are "born to trouble," and how incessant and severe the struggle for life
generally is, the present volume graphically describes. Few will deny that
such influences must have gravely affected the range and the association of
individuals and species on the earth's surface. Mr. Darwin thinks that,
acting upon an inherent predisposition to vary, they have sufficed even to
modify the species themselves and produce the present diversity. Mr.
Agassiz believes that they have not even affected the geographical range
and the actual association of species, still less their forms; but that
every adaptation of species to climate, and of species to species, is as
aboriginal, and therefore as inexplicable, as are the organic forms
themselves.

Who shall decide between such extreme views so ably maintained on either
hand, and say how much of truth there may be in each? The present reviewer
has not the presumption to undertake such a task. Having no prepossession
in favor of naturalistic theories, but struck with the eminent ability of
Mr. Darwin's work, and charmed with its fairness, our humbler duty will be
performed if, laying aside prejudice as much as we can, we shall succeed in
giving a fair account of its method and argument, offering by the way a few
suggestions, such as might occur to any naturalist of an inquiring mind. An
editorial character for this article must in justice be disclaimed. The
plural pronoun is employed not to give editorial weight, but to avoid even
the appearance of egotism, and also the circumlocution which attends a
rigorous adherence to the impersonal style.

We have contrasted these two extremely divergent theories, in their broad
statements. It must not be inferred that they have no points nor ultimate
results in common.

In the first place, they practically agree in upsetting, each in its own