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rian teaching。 Macculloch alone gave valuable support to the Huttonian doctrines； so far as they related to the influence of igneous activitybut the most important portion of the now celebrated 〃Theory of the Earth〃that dealing with the competency of existing agencies to account for changes in past geological timeswas ignored by all alike。 Macculloch's influence on the development of geology； which might have had far…reaching effects； was to a great extent neutralised by his peculiarities of mind and temper； and； after a stormy and troublous career； he retired from the society in 1832。 In all the writings of the great pioneers in English geology； Hutton and his splendid generalisation are scarcely ever referred to。 The great doctrines of Uniformitarianism； which he had foreshadowed； were completely ignored； and only his extravagances of 〃anti…Wernerianism〃 seem to have been remembered。
When between 1830 and 1832； Lyell； taking up the almost forgotten ideas of Hutton； von Hoff and Prevost； published that bold challenge to the Catastrophiststhe 〃Principles of Geology〃he was met with the strongest opposition； not only from the outside world； which was amused by his 〃absurdities〃 and shocked by his 〃impiety〃but not less from his fellow… workers and friends in the Geological Society。 For Lyell's numerous original observations； and his diligent collection of facts his contemporaries had nothing but admiration； and they cheerfully admitted him to the highest offices in the society； but they met his reasonings on geological theory with vehement opposition and his conclusions with coldness and contempt。
There is； indeed； a very striking parallelism between the reception of the 〃Principles of Geology〃 by Lyell's contemporaries and the manner in which the 〃Origin of Species〃 was met a quarter of a century later； as is so vividly described by Huxley。 （〃L。L。〃 II。 pages 179…204。） Among Lyell's fellow…geologists； two onlyG。 Poulett Scrope and John Herschel （Both Lyell and Darwin fully realised the value of the support of these two friends。 Scrope in his appreciative reviews of the 〃Principles〃 justly pointed out what was the weakest point； the inadequate recognition of sub… aerial as compared with marine denudation。 Darwin also admitted that Scrope had to a great extent forestalled him in his theory of Foliation。 Herschel from the first insisted that the leading idea of the 〃Principles〃 must be applied to organic as well as to inorganic nature and must explain the appearance of new species （see Lyell's 〃Life and Letters〃； Vol。 I。 page 467）。 Darwin tells us that Herschel's 〃Introduction to the Study of Natural Philosophy〃 with Humboldt's 〃Personal Narrative〃 〃stirred up in me a burning zeal〃 in his undergraduate days。 I once heard Lyell exclaim with fervour 〃If ever there was a heaven…born genius it was John Herschel！〃） declared themselves from the first his strong supporters。 Scrope in two luminous articles in the 〃Quarterly Review〃 did for Lyell what Huxley accomplished for Darwin in his famous review in the 〃Times〃； but Scrope unfortunately was at that time immersed in the stormy sea of politics； and devoted his great powers of exposition to the preparation of fugitive pamphlets。 Herschel； like Scrope； was unable to support Lyell at the Geological Society； owing to his absence on the important astronomical mission to the Cape。
It thus came about that； in the frequent conflicts of opinion within the walls of the Geological Society； Lyell had to bear the brunt of battle for Uniformitarianism quite alone； and it is to be feared that he found himself sadly overmatched when opposed by the eloquence of Sedgwick； the sarcasm of Buckland； and the dead weight of incredulity on the part of Greenough； Conybeare； Murchison and other members of the band of pioneer workers。 As time went on there is evidence that the opposition of De la Beche and Whewell somewhat relaxed； the brilliant 〃Paddy〃 Fitton （as his friends called him） was sometimes found in alliance with Lyell； but was characteristically apt to turn his weapon； as occasion served； on friend or foe alike； the amiable John Phillips 〃sat upon the fence。〃 Only when a new generation aroseincluding Jukes； Ramsay； Forbes and Hookerdid Lyell find his teachings received with anything like favour。
We can well understand； then； how Lyell would welcome such a recruit as young Darwina man who had declared himself more Lyellian than Lyell； and who brought to his support facts and observations gleaned from so wide a field。
