 

 with more or less precision. It cannot be denied that 

 the enormous literature which accumulated during the 

 ten years following the publication of this book unsettled 

 25. the popular mind in this country, and prepared it for 

 influence, a really able, dispassionate, and exhaustive exposition of 

 the whole subject, and especially of the crucial problem 

 to which it was narrowed down, the question regard- 

 ing the fixity or variability, the historical origin and 

 development or the sudden creation and persistence, of 

 animal and vegetable species. The genesis of the cosmos 

 as suggested by Laplace, the geological history of our 

 earth as worked out by Lyell, the fact of organic growth 

 and development as given by embryology, seemed clear 



(see ' Life of Darwin, 'vol. i. p. 333), in thus preparing the ground for 



gave probably the fairest verdict on the reception of analogous views " 



the book in the historical preface ('Origin of Species,' 6th ed., 1872, 



to the later editions of his own p. xvii). In a history of European 



great work, where he says : " The thought it is well to mention that 



work, from its powerful and bril- the ' Vestiges ' had no influence on 



liant style, though displaying in the | the Continent, for reasons partially 



earlier editions little accurate know- j stated in the text. A little later, 



ledge and a great want of scientific ; however, a similar " scandale " (as 



caution, immediately had a very I the ' Grande Encyclopedic ' has it 



wide circulation. In my opinion, art. "R. Chambers and L. Buchner") 



it has done excellent service in this arose in Germany on the publication 



country in calling attention to the of ' Kraft und Stoff.' 

 subject, in removing prejudice, and 



