A HISTORY OF SCIENCE 



1844, and which passed through numerous editions, 

 and was the subject of no end of abusive and derisive 

 comment. This book, the authorship of which re- 

 mained for forty years a secret, is now conceded to have 

 been the work of Robert Chambers, the well-known 

 English author and publisher. The book itself is re- 

 markable as being an avowed and unequivocal expo- 

 sition of a general doctrine of evolution, its view being 

 as radical and comprehensive as that of Lamarck him- 

 self. But it was a resume of earlier efforts rather than 

 a new departure, to say nothing of its technical short- 

 comings, which may best be illustrated by a quota- 

 tion. 



" The whole question," says Chambers, " stands thus : 

 For the theory of universal order that is, order as pre- 

 siding in both the origin and administration of the 

 world we have the testimony of a vast number of 

 facts in nature, and this one in addition that whatever 

 is left from the domain of ignorance, and made undoubt- 

 ed matter of science, forms a new support to the same 

 doctrine. The opposite view, once predominant, has 

 been shrinking for ages into lesser space, and now 

 maintains a footing only in a few departments of nature 

 which happen to be less liable than others to a clear in- 

 vestigation. The chief of these, if not almost the only 

 one, is the origin of the organic kingdoms. So long as 

 this remains obscure, the supernatural will have a cer- 

 tain hold upon enlightened persons. Should it ever 

 be cleared up in a way that leaves no doubt of a natural 

 origin of plants and animals, there must be a complete 

 revolution in the view which is generally taken of the 

 relation of the Father of our being. 



162 



