CHAMBERS. 2 1 5 



out-and-out evolutionists before the publication of 

 the Origin of Species. In his articles, " Illogical 

 Geology " ^ and " The Development Hypothesis," 

 he strongly contrasts the difficulties of the Special 

 Creation hypothesis with the arguments for devel- 

 opment. He does not enter into the question of 

 the factors of Evolution, although such passages as 

 the following might be interpreted as showing his 

 inclination to Buffon's theory: "... Any exist- 

 ing species, animal or vegetable, when placed under 

 conditions different from its previous ones, imme- 

 diately begins to undergo certain changes of struct- 

 ure fitting it for the new conditions. . . . There is 

 at work a modifying influence of the kind they 

 assign as the cause of these specific differences." 



The Progressionists,- 



The Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation 

 appeared in England, in 1844, — the only volume 

 wholly devoted to Evolution between the Philoso- 

 phie Zoologique, and the Origin of Species. It was 

 published anonymously, but is now attributed to 

 Robert Chambers ( i 802-1 87 i), because of his lib- 

 eral views and considerable knowledge of Geology ; 

 yet he never acknowledged the authorship which 

 still remains unclaimed. Although intelligently anc 

 reverently written, it met a scathing reception froi 

 the reviewers upon the score of false science ai 



1 These articles were republished in 1865, in an American editior 

 .Spencer's Essays, entitled, " Illustrations of Universal Progress." 



