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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
In the following pages I have tried to express a sense of the greatness of my subject by simplicity and directness of statement. The limits of the work necessarily prevented any detailed treatment, the subject of the work prevented originality. We have had the great “Life and Letters” with us for nine years, and this I have used as a mine, extracting what I believed to be the statements of chief importance for the work in hand, and grouping them so as to present what I hope is a connected accoun
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CHAPTER I. THE SECRET OF DARWIN’S GREATNESS.
CHAPTER I. THE SECRET OF DARWIN’S GREATNESS.
Charles Robert Darwin was born at Shrewsbury on February 12th, 1809, the year which witnessed the birth of Alfred Tennyson, W. E. Gladstone, and Abraham Lincoln. Oliver Wendell Holmes, born in the same year, delighted to speak of the good company in which he came into the world. On January 27th, 1894, I had the great pleasure of sitting next to him at a dinner of the Saturday Club in Boston, and he then spoke of the subject with the same enthusiasm with which he deals with it in his writings; me
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CHAPTER II. BOYHOOD—EDINBURGH—CAMBRIDGE (1817–31).
CHAPTER II. BOYHOOD—EDINBURGH—CAMBRIDGE (1817–31).
Of Darwin’s boyhood and school-life we only know the facts given in his brief “Autobiography,” written when he was sixty-seven, together with those collected by his son Francis and appended in the form of notes. He first went to Mr. Case’s day-school in Shrewsbury in 1817, the year of his mother’s death. At this time, although only eight years old, his interest in natural history and in collecting was well established. “The passion for collecting, which leads a man to be a systematic naturalist,
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CHAPTER III. VOYAGE OF THE “BEAGLE” (1831–36).
CHAPTER III. VOYAGE OF THE “BEAGLE” (1831–36).
About the time of the excursion with Sedgwick (the exact date is uncertain) Professor Henslow received a letter from George Peacock (formerly Dean of Ely and Lowndean Professor of Astronomy at Cambridge) stating that he had the offer to recommend a young man as naturalist to accompany Captain Fitzroy on a surveying expedition to many parts of the world. Leonard Jenyns (afterwards Blomefield) was evidently considered to be the most suitable person for the position, but he was unable to accept it.
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CHAPTER IV. CAMBRIDGE—LONDON—WORK UPON THE COLLECTIONS—MARRIAGE—GEOLOGICAL WORK—JOURNAL OF THE VOYAGE—CORAL REEFS—FIRST RECORDED THOUGHTS ON EVOLUTION (1837–42).
CHAPTER IV. CAMBRIDGE—LONDON—WORK UPON THE COLLECTIONS—MARRIAGE—GEOLOGICAL WORK—JOURNAL OF THE VOYAGE—CORAL REEFS—FIRST RECORDED THOUGHTS ON EVOLUTION (1837–42).
Darwin reached England October 2nd, 1836, and was home at Shrewsbury October 5th (according to his Letters; the 4th is the date given by Francis Darwin in the “Life and Letters”). The two years and three months which followed he describes as the most active ones he ever spent. After visiting his family, he stayed three months in Cambridge, working at his collection of rocks, writing his “Naturalist’s Voyage,” and one or two scientific papers. He then (March 7th, 1837) took lodgings in 36, Great
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CHAPTER V. DOWN—GEOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE—WORK ON CIRRIPEDES (1842–54).
CHAPTER V. DOWN—GEOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE—WORK ON CIRRIPEDES (1842–54).
From September 14th, 1842, until his death, Darwin resided at Down, living a very retired life, and almost exclusively engaged in his scientific researches. Although Down is only twenty miles from London, it is three miles from the nearest railway station (Orpington), and is only now for the first time receiving a telegraph office. A home in such a place enabled Darwin to pursue his work without interruption, remaining, at the same time, within easy reach of all the advantages of London. Here, t
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CHAPTER VI. THE GROWTH OF THE “ORIGIN OF SPECIES” (1837–58).
CHAPTER VI. THE GROWTH OF THE “ORIGIN OF SPECIES” (1837–58).
In dealing with this subject in his “Autobiography,” Darwin tells us of his reflections whilst on the voyage of the Beagle , and here mentions another observation which deeply impressed him in addition to those which he again repeats, on the relation between the living and the dead in the same area and on the productions of the Galapagos Archipelago—viz. “the manner in which closely allied animals replace one another in proceeding southwards over the continent” (of South America). On the theory
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CHAPTER VII. GROWTH OF THE “ORIGIN” (continued)—CORRESPONDENCE WITH FRIENDS.
