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WATTS'S LITERARY GUIDE ■ ■ B E I N G A M O N T H L Y R E C O R D O F L I B E R A L A N D A D V A N C E D P U B L I C A T IO N S . No. 70.] SEPTEM BER 15, 1891. [P rice One Penny. N E W P U B L I C A T IO N S . — :o:— T he new issue of “ The Agnostic Annual” (6d., by post 7 j4 d.) will be published early in October. The subjects of the various contributions are :— “ Possibilities and Impossibilities,” by Professor Huxley; “ The Growth of Agnosticism,” by Dr. Bithell; “ After Many Years : A Poem,” by Captain McTaggart; “ Sundays and Holydays,” by Samuel L a in g ; “ Ecclesiasticism,” by Professor Momerie; “ Christ a Religious Creation,” by F. J. Gould; “ Early Verses,” by the late Constance Naden ; “ The Activities of Agnosticism,” by Amos Waters; “ Religion Without Superstition,” by Charles Watts ; “ Mr. Gladstone and Supernaturalism,” by Dr. Hardwicke; “ The Land of Death : A Poem,” by W. Stewart Ross (Saladin); “ The Triumph of Rationalism,” by Frederick Millar; “ An Agnostic Homily,” by the Hon. C. K . Tuckerman ; and “ Eternal L i f e : A Poem,” by George Henry Martin. A cheap edition is announced of “ Paul Nugent, Mate­ rialist” (2s.). This novel was intended to be a counterblast to “ Robert Elsmere,” but somewhat failed in its purpose. A new volume o f essays by the late Constance Naden, edited by G. M. McCrie, and dedicated to Dr. Lewins, is in the press, and will be issued early in the autumn. Messrs. W. Stewart & Co. will publish shortly a new and revised edition of Saladin’s “ God and His Book ” (3s.). Messrs. Watts & Co. will issue immediately a Cheap Popular Edition o f Dr. Hardwicke’s “ Evolution and Crea­ tion ” (3s. 6d.). The work is well known to Frethinkers, and has already attracted considerable attention among Christians as well as Rationalists. The new edition will not be abridged, and will contain the various plates and illustrations which formed so acceptable a feature in the earlier and more expensive edition. T he same publishers also announce as ready a shilling edition of Mr. Arthur B. Moss’s “ The Bible and Evolu­ tion.” It will be within the recollection of our readers that Mr. Gladstone refers to this book in his “ Impregnable Rock of Holy Scripture,” remarking very forcibly on the militant and confident tone of the preface contributed by Dr. Hardwicke. M r . R- Forder has reprinted Voltaire’s “ Examination o f the Holy Scriptures ” (4d.). M rs- B e s a n t ’ s remarkable paper in Lucifer on “ Theosophy and ‘ The Law of Population” ’ is issued in pamphlet form ( id .) . T he Progressive Publishing Company has published a neat edition o f Thomas Paine’s “ Miscellaneous Theological Works ” (is.). “ The Age o f Reason ” is not included. O UR L I B R A R V S I I E L VES. — : o : — Beware of a “ popular exposition ” when it is the work of a mere book-compiler. But, when written by a master in the art or science treated of, it is, like the fruit of Paradise, a thing “ to be desired to make one wise.” In such a case the expositor, while anxious to enlighten the reader, is equally anxious not to sacrifice scientific fact to an agreeable style. With this preface we beg to introduce Mr. Alfred Russel Wallace’s “ D ARW IN ISM : An Exposition of the Theory of Natural Selection, with Some of its Applications ” (Macmillan; 2nd edition, 1889 • cr. 8v o ; 494 p p . ; with portrait o f the author, map, and 37 illustrations; 9s.). Generally speaking, Wallace’s manner is lighter than Darwin’s ; but he is just as rigid in his devotion to facts, and the book is positively packed with illustrative accounts of animal and plant life. Many are extracted from Darwin’s series o f writings; but a large number are adduced from Mr. Wallace’s own observation. While maintaining Darwin’s fundamental positions, Mr. Wallace does not hesitate to differ on questions of much importance, as well as in various details. Two points are specially noteworthy. (1) Mr. Wallace, in disagreement with Darwin, does not refer the striking phenomena of colour in butterflies, birds, etc., to the preference o f the females (“ sexual selection ” ), but regards them as the effects of greater nervous and muscular activity, and as affording means by which the males may be readily recognised; and the less obtrusive female colours he explains by the necessity of concealing the mother and young from watchful enemies. (2) In the discussion on man’s spiritual nature Mr. Wallace declines to follow Darwin in tracing its evolution solely from pre-existing elements, but sees in it a product of a new force imported into the arena of biology. The fifteen chapters are marked out into sections, each with its distinctive head-line: a word or two must suffice to indicate their drift. I.— The terms “ species ’’ and “ natural selection ” are explained with clearness and brevity. I I ._ Many instances are exhibited of the struggle for existence among various organisms, closing with a very striking suggestion that the battle for life among the lower animals is not attended with the awful misery which latter-day sentiment is apt to attribute, but that, on the whole, their existence is pleasurable, and their death-crisis is soothed by a natural stupor. III., IV .— The singular variations that occur in the form and dimensions of individuals o f the same species are pointed out by means of tables and diagrams ; and in this individual variation of course one gets at the foundation of the great variations o f species ; the results o f variation on a large scale being reviewed in Chapter V. Some objections are considered, particularly that which is based on the occurrence of as many useless characters as useful and adaptive ones. Mr. Wallace reminds us how research is gradually lessening the number of such supposed cases. A single generation back no one suspected that the colours of flowers, the hairs and spines of plants, and the shapes

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WATTS'S LITERARY GUIDE ■

■

B E I N G A M O N T H L Y R E C O R D O F L I B E R A L A N D A D V A N C E D P U B L I C A T IO N S .

