DARWIN'S DEBT TO LYELL 5 



first note-book begun in 1837, the reading of 

 Malthus and discovery of Natural Selection in 

 October, 1838, the imperfect sketch of 1842, the 

 completed sketch of 1844. 



It is necessary, however, to pause for a brief 

 consideration of the influence of Sir Charles Lyell. 

 Although the writings of the illustrious geologist 

 have always been looked upon as among the 

 chief of the forces brought to bear upon the mind 

 of Darwin, evidence derived from the later 

 volumes of correspondence justifies the belief 

 that the effect was even greater and more signi- 

 ficant than has been supposed. 



Huxley has maintained with great force that 

 the way was paved for Darwin by Ly ell's Principles 

 of Geology far more thoroughly than by any other 

 work. 



' . . . consistent uniformitarianism postulates evolution 

 as much in the organic as in the inorganic world. The 

 origin of a new species by other than natural agencies would 

 be a vastly greater " catastrophe " than any of those which 

 Lyell successfully eliminated from sober geological specula- 

 tion.' 1 



When the first volume of the Principles appeared 

 in 1830, Darwin was advised by Henslow to 

 obtain and study it, ' but on no account to accept 

 the views therein advocated.' Darwin took the 

 volume with him on the voyage, and a study of 

 the very first place at which the Beagle touched, 



1 Life and Letters of Charles Dani'in, edited by Francis Darwin, 

 London, 1887, ii. 190. Hereafter quoted as Life and Letters. 