CHAPTER VII. GROWTH OF THE “ORIGIN” (continued)—CORRESPONDENCE WITH FRIENDS.
The great periods of Darwin’s scientific career are marked by intimate friendships, which must be taken into account in attempting to trace his mental development. Henslow was his intimate friend at Cambridge and during the voyage of the Beagle . The influence of Lyell, through his writings, was of the utmost importance during the voyage, and was deepened by the close personal contact which took place on Darwin’s return. Sir Joseph Hooker was his most intimate friend during the growth of the “Or
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CHAPTER VIII. DARWIN AND WALLACE (1858).
CHAPTER VIII. DARWIN AND WALLACE (1858).
The history of Darwin’s friendship with Alfred Russel Wallace is of quite unique interest, being brought about by the fact that both naturalists saw in evolution and its causes the great questions of the immediate future, and by the agreement in the interpretations which they independently offered. Wallace was collecting and observing in the Malay Archipelago, and wrote to Darwin as the one man most likely to sympathise with and understand his views and to offer valuable criticism. In the “Annal
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CHAPTER IX. DARWIN’S SECTION OF THE JOINT MEMOIR READ BEFORE THE LINNEAN SOCIETY JULY 1, 1858.
CHAPTER IX. DARWIN’S SECTION OF THE JOINT MEMOIR READ BEFORE THE LINNEAN SOCIETY JULY 1, 1858.
The first section of Darwin’s communication consisted of extracts from the Second Chapter of the First Part of his manuscript essay of 1844. The Part was entitled “The Variation of Organic Beings under Domestication, and in their Natural State,” and the Second Chapter was headed “On the Variation of Organic Beings in a State of Nature; on the Natural Means of Selection; on the Comparison of Domestic Races and True Species.” The extracts first deal with the tendency towards rapid multiplication a
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CHAPTER X. WALLACE’S SECTION OF THE JOINT MEMOIR READ BEFORE THE LINNEAN SOCIETY JULY 1, 1858.
CHAPTER X. WALLACE’S SECTION OF THE JOINT MEMOIR READ BEFORE THE LINNEAN SOCIETY JULY 1, 1858.
The communication by Alfred Russel Wallace was entitled “On the Tendency of Varieties to depart indefinitely from the Original Type.” An abstract of it is given below. Varieties produced in domesticity are more or less unstable, and often tend to return to the parent form. This is usually thought to be true for all varieties, and to be a strong argument for the original and permanent distinctness of species. On the other hand, races forming “permanent or true varieties” are well known, and there
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CHAPTER XI. COMPARISON OF DARWIN’S AND WALLACE’S SECTIONS OF THE JOINT MEMOIR—RECEPTION OF THEIR VIEWS—THEIR FRIENDSHIP.
CHAPTER XI. COMPARISON OF DARWIN’S AND WALLACE’S SECTIONS OF THE JOINT MEMOIR—RECEPTION OF THEIR VIEWS—THEIR FRIENDSHIP.
Comparing the essays of these two naturalists, we observe that Darwin here first makes public the phrase “natural selection,” Wallace the “struggle for existence”; although so closely do their lines of thought converge that Darwin, using practically the same words, speaks of the “struggle for life.” Both show, by examples, the tendency of all animals to multiply at an enormous rate, and both show that their tolerably constant numbers are due to the constant supply of food. Both treat of domestic
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CHAPTER XII. THE GROWTH OF WALLACE’S CONVICTIONS ON EVOLUTION AND DISCOVERY OF NATURAL SELECTION—BORNEO 1855—TERNATE 1858.
CHAPTER XII. THE GROWTH OF WALLACE’S CONVICTIONS ON EVOLUTION AND DISCOVERY OF NATURAL SELECTION—BORNEO 1855—TERNATE 1858.
We have already seen in the earlier part of this volume, the gradual development of the theory of Natural Selection in the mind of Darwin, and the long succession of experiments and observations which he undertook before he could bring himself to publish anything upon the subject, as well as the conditions which forced him to a hurried publication in the end. It is of the deepest interest to compare with this the account which Wallace has given us of the mental process by which he arrived at the
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CHAPTER XIII. CANON TRISTRAM THE FIRST PUBLICLY TO ACCEPT THE THEORY OF NATURAL SELECTION (1859).
