0

V. The Revolt of Scrope and Lyell against Catastrophism 33

VI. _The Principles of Geology_ 55

VII. The Influence of Lyell's Works 68

VIII. Early Attempts to establish the Doctrine of Evolution
for the Organic World 82

IX. Darwin and Wallace: The Theory of Natural Selection 95

X. _The Origin of Species_ 115

XI. The Influence of Darwin's Works 136

XII. The Place of Lyell and Darwin in History 149

Notes 160

Index 165

PLATES

Charles Darwin _Frontispiece_

G. Poulett Scrope _to face p. 35_

Charles Lyell " " 41

Alfred R. Wallace " " 110

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY

When the history of the Nineteenth Century--'the Wonderful Century,' as
it has, not inaptly, been called--comes to be written, a foremost place
must be assigned to that great movement by which evolution has become
the dominant factor in scientific progress, while its influence has been
felt in every sphere of human speculation and effort. At the beginning
of the Century, the few who ventured to entertain evolutionary ideas
were regarded by their scientific contemporaries, as wild visionaries or
harmless 'cranks'--by the world at large, as ignorant 'quacks' or
'designing atheists.' At the end of the Century, evolution had not only
become the guiding principle of naturalists, but had profoundly
influenced every branch of physical science; at the same time,
suggesting new trains of thought and permeating the language of
philologists, historians, sociologists, politicians--and even of
theologians.

How has this revolution in thought--the greatest which has occurred in
modern times--been brought about? What manner of men were they who were
the leaders in this great movement? What the influences that led them to
discard the old views and adopt new ones? And, under what circumstances
were they able to produce the works which so profoundly affected the
opinions of the day? These are the questions with which I pro