登陆注册
14723000000001

第1章

DARWIN ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES

Prefatory Note As the following dialogue embodies the earliest fruits of Butler's study of the works of Charles Darwin, with whose name his own was destined in later years to be so closely connected, and thus possesses an interest apart from its intrinsic merit, a few words as to the circumstances in which it was published will not be out of place.

Butler arrived in New Zealand in October, 1859, and about the same time Charles Darwin's ORIGIN OF SPECIES was published. Shortly afterwards the book came into Butler's hands. He seems to have read it carefully, and meditated upon it. The result of his meditations took the shape of the following dialogue, which was published on 20December, 1862, in the PRESS which had been started in the town of Christ Church in May, 1861. The dialogue did not by any means pass unnoticed. On the 17th of January, 1863, a leading article (of course unsigned) appeared in the PRESS, under the title "Barrel-Organs," discussing Darwin's theories, and incidentally referring to Butler's dialogue. A reply to this article, signed A .M., appeared on the 21st of February, and the correspondence was continued until the 22nd of June, 1863. The dialogue itself, which was unearthed from the early files of the PRESS, mainly owing to the exertions of Mr. Henry Festing Jones, was reprinted, together with the correspondence that followed its publication, in the PRESS of June 8and 15, 1912. Soon after the original appearance of Butler's dialogue a copy of it fell into the hands of Charles Darwin, possibly sent to him by a friend in New Zealand. Darwin was sufficiently struck by it to forward it to the editor of some magazine, which has not been identified, with the following letter:-Down, Bromley, Kent, S.E.

March 24 [1863].

(Private).

Mr. Darwin takes the liberty to send by this post to the Editor a New Zealand newspaper for the very improbable chance of the Editor having some spare space to reprint a Dialogue on Species. This Dialogue, written by some [sic] quite unknown to Mr. Darwin, is remarkable from its spirit and from giving so clear and accurate a view of Mr. D.

[sic] theory. It is also remarkable from being published in a colony exactly 12 years old, in which it might have [sic] thought only material interests would have been regarded.

The autograph of this letter was purchased from Mr. Tregaskis by Mr.

Festing Jones, and subsequently presented by him to the Museum at Christ Church. The letter cannot be dated with certainty, but since Butler's dialogue was published in December, 1862, and it is at least probable that the copy of the PRESS which contained it was sent to Darwin shortly after it appeared, we may conclude with tolerable certainty that the letter was written in March, 1863. Further light is thrown on the controversy by a correspondence which took place between Butler and Darwin in 1865, shortly after Butler's return to England. During that year Butler had published a pamphlet entitled THE EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST AS GIVEN BY THEFOUR EVANGELISTS CRITICALLY EXAMINED, of which he afterwards incorporated the substance into THE FAIR HAVEN. Butler sent a copy of this pamphlet to Darwin, and in due course received the following reply:-Down, Bromley, Kent.

September 30 [1865].

My dear Sir,--I am much obliged to you for so kindly sending me your Evidences, etc. We have read it with much interest. It seems to me written with much force, vigour, and clearness; and the main argument to me is quite new. I particularly agree with all you say in your preface.

I do not know whether you intend to return to New Zealand, and, if you are inclined to write, I should much like to know what your future plans are.

My health has been so bad during the last five months that I have been confined to my bedroom. Had it been otherwise I would have asked you if you could have spared the time to have paid us a visit;but this at present is impossible, and I fear will be so for some time.

With my best thanks for your present, I remain, My dear Sir, Yours very faithfully, Charles Darwin.

To this letter Butler replied as follows:-15 Clifford's Inn, E.C.

October 1st, 1865.

Dear Sir,--I knew you were ill and I never meant to give you the fatigue of writing to me. Please do not trouble yourself to do so again. As you kindly ask my plans I may say that, though I very probably may return to New Zealand in three or four years, I have no intention of doing so before that time. My study is art, and anything else I may indulge in is only by-play; it may cause you some little wonder that at my age I should have started as an art student, and I may perhaps be permitted to explain that this was always my wish for years, that I had begun six years ago, as soon as ever Ifound that I could not conscientiously take orders; my father so strongly disapproved of the idea that I gave it up and went out to New Zealand, stayed there for five years, worked like a common servant, though on a run of my own, and sold out little more than a year ago, thinking that prices were going to fall--which they have since done. Being then rather at a loss what to do and my capital being all locked up, I took the opportunity to return to my old plan, and have been studying for the last ten years unremittingly. I hope that in three or four years more I shall be able to go on very well by myself, and then I may go back to New Zealand or no as circumstances shall seem to render advisable. I must apologise for so much detail, but hardly knew how to explain myself without it.

