NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 245 



evolution, as is so generally supposed by the " outlanders " of 

 science, but by his own memorable enunciation of the theory of 

 " natural selection " he cleared the speculative air which was full 

 of fads and chimeras, and enabled the giant shadow of " organic 

 evolution " to dominate all biological problems. But other 

 studies besides biological ones were soon controlled by this line of 

 thought ; the argument applied to the physical development of the 

 Ape was found to belong to the questions of the non-zoological 

 philosopher ; it guided the anthropologist, and absolutely cap- 

 tured the philologist. Theology at first was aghast, but by the 

 year 1883 the late Sir William Flower was found reading a paper 

 on evolution before a " Church Congress"; and now we have this 

 very fair estimation of the theory in a volume which forms part 

 of a series entitled " The Churchman's Library." 



The position of the author of this book — which all who 

 take an interest in the application of biological thought to 

 general philosophy should read — is to be gathered by several 

 candid statements scattered through its pages. Thus we read 

 there are certain broad facts beyond dispute. " It is in- 

 disputable that there was a period in the history of the earth 

 when there was no life upon it; that the elements which con- 

 stitute living matter are themselves lifeless ; that consciousness 

 is correlated somehow with those organic compounds, the 

 elements of which are inorganic. These facts constitute an 

 irresistible presumption that ultimately mind and matter must 

 obey the same laws." Again, we are told of those " who with 

 us accept the continuity and uniformity between nature and 

 man." 



Here we welcome a real sympathy between science and 

 theology, for, as Dr. Jevons clearly states, " religion is not 

 science." He follows an argument that " faith " largely enters 

 into both ; but here we enter a dialectical arena, the tourneys 

 in which these pages are not intended to record. The volume, 

 however, is not outside zoology ; if there is an evolution in 

 animal life, it applies to man, and must affect all conduct and 

 speculation. That it does so is generally recognized ; how it 

 does so is the thesis of this publication. 



