REVIEWS. 
187 
ESSAYS ON DARWINISM.* 
M R. STEBBING has done, we think, wisely in reprinting his series of 
essays, and although some of them only relate to Darwinism indirectly, 
yet are they very fair arguments in favour of the philosophy of the great 
master ; and being moreover couched in homely language, and being short, 
they are likely to prove an introduction to Darwinism in many cases. We 
find it impossible to go into the several chapters of which the work consists, 
but it certainly strikes us that the first, which relates to some of the 
difficulties which reasonable people have in accepting Darwinism, is par- 
ticularly good and clear. The author, of course, does not touch any of the 
deeper arguments which underlie Mr. Darwin’s theory, and which are yet 
really undecided, which even Mr. Darwin himself cannot get over, and 
which stand in the way of the general acceptance of his views. But he 
glances at the stronger arguments in favour of the doctrine, and he argues 
clearly and truly in most winning style. His book may be strongly com- 
mended to those who have not yet taken up any of Darwin’s works, or 
who fail to understand them. 
HILE now there is so much talk upon this subject— while Professor 
Huxley, leader of the scientific world, is contesting with those 
numbers of men who delight in doing nothing save what their ancestors 
have done before them, and who abhor that which is new — the book before 
us is one to be read by every person desirous of information on so vast a 
subject. It is a large, well-illustrated by page-plates of several schools, and 
handsomely got up volume. It deals succinctly and briefly with the several 
schools which it describes, and it is arranged so that the reader may if 
he choose go hurriedly through it, and pick out the black-letter headings of 
any department he may select. It treats of elementary schools in con- 
nection with the Committee of Council on Education, of schools in con- 
nection with the Science and Art Department of the Council, of schools 
under the Admiralty, of those under the War Secretary, of those under the 
direction of the Home Department Secretary, those under the Poor-Law 
Board, those under the Commissioners of Lunacy, of schools not aided by 
public grants, and lastly, of training colleges of the Committee of Council. 
Under these several heads there is given a great deal of information, which 
will be invaluable to members of the new School Boards, and all who have 
to deal with education under the existing changes. Mr. Bartley deserves 
the best thanks of the people for undertaking so vast a labour, and he has 
* t( Essays on Darwinism.” By Thomas R. Stebbing, M.A., late 
Fellow and Tutor of Worcester College, Oxford. London : Longmans, 
1871. 
t “ The Schools for the People ; containing the History, Development, 
and Present Working of each description of English School for the Industrial 
and Poorer Classes.” By George C. T. Bartley, Examiner Science and Art 
Department. London : Bell & Daldy, 1871. 
SCHOOLS FOR THE PEOPLE.f 
