in time from the terrible reverses to come. For twenty-five entire years out of the forty-six he had spent in the Society, he had prayed to be sent to Japan, where, after seventeen years of such toil as we can scarcely conceive, he went to his well-earned rest. The next event was that civil war of two years, of which we have already spoken, during which the Missionaries lost much property, and were stripped of their Houses and Colleges, while the Catholic Princes who had been their stay were chiefly killed, ruined, or exiled. And at the end of that fierce struggle, as has been related, Ieyas, as Daïfousama, became sole ruler of the empire. Nearly the first of his acts of supreme power was to take Don Augustine out of prison-for he had acted against and offended him-and to put him to death. It is not easy to perceive why Daifousama now completely changed his tactics in regard to the Missionaries and their religion. Probably he had wished to propitiate the Spanish traders, and to secure aid in case the war went against him, and now that he felt himself independent he acted at the instigation of the ministers of the popular worship. We all have seen and felt the same causes at work, and similar results following in their degree the way of Him to Whom on one day was cried "Hosanna!" and on the morrow, "Crucify Him!"

Don Augustine ended his brave, faithful, and chequered life by a glorious martyrdom. He made one request, that he might see a Priest for confession, and this one, though made to Daïfousama by another Catholic Prince, was refused. He was thenceforward so carefully watched and guarded that it was impossible for any of the Missionaries to approach him, even in disguise. In these straits, Don Augustine did what he could, making frequent acts of contrition, and offering himself continually to God as a victim, and so preparing himself day by day for that final act of martyrdom which was rapidly approaching. He was taken out of prison, and led, with his companions, through the streets of Osacca and Meaco, first on miserable pack-horses, and then in carts, and during this last exhibition some kind Catholic came close to the cart, and told Augustine of all that had been tried to bring him the comfort of the last Sacraments, and begged him to be truly sorry for his sins, and to make fervent acts of contrition. He answered that he hoped he was truly penitent, and full of confidence in God's mercy. he was holding his beads in one hand, and in the picture of our Lord with His Blessed Mother, which he had much prized, as it was sent to him by Queen Catharine of

All the time other a little

VOI. XI.

D

Portugal, the sister of the Emperor Charles V. As the cart went slowly along the streets, the bonzes took advantage of the opportunity to proffer their hideous worship, and one of their chiefs, who never showed himself except on great occasions, implored Don Augustine to take one of the sacred idolatrous books and place it on his head, which is the highest sign of reverence in Japan. Don Augustine indignantly refused, and drove him away with every sign of detestation and horror. When they reached the place of execution, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, and then kneeling down, calmly offered his head to the stroke of the sword. It was not till after three blows that his head fell, and the brave martyr departed in peace. The Christians first buried his body, and then took it away by night to the Jesuits' House at Meaco, where the Fathers had it buried, and numbers of Masses were said for his soul both in Japan and in Europe, by the express order of the General of the Society. martyr's son, a boy of twelve years old, was also seized, and after being allowed confession, was barbarously put to death, and his head was carried to Daïfousama. In this way the furnace was gradually heated, in which the gold was afterwards seven times tried and refined.

The

Difficulties of the Theory of Natural Selection.

[We need hardly say that the following interesting remarks on Mr. Darwin's theory as to the origin of species are not meant to discuss the question on theological grounds. The writer assumes the hypothesis that the theory in question does not of necessity contradict either the doctrine of Creation, or the Scriptural accounts which bear upon the fact of Creation. This being so, the theory may be discussed without reference to its advocates. Some of these may certainly not have spoken in a Catholic manner either as to Creation or the Scriptural narrative. But the theory need not be involved in the fault of its supporters. It is too often the case that the students of physical phenomena are prone to think that the generalisations at which they have arrived are such as to raise difficulties against received doctrines or interpretations of Scripture, and to use their discoveries as weapons against religion. Their great prevailing fault is their defect of logic. The best and most intelligent critics among men of their own class have often remarked on this, and it is evident to the whole world in the notorious fact of the rapidity with which theories based on premature generalisations have constantly to be abandoned before the force of subsequent discoveries. Akin to this want of precise logic is the impetuosity with which hastily-formed theories based upon observations of indisputable though exaggerated value are forced into collision with the venerable truths of faith. We do not now inquire whether the advocates of the theory of Natural Selection have not committed many faults of this last kind. But this question need not here be discussed, and it may fairly be put aside for the moment for the sake of examining the theory on its own ground, and testing its competency to explain the whole of the phenomena which it ought to explain. This is the best way of arriving at a proper estimate of its value, and it enables us gratefully to welcome whatever is of importance in the observations on which it is grounded, and to see their true bearing upon the advance of natural >ciences. The theory may then be found to add greatly to our knowledge, without in any way conflicting with what is already certain and incontrovertible.]

