Darwin claimed evolution as his own theory. Of
course, he would not claim it if he had no right to it. Then by all
means give him the credit of it. This was the most natural view to
take, and it was generally taken. It was not, moreover, surprising
that people failed to appreciate all the niceties of Mr. Darwin's
"distinctive feature" which, whether distinctive or no, was
assuredly not distinct, and was never frankly contrasted with the
older view, as it would have been by one who wished it to be
understood and judged upon its merits. It was in consequence of
this omission that people failed to note how fast and loose Mr.
Darwin played with his distinctive feature, and how readily he
dropped it on occasion.
It may be said that the question of what was thought by the
predecessors of Mr. Darwin is, after all, personal, and of no
interest to the general public, comparable to that of the main
issue--whether we are to accept evolution or not. Granted that Buff
on, Erasmus Darwin, and Lamarck bore the burden and heat of the day
before Mr.
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