THE PHENOMENA OF ORGANIC NATURE. 151 



And if in course of time I see good reasons for such a 

 proceeding, I shall have no hesitation in coming before 

 you, and pointing out any change in my opinion without 

 finding the slightest occasion to blush for so doing. So 

 I say that we accept this view as we accept any other, 

 so long as it will help us, and we feel bound to retain it 

 only so long as it will serve our great purpose — the 

 improvement of Man's estate and the widening of his 

 knowledge. The moment this, or any other conception, 

 ceases to be useful for these purposes, away with it to 

 the four winds ; we care not what becomes of it ! 



But to say truth, although it has been my business 

 to attend closelv to the controversies roused bv the 

 publication of Mr. Darwin's book, I think that not one 

 of the enormous mass of objections and obstacles which 

 have been raised is of any very great value, except that 

 sterility case which I brought before you just now. All 

 the rest are misunderstandings of some sort, arising 

 either from prejudice, or want of knowledge, or still 

 •more from want of patience and care in reading the 

 work. 



For you must recollect that it is not a book to be 

 read, with as much ease, as its pleasant style may lead 

 you to imagine. You spin through it as if it were a 

 novel the first time you read it, and think you know all 

 about it ; the second time you read it you think you 

 know rather less about it ; and the third time, you are 

 amazed to find how little you have really apprehended its 

 vast scope and objects. I can positively say that I never 

 take it up without finding in it some new view, or light, 

 or suggestion that I have not noticed before. That is 

 the best characteristic of a thorough and profound book ; 



