SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
273 
of his statements, and declared that he should procure from them, and 
publish, a verification of his narrative. We notice that he is said to have 
received their replies to his application, hut they have never been pub- 
lished. On the other hand, witnesses have come forward to prove that his 
journeys, said to have occupied several months, could not have taken as 
many weeks. 
How much of this is true, we are unable to say ; but, after comparing his 
works with those of Dr. Livingstone, and carefully weighing the testimony 
of the participators in this controversy, we can only regret that so enter- 
prising an adventurer should have injured his own reputation, and have 
done such mischief to the cause of science generally, as he has done by 
not adhering to a narrative of Iris adventures and discoveries, which would 
bear the strictest investigation. 
Professor Owen has published his views on the Origin of Species. 
They differ from those of Darwin chiefly in the nature of the causes by 
which species have been produced ; and especially in acknowledging a 
Divine Author of the laws, by which he conceives all forms of life to have 
been developed. 
GENERAL SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 
The Royal Institution of Great Britain has published the programme 
of its lectures for the ensuing season. Professor Tyndall commences 
the Friday evening lectures, with one on the Transmission of Heat 
through Gases. Professor Rollestone, of Oxford, gives a lecture on 
the Affinities and Differences between the Brain of Man and the 
Brains of certain Animals. * This will probably open the question 
of the amount of difference between man and the gorilla. The Age 
of Man follows, in a lecture by Professor Huxley, on the Fossil Remains 
of Man. Mr. Denham takes up the interesting subjects of Sleeping and 
Dreaming. Mr. Obin, Professor of Botany in University College, delivers 
a lecture on the Distribution of Plants. Dr. Odling will explain the nature 
of Professor Graham’s Researches on Dialysis ; and Mr. Savory lectures on 
the Motions of Plants and Animals. Although not announced, we believe 
we are correct in saying, that Professor Faraday will deliver a lecture 
before Easter; the juvenile course is this year being delivered by Pro- 
fessor Tyndall. It will be a great disappointment to many to lose their old 
favourite; but we think the young folks must regard themselves as fortunate 
in having so able a successor to Professor Faraday as Professor Tyndall. 
Sir Benjamin Brodie has resigned the presidency of the Royal Society, 
and Major-General Sabine has been elected in his place. At the annual 
meeting of the Society on St. Andrew’s-day, one of the Society’s medals 
was given to Dr. Carpenter for his physiological writings, and another to 
the distinguished Swiss naturalist, Louis Agassiz, for his works on natural 
history. 
" Some persons may be puzzled to know to what animals Professor 
Rollestone refers. 
