Rev. S. Haughton on the Origin of Species. 423 



preceding. Natural religion, however, would appear to consider 

 herself entitled to her miracles, as well as revealed religion. 



V. Organic Forms, acquired under the presiding influence of ex- 

 ternal circumstances, are transmitted by Generation. This law in- 

 volves the famous Law of Natural Selection, attributed within 

 the last few months to Mr. Darwin. 



VI. By the concurrence of the preceding Laws, of a long lapse of 

 time, and an almost inconceivable diversity of surrounding circum- 

 stances, all Species have been formed in succession. Lamarck^s 

 theory is essentially one of progression, and is totally opposed 

 to that of BuflFon, which is one of degradation : yet it is 

 remarkable that they both rest upon the same foundation — the 

 assumed non-reality of species. Like his successors in the Pro- 

 gression theor}', Lamarck spent his life in the establishment of 

 the reality of species ; and it is a humiliating reflection, that, at 

 the close of it, he believed himself to have lived under a delusion. 

 Let us hear his confession : — 



" J^ai long-temps pense qu^il y avait des Especes constantes 

 dans la nature, et qu'elles etoient constituees par les individus 

 qui appartiennent a chacune d'elles. Maintenant je suis con- 

 vaincu que j^etois dans I'erreur a cet egard, et qu^il n'y a reelle- 

 ment dans la nature que des individus." 



What must we think of the principles that guide the specula- 

 tions of naturalists, when we find minds like those of Buffon and 

 Lamarck drawing opposite conclusions from the same premises ? 

 It matters little in this question whether the premises be true 

 or false, whether species be truly distinct or not ; our surprise 

 at the logic of the naturalists is natural, and must border on a 

 courteous contempt. 



The English revival of Lamarckianism, or " Progress in 

 Organic Life," by Mr. Darwin, involves no idea in advance of 

 those contained in Lamarck's six laws, but gives a greater pro- 

 minence to the law of Continuation of Peculiarities by Genera- 

 tion, by the assertion that such peculiarities, and such only, as 

 are useful to the creature, in its struggle for existence, will 

 become hereditary — the reason being, that animals provided with 

 such peculiarities will have the advantage in the battle of life 

 over their fellows in the competition for food, females, and other 

 necessaries for the preservation of the individual and species. 

 This notable argument is borrowed from Malthus's doctrine of 

 population, and will, no doubt, find acceptance with those 

 political economists and pseudo-philosophers who reduce all the 

 laws of action and human thought habitually to the lowest and 

 most sordid motives. It is dignified with the title of a Law of 

 Nature, called the Law of Natural Selection, and forms the only 

 bond fide addition made by Darwin to Lamarck's famous 