No. 70.]

SEPTEM BER 15, 1891.

[P rice One Penny.

N E W P U B L I C A T IO N S .

— :o:—

T he new issue of “ The Agnostic Annual” (6d., by post 7 j4 d.) will be published early in October. The subjects of the various contributions are :— “ Possibilities and Impossibilities,” by Professor Huxley; “ The Growth of Agnosticism,” by Dr. Bithell; “ After Many Years : A Poem,” by Captain McTaggart; “ Sundays and Holydays,” by Samuel L a in g ; “ Ecclesiasticism,” by Professor Momerie; “ Christ a Religious Creation,” by F. J. Gould; “ Early Verses,” by the late Constance Naden ; “ The Activities of Agnosticism,” by Amos Waters; “ Religion Without Superstition,” by Charles Watts ; “ Mr. Gladstone and Supernaturalism,” by Dr. Hardwicke; “ The Land of Death : A Poem,” by W. Stewart Ross (Saladin); “ The Triumph of Rationalism,” by Frederick Millar; “ An Agnostic Homily,” by the Hon. C. K . Tuckerman ; and “ Eternal L i f e : A Poem,” by George Henry Martin.

A cheap edition is announced of “ Paul Nugent, Mate­ rialist” (2s.). This novel was intended to be a counterblast to “ Robert Elsmere,” but somewhat failed in its purpose.

A new volume o f essays by the late Constance Naden, edited by G. M. McCrie, and dedicated to Dr. Lewins, is in the press, and will be issued early in the autumn.

Messrs. W. Stewart & Co. will publish shortly a new and revised edition of Saladin’s “ God and His Book ” (3s.).

Messrs. Watts & Co. will issue immediately a Cheap Popular Edition o f Dr. Hardwicke’s “ Evolution and Crea­ tion ” (3s. 6d.). The work is well known to Frethinkers, and has already attracted considerable attention among Christians as well as Rationalists. The new edition will not be abridged, and will contain the various plates and illustrations which formed so acceptable a feature in the earlier and more expensive edition.

T he same publishers also announce as ready a shilling edition of Mr. Arthur B. Moss’s “ The Bible and Evolu­ tion.” It will be within the recollection of our readers that Mr. Gladstone refers to this book in his “ Impregnable Rock of Holy Scripture,” remarking very forcibly on the militant and confident tone of the preface contributed by Dr. Hardwicke.

M r . R- Forder has reprinted Voltaire’s “ Examination o f the Holy Scriptures ” (4d.).

M rs- B e s a n t ’ s remarkable paper in Lucifer on “ Theosophy and ‘ The Law of Population” ’ is issued in pamphlet form ( id .) .

T he Progressive Publishing Company has published a neat edition o f Thomas Paine’s “ Miscellaneous Theological Works ” (is.). “ The Age o f Reason ” is not included.

O UR L I B R A R V S I I E L VES.

— : o : —

Beware of a “ popular exposition ” when it is the work of a mere book-compiler. But, when written by a master in the art or science treated of, it is, like the fruit of Paradise, a thing “ to be desired to make one wise.” In such a case the expositor, while anxious to enlighten the reader, is equally anxious not to sacrifice scientific fact to an agreeable style. With this preface we beg to introduce Mr. Alfred Russel Wallace’s

“ D ARW IN ISM :

An Exposition of the Theory of Natural Selection, with Some of its Applications ” (Macmillan; 2nd edition, 1889 • cr. 8v o ; 494 p p . ; with portrait o f the author, map, and 37 illustrations; 9s.). Generally speaking, Wallace’s manner is lighter than Darwin’s ; but he is just as rigid in his devotion to facts, and the book is positively packed with illustrative accounts of animal and plant life. Many are extracted from Darwin’s series o f writings; but a large number are adduced from Mr. Wallace’s own observation. While maintaining Darwin’s fundamental positions, Mr. Wallace does not hesitate to differ on questions of much importance, as well as in various details. Two points are specially noteworthy. (1) Mr. Wallace, in disagreement with Darwin, does not refer the striking phenomena of colour in butterflies, birds, etc., to the preference o f the females (“ sexual selection ” ), but regards them as the effects of greater nervous and muscular activity, and as affording means by which the males may be readily recognised; and the less obtrusive female colours he explains by the necessity of concealing the mother and young from watchful enemies. (2) In the discussion on man’s spiritual nature Mr. Wallace declines to follow Darwin in tracing its evolution solely from pre-existing elements, but sees in it a product of a new force imported into the arena of biology.

The fifteen chapters are marked out into sections, each with its distinctive head-line: a word or two must suffice to indicate their drift. I.— The terms “ species ’’ and “ natural selection ” are explained with clearness and brevity. I I ._ Many instances are exhibited of the struggle for existence among various organisms, closing with a very striking suggestion that the battle for life among the lower animals is not attended with the awful misery which latter-day sentiment is apt to attribute, but that, on the whole, their existence is pleasurable, and their death-crisis is soothed by a natural stupor. III., IV .— The singular variations that occur in the form and dimensions of individuals o f the same species are pointed out by means of tables and diagrams ; and in this individual variation of course one gets at the foundation of the great variations o f species ; the results o f variation on a large scale being reviewed in Chapter V. Some objections are considered, particularly that which is based on the occurrence of as many useless characters as useful and adaptive ones. Mr. Wallace reminds us how research is gradually lessening the number of such supposed cases. A single generation back no one suspected that the colours of flowers, the hairs and spines of plants, and the shapes

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