THE LAW OF EVOLUTION 



difficulties and discouragements amid which 

 Newton approached his task, destitute as he 

 was alike of modern methods of measurement 

 and of the resources of modern analysis, im- 

 press upon us still more forcibly the wonderful 

 character of the achievement ; it must still be 

 claimed that the successful coordination of the 

 myriad-fold phenomena formulated by the Law 

 of Evolution was a gigantic task, requiring the 

 full exertion of mental powers no less extraor- 

 dinary than those required by the other. In 

 an essay published thirteen years ago, youthful 

 enthusiasm led me to speak of Mr. Spencer's 

 labours as comparable to those of Newton both 

 in scope and in importance. More mature re- 

 flection has confirmed this view, and suggests a 

 further comparison between the mental qualities 

 of the two thinkers ; resembling each other as 

 they do, alike in the audacity of speculation 

 which propounds far-reaching hypotheses and 

 in the scientific soberness which patiently veri- 

 fies them ; while the astonishing mathematical 

 genius peculiar to the one is paralleled by the 

 equally unique power of psychologic analysis 

 displayed by the other. As in grandeur of con- 

 ception and relative thoroughness of elaboration, 

 so also in the vastness of its consequences — in 

 the extent of the revolution which it is destined 

 to effect in men's modes of thinking, and in 

 their views of the universe — Mr. Spencer's 

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