CORAL REEFS, AND ISLANDS. 277 



The Duke of Argyll, when controverting the 

 Darwinian theory of subsidence, admits that " the 

 theory of the young naturalist was hailed with ac- 

 clamation. It was a magnificent generalisation. 

 It was soon almost universally accepted with admira- 

 tion and delight. It passed into all popular treatises, 

 and ever since, for the space of nearly half a century, 

 it has maintained its unquestioned place, as one 

 of the great triumphs of reasoning and research. 

 Although its illustrious author has since eclipsed this 

 earliest performance, by theories and generalisations 

 still more attractive, and much further reaching, I 

 have heard eminent men declare, that, if he had done 

 nothing else, his solution of the great problem of the 

 coral islands of the Pacific would have sufficed to 

 place him on the unsubmergeable peaks of science, 

 crowned with an immortal name." 1 



Following immediately upon this concession comes 

 the " great lesson " which the noble Duke deems it 

 to be his mission to teach. "" After an interval of 

 more than five-and-thirty years, the voyage of the 

 Beagle has been followed by the voyage of the 

 Challenger, furnished with all the newest appli- 

 ances of science, and manned by a scientific staff, 

 more than competent to turn them to the best 



1 "A Great Lesson," by the Duke of Argyll, in The Nine- 

 teenth Century -, No. 127. Sept. 1887, p. 300. 



