REVIEWS. 393 
plate was not stolen by a burglar, who, I believe, did effect his escape in 
this manner, and in justice you ought to transport the man.) 
But we have not the space, nor is it needful, we think, to follow the 
author further in his reasoning. It may have appeared very clear to 
the “ working classes,” but it has not satisfied us that there is no alterna- 
tive between “ Darwinism ” and “ nothing.” 
Perhaps as we do not ask our readers to bring the “ Baconian philo- 
sophy ” to bear upon this inquiry, the author will allow us to draw their 
attention to a more modern method of treating this and all similar 
questions. 
Induction , we have excellent authority for saying, “ consists in stating 
the facts and the inference in such a manner that the evidence of the 
inference is manifest ; ” just as the logic of deduction “ consists in stating 
the premisses and the conclusion in such a manner that the evidence of the 
conclusion is manifest.” We suspect that if our authority for this definition* 
had read these lectures, he would have added, by “ the facts, I mean all 
the known facts of importance.” In the first case (the story) our author 
has not stated all the facts as they exist, but has assumed some which do 
not exist ; in the second (his logical inquiry) he has glossed over the im- 
portance of the fact previously omitted, and instead of proving the case 
has thrown the burden of disproof upon his opponents. 
But now we come to another inquiry. Does the author accurately state 
Mr. Darwin’s views and inferences concerning the causes of the phenomena 
of organic nature, and is the author’s testimony sufficiently unbiassed to 
warrant persons who are uninformed on scientific matters in taking him as 
their guide on the subject? We do not for a moment doubt that he is 
perfectly sincere in his enunciation of Mr. Darwin’s views ; but our 
readers shall also have an opportunity of forming an opinion on the matter, 
and of judging for themselves as to whether it is best to seek their infor- 
mation at the main stream, or to judge of its proportions from those of its 
tributaries. 
And perhaps it will be better that we should not confine ourselves to the 
exposition of Mr. Darwin’s views coming from a warm advocate ; but that, 
as the opportunity presents itself, we should also lay before them those of 
an opponent, and they will be somewhat astonished to find how the 
teachings of the great naturalist have been made the key-note to any 
melody. 
In reviewing a work of a kindred nature to the one before us,f and 
written by one who also wishes to be regarded as an unprejudiced witness, 
we deprecated very mildly the introduction into such inquiries as these of 
the odium theologicum, in consequence of a charge of materialism brought 
against Mr. Darwin by the author. He passes sentence upon that eminent 
naturalist by saying that his theory is “ a blind chance process,” re- 
sembling that of Lamarck, or the author of “ The Vestiges indeed, he 
* Dr. Whewell. 
t Page’s “ Past and Present Life of the Globe.” Blackwood. Reviewed 
in “ Popular Science Review,” No. I. 
