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1863； soon after the publication of Darwin's 〃Origin of Species〃； Huxley stated his own views in regard to this great problem。 He tells us how the idea of a natural descent of man gradually grew up in his mind； it was especially the assertions of Owen in regard to the total difference between the human and the simian brain that called forth strong dissent from the great anatomist Huxley； and he easily succeeded in showing that Owen's supposed differences had no real existence； he even established； on the basis of his own anatomical investigations； the proposition that the anatomical differences between the Marmoset and the Chimpanzee are much greater than those between the Chimpanzee and Man。
But why do we thus introduce the study of Darwin's 〃Descent of Man〃； which is to occupy us here； by insisting on the fact that Huxley had taken the field in defence of the descent of man in 1863； while Darwin's book on the subject did not appear till 1871？ It is in order that we may clearly understand how it happened that from this time onwards Darwin and Huxley followed the same great aim in the most intimate association。
Huxley and Darwin working at the same Problema maximum！ Huxley fiery； impetuous； eager for battle； contemptuous of the resistance of a dull world； or energetically triumphing over it。 Darwin calm； weighing every problem slowly； letting it mature thoroughly；not a fighter； yet having the greater and more lasting influence by virtue of his immense mass of critically sifted proofs。 Darwin's friend； Huxley； was the first to do him justice； to understand his nature； and to find in it the reason why the detailed and carefully considered book on the descent of man made its appearance so late。 Huxley； always generous； never thought of claiming priority for himself。 In enthusiastic language he tells how Darwin's immortal work； 〃The Origin of Species〃； first shed light for him on the problem of the descent of man； the recognition of a vera causa in the transformation of species illuminated his thoughts as with a flash。 He was now content to leave what perplexed him； what he could not yet solve； as he says himself； 〃in the mighty hands of Darwin。〃 Happy in the bustle of strife against old and deep…rooted prejudices； against intolerance and superstition； he wielded his sharp weapons on Darwin's behalf； wearing Darwin's armour he joyously overthrew adversary after adversary。 Darwin spoke of Huxley as his 〃general agent。〃 （〃Life and Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley〃； Vol。 I。 page 171； London； 1900。） Huxley says of himself 〃I am Darwin's bulldog。〃 （Ibid。 page 363。）
Thus Huxley openly acknowledged that it was Darwin's 〃Origin of Species〃 that first set the problem of the descent of man in its true light； that made the question of the origin of the human race a pressing one。 That this was the logical consequence of his book Darwin himself had long felt。 He had been reproached with intentionally shirking the application of his theory to Man。 Let us hear what he says on this point in his autobiography： 〃As soon as I had become； in the year 1837 or 1838； convinced that species were mutable productions； I could not avoid the belief that man must come under the same law。 Accordingly I collected notes on the subject for my own satisfaction； and not for a long time with any intention of publishing。 Although in the 'Origin of Species' the derivation of any particular species is never discussed； yet I thought it best； in order THAT NO HONOURABLE MAN SHOULD ACCUSE ME OF CONCEALING MY VIEWS （No italics in original。）； to add that by the work 'light would be thrown on the origin of man and his history。' It would have been useless and injurious to the success of the book to have paraded； without giving any evidence； my conviction with respect to his origin。〃 （〃Life and Letters of Charles Darwin〃； Vol。 1。 page 93。）
In a letter written in January； 1860； to the Rev。 L。 Blomefield； Darwin expresses himself in similar terms。 〃With respect to man； I am very far from wishing to obtrude my belief； but I thought it dishonest to quite conceal my opinion。〃 （Ibid。 Vol。 II。 page 263。）
The brief allusion in the 〃Origin of Species〃 is so far from prominent and so incidental that it was excusable to assume that Darwin had not touched upon the descent of man in this work。 It was solely the desire to have his mass of evidence sufficiently complete； solely Darwin's great characteristic of never publishing till he had carefully weighed all aspects of his subject for years； solely； in short； his most fastidious scientific conscience that restrained him from challenging the world in 1859 with a book in which the theory of the descent of man was fully set forth。 Three years； frequently interrupted by ill…health； were needed for the actual writing of the book （〃Life and Letters〃； Vol。 I。 page 94。）： the first edition； which appeared in 1871； was followed in 1874 by a much improved second edition； the preparation of which he very reluctantly undertook。 （Ibid。 Vol。 III。 page 175。）
