2l6 DARWIN. 



infidelity. We may, in part, excuse the author for 

 preserving the somewhat invalorous incognito, when 

 we read in the North British Review : " Prophetic 

 of infidel times, and indicating the unsoundness 

 of our general education, the Vestiges has started 

 into public favour with a fair chance of poisoning 

 the fountains of science, and sapping the founda- 

 tions of religion." The great sensation which this 

 book caused, and its rapid sale, through ten edi- 

 tions in nine years, is proof that the truth of 

 Evolution was ready to burst forth like a volcano, 

 and that the times were ready for Darwin. The 

 volume was the strongest presentation of the scien- 

 tific evidences for Cosmic Evolution versus Special 

 Creation which had appeared. We find that the 

 author begins with the solar system ; his middle 

 point is the origin of life from inorganic matter, 

 and his final point is man as last in the develop- 

 ment of the animal kingdom. Of man's origin, 

 he says : 



" But the idea that any of the lower animals have been con- 

 cerned in any way in the origin of man is not this degrading? 

 Degrading is a term expressive of a notion of the human mind, 

 and the human mind is liable to prejudices which prevent its 

 notions from being invariably correct. ... It has pleased Provi- 

 dence to arrange that one species should give birth to another, 

 until the second highest gave birth to man, who is the very high- 

 est : be it so, it is our part to admire and to submit." 



The work shows the author's familiarity with 

 Buffon, Erasmus Darwin, Lamarck, St. Hilaire, 