MR. DARWIN'S theory of "Natural Selection" is perhaps the most interesting theory, in relation to natural science, which has been promulgated during the present century. Remarkable indeed is the way in which it groups together such a vast and varied series of biological facts, and even paradoxes, which it appears more or less clearly to explain. By this theory of "Natural Selection" light is thrown on the more singular facts relating to the geographical distribution of animals and plants: for example, on the resemblance between the past and present inhabitants of different

*

Biology is the science of life. It contains zoology, or the science of animals, and botany, or that of plants.

are the

parts of the earth's surface, creatures closely allied to kangaroos having existed in the Australian region, where alone kangaroos are now found; and sloths and armadillos living now only in South America, where also we find the remains of extinct forms nearly related to them. Such coincidences are numerous. Again, it serves to explain the circumstance that often in adjacent islands we find animals closely resembling, and appearing to represent, each other; while if certain of these islands show signs (by depth of surrounding sea or what not) of more ancient separation, the animals inhabiting them exhibit a corresponding divergence.* "Rudimentary structures" also receive an explanation by means of this theory. These structures are parts which are apparently functionless and useless where they occur, but which represent similar parts of large size and functional importance in other animals. Examples of such "rudimentary structures foetal teeth of whales and of the front part of the jaw of ruminating quadrupeds. These are minute in size and never cut the gum, but are reabsorbed without ever coming into use, while no other teeth represent them in the adult condition of those animals. The mammary glands of all the male animals, and the minute wingbones of the New Zealand apteryx, are other examples. Again, the curious fact that animals of very different form and habit (as, for example, the whale and the bat, or again the butterfly and the shrimp) are yet constructed on an essentially similar type is also readily explicable by "Natural Selection." That remarkable series of changes which animals undergo before they attain their adult condition, which is called their process of development, and in which they more or less closely resemble the early stages of the same process in other animals, has also great light thrown on it from the same source. The singularly complex resemblances. borne by every adult animal and plant to a certain number of other animals and plants finds its solution in a similar manner. Finally, by this theory-and as yet by this alone-can any explanation be given of that extraordinary phenomenon termed mimicry. Mimicry is a close and striking, yet superficial resemblance borne by some animal or plant to some other very distinct animal or plant. The "walking leaf" (an insect belonging to the grasshopper order) is a well known but most striking instance of the assumption by an animal of the appearance of a vegetable structure, and the bee, fly, and spider orchids are familiar examples of a converse resemblance. Birds, butterflies, and even fish, seem to have in

* For very interesting examples see Wallace's Malay Archipelago, lately published.

certain instances a similarly striking external semblance to birds, butterflies, and fish of altogether distinct kinds.

Not only are all these diverse facts strung together, as it were, by the theory in question; not only does it explain the development of the complex instincts of the beaver, the cuckoo, the bee, and the ant, the song of the birds, the perfume of flowers, and the brilliant clothing of some of each; but it serves as a basis of ⚫ future research and of inference from the known to the unknown. It guides the investigator to the discovery of new facts which, when ascertained, it seems also able to co-ordinate.* Nay, "Natural Selection" seems capable of application not only to the building up of the smallest and most insignificant organisms, but even of extension beyond the biological domain altogether, so as possibly to have relation to the stable equilibrium of the solar system itself and even of the whole sidereal universe.

Thus, whether this theory be true or false, all lovers of natural science should, on account of its practical utility, acknowledge a deep debt of gratitude to Messrs. Darwin and Wallace. With regard to the former gentleman (with whose name, on account of the noble self-abnegation of Mr. Wallace, the theory is, in general, exclusively associated) his friends may heartily congratulate him on the fact that he is one of the few exceptions to the rule respecting the non-appreciation of a prophet in his own country. It would be difficult to name another living labourer in the field of physical science who has excited an interest so widespread, and given rise to so much praise and animadversion, gathering round him, as he has done, a chorus of more or less completely acquiescing disciples, themselves masters in science and each the representative of a crowd of enthusiastic followers. But other causes have concurred to produce this interest in the theory besides the way in which it harmonises with biological facts. The latter could be only appreciated by men of science, while this theory, so novel and so startling, has found a cloud of advocates and opponents beyond and outside the scientific world.

In the first place, it was inevitable that a great crowd of half-educated men and shallow thinkers should accept with eagerness the theory of "Natural Selection," on account of a certain characteristic it has in common with other theories, which should

See Müller's work, Für Darwin, lately translated into English. Mr. Wal. lace also predicts the discovery in Madagascar, of a hawk-moth with a certain length of proboscis, from the existence of a peculiarly elongated flower. See Journal of Natural Science. 1867.