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up each, seriatim, he dwelt upon the progress they had respectively made in 
the last half-century, — a progress which exceeded that made in all previous 
time ; and would probably during the present generation yield still more 
startling results. In speaking of the laws of origination and variation, 
he referred to the work of Mr. C. Darwin, “ On the Origin of Species,” 
a work which he said was “as perfect in its logical method as it was 
accurate in its scientific facts,” though he did not pledge himself to all 
Mr. Darwin’s results. In conclusion, he stated that he felt bound to 
make use of his present position, to urge upon the University authorities 
the claims of biology as a recognized study, and the practical encourage- 
ment of it by the bestowal of some of those fellowships which were so 
ungrudgingly given for proficiency in mathematics and classics. 
As Professor Huxley had included both Universities in his appeal, 
Dr. Daubeny, F.R.S., rose, and stated that at Oxford such fellowships 
were given for natural science, as he could affirm (from his own knowledge) 
to be the case, at least at Magdalen College, to which he belonged. 
Rev. William N. Molesworth, M.A. : “ On the Influence of Conditions 
of Existence in modifying the Characters of Species and Varieties.” The 
author said that a theory which should combine all the observed facts of 
palaeontology, distribution, &c., and scientifically grapple with the origin 
of species, had long been a desideratum ; and, although he wished to appear 
neither as an advocate nor an opponent of Darwin, he believed that that 
gentleman had been unjustly accused of making a wanton attack upon 
beliefs and feelings which ought to he respected. He condemned the 
introduction of scriptural matters into scientific investigations, and 
urged that science need never come into collision with moral and religious 
truth. He thought, however, that there was a point on which Darwin 
might have laid more stress, viz., upon the changes which were continually 
taking place in the conditions of animal existence, and the necessity of the 
variations which arose out of those changes ; so that the being might be 
able to keep in harmony with the conditions of its existence. 
The Rev. Professor Kingsley entirely concurred, as a brother clergy- 
man, with what Mr. Molesworth had said about the ill-founded charge of 
materialism which had been made against Mr. Darwin. 
J. Crawfurd, F.R.S. : “ On Colour as a Test of the Races of Man.” 
Colour, in different races, appeared to he a character imprinted upon them 
from the beginning, because, as far as our experience goes, neither time, 
nor climate, nor locality has produced any change. Egyptian paintings, 
4,000 years old, represent the people as they are now. The Parsees of 
India, who went from Persia, are now the same as when they migrated 
],000 years ago. African Negroes, that have for three centuries been trans- 
ported to the New World, remain unchanged. The Spaniards settled in 
tropical America remain as fair as the people of Arragon and Andalusia. 
He contended that climate had no influence in determining colour in 
different races. Finns and Lapps, though farther north, are darker than 
Swedes ; and, within the Arctic circle, we find Esquimaux of the same 
colour and complexion as the Malays under the equator. Yellow Hot- 
tentots and Bushmen live in the immediate neighbourhood of black Caffres 
and Negroes. There is as wide a difference between the colour of an 
