Influence of the " Principles of Geology " 381 



acknowledge this sufficiently 1 ." Darwin's own most favourite book, 

 the Narrative of the Voyage, was dedicated to Lyell in glowing 

 terms; and in the Origin of Species he wrote of "Lyell's grand work 

 on the Principles of Geology, which the future historian will recognise 

 as having produced a revolution in Natural Science." " What glorious 

 good that work has done " he fervently exclaims on another occasion 2 . 

 To the very end of his life, as all who were in the habit of talking 

 with Darwin can testify, this sense of his indebtedness to Lyell 

 remained with him. In his Autobiography, written in 1876, the 

 year after Lyell's death, he spoke in the warmest terms of the value 

 to him of the Principles while on the voyage and of the aid afforded 

 to him by Lyell on his return to England 3 . But the year before his 

 own death, Darwin felt constrained to return to the subject and to 

 place on record a final appreciation — one as honourable to the writer 

 as it is to his lost friend : 



"I saw more of Lyell than of any other man, both before and 

 after my marriage. His mind was characterised, as it appeared to 

 me, by clearness, caution, sound judgment, and a good deal of 

 originality. When I made any remark to him on Geology, he never 

 rested until he saw the whole case clearly, and often made me see it 

 more clearly than I had done before. He would advance all possible 

 objections to my suggestion, and even after these were exhausted 

 would remain long dubious. A second characteristic was his hearty 

 sympathy with the work of other scientific men.. . .His delight in science 

 was ardent, and he felt the keenest interest in the future progress of 

 mankind. He was very kind-hearted. . . .His candour was highly remark- 

 able. He exhibited this by becoming a convert to the Descent theory, 

 though he had gained much fame by opposing Lamarck's views, and 

 this after he had grown old." 



"The science of Geology is enormously indebted to Lyell — more 

 so, as I believe, than to any other man who ever lived*." 



Those who knew Lyell intimately will recognise the truth of the 

 portrait drawn by his dearest friend, and I believe that posterity 

 will endorse Darwin's deliberate verdict concerning the value of his 

 labours. 



It was my own good fortune, to be brought into close contact 

 with these two great men during the later years of their life, 

 and I may perhaps be permitted to put on record the impressions 

 made upon me during friendly intercourse with both. 



In some respects, there was an extraordinary resemblance in 

 their modes and habits of thought, between Lyell and Darwin ; and 

 this likeness was also seen in their modesty, their deference to the 



1 M. L. ii. p. 117. 2 L. L. i. p. 342. 



a L. L. i. p. 62. 4 L. L. i. pp. 71 — 2 (the italics are mine). 



