Charles Robert Darwin. 51 



ed but little piiblic attention at the time ; but in 1849, on the oc- 

 casion of the translation of the "Vestiges t»f the Natural History 

 of Creation," by Dr. T. II. van der Brock, professor of Clieinistry 

 at the military medical college in Utrecht, tlie subject of evolution 

 received a new impetus — Professors G. T. Mulder, F. C. Bonders 

 and P. Ilarting, among others, recognizing the light whicli tlie 

 theory of (U'\elopment throws upon creation. Other eminent 

 sclu)lars, including Professor Emil Selenka, of Leiden, and his 

 successor. Professor C. K. Hoffmann, later gave in their adhesion 

 to the doctrine, which, I'rofessor van der Weyde says, is now gen- 

 erally accepted among scientilic scholars, and the liberal think 

 ers of the Reformed Church, in the Netherlands. 



Darwin rc]>lied briefly and cordially to the letter of the Dutch 

 savants, expressing liis obligation for the interesting history con- 

 tained in ir, all of which was quite new to him. 



