18 Sir Charles Lyell and Modern Geology. [Jan., 



to "analogous enigmas in the constitution of the world around 

 us ; " for instance, the transitions "between those " who are doomed 

 to helpless imbecility " and the half-witted, "and from these again to 

 individuals of perfect understanding." Again, " one-fourth of the 

 human race die in early infancy, nearly one-tenth before they are a 

 month old ; so that we may safely affirm that millions perish on 

 the earth in every century in the first few hours of their existence. 

 To assign to such individuals their appropriate psychological 

 place in the creation is one of the unprofitable themes on which 

 theologians and metaphysicians have expended much ingenious 

 speculation." 



Nothing can be more illogical than to reject a theory which 

 explains much that was never explained before, because it creates 

 a difficulty similar to that experienced in every department of 

 human knowledge where the method of gradation can be applied. 

 If Darwinism were to fall by such a blow, what scientific or 

 theological system could stand? Sir Charles Lyell, therefore, 

 accepts the philosophic dictum that " whatever is, is right," and 

 he agrees with Dr. Asa Gray, as most assuredly do we, that " to 

 do any work by an instrument must require, and therefore pre- 

 suppose, the exertion rather of more than of less power, than to do 

 it directly."* 



In this review of Sir Charles Ly ell's services to Geology we 

 have omitted all notice of his numerous minor publications. We 

 have endeavoured to select those of his works which exhibit his 

 difference from the great mass of geologists ; and we have neglected 

 entirely those original essays which with him, as w T ith everyone else, 

 are simply the result of hard work and careful observation. Per- 

 haps no geologist who has addressed himself so exclusively to the 

 inorganic portion of the science has so much faith in the present 

 value of palaeontology, or so high an anticipation of its future 

 destiny. His love of speculation is apparent in all his works, and 

 was noticed by Dr. Fitton thirty years ago ; but to whatever extent 

 and in whatever direction Sir Charles Lyell may speculate in 

 searching for the causes of phenomena, he never allows his specula- 

 tive faculty to carry him beyond the bounds prescribed by analogy. 

 Thus, all the hypothetical views which he has either propounded or 

 advocated are based upon, or supported by, the analogy of similar 

 phenomena in other departments of human knowledge, if nothing 

 comparable with them is known in geology. Another test of the 

 truth of any view, to which he frequently resorts, is what logicians 

 call " antecedent probability," as is especially seen in his opposition 

 to the theory of " craters of elevation." 



Sir Charles Lyell, as we have sketched him, we consider to be 

 the Founder of Modern Geology ; not in the sense of usurping the 

 * * Natural Selection not inconsistent with Natural Theology,' p. 55. 



