ed with amusement. The whole
of his elaborate schemes of color classification may be instanced as
forerunners of the methods commercially in vogue to-day; they are
not the harbingers of methods scientifically in vogue. One looks in
vain for research adequate to carry the load of so much speculative
text.

"Even if we realize that the beginnings of science could but be made
amid such groping in the dark, it is a pity that a man of Lamarck's
genius, which seems to have been destitute of the instincts of an
experimentalist, should have lavished so much serious thought in
evolving a system of chemical physics out of himself."

The chemical status of Lamarck's writings is thus stated by Professor H.
Carrington Bolton in a letter dated Washington, D. C., February 9, 1900:

"Excuse delay in replying to your inquiry as to the chemical status
of the French naturalist, Lamarck. Not until this morning have I
found it convenient to go to the Library of Congress. That Library
has not the _Recherches_ nor the _Memoires_, but the position of
Lamarck is well known. He had no influence on chemistry, and his
name is not mentioned in the principal histories of chemistry. He
made no experiments, but depended upon his imagination for his
facts; he opposed the tenets of the new French school founded by
Lavoisier, and proposed a fanciful scheme of abstract principles
that remind one of alchemy.

"Cuvier, in his _Eloge_ (_Memoires Acad. Royale des Sciences_,
1832), estimates Lamarck correctly as respects his position in
physical science."

Lamarck boldly carried the principle of change and evolution into
inorganic nature by the same law of change of circumstances producing
change of species.

Under the head, "De l'espece parmi les mineraux," p. 149, the author
states that he had for a long time supposed that there were no species
among minerals. Here, also, he doubts, and boldly, if not rashly, in
this case, opposes accepted views, and in this field, as elsewhere,
shows, at least, his independence of thought.

"They teach in Paris," he says, "that the integrant molecule of each
kind of compound is invariable in nature, and consequently that it
is as old as nature, hence, mineral species are constant.

"For myself, I declare that I am persuaded, and even feel convinced,
that the integrant molecule of every compound substance whatever,
may change its nature, namely, may undergo