This； briefly； is the history of the work； which； with the 〃Origin of Species〃； marks an epoch in the history of biological sciencesthe work with which the cautious； peace…loving investigator ventured forth from his contemplative life into the arena of strife and unrest； and laid himself open to all the annoyances that deep…rooted belief and prejudice； and the prevailing tendency of scientific thought at the time could devise。
Darwin did not take this step lightly。 Of great interest in this connection is a letter written to Wallace on Dec。 22； 1857 （Ibid。 Vol。 II。 page 109。）； in which he says 〃You ask whether I shall discuss 'man。' I think I shall avoid the whole subject； as so surrounded with prejudices； though I fully admit that it is the highest and most interesting problem for the naturalist。〃 But his conscientiousness compelled him to state briefly his opinion on the subject in the 〃Origin of Species〃 in 1859。 Nevertheless he did not escape reproaches for having been so reticent。 This is unmistakably apparent from a letter to Fritz Muller dated February 22 （1869？）； in which he says： 〃I am thinking of writing a little essay on the Origin of Mankind； as I have been taunted with concealing my opinions。〃 （Ibid。 Vol。 III。 page 112。）
It might be thought that Darwin behaved thus hesitatingly； and was so slow in deciding on the full publication of his collected material in regard to the descent of man； because he had religious difficulties to overcome。
But this was not the case； as we can see from his admirable confession of faith； the publication of which we owe to his son Francis。 （Ibid。 Vol。 I。 pages 304…317。） Whoever wishes really to understand the lofty character of this great man should read these immortal lines in which he unfolds to us in simple and straightforward words the development of his conception of the universe。 He describes how； though he was still quite orthodox during his voyage round the world on board the 〃Beagle〃； he came gradually to see； shortly afterwards （1836…1839） that the Old Testament was no more to be trusted than the Sacred Books of the Hindoos； the miracles by which Christianity is supported； the discrepancies between the accounts in the different Gospels； gradually led him to disbelieve in Christianity as a divine revelation。 〃Thus；〃 he writes （〃Life and Letters〃； Vol。 1。 page 309。）； 〃disbelief crept over me at a very slow rate； but was at last complete。 The rate was so slow that I felt no distress。〃 But Darwin was too modest to presume to go beyond the limits laid down by science。 He wanted nothing more than to be able to go； freely and unhampered by belief in authority or in the Bible； as far as human knowledge could lead him。 We learn this from the concluding words of his chapter on religion： 〃The mystery of the beginning of all things is insoluble by us； and I for one must be content to remain an Agnostic。〃 （Loc。 cit。 page 313。）
Darwin was always very unwilling to give publicity to his views in regard to religion。 In a letter to Asa Gray on May 22； 1860 （Ibid。 Vol。 II。 page 310。）； he declares that it is always painful to him to have to enter into discussion of religious problems。 He had； he said； no intention of writing atheistically。
Finally； let us cite one characteristic sentence from a letter from Darwin to C。 Ridley （Ibid。 Vol。 III。 page。 236。 （〃C。 Ridley；〃 Mr Francis Darwin points out to me； should be H。N。 Ridley。 A。C。S。）） （Nov。 28； 1878。） A clergyman； Dr Pusey； had asserted that Darwin had written the 〃Origin of Species〃 with some relation to theology。 Darwin writes emphatically； 〃Many years ago； when I was collecting facts for the 'Origin'； my belief in what is called a personal God was as firm as that of Dr Pusey himself； and as to the eternity of matter I never troubled myself about such insoluble questions。〃 The expression 〃many years ago〃 refers to the time of his voyage round the world； as has already been pointed out。 Darwin means by this utterance that the views which had gradually developed in his mind in regard to the origin of species were quite compatible with the faith of the Church。
If we consider all these utterances of Darwin in regard to religion and to his outlook on l