darwin and modern science-第87章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sity； he not only did not get any encouragement of his scientific tastes； but was positively repelled by the ordinary instruction given there。 Dr Hope's lectures on Chemistry； it is true； interested the boy； who with his brother Erasmus had made a laboratory in the toolhouse； and was nicknamed 〃Gas〃 by his schoolfellows； while undergoing solemn and public reprimand from Dr Butler at Shrewsbury School for thus wasting his time。 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 35。） But most of the other Edinburgh lectures were 〃intolerably dull；〃 〃as dull as the professors〃 themselves； 〃something fearful to remember。〃 In after life the memory of these lectures was like a nightmare to him。 He speaks in 1840 of Jameson's lectures as something 〃I。。。for my sins experienced！〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 340。） Darwin especially signalises these lectures on Geology and Zoology； which he attended in his second year； as being worst of all 〃incredibly dull。 The sole effect they produced on me was the determination never so long as I lived to read a book on Geology； or in any way to study the science！〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 41。）
The misfortune was that Edinburgh at that time had become the cockpit in which the barren conflict between 〃Neptunism〃 and Plutonism〃 was being waged with blind fury and theological bitterness。 Jameson and his pupils； on the one hand； and the friends and disciples of Hutton； on the other； went to the wildest extremes in opposing each other's peculiar tenets。 Darwin tells us that he actually heard Jameson 〃in a field lecture at Salisbury Craigs； discoursing on a trap…dyke； with amygdaloidal margins and the strata indurated on each side； with volcanic rocks all around us； say that it was a fissure filled with sediment from above； adding with a sneer that there were men who maintained that it had been injected from beneath in a molten condition。〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 pages 41…42。） 〃When I think of this lecture；〃 added Darwin； 〃I do not wonder that I determined never to attend to Geology。〃 （This was written in 1876 and Darwin had in the summer of 1839 revisited and carefully studied the locality （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 290。） It is probable that most of Jameson's teaching was of the same controversial and unilluminating character as this field…lecture at Salisbury Craigs。
There can be no doubt that； while at Edinburgh； Darwin must have become acquainted with the doctrines of the Huttonian School。 Though so young； he mixed freely with the scientific society of the city； Macgillivray； Grant； Leonard Horner； Coldstream； Ainsworth and others being among his acquaintances； while he attended and even read papers at the local scientific societies。 It is to be feared； however； that what Darwin would hear most of； as characteristic of the Huttonian teaching； would be assertions that chalk…flints were intrusions of molten silica； that fossil wood and other petrifactions had been impregnated with fused materials； that heatbut never waterwas always the agent by which the induration and crystallisation of rock…materials （even siliceous conglomerate； limestone and rock…salt） had been effected！ These extravagant 〃anti… Wernerian〃 views the young student might well regard as not one whit less absurd and repellant than the doctrine of the 〃aqueous precipitation〃 of basalt。 There is no evidence that Darwin； even if he ever heard of them； was in any way impressed； in his early career； by the suggestive passages in Hutton and Playfair； to which Lyell afterwards called attention； and which foreshadowed the main principles of Uniformitarianism。
As a matter of fact； I believe that the influence of Hutton and Playfair in the development of a philosophical theory of geology has been very greatly exaggerated by later writers on the subject。 Just as Wells and Matthew anticipated the views of Darwin on Natural Selection； but without producing any real influence on the course of biological thought； so Hutton and Playfair adumbrated doctrines which only became the basis of vivifying theory in the hands of Lyell。 Alfred Russel Wallace has very justly remarked that when Lyell wrote the 〃Principles of Geology〃； 〃the doctrines of Hutton and Playfair； so much in advance of their age； seemed to be utterly forgotten。〃 （〃Quarterly Review〃； Vol。 CXXVI。 （1869）； page 363。） In proof of this it is only necessary to point to the works of the great masters of English geology； who preceded Lyell； in which the works of Hutton and his followers are scarcely ever mentioned。 This is true even of the 〃Researches in Theoretical Geology〃 and the other works of the sagacious De la Beche。 （Of the strength and persistence of the prejudice felt against Lyell's views by his contemporaries； I had a striking illustration some little time after Lyell's death。 One of the old geologists who in the early years of the century had done really good work in connection with the Geological Society expressed a hope that I was not 〃one of those who had been carried away by poor Lyell's fads。〃 My surprise was indeed great when further conversation showed me that the whole of the 〃Principles〃 were included in the 〃fads〃！） Darwin himself possessed a copy of Playfair's 〃Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory〃； and occasionally quotes it； but I have met with only one reference to Hutton； and that a somewhat enigmatical one； in all Darwin's writings。 In a letter to Lyell in 1841； when his mind was much exercised concerning glacial questions； he says 〃What a grand new feature all this ice work is in Geology！ How old Hutton would have stared！〃 （〃M。L。〃 II。 page 149。）
