182 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
And lastly, William Kingdon Clifford, a true genius, the most 
brilliant writer and probably the deepest thinker that this century 
has produced. Cut off at the early age of thirty-three, what he 
did was but a feeble earnest of what he might have accomplished. 
His fame of course rests, and will rest, on his wonderful studies in 
the higher mathematics, and not on the magazine articles which 
brought him more prominently before the general public. The 
way in which his abilities were speedily recognized, and the posi- 
tion promptly accorded him by Science, speaks well for the country, 
and proves that England will not be slow to render homage to in- 
tellect, and whenever it is found give it its proper due. Some of 
his lectures and essays have been recently re-published ; and in the 
volumes edited by Leslie Stephens and Frederick Pollock will be 
found an essay which is remarkable in many ways. Mr. Pollock 
says that it was written in a single night, but that it is one of 
Clifford's best and most mature performances. It is in effect a reply 
to Virchow's objections to the teaching of the doctrine of evolution 
as a proved conclusion, and agreeing with his opinion that it ought 
not to be so taught, but for very different reasons, — Clifford 
deals with the German's main point — that the " missing link " is 
yet to be found. Clifford says that even if it was found, the dis- 
covery would not in any appreciable way add to the value of the 
argument, and reasons thus : That inasmuch as at one time life did 
not exist on the earth, the human race must have had a beginning 
within some definite time ; that as it now exists, it must have origi- 
nated, either from progenitors which differ from it very considerably 
in structure, or from non-living matter, or from non-existence ; that 
no other supposition is possible. And then comes the question — 
Which of these suppositions is most probable, which of them is 
supported by most evidence, and which of them accounts for the 
largest number of facts ]* Another book well worth careful read- 
ing is Clifford's Seeing and Thinking. Exeter is proud of her 
sons. William Kingdon Clifford is a man whom she may delight 
to honour. 
The rapid progress recently made in every department of science, 
and the vast additions to literature, render it impossible to review 
in the most cursory way the advance made or the knowledge ob- 
tained, even in the course of a single year. It has been the custom 
* See Pall Mall Gazette, September 13th, 1879. 
