Man before History 



281 



early efforts of its pioneers, their half-informed searchings 

 after light, are often most instructive. The student will 

 often gain a far more impressive estimate of the final results, 

 if he knows something of the steps by which they have been 

 reached, than if, without enquiry, he is satisfied to accept 

 them in their ultimate form. It is under the influence of this 

 belief that we venture to offer to our readers the three 

 extracts from published works which are to follow (see p. 

 281 et seq.). They deal with separate branches of advancing 

 knowledge on three very important topics — Prehistoric Man, 

 Natural Selection and the Development of Mammals — and 

 if they do not speak in the most advanced phraseology of 

 to-day, they yet record in clear language, facts and opinions 

 which were new at the time, and have not as yet been left 

 very far behind. 



MAN BEFORE HISTORY. 



We commenced the Gazette with a Schedule designed to 

 illustrate what may possibly have been the history of the 

 human race in Britain in long distant times. It comprised 

 a period of a quarter of a million years. We have since on 

 several occasions asked attention to items of evidence which 

 support the conclusions suggested. Amongst those who were 

 prompt to appreciate the facts on this matter, and to yield full 

 conviction to their proofs, was the late very distinguished 

 geologist, Sir Charles Lyell. We extract the following from 

 an able contemporary review of his book. The facts are as 

 interesting now as they were then and will justify renewed 

 citation : — 



" The peat-mosses of Denmark furnish a species of evidence 

 which, from being untrammelled by collateral geologic specu- 

 lation, can be easily appreciated by an ordinary reader. Sir 

 Charles having alluded to the extent and depth of the Danish 

 peat, observes : ' Around the borders of the bogs, and at 



