REVIEWS. 
387 
It deals with “ the past and present condition of organic nature ; ” with 
the method by which the causes of these conditions of nature are to be 
discovered ; the origin and perpetuation of living beings, and the phe- 
nomena that accompany these. It further enters into a critical examina- 
tion of Mr. Darwin’s book on the origin of species, suggesting to its 
readers how far they should be guided by the theories and hypotheses 
which it contains ; and lastly, what is to us by far its most important 
feature, it is itself a verbatim report of a course of lectures delivered by 
the author (we believe in his public and official capacity) to the working 
classes of the great metropolis. 
Our readers will therefore perceive that we are not called upon to deal 
with a mere scientific inquiry or criticism, of whose value every one may 
form a more or less accurate estimate, but that the doctrines and con- 
clusions of the author will be taken for granted by, and serve as a guide to 
many who were previously unacquainted with the subject except by 
hearsay ; whilst others more enlightened, perhaps, but still to a great 
extent strangers and new-comers in the world of science, will care- 
fully scan its contents as the 'popular exposition of the great scientific 
movement of the dap ; and such persons will naturally form from its con- 
tents what appears to them to be the most accurate estimate of the efforts 
of modern science as applied to the laws of nature, as well as of the opinions 
held by scientific men. 
The avowed purpose of the present work is, as already stated, to commu- 
nicate to the partially educated masses what appears to the author to be a 
faithful account of Mr. Darwin’s views concerning the origin of species, and 
to convey his (the author’s) unbiassed opinion as to how far these views are 
entitled to their acceptance. 
With this object, it may readily be supposed, that the author would 
find it necessary to impart to his readers some knowledge regarding the 
past and present condition of organic nature ; and, considering the dis- 
parity which exists between him and his readers in extent of knowledge 
and modes of thought, it would have been impossible for him to have 
performed this portion of his task more efficiently than he has done. 
Indeed, there is no need for any qualification in our approval ; and we are 
only doing him justice when we say that the combination of popular 
phraseology with accurate scientific information has never been surpassed, 
perhaps not equalled in any similar course of scientific lectures of a 
popular character that has come under our notice. 
The mode in which the reader (or hearer) is enabled to carry away 
with him a simple, yet accurate ideal of the animal frame ; and the 
familiar similes whereby the functions of the living creature are impressed 
upon the mind are above all praise. In fact, whenever the author attempts 
to convey to his imperfectly educated hearers (we speak, of course, of 
their scientific education only) a knowledge of those phenomena in nature 
which are recognized as facts , he does so with admirable tact, and in nearly 
every case with undeniable accuracy. 
Had he confined his labours within these limits, and simply pro- 
posed to himself to make his readers and hearers acquainted with the 
phenomena of nature as they are, our criticism would have ended here ; 
