XVII] RESIDENCE AT NEATH 255 



at the conclusion (as also does Pntchard in his work on the 

 ' Physical History of Man ') that the varieties of the human 

 race have not been produced by any external causes, but are 

 due to the development of certain distinctive peculiarities in 

 some individuals which have thereafter become propagated 

 through an entire race. Now, I should say that a permanent 

 peculiarity not produced by external causes is a characteristic 

 of 'species ' and not of mere Wariety,' and thus, if the theory 

 of the * Vestiges ' is accepted, the Negro, the Red Indian, and 

 the European are distinct species of the genus Homo. 



" An animal which differs from another by some decided 

 and permanent character, however slight, which difference is 

 undiminished by propagation and unchanged by climate and 

 external circumstances, is universally held to be a distinct 

 species ; while one which is not regularly transmitted so as to 

 form a distinct race, but is occasionally reproduced from the 

 parent stock (like Albinoes), is generally, if the difference is not 

 very considerable, classed as a variety. But I would class both 

 these as distinct species^ and I would only consider those to be 

 varieties whose differences are produced by external causes, 

 and which, therefore, are not propagated as distinct races. . . . 

 As a further support to the * Vestiges,' I have heard that in 

 his ' Cosmos ' the venerable Humboldt supports its views in 

 almost every particular, not excepting those relating to animal 

 and vegetable life. This work I have a great desire to read, 

 but fear I shall not have an opportunity at present. Read 

 Lawrence's work ; it is well worth it." 



This long quotation, containing some very crude ideas, 

 would not have been worth giving except for showing that at 

 this early period, only about four years after I had begun to 

 take any interest in natural history, I was already speculating 

 upon the origin of species, and taking note of everything 

 bearing upon it that came in my way. It also serves to show 

 the books I was reading about this time, as well as my ap- 

 preciation of the " Vestiges," a book which, in my opinion, has 

 always been undervalued, and which when it first appeared 

 was almost as much abused, and for very much the same 

 reasons, as was Darwin's " Origin of Species," fifteen years later. 



