DARWIN'S VARIATIONS. igr 



to himself how deeply lie distrusted it, Mucli, how- 

 ever, as he disliked the accumulation of accidental 

 variations, he disliked not claiming the theory of 

 descent with modification still more ; and if he was 

 to claim this, accidental his variations had got to be. 

 Accidental they accordingly were, but in as obscure 

 and perfunctory a fashion as Mr. Darwin could make 

 them consistently with their being to hand as acci- 

 dental variations should later developments make this 

 convenient. Under these circumstances it was hardly 

 to be expected that Mr. Darwin should help the reader 

 to follow the workings of his mind — nor, again, that 

 a book the writer of which was hampered as I have 

 supposed should prove clear and easy reading. 



The attitude of Mr. Darwin's mind, whatever it may 

 have been in regard to the theory of descent with 

 modification generally, goes so far to explain his 

 attitude in respect to the theory of natural selection 

 (which, it cannot be too often repeated, is only one of 

 the conditions of existence advanced as the main means 

 of modification by the earlier evolutionists), that it is 

 worth while to settle the question once for all whether 

 Mr. Darwin did or did not believe himself justified in 

 claiming the theory of descent as an original discovery 

 of his own. This will be a task of some little length, 

 and may perhaps try the reader's patience, as it assuredly 

 tried mine ; if, however, he will read the two following 

 chapters, he will probably be able to make up his mind 

 upon much that will otherwise, if he thinks about it 

 at all, continue to puzzle him. 



