114 THE ANTIQUITY OF MAN. 



philological research on the other, have given an exact and scien- 

 tific character to such researches, which, without detracting from ' 

 their interest, has fitted thern to attract a more sustained and sys~ 

 tematic attention ; hence the appearance of such works as those 

 above named. One of these works is the summing up of the geo- 

 logical evidence in relation to the origin of man, by one of our 

 greatest masters of inductive reasoning. The other is the effort 

 of a skilful antiquarian and ethnologist to apply to the explana- 

 tion of the primitive conditions of the old world, the facts derived 

 from the study of the more recent primitive state of the western 

 hemisphere. Both books are very valuable. Their methods are 

 quite different, and their results as well ; and it may be truly said 

 that the geologist might have profited by the labours of the west- 

 ern antiquarian, had he known of them in time ; and that the anti- 

 quarian might have found some new problems to solve, and diffi- 

 culties to remove, had he read the work of the geologist. For 

 this, among other reasons, it may be well to consider them together. 

 It will be necessary for us in doing this to summarize the nu- 

 merous and varied facts adduced, and the reasonings therefrom, 

 and we shall follow the order employed by Sir C. Lyell, bring- 

 ing in Dr. Wilson's antiquarian lore to our aid as we proceed. 



The great question to be noticed in this review is that of the 

 connection of human with geological history. How far back in 

 that almost boundless antiquity disclosed by the geologist has 

 man extended ? At what precise point of the geological scale 

 was he introduced on the mundane stage, and what his surround- 

 ings and condition in his earlier stages ? In answer to these ques- 

 tions, negative geological evidence, and some positive considera- 

 tions testify, without a dissenting voice, that man is very mo- 

 dern. All the evidences of his existence have until the last few 

 years belonged exclusively to the Recent or latest period of the 

 geological chronology. Certain late observations would, however, 

 indicate that jnan may have existed in the latter part of the 

 Post-pliocene period, and may have been contemporary with 

 some animals now extinct. Still the evidences of this, as well as 

 its true signifiance, are involved in much doubt ; partly because 

 many of the facts relied on are opeu to objection, partly because 

 of the constant accession of new items of information, and partly 

 because the age of the animals, whose remains are found with those 

 of man, and the time required by the physical changes involved, 

 are not certain. 



