2iS Clay-pole on ''Darwin and Geology. 
every available weapon, they were somewhat daunted to find' 
that they must measure swords not with a man comparatively un- 
known to fame and of whose opinions and observations they 
could as the}' believed, make light work, but with Lyell, 
Hooker and Huxley, who like the three brave Romans of old 
stood forward to defend the narrow way until the new- 
truth could make itself felt and win its own adherents. Of this 
famous meeting of the Linna^an Society, on July ist. 1858,. 
when the subject was first broached, Sir J. Hooker writes 
(p. 482): 
"The interest excited was intense but the subject was too novel and 
too ominous for the old school to enter the lists before armouring.. 
After the meeting it was talked over with bated breath; Lyell's approval 
and perhaps in a small way mine as his lieutenant in the affair rather 
overshadowed the Fellows who would otherwise have flown out 
against the doctrine." 
With only one of these three have we any concern now and 
that is Lyell. The intimacy between him and Darwin had 
been long and close, and Lyell was familiar with every step of 
the way along which his friend was traveling. Every new 
fact Avas told to Lyell. Lyell's oj^inion was asked on every 
topic — not always agreed with however. In Lyell's mind 
thei"e slowly grew up as firm a conviction that Darwin was 
right as was entertained by Darwin himself, and when the 
"Origin" appeared Lyell was fully prepared to go the utmost 
length that the doctrine of "Evolution by Natural Selection"' 
would warrant. He gladly welcomed the new light from bi- 
ology and saw at once its power of illuminating certain dark 
spots in his own favorite science. He had halted at the evolu- 
tion of organic species because Lamarck could show no good 
reason for the necessary changes. But he now halted na 
longer. Natural Selection supplied the missing cause, and he 
at once connected it with the effect. He had no further use for 
the doctrine of "Special Creation" and it disappeared from the 
pages of his "Principles," its place being supplied by Varia- 
tion. Here was the harvest that grew from the seed sown by 
Henslow. The reaction of the pupil on the master was now 
seen and Darwin amply repaid the debt which he owed to- 
Lyell. 
It is interesting to note the difference of expression in the- 