As a consequence of the influences brought to bear on his mind during his two years' residence in Edinburgh； Darwin； who had entered that University with strong geological aspirations； left it and proceeded to Cambridge with a pronounced distaste for the whole subject。 The result of this was that； during his career as an under…graduate； he neglected all the opportunities for geological study。 During that important period of life； when he was between eighteen and twenty years of age； Darwin spent his time in riding； shooting and beetle…hunting； pursuits which were undoubtedly an admirable preparation for his future work as an explorer； but in none of his letters of this period does he even mention geology。 He says； however； 〃I was so sickened with lectures at Edinburgh that I did not even attend Sedgwick's eloquent and interesting lectures。〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 48。）
It was only after passing his examination； and when he went up to spend two extra terms at Cambridge； that geology again began to attract his attention。 The reading of Sir John Herschel's 〃Introduction to the Study of Natural Philosophy〃； and of Humboldt's 〃Personal Narrative〃； a copy of which last had been given to him by his good friend and mentor Henslow； roused his dormant enthusiasm for science； and awakened in his mind a passionate desire for travel。 And it was from Henslow； whom he had accompanied in his excursions； but without imbibing any marked taste； at that time； for botany； that the advice came to think of and to 〃begin the study of geology。〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 56。） This was in 1831； and in the summer vacation of that year we find him back again at Shrewsbury 〃working like a tiger〃 at geology and endeavouring to make a map and section of Shropshirework which he says was not 〃as easy as I expected。〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 189。） No better field for geological studies could possibly be found than Darwin's native county。
Writing to Henslow at this time； and referring to a form of the instrument devised by his friend； Darwin says： 〃I am very glad to say I think the clinometer will answer admirably。 I put all the tables in my bedroom at every conceivable angle and direction。 I will venture to say that I have measured them as accurately as any geologist going could do。〃 But he adds： 〃I have been working at so many things that I have not got on much with geology。 I suspect the first expedition I take； clinometer and hammer in hand； will send me back very little wiser and a good deal more puzzled than when I started。〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 189。） Valuable aid was； however； at hand； for at this time Sedgwick； to whom Darwin had been introduced by the ever…helpful Henslow； was making one of his expeditions into Wales； and consented to accept the young student as his companion during the geological tour。 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 56。） We find Darwin looking forward to this privilege with the keenest interest。 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 189。）
When at the beginning of August （1831）； Sedgwick arrived at his father's house in Shrewsbury； where he spent a night； Darwin began to receive his first and only instruction as a field…geologist。 The journey they took together led them through Llangollen； Conway； Bangor； and Capel Curig； at which latter place they parted after spending many hours in examining the rocks at Cwm Idwal with extreme care； seeking for fossils but without success。 Sedgwick's mode of instruction was admirablehe from time to time sent the pupil off on a line parallel to his own； 〃telling me to bring back specimens of the rocks and to mark the stratification on a map。〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 57。） On his return to Shrewsbury； Darwin wrote to Henslow； 〃My trip with Sedgwick answered most perfectly；〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 195。）； and in the following year he wrote again from South America to the same friend； 〃Tell Professor Sedgwick he does not know how much I am indebted to him for the Welsh expedition； it has given me an interest in Geology which I would not give up for any consideration。 I do not think I ever spent a more delightful three weeks than pounding the north…west mountains。〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 pages 237…8。）
It would be a mistake； however； to suppose that at this time Darwin had acquired anything like the affection for geological study； which he afterwards developed。 After parting with Sedgwick； he walked in a straight line by compass and map across the mountains to Barmouth to visit a reading party there； but taking care to return to Shropshire before September 1st； in order to be ready for the shooting。 For as he candidly tells us； 〃I should have thought myself mad to give up the first days of partridge… shooting for geology or any other science！〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 58。）
Any regret we may be disposed to feel that Darwin did not use his opportunities at Edinburgh and Cambridge to obtain systematic and practical instruction in mineralogy and geology； will be mitigated； however； when we reflect on the danger which he would run of being indoctrinated with the crude 〃catastrophic〃 views of geology； which were at that time prevalent in all the centres of learning。
Writing to Henslow in the summer of 1831； Darwin says 〃As yet I have only indulged in hypotheses； but they are such powerful ones that I suppose； if they were put into action but for one day； the world would come to an end。〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 189。）
May we not read in this passage an indication that the self…taught geologist had； even at this early stage； begun to feel a distrust for the prevalent catastrophism； and that his mind was becoming a field in which the seeds which Lyell was afterwards to sow would 〃fall on good ground〃？
The second period of Darwin's geological careerthe five years spent by him on board the 〃Beagle〃was the one in which by far the most