CHAPTER XIII. CANON TRISTRAM THE FIRST PUBLICLY TO ACCEPT THE THEORY OF NATURAL SELECTION (1859).
Although the historic meeting at the Linnean Society appeared to produce but little effect, one distinguished naturalist publicly accepted the theory of natural selection before the publication of “The Origin of Species,” and therefore as the direct result of Darwin’s and Wallace’s joint paper. This great distinction belongs to Canon Tristram, as Professor Newton has pointed out in his Presidential Address to the Biological Section of the British Association at Manchester in 1887 (“Reports,” p.
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CHAPTER XIV. THE PREPARATION OF “THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES” (1858–59).
CHAPTER XIV. THE PREPARATION OF “THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES” (1858–59).
Almost immediately after the Linnean Society meeting, and evidently earlier than September, the time mentioned in his “Autobiography,” Darwin began to prepare a longer and more complete account of his work on evolution and natural selection. This account was at first intended for the Linnean Society, but it was soon found to be too long, and he then decided to publish it as an independent volume. In thus preparing the manuscript for what afterwards became the “Origin of Species,” Darwin tells us
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CHAPTER XV. THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES (1859).
CHAPTER XV. THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES (1859).
It is very interesting to separate the two arguments which occur interwoven in the “Origin”—the argument for evolution and the argument for natural selection. The paramount importance of Darwin’s contributions to the evidences of organic evolution are often forgotten in the brilliant theory which he believed to supply the motive cause of descent with modification. Organic evolution had been held to be true by certain thinkers during many centuries; but not only were its adherents entirely withou
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CHAPTER XVI. THE INFLUENCE OF DARWIN UPON LYELL (1859–64).
CHAPTER XVI. THE INFLUENCE OF DARWIN UPON LYELL (1859–64).
In considering the reception of the “Origin of Species,” it will be well first to show its effect upon Darwin’s intimate scientific friends, most of whom had been familiar with his work for many years, and then to deal with its effects upon biologists generally, especially those of Darwin’s own country. The gradual strengthening of Darwin’s influence over his old teacher Lyell, is one of the most interesting episodes in the personal history of the scientific men of this century. Lyell, after rea
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CHAPTER XVII. INFLUENCE OF DARWIN UPON HOOKER AND ASA GRAY—NATURAL SELECTION AND DESIGN IN NATURE (1860–68).
CHAPTER XVII. INFLUENCE OF DARWIN UPON HOOKER AND ASA GRAY—NATURAL SELECTION AND DESIGN IN NATURE (1860–68).
Hooker wrote on November 21st, speaking of the “glorious book” in the warmest terms. Later on in the year he wrote again in the same spirit, but speaking of the difficulty he found in assimilating the immense mass of details: “It is the very hardest book to read, to full profits, that I ever tried—it is so cram-full of matter and reasoning.” Hooker must, however, have been familiar with the arguments and proofs, and for this reason did not attempt any detailed discussion. It is unnecessary to sa
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CHAPTER XVIII. INFLUENCE OF DARWIN UPON HUXLEY.
CHAPTER XVIII. INFLUENCE OF DARWIN UPON HUXLEY.
It is of the utmost interest to trace the influence of Darwin upon Huxley, his great General in the numerous controversial battles which had to be fought before the new views were to secure a fair hearing and, at length, complete success. Now that we are quietly enjoying the fruit of his many victories, we are apt to forget how much we owe to Huxley, not only for evolution, but for that perfect freedom in the expression of thought and opinion which we enjoy. For Huxley fought on wider issues tha
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CHAPTER XIX. THE DIFFICULTY WITH WHICH THE “ORIGIN” WAS UNDERSTOOD.
CHAPTER XIX. THE DIFFICULTY WITH WHICH THE “ORIGIN” WAS UNDERSTOOD.
Even earlier than Huxley, H. C. Watson wrote warmly accepting natural selection. In his letter, which is dated November 21st, 1859, he said:— “Your leading idea will surely become recognised as an established truth in science— i.e. ‘Natural Selection.’ It has the characteristics of all great natural truths, clarifying what was obscure, simplifying what was intricate, adding greatly to previous knowledge. You are the greatest revolutionist in natural history of this century, if not of all centuri
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CHAPTER XX. THE DIFFICULTY WITH WHICH THE “ORIGIN” WAS UNDERSTOOD (continued)—VIEWS ON SPONTANEOUS GENERATION.
