DARWIN. 75 



Variation." While still adhering on the whole to the 

 origin of species from single parents, or from one pair, 

 and the permanence of specific characters, he insists 

 that species vary more, and are more widely distributed, 

 than is generally admitted, and that their distribution has 

 been brought about by natural causes. In this essay he 

 makes the following statements : " Mr. Darwin not only 

 directed my earliest studies in the subjects of the distri- 

 bution and variation of species, but has discussed with 

 me all the arguments, and drawn my attention to many 

 of the facts which I have endeavoured to illustrate in this 

 essay. I know of no other way in which I can acknow- 

 ledge the extent of my obligation to him, than by adding 

 that I should never have taken up the subject in its 

 present form but for the advantages I have derived from 

 his friendship and encouragement." 



Appropriately enough, it was through Lyell and 

 Hooker that the new theory was introduced to the public, 

 and it was owing to them that Darwin did not 

 obliterate his own claims to priority, and give them 

 over to Alfred Russel Wallace, who had indepen- 

 dently come to similar conclusions. The letter, dated 

 June 30, 1858, in which the announcement was con- 

 veyed to the Linnean Society, deserves quotation, as 

 being the authoritative and accurate record of the cir- 

 cumstances which launched the "Origin of Species" 

 upon the world : 



"The accompanying papers, which we have the 

 honour of communicating to the Linnean Society, and 

 which all relate to the same subject, viz., ' The Laws 



