The Darwin Medal 109 



" I ani as much convinced now as I was thirty-four years ago 

 that the theory propounded by Mr. Darwin, I mean that which 

 he propounded — not that which has been reported to be his by 

 too many ill-instructed, both friends and foes — has never yet 

 been shewn to be inconsistent with any positive observations, 

 and if I may use a phrase which I know has been objected to, 

 and which I use in a totally different sense from that in which 

 it was first proposed by its first propounder, I do believe that 

 on all grounds of pure science it ' holds the field ' as the only 

 hypothesis at present before us which has a sound scientific 

 foundation. ... I am sincere!}' of opinion that the views 

 which were propounded by Mr. Darwin thirty-four 5"ears ago 

 may be understood hereafter as constituting an epoch in the 

 intellectual history of the human race. They will modify the 

 whole system of our thought and opinion, our most intimate 

 conv ictions. But I do not know, I do not think anybody 

 knows, whether the particular views he held will be hereafter 

 fortified by the experience of the ages which come after us. 



. . Whether the particular form in which he has put be- 

 fore us the Darwinian doctrines may be such as to be destined 

 to survive or not, is more, I venture to think, than anybody is 

 capable at this present moment of saying." 



Further details of Huxlej^'s relation to nattiral selec- 

 tion may be gained from an interesting chapter in Pro- 

 fessor Potilton's volume on Charles Darwin (Cassell 

 and Co., London, 1896). 



