1885.] 
Mr. Darwin's Masterpiece. 
45 7 
“ of natura '« and inferentially of revealed, re- 
im,f r ° ’ inn ! ex P ressed satisfaction on noting that such 
impressions are transient in character (pp. 421, 422) • the 
bv tL°rn h / S f el , 1V i ei 7 bein S likewise enhanced, impossible, 
y the context, it being preceded by the remark that “ I see 
« "1° ^ood rea son why the views given in this volume should 
shock the rel^ous feehngs of anyone,” and followed by 
a sort of endorsement from a letter written him by a “ cele- 
brated author and divine.” y 
These quotations from divines and others in defence of 
lvinity and revealed religion, in conjunction with Mr. Dar- 
win s own remarks indicate that Mr. Darwin, already known 
as a Christian,* had not renounced Christianity prior to 
1059 - ft happens, however, that there has been published 
a cncumstantial accountf — rendered probably true by gene- 
ral considerations, and also more or less confirmed in sundry 
le v terS 77 ° f ^ conver sation held in the year 1881 at Down 
when Mr. Darwin stated that he had given up Christianity 
when 40 years of age. Visitors to Westminster Abbey may 
ascertain that Mr. Darwin’s fortieth birthday anniversary 
was a decade anterior to 1859 : for in that edifice is Mr. 
Darwin s tombstone. It has been proposed that in that 
edifice a medallion be placed, purchased with a margin of 
the Darwin Memorial Fund not absorbed by the statue or 
devoted to the promotion of biological research in honour of 
the writer on Coral Reefs, Volcanic Islands, South American 
Ceology, and the Formation of Mould. 
Recapitulation. 
The following is a recapitulation of the salient features of 
Mr. Darwin’s Masterpiece, as above delineated : — 
From a literary standpoint it is a half-finished work, inde- 
finite as to primary argument, incoherent in the stating of 
data, and tinctured with dogmatism, petitio prmcipii dis- 
courtesy, and injustice. 
The several characteristics treated under the head Scien- 
tific do not admit of sufficiently succinft recapitulation. 
i< r ' September 5th In the evening we reached a comfortable 
tt larm house, where there were several very pretty senoritas. They were 
„ much horrified at my having entered one of their churches out of mere 
„ cu posity. They asked me, ‘ Why do you not become a Christian — for our 
religion is certain ? ’ I assured them I was a sort of Christian.”— Natural- 
tst s Voyage round the World (pp. 262, 263). A sort of Diety, too, pervades 
the entire book. ' r 
t The Religious Views of Charles Darwin, by Edward B. Aveling, D.Sc 
ureethought Publishing Company. 1883. 
VOL. VII. (THIRD SERIES) 21 