The first meeting of Lyell and Darwin was characteristic of the two men。 Darwin at once explained to Lyell that； with respect to the origin of coral…reefs； he had arrived at views directly opposed to those published by 〃his master。〃 To give up his own theory； cost Lyell； as he told Herschel； a 〃pang at first；〃 but he was at once convinced of the immeasurable superiority of Darwin's theory。 I have heard members of Lyell's family tell of the state of wild excitement and sustained enthusiasm； which lasted for days with Lyell after this interview； and his letters to Herschel； Whewell and others show his pleasure at the new light thrown upon the subject and his impatience to have the matter laid before the Geological Society。
Writing forty years afterwards； Darwin； speaking of the time of the return of the 〃Beagle〃； says： 〃I saw a great deal of Lyell。 One of his chief characteristics was his sympathy with the work of others； and I was as much astonished as delighted at the interest which he showed when； on my return to England； I explained to him my views on coral…reefs。 This encouraged me greatly； and his advice and example had much influence on me。〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 68。） Darwin further states that he saw more of Lyell at this time than of any other scientific man； and at his request sent his first communication to the Geological Society。 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 67。）
〃Mr Lonsdale〃 （the able curator of the Geological Society）； Darwin wrote to Henslow； 〃with whom I had much interesting conversation；〃 〃gave me a most cordial reception；〃 and he adds； 〃If I was not much more inclined for geology than the other branches of Natural History； I am sure Mr Lyell's and Lonsdale's kindness ought to fix me。 You cannot conceive anything more thoroughly good…natured than the heart…and…soul manner in which he put himself in my place and thought what would be best to do。〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 275。）
Within a few days of Darwin's arrival in London we find Lyell writing to Owen as follows：
〃Mrs Lyell and I expect a few friends here on Saturday next； 29th （October）； to an early tea party at eight o'clock； and it will give us great pleasure if you can join it。 Among others you will meet Mr Charles Darwin； whom I believe you have seen； just returned from South America； where he has laboured for zoologists as well as for hammer…bearers。 I have also asked your friend Broderip。〃 （〃The Life of Richard Owen〃； London； 1894； Vol。 I。 page 102。） It would probably be on this occasion that the services of Owen were secured for the work on the fossil bones sent home by Darwin。
On November 2nd； we find Lyell introducing Darwin as his guest at the Geological Society Club； on December 14th； Lyell and Stokes proposed Darwin as a member of the Club； between that date and May 3rd of the following year； when his election to the Club took place； he was several times dining as a guest。
On January 4th； 1837； as we have already seen； Darwin was formally admitted to the Geological Society； and on the same evening he read his first paper （I have already pointed out that the notes read at the Geological Society on Nov。 18； 1835 were extracts made by Sedgwick from letters sent to Henslow； and not a paper sent home for publication by Darwin。） before the Society； 〃Observations of proofs of recent elevation on the coast of Chili； made during the Survey of H。M。S。 〃Beagle〃； commanded by Captain FitzRoy； R。N。〃 By C。 Darwin； F。G。S。 This paper was preceded by one on the same subject by Mr A。 Caldcleugh； and the reading of a letter and other communications from the Foreign Office also relating to the earthquakes in Chili。
At the meeting of the Council of the Geological Society on February 1st； Darwin was nominated as a member of the new Council； and he was elected on February 17th。
The meeting of the Geological Society on April 19th was devoted to the reading by Owen of his paper on Toxodon； perhaps the most remarkable of the fossil mammals found by Darwin in South America； and at the next meeting； on May 3rd； Darwin himself read 〃A Sketch of the Deposits containing extinct Mammalia in the neighbourhood of the Plata〃。 The next following meeting； on May 17th； was devoted to Darwin's Coral…reef paper； entitled 〃On certain areas of elevation and subsidence in the Pacific and Indian Oceans； as deduced from the study of Coral Formations〃。 Neither of these three early papers of Darwin were published in the Transactions of the Geological Society； but the minutes of the Council show that they were 〃withdrawn by the author by permission of the Council。〃
Darwin's activity during this session led to some rather alarming effects upon his health； and he was induced to take a holiday in Staffordshire and the Isle of