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REVIEWS. 
LYELL’S PKINCIPLES OF GEOLOGY.* 
I T would be impossible to find a more convincing proof of the progress of 
scientific discovery than that which is afforded by a comparison between 
the last and the present edition of Sir Charles Ly ell’s great treatise. Nor 
would it be easy to obtain a better proof of the thoroughly philosophic 
tenour of the author’s mind, than that which is evinced in the surprising 
candour with which he confesses alterations of opinion in accordance with 
the more perfect light of scientific truth. Anything, indeed, more charac- 
teristic of the modern school of science it would be hard to find than the 
mode in which our greatest geologist handles the numerous complex and 
abstruse problems which are involved in the record of our earth’s history. 
That the author has spared neither time nor pains in bringing his best work 
up to the standard of existing knowledge will be evident from even the few 
additions and alterations which we propose to indicate. As to reviewing 
this work, the idea would be simply absurd ; in the first place, the space 
demanded for such a task would be beyond the limit at the disposal of even 
a Quarterly Reviewer, and, in the second place, we should much doubt the 
possibility of finding anyone really competent to the task. We propose, 
therefore, to confine ourselves to pointing out, as briefiy as we can, some of 
the many novel features of the new edition of the Principles of Geology, 
At the date of the ninth edition, thirteen years ago, the doctrine of pro- 
gressive development, as then proposed, was in ill odour. Mr. Darwin had 
not offered his lucid exposition of the theory of natural selection to tho 
public, and Professor Huxley had not distinctly lent his support to any 
special hypothesis of the origin of species. It was not surprising, therefore, 
that at that time Sir Charles Lyell’s opinions on the point were at best im- 
mature. Not so now, however. In this edition it occurs to us that the 
ninth chapter is the most striking and important part of the work. It has 
been completely rewritten, and contains definitively expressed views. The 
author urges many arguments in favour of the theory of progressive develop- 
ment. He shows us how, even regarding the fossil florae, the evidence is in 
favour of progression, since the oldest known flora was characterised by a 
great predominance of cryptogamous life. ‘‘ The almost entire want,” he 
says, in the Devonian and Carboniferous Florae, the first which geology has 
* Principles of Geology, or the Modern Changes of the Earth and its 
Inhabitants.” By Sir Charles Lyell, Bart., M.A., F.B.S. Tenth, and 
entirely revised edition ; 2 vols. London ; Murray, 1868. 
