PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 19 



often arise, and be preserved or selected? What limit 

 can be put to the power, acting during long ages, and 

 rigidly scrutinizing the whole constitution, structure, and 

 habits of each creature, favouring the good and rejecting 

 the bad ? I can see no limit to this power, in slowly and 

 beautifully adapting each form to the most complex 

 relations of life. The theory of natural selection, even if 

 we look no further than this, seems to be in the highest 

 degree probable." 



Darwin concludes the "Origin of Species" with the 

 following words : — 



" There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several 

 powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator 

 into a few forms or into one, and that whilst this planet 

 has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, 

 from so simple a beginning, endless forms most beautiful 

 and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." 



Amid a storm of criticism and abuse the " Origin of 

 Species" came upon the world. Pulpit orators found 

 Mr. Darwin and his work fit examples of warning to their 

 misled flocks, and longtailed ranters warmed him up 

 before admiring throngs. Meanwhile, Darwin worked 

 away in his quiet home, caring nothing for assault and 

 banter, but eagerly examining into all real criticism on 

 his work. Truth, and truth alone, he lived for. He 

 cared not where his researches might lead him, or whether 

 indeed they would lead him anywhere, as long as he got 

 at truth in the investigation of Nature's secrets. For 

 this he lived, and now his sons were assisting him in his 

 grand work. But truth has a slow course when faced by 

 prejudice, especially among the multitude of people whose 

 theological professions lead them to test truth by its 

 conformity with their rendering of the Biblical record, 

 instead of reversing this order, and the " Origin of 

 Species " required time for its digestion. But at length, 



