The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-06
Ending "a Forty Years secret
Edinburgh Scotsman.I

IEdinbHrgn ScOtSinan.j
Forty years have elapsed since the first
appearance OF the " Nestiges OF the Natural
History OF Creation" The book at once
attracted attention by the brilliancy and
yigor OF it style, for its lucid presentation Of
scientific fact and theory, and, above all
for the boldness with which ii attacked ac-
cepted theories and conclusions OF science
and theology, and advanced hypotheseS
concerning the origin and development OF
life on the planet. which, il not altogether
new. had never before been presented in
so popular form. Immediately the bigotS
OF science and OF theology rose up
i'm anger. and, deep answering 10
deep, pronounced on the book the great
er malediction. Within the larger cOntro-
versy over the doctrines and facts sci
forth i'm the Vestigcs" ragged another,
bearing reference to its authorship. Many
wild glIesses were hazarded on the sub
iect. but the general drift OF option gave
the credit or the OblOquy to the late Dr.
Robert Chambers. What doubt may have
fingered in the public mind on this subject
has at length been finally set at rest. A
new edition of the "VestigeS 1.-The
twefth-is on the point OF being issued by
Messrs. W. & K. Chambers, and in an
introduction Mr. Alexander Ireland. a
"the sole surviving depository Of the Sc
cret." makes clean breast Of the story OF
the origin and publication OF the work,
The guess which connected the name
OF Or. Robert Chambers with the
book was right; he was, Mr.. Ireland
tells us. the sole author. 1t could only
however. have been a guess or sus-
picion, for, we are informed, the secret OF
the authorship was intrusted TO no more
than four persons, all Of whom loyalty kept
il. Three of these-the authors wife, his
brother, DR.. William Chambers. and Mr..
Robert Cox, editor OF the PhTeDOiOgicdi
,JOurndi-are now dead. and Mr.. Ireland.
being under no express promise to conceal
it longer. has FASTENED to libcrate his mind
Of the secret which he has carried about
with him for forty years. He tells MS. ~
the narrative which he has prefiXed to the
new edition, that up 10 the close OF his life
the late DR.. William Chambers was M
willing that his brothers connection
with the work should be diyulged,
and expressed a wish that the mat
ter should be " allowed TO lapse
into oblivion" Mr.. Ireland has taken q
different view, and most men will be OF
opinion that he has judged rightly in de-
Gliding TO clear away literary mystery
which, perhaps, need never have existed,
or at least need not have existed so long.
A. "the fOrerunner Of Darwin's Theory
Of Evolution" the book claims an hOnOra-
BILE place in history. DR.. Chambers own
opinion regarding ii may be gathered from
the account which Mr.. Ireland gives OF his
last touching interview with his friend,
then lying i'll at 81. Andrews. After
pathetically recalling the happy So
ciaI evenings at his own hearth in
Edinburgh and breezy walks on the
Pentland Hills, he spoke Of the "Ncs-
tiges." granted full discretion Of disclosing
his own connection with it in any future
publication, and said that "as science pro-
crossed he was convinced that his endca-
vors, along with those Of the other think
ers. to extend the conception OF the pro-
vince Of law in the universe aud to e>tab-
lish the theory OF development would
become more generally appreciated; that
every discovery OF Il new scientific truth
was but a stepping stone to something be-
yond, leading TO a more accurate know
edge OF the august laws by which the Di-
vine Mind acts in the material and moral
world"