356 THE president's address. 



to Col. Munro's monograpli on the Bambusidae, and Mr. Baker's 

 Synopsis Filicum from the papers of Sir W. J. Hooker. 



Here he took occasion to remark on the extent to which the combi- 

 nation of species hitherto accounted distinct is carried by these writers, 

 and he conceived that if sub-division has often been carried too far, there 

 is at present a little danger of error in the opposite direction. 



A paragraph relating to the Darwinian hypothesis, it is thought proper 

 to give at length. 



In the whole field of Natural History, the controversy respecting 

 Darwinianism is still occupying much attention. The new view is 

 defended by several able men of known scientific eminence, whilst 

 those who resist it lie under the disadvantage of being supposed to be 

 influenced more by prejudice than reason. Yet in the sober English 

 mind it cannot be said that the Darwinians gain a rapid or easy victory, 

 and it is quite possible now that even if they cause some change in 

 public opinion, they may by no means secure the prevalence of their 

 own views. There are many minds to which any new doctrine, boldly 

 maintained and pertinaciously urged, seems irresistible. Novelty alone 

 is a strong recommendation, and there is an exceeding pleasure in being 

 carried on by an advancing wave, and seeming to be among the fore- 

 most in progressive improvement. It is all very well if the advance is 

 real, but this experience only can test, and history shows us abundant 

 examples of doctrines which have triumphed for a short period, only to 

 pass speedily to the vault of oblivion. Novelty in opinion is neither 

 a recommendation nor an objection. There is far too much yet to be 

 done in the vast fields of knowledge, for it to be admitted as a sign of 

 error. There are too many examples continually occurring of ingenious 

 speculation, unsupported by sufl&cient evidence, for it to rank as a pre- 

 sumption of truth. A restless grasping after novelty is a serious fault ; 

 setting it up as a bar against the examination of evidence is certainly 

 not a less injurious one. If we may implicitly believe a statement in 

 the new periodical devoted to natural science, Nature, whilst the 

 English are still discussing the possibility of Darwinianism being true, 

 the Germans have so thoroughly adopted it that it has become the 

 foundation for new systems — the starting point for fresh inquiries. 

 This may appear to most of us to be going somewhat too fast; but then 

 Nature may be presumed to be the special organ of the extreme Dar- 

 winians, and might be thought to see facts through a somewhat colored 

 medium j and supposing that there is no exaggeration in the statement, 



