1 10 PIONEERS OF E VOL UTION PART 



mined by uniform laws, themselves the expression 

 of Divine power. Organisms, ' from the simplest 

 and oldest, up to the highest and most recent,' were 

 the result of an ' inherent impulse imparted by the 

 Almighty both to advance them from the several 

 grades and modify their structure as circumstances 

 required.' Although now referred to only as ' mark- 

 ing time ' in the history of the theory of Evolu- 

 tion, the book created a sensation which died away 

 some years after its publication. Darwin remarks 

 upon it in his ' Historical Sketch ' that although 

 displaying 'in the earlier editions little accurate 

 knowledge and a great want of scientific knowledge, 

 it did excellent service in this country in calling 

 attention to the subject, in removing prejudice, and 

 in thus preparing the ground for the reception of 

 analogous views.' 



Three years after the Vestiges, there was, although 

 none then knew it, or knowing the fact, would have 

 admitted it, more 'sapping of the foundations' of 

 orthodox belief, when M. Boucher de Perthes ex- 

 hibited some rudely-shaped flint implements which 

 had been found at intervals in hitherto undisturbed 

 deposits of sand and gravel old river beds in the 

 Somme valley, near Abbeville, in Picardy. For these 

 rough stone tools and weapons, being of human 

 workmanship, evidenced the existence of savage 

 races of men in Europe in a dim and dateless past, 

 and went far to refute the theories of his paradisaical 

 state on that memorable '23 October 4004 B.C./ 

 when, according to Dr. Lightfoot's reckoning (see 

 p. 95), Adam was created. While the pickaxe, in 

 disturbing flint knives and spearheads, that had lain 



