The Darwinian theory of the transmutation of species / examined by a graduate of the University of Cambridge.

  • Beverley, R. M. (Robert Mackenzie), 1797 or 1798-1868.
Date:
1867
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Darwinian theory of the transmutation of species / examined by a graduate of the University of Cambridge. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    distant countries. After suggesting some reasons for un- dertaking such a journey, Mr Darwin adds, as a sort of warning, £ Moreover a number of isolated facts soon be- come uninteresting, the habit of comparison leads to gener- alization. On the other hand, as the traveller stays but a short space of time in each place, his descriptions must generally consist of mere sketches, instead of detailed ob- servations. Hence arises, as I have found to my cost, a con- stant tendency to fill up the gaps of knowledge hy inaccurate and superficial hypotheses ’ (G08). These very remarkable words show, by the Author’s own confession, the tendency of his mind at that period; and though he has not informed us what those inaccurate and superficial hypotheses might be, yet as he has told us that at that time he was pondering on the origin of species, it seems obvious to connect the hypotheses with the lucu- brations. Whether we should be justified in so doing may be determined after a careful examination of the whole subject. In a discussion on the origin of species, the first requisite would have been a definition of Species by the author, that we might accurately understand his object, and be sure that we had not misunderstood his meaning. Never was there a term that more needed a careful definition than Species, for besides the deep importance of its true signifi- cation, many definitions of it have been propounded by many naturalists, so that unless Mr Darwin gives us his definition, we are left in tlie dark just in the point where light was most wanted. In this state the question commences. Mr Darwin not only has omitted to define what he intends by Species, but has made such contradictory statements on the subject (as we shall presently see), that we can only