I always delighted in your ORIGIN OF SPECIES as soon as I saw it out in New Zealand--not as knowing anything whatsoever of natural history, but it enters into so many deeply interesting questions, or rather it suggests so many, that it thoroughly fascinated me. Itherefore feel all the greater pleasure that my pamphlet should please you, however full of errors.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 天罗地绾:第一女神捕

    天罗地绾:第一女神捕

    (推荐校园新书:强吻99次,校草独宠小青梅)宁绾绾一朝穿越,成了一个陌生男人的王妃,还被他打掉了孩子,吓得她想方设法要逃出宫,一朝成了另一个国家的郡主。但在外人面前,宁绾绾是极其厉害的女子,她颁布新政令,站在城楼指挥千军,以绝对的弱势竟将敌人打的落花流水。然而,在罗銘面前,不管她的明示还是暗示,他统统都接收不到,直到太后的寿宴上,来了个不速之客。“宁绾绾,你别忘了,你是本王的王妃”。杨毅惩罚似得霸道的将她抱在怀里,低头索取。罗銘抬手摸了一下自己的心脏,原来,他真的害怕她离开她。“豫南王,你竟在本王的王宫里,调戏本王的女人?”
  • 首席教官,别来无恙

    首席教官,别来无恙

    她大学报道第一天就迟到了,还要死不死刚好碰到了军训教官,更加作死的是她还调戏了!!!天啊!!大神,能不能不要缠着她啊!!片段一:某女:教官,我饿了的撒~某男:嗯,吃吧!某女:吃啥?某男:(妖孽一笑)为夫把自己给你某女:……片段二:
  • 僧游记

    僧游记

    无名小寺无名僧,仗剑游天下草莽天下草莽女,引刀斩苍穹
  • 背着阳光拥抱

    背着阳光拥抱

    我在阳光的背后等你,即使你看不到我。记住:“我爱你,因为你是你。”
  • 一见凴栏误终身

    一见凴栏误终身

    忘了是谁说过的,人的一生,经历三次爱情最好。一次懵懂,一次刻骨,一次一生。她遇见他的时候,以为这就是一生,却不想,很多人很多事,都不是想怎样就能怎样的。林逸青是爱她的,她一直相信,可是有时候,不是只有爱情就能过一辈子。原来真的,没有谁离开谁就会活不下去了。孙宪宇说,蓝蓝,以后我照顾你。他说蓝蓝,我或许不是对你最好的,但我一定会把最完整的,最爱你的我交给你。他说,蓝蓝,我不会说让你和我过一辈子,我不知道我的一辈子有多长,可是,只要我活着一天,只要你不讨厌我一天,你就不能要求我不爱你不疼你。于是,夏凴栏想,也许这才是最适合她的,然后他们,就这么过下去吧。
  • 别样人间

    别样人间

    过去,家乡人说听戏,不说看戏。那时不象现在的舞台,有灯光、布景许多讲究。戏台上就是两把椅子一张桌,简单得很。而且上万人听戏,好大一片,哪看得清?只远远地见舞台上人影乱晃。便只能借助耳朵了。本书适合青少年阅读。
  • 我们美好的故事

    我们美好的故事

    我们的故事从这里开始,“我的意中人是个盖世英雄”“我就是盖世英雄啊”
  • 修真王

    修真王

    主角的辛酸复仇史,最后成为祖级人物。本书有很多有趣的地方,如:亡灵之都,幽思冥界,北冥之地....
  • 圣源传

    圣源传

    生亦死,死亦生。何为生,何为死!是人死灯灭,还是灵魂出窍,或是寂灭!若寂灭不是结束,而是刚刚开始将会发生什么。若存在另一个天,另一个地,另一个世界!那么,我所讲的故事,就是发生在引魂升天的世界,人驻足新世界的故事!当传说成为过去,主人公一步步前行,永不言败!
  • 你是我抵达不了的彼岸

    你是我抵达不了的彼岸

    暗恋多年的青梅竹马,终于上天不负有心人,得到对方的回应,可命运就是如此的残酷,或许……这就是他们的宿命“你终究是我抵达不了的彼岸,可是尽管如此,我还是会在另一个地方永远的守护着你。”