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I think it is impossible not to consider the publication of Mr 
Darwin’s work on the “ Origin of Species” as an event in the history 
of scientific speculation. The influence which such theories have 
had in stimulating and directing the progress of actual discovery, 
entitles them, when they come from distinguished men, and when 
they rest on any large amount of careful observation, to the marked 
attention of such Societies as this. Tt cannot be denied that Mr 
Darwin’s book claims our respect on both these grounds. It may 
be true, as I think it is, that all the facts he has brought together, 
supposing them to be clearly established (or even much extended by 
the volume of proof which is still in reserve), bear a very small pro- 
portion to the purely speculative conclusions which go to make up his 
theory on the “ Origin of Species.” Yet probably there is no other 
man now living who could have made such a rich collection. No 
other man since the death of Humboldt has had such powers of obser- 
vation, combined with such opportunities of observing. “ The Voyage 
of the Beagle” shows how large and wide has been his experience of 
the general aspects of nature ; whilst his monograph on the Cirripedes, 
and other papers on zoology, testify to his unwearied assiduity in the 
examination of detail. His book, therefore, comes before the world 
with every claim to respectful consideration which can be founded 
on the high scientific reputation of its author. The iC Origin of 
Species,” however, means nothing less than the method of creation ; 
and this is a subject so profoundly dark, that no amount of existing 
knowledge can enable any man to do more than walk carefully 
round its outer margin, noting where, here and there, some fact, 
more significant than others, seems to give hope of entrance into the 
obscurity within. The particular theory advanced by Mr Darwin is 
but a special form of the old theory of development ; special in this 
respect, that it professes to point out the particular law under which 
every animal and vegetable form may have been derived from those 
pre-existing, by ordinary generation. One general admission may, 
I think, be safely made in reference to all such theories. They are 
undoubtedly more easily conceived than what is called “ creation.” 
But this is not saying much. The truth is, that creation, of which 
we often talk so easily, is a work of which we have no knowledge 
and can have no conception. Something is known of the laws 
under which organic beings, once created, are enabled to continue 
their existence and to propagate their kind ; and it is, of course, 
