4 THE GENESIS OF SPECIES. [CHAP. 



It cannot but be a gain when the labourers in the three 

 fields above mentioned, namely, science, philosophy and 

 religion, shall fully recognize this harmony. Then the 

 energy too often spent in futile controversy, or withheld 

 through prejudice, may be profitably and reciprocally 

 exercised for the mutual benefit of all. 



Eemarkable is the rapidity with which an interest in 

 the question of specific origination has spread. But a 

 few years ago it scarcely occupied the minds of any but 

 naturalists. Then the crude theory put forth by Lamarck, 

 and by his English interpreter, the author of the " Vestiges 

 of Creation," had rather discredited than helped on a belief 

 in organic evolution a belief, that is, in new kinds being 

 produced from older ones by the ordinary and constant 

 operation of natural laws. Now, however, this notion is 

 widely diffused. Indeed, there are few drawing-rooms 

 where it is not the subject of occasional discussion, and 

 artisans and schoolboys have their views as to the per- 

 manence of organic forms. Moreover, the reception of 

 this doctrine tends actually, though by no means neces- 

 sarily, to be accompanied by certain beliefs with regard 

 to quite distinct and very momentous subject-matter. So 

 that the question of the " Genesis of Species " is not only 

 one of great interest, but also of much consequence. 



But though the calm and thorough consideration of this 

 matter is at the present moment exceedingly desirable, yet 

 the actual importance of the question itself as to its con- 

 sequences in the domain of theology has been strangely 

 exaggerated by many, both of its opponents and sup- 

 porters. This is especially the case with that form of 

 the evolution theory which is associated with the name 

 of Mr. Darwin; and yet neither the refutation nor the 



