294 
OWEN’S POSITION IN 
any of Geoffrey’s fundamental theses. And even in 
his later years, Sir Charles Lyell, many years ago, 
gave me reasons for the opinion that Cuvier was 
by no means confident about the fixity of species. 
There was never any lack of the scientific imagi- 
nation about the great anatomist ; and the charge 
of indifference to general ideas, sometimes brought 
against him, is stupidly unjust. But Cuvier was 
one of those happily endowed persons in whom 
genius never parts company with common-sense ; 
and whose perception of the importance of sound 
method is so great that they look at even a truth, 
hit upon by those who pursue an essentially 
vicious method, with the sort of feeling with 
which an honest trader regards the winnings of a 
gambler. They hold it better to remain poor 
than obtain riches by the road that, as a rule, 
leads to ruin. 
So far as Cuvier was actuated by such feelings, 
one can but applaud the course he took. For it 
is plain to anyone, who studies these old contro- 
versies by modern lights, that Geoffroy, how- 
ever good his general ideas may have been, was 
singularly unfortunate in his attempts to illus- 
trate and enforce them. Even where he was 
strongest, as upon the topic of the unity of 
organisation of the Vertebrates, I do not think 
there is one of his exemplifications of that 
unity which has withstood criticism ; and, in 
respect of the jirimary cause of contention in 1830, 
