54 



NATURE 



[Nov. 17, 1887 



before Mr. Murray was at perfect liberty to advocate his views 

 in the proper place, before a scientific body. 



But the challenge of Prof. Huxley has brought to my l;now- 

 ledge a new bit of circumstantial evidence to the same effect, 

 which is highly significant. Among the investigators of the 

 Pacific corals no man has done better work than Dr. Gappy, 

 Surgeon of H.M. S. Lark. Since my article was written, his 

 volumes on the Solomon Group of islands have been published. 

 The geological volume is an admirable memoir. It is the record of 

 observations as patient, detailed, and conscientious as have ever 

 been made on the great geological problem which is at issue. 

 After his return home he was advised by Mr. Murray to offer a 

 paper on his researches to the Geological Society of London. 

 He did so in the spring of 1885. But his paper was refused — 

 much to Dr. Guppy's disappointment. It was not orthodox. 

 His facts effectually removed some difficulties in the way of Mr. 

 Murray's theory — facts which in more than a corresponding 

 degree were adverse to the theory of Darwin. As a consequence 

 the Royal Society of Edinbu -gh has had the honour of receiving 

 and publishing Dr. Guppy's most interesting memoir. As a 

 Scotchman I am proud of this contrast, I make no accusation 

 of wilful unfairness against the authorities of the Geological 

 Society of London, of which my critic Prof. Bonney was, I 

 believe, at that time the President. They did not consciously 

 discourage truth. On the contrary, they probably smelt heresy. 

 But if their minds had been free from this prepossession — if they 

 had been alive to the breadth and sweep of the questions at 

 issue, and open to receive with welcome the crucial evidence 

 bearing upon them which is contained in Dr. Guppy's paper — the 

 •rejection of it would have been impossible. 



As regards Darwin's own state of mind upon the subject, I 

 can only say that my information was as good as that in the 

 possession of Prof. Huxley. I am not struck by the perfect 

 candour of his reference to Darwin's letter to Prof. Semper in 

 October 1879. If he had quoted the very next sentence to that 

 which he does quote, a very different impression would have 

 been left on the reader's mind. But I attach no importance to 

 this point. I prefer to believe that Darwin's mind was open to 

 conviction, and to hope that others will follow his example. 



Argyll. 



The Theories of the Origin of Coral Reefs and Islands. 



I WAS pleased to see Prof. Bonney's article on the Duke of 

 Argyll's strictures on scientific men (" A Conspiracy of Silence," 

 Nature, November 10, p. 25). It is to be hoped that the 

 rhetoric and methods of Parliamentary debate will not become 

 common in scientific controversy. The Duke is, however, not 

 the first who has tried to show "that if Darwin had lived he 

 would with his well-known candour have been the first to admit 

 the truth of Murray's theory," &c., &c. This I submit is a 

 species of rhetoric which is out of place in scientific discussion. 



It so happens that shortly after the appearance of Mr. Murray's 

 paper " On the Structure and Origin of Coral Reefs and Islands," 

 in Nature, August 12, 1880 (p. 351), I had occasion to write 

 to Dr. Darwin, and in my letter the following passage occurs, 

 which I only quote to make Darwin's answer intelligible :— 



^^ September 21, 1880. 



" I think the theory Mr. Murray sets forth— that the cones or 

 peaks, on which he considers atolls have been formed, have 

 been levelled up by pelagic deposits, and thus brought within 

 the limits of reef-building coral growth— a very far-fetched 

 idea." 



To which Darwin with his usual acumen replies : — 



^^ Becketiham, September 22., 1880. 



"I am not a fair judge, but I agree with you exactly that 

 Murray's view is far-fetched. It is astonishing that there should 

 be rapid dissolution of carbonate of lime at great depths and 



near the surface, but not at intermediate depths where he place^ 

 his mountain peaks. 



"Dear Sir, yours faithfully, 



" Ch. Darwin." 



As so far there appears to have been no written expression 

 of Darwin's views published, this quotation may be of value. 



T. Mellard Reade. 

 Park Corner, Blundellsands, November il. 



Earthquake at the Bahamas. 



I am instructed by the Meteorological Council to inclose 

 copies of reports from the Resident Justice and Light-keepers of 

 Inagua, Bahamas, relating to an earthquake on September 23 

 last, which you may think worthy of a place in Nature. 



Robert H. Scott, 

 Meteorological Office, Secretary. 



116 Victoria Street, London, S.W. 

 November 11. 



The Resident Justice at Inagua to the Colonial Secretary, Nassau. 

 In re Earthquake at Inagua. 



Resident Justice' s Office, Inagua, 



September 27, 1887. 



I have to report that this island was visited by a severe shock 

 of earthquake at 7 a.m. of the 23rd instant ; the effect on the 

 light lower, the keeper reports, was terrific, two nuts on the 

 iron stauncheon of the smoke-stack were broken, and several 

 cylinders. A portion of the stone wall around the Residency, 

 and other private property, were thrown down in Mathew 

 Town. 



At 8. 10 p.m. another shock was felt, no damage at the town- 

 ship ; at the light station the cylinder on the lamp was broken, 

 and the keepers were compelled to extinguish the light to 

 prevent conflagration. A new cylinder having been placed in 

 position, the light was again lit in about six or eight minutes 

 after the accident. 



At midnight another shock was felt, and the light-keeper 

 reported next morning several cracks in mortar inside of the 

 light tower ; the light continued good. 



Since the 23rd instant several light shocks have been felt, 

 which keeps the people in a state of alarm. 



We have had no arrival from Hayti and neighbouring islands, 

 and it is feared that some of them have greatly suffered. 



(Signed) G. R. McGregor, 



Res id en t Justice. 



The Hon. Robt. Butler, Acting Colonial Secretary. 



Principal and Assistant Light- keepers, Inagua, to the Inspector 

 of Lighthouses, Nassau. 



Inagua Light Station, 



Septcfiiber 2<), 1887. 



Sir, — I beg most respectfully to report for your information 

 that this station and island was visited by several severe shocks 

 of earthquakes on the 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 26th instants. The 

 shock on the former date was felt at 7 a.m., which shook the 

 tower and dwelling severely. Two nuts forming a part of 

 fastening of iron rods in the upper part of lantern supporting 

 upper barrel and smoke-pipe were wrenched off and smashed 

 several cylinders. 



The second shock, at 8.10 p.m., shook the tower very much, 

 and smashed the cylinder on lamp. The light was then extin- 

 guished to prevent fire, which last about eight minutes {sic], 

 when the light was again exhibited and kept burning bright and 

 clear until daylight. There was another shock felt during the 

 night, but not so severe, I noticed several cracks on the walls 

 in the tower, which may be the mortar only. The latest shock 

 was on the morning of the 26th at 1.3. 



I am glad to say that the lamp and machinery are in good 

 working order, but there will be slight repairs required. 



The latest shock felt was at midnight of the 27th. 



I also inclose the head of nut, the length of which is seven- 

 eighths of an inch on inside. 



I have, &c., 

 (Signed) Byron N. Jones, 

 Principal ; 



The Inspector of Lighthouses. 



Cornelius S. E. Lotman, 

 Assistant. 



