284 LUCK, OR CUNNING? 



Opening this " almost " at random I read — " Earth- 

 quakes alone are sufficient to destroy the prosperity of 

 any country. If, for instance, beneath England the now 

 inert subterraneous forces should exert those powers 

 which most assuredly iu former geological ages they 

 have exerted, how completely would the entire con- 

 dition of the country be changed ! What would be- 

 come of the lofty houses, thickly-packed cities, great 

 manufacturies (sic), the beautiful public and private 

 edifices ? If the new period of disturbance were to 

 commence by some great earthquake in the dead of 

 night, how terrific would be the carnage ! England 

 would be at once bankrupt; all papers, records, and 

 accounts would from that moment be lost. Govern- 

 ment being unable to collect the taxes, and failing 

 to maintain its authority, the hand of violence and 

 rapine would go uncontrolled. In every large town 

 famine would be proclaimed, pestilence and death fol- 

 lowing in its train." * Great allowance should be 

 made for a first work, and I admit that much interest- 

 ing matter is found in Mr. Darwin's journal; still, it 

 was hardly to be expected, that the writer who at the 

 age of thirty-three could publish the foregoing pas- 

 sage should twenty years later achieve the reputation 

 of being the profoundest philosopher of his time. 



I have not sufficient technical knowledge to enable 

 me to speak certainly, but I question his having been 

 the great observer and master of experiment which he 

 is generally believed to have been. His accuracy was, 

 I imagine, generally to be relied upon as long as 

 * Voyi^es of the AdvaUure and Beagle, vol. iii. p. 373, London 1839. 