CHAPTER XX. THE DIFFICULTY WITH WHICH THE “ORIGIN” WAS UNDERSTOOD (continued)—VIEWS ON SPONTANEOUS GENERATION.
The history of opinion on evolution and natural selection, in the years which followed the publication of the “Origin,” can be traced in the titles of the papers and subjects of discussion at successive meetings of the British Association. In the Presidential Address delivered by Professor Newton to the Biological Section of the Manchester meeting in 1887, there is a most interesting account of the struggles which took place:— “The ever-memorable meeting ... at Oxford in the summer of 1860 saw t
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CHAPTER XXI. VARIATION OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS UNDER DOMESTICATION: PANGENESIS (1868).
CHAPTER XXI. VARIATION OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS UNDER DOMESTICATION: PANGENESIS (1868).
We now come to consider the succession of invaluable works produced by Darwin after the appearance of the “Origin,” the last of which—that on Earthworms—was published about six months before his death. Darwin’s method of bringing these results before the world was somewhat different from that most generally adopted by scientific men in this country, although of common occurrence in Germany. The great majority of scientific facts are here published by the proceedings or transactions of scientific
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CHAPTER XXII. PANGENESIS AND CONTINUITY OF THE GERM-PLASM: DARWIN’S CONFIDENCE IN PANGENESIS.
CHAPTER XXII. PANGENESIS AND CONTINUITY OF THE GERM-PLASM: DARWIN’S CONFIDENCE IN PANGENESIS.
Darwin’s letters prove that he thought very highly of this hypothesis; and whether the future determine it to be true or erroneous, it must surely rank as among the greatest of his intellectual efforts. In his autobiography he says of it:— “An unverified hypothesis is of little or no value; but if any one should hereafter be led to make observations by which some such hypothesis could be established, I shall have done good service, as an astonishing number of isolated facts can be thus connected
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CHAPTER XXIII. DESCENT OF MAN—EXPRESSION OF EMOTIONS—EARTH-WORMS (1871–81).
CHAPTER XXIII. DESCENT OF MAN—EXPRESSION OF EMOTIONS—EARTH-WORMS (1871–81).
The work on “The Descent of Man” was begun as soon as Darwin had sent the manuscript of “Animals and Plants” to the printers, although notes on the subject had been collected from time to time during the previous thirty years—in fact, ever since Darwin had come to definite conclusions on evolution. The book was published February 24th, 1871, but, as in the case of his other publications, continuous work upon the manuscript had been impossible. The volume attracted great interest, and 5,000 copie
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CHAPTER XXIV. BOTANICAL WORKS (1862–86).
CHAPTER XXIV. BOTANICAL WORKS (1862–86).
Darwin’s botanical works are referred to separately, and receive more systematic treatment than the others, in the great “Life and Letters.” They form, together with the botanical letters, the subject of the seventh to the twelfth chapters in the last volume. It will therefore be unnecessary to treat them in any detail, although they form some of the most important and interesting of all his biological investigations. Fertilisation of flowers. —“The Fertilisation of Orchids” was the first publis
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CHAPTER XXV. LETTERS FROM DARWIN TO PROFESSOR MELDOLA (1871–82).
CHAPTER XXV. LETTERS FROM DARWIN TO PROFESSOR MELDOLA (1871–82).
By the kindness of my friend Professor Meldola, and the courtesy of Mr. Francis Darwin, I am enabled to publish for the first time a series of letters written by Charles Darwin to the former. The whole series consists of 33 letters, written between January 28th, 1871, and February 2nd, 1882, only a few weeks before his death. When we remember the immense amount of correspondence with which Darwin had to cope, the constant attention required by his investigations and publications, and the state o
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CHAPTER XXVI. HIS LAST ILLNESS (1882).
CHAPTER XXVI. HIS LAST ILLNESS (1882).
In the last few months of his life, towards the end of 1881 and beginning of 1882, Darwin began to suffer from his heart, causing attacks of pain and faintness which increased in number. On March 7th, 1882, he had one of these seizures when walking, “and this was the last time that he was able to reach his favourite ‘sand-walk’” (“Life and Letters”). After this he became rather better, and on April 17th was able to record the progress of an experiment for his son Francis. The following sentences
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