From a very early period in the history of human intelligence, a notion has been entertained that the various forms of animals and plants, which inhabit or have inhabited the surface of the earth, are modifications of one common form, and that the more complicated have grown out of, or been developed from the simpler forms of animal and vegetable life. In support of this theory the forms of organic beings have been appealed to, and the geologist has thus been made a party to the question. Lamarck and Oken on the Continent, and the anonymous author of the Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation' in this country, have supported this view. Sir Charles Lyell hot only opposes this theory, but denies that in the history of the strata there is any evidence that the lowest forms of animals were created first.
The only fact he admits favouring the hypothesis of development is the late appearance of man on the surface of the earth. Regarding negative evidence as no support to any theory of progress, he sees no reasonable objection to the anticipation that the highest forms of Maininalia, except man, should be found in the lowest Silurian rocks.
On this question another party has arisen, with Professor Owen and Professor Sedgwick at their head, who, whilst repudiating the develop ment theory, and believing in the special creation of specific forms, yet hold that the species first created were lower in the scale of organisation than those subsequently created, and that during the changes to which the earth has been subjected in its past history, it has been gradually fitted for a succession. of organisms, each group of which presents a higher type.of organisation than those which preceded it This question is occupying the minds of the most distinguished palaeontologists of the present day.
Sir Charles Lyell has twice visited the United States of America; and delivered courses of lectures before the scientific institutions of that country. His chief aim however has been to examine the geology of the new world. His papers on this subject are very numerous and important, and are as follows On the Carboniferous and Older Rocks of Pennsylvania ;" On the Stigmaria Clay in the Blossberg Coal Field, Pennsylvania ; " On the Recession of the Falls of Niagara ; ' ' On the Tertiary Formations, and their connection with the Chalk in Virginia, and other parts of the United States;' On the Fossil Footprints of Birds, and Impressions of Rain-drops in the Valley of the Connecticut;' On the Ridges, Elevated Beaches, Inland Cliffs, and Boulder Formations of the Canadian Lakes and Valley of St.
Lawrence ; "On the Tertiary Strata of the Island of Martha's Vice yard in Massachusetts ;" On the Geological position of the Mastodon Giganteum, and associated fossil remains at Bigbone Lick, Kentucky, and other localities in the United States and Canada;' On the upright Fossil Trees found at different levels in the Coal Strata of Cumberland, Nova Scotia;' On the Coal Formations of Nova Scotia, and on the age and relative position of the Gypsum and accompanying Marine Limestone;' Ou the Cretaceous Strata of New Jersey, and other parts of the United States bordering the Atlantic ; ' 'On the probable Age and Origin of a bed of Plumbago and Anthracite occurring iu Mica Schist, near Worcester, Massachusetts ;' On the Miocene Tertiary Strata of Maryland, Virginia, and of North and South Carolina;' ' On the White Limestone, and other Eocene or Older Tertiary Formations of Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia;' ' On the Coal Fields of Tuscaloosa, Alabama ; " On the evidence of Fossil Footprints of a quadruped allied to the Cheirotherium in the Coal Strata of Pennsylvania ; " Observations on the Fossil Plants of the Coal Field of Tuscaloosa; Alabama, with a description of some species by C. L F. Bunbury ;" On the Delta and Alluvial Deposits of tho
Mississippi, and other points in the Geology of North America.,./ observed in the years 1845.46;' On the Coal Fields of Alabama ; ' 'On the Newer Deposits of the Southern States of North America; ' 'On the Footmarks discovered in the Coal Measures of Pennsyl vania ; " On the Structure and probable age of the Coal Field of the James River, near Richmond, Virginia;' ' On the Relative Age and Position of the so-called Nummulite Limestone of Alabama.' These papers were published in the Proceedings' and 'Transactions ' of the Geological Society, 'Reports of the British Association,' and Silliman's Journal of American Science.' In addition to this series of papers Sir Charles has published two works giving an account of his travels in America. The first appeared in 1841, and was entitled Travels in North America, with Geological Observations on the United States, Canada, and Nova Scotia,' 2 vols. Svo, with a geological map. These volumes contain an account of personal incident, as well as popular descriptions of the geology of the district visited. In these volumes he describes the educational insti tutions of America, and strongly insists on their superiority to our own similar institutions, on account of the extensive cultivation of the natural sciences. In his second journey he more particularly visited the southern states, and records in his work his personal adventures together with an account of the geology of the districts through which he passed. This work is entitled A Second Visit to the United States,' and was published in 1845.
Previous to his journeys to America he had travelled on the Conti vent of Europe, and made himself arquainted with the most prominent points of Its geology ; and numerous papers in the ' Transactions' of the Geological and other Societies testify to the diligence and acumen with which he has prosecuted the subject of his researches. In these papers ho has more especially illustrated the great Tertiary beds of F.urope, to which he has all his life devoted more or less attention, and by his labours principally, given the definite character which these formations assume in the history of the earth's surface. It would be almost impossible to point out the particular discoveries to which Sir Charles may lay claim in there papers, but they constitute a mass of facts and conclusions on which much of the present science of geology rests.
Sir Charles Lyell is one of the most active members of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and has filled almost every office, with the exception of that of president—a post which he will undoubtedly soon be invited to fill. Many of his papers are pub lished in the ' Transactions 'of this body, and his presence has always added to the interest with which the proceedings of the geological section of this association have ever been regarded.
Sir Charles was married to the eldest daughter of Leonard Horner, F..eq., in 1832. In 1836 he was elected President of the Geological Society, and again in 1850. He received the houour of knighthood un account of his scientific labours, in 1848, and in 1855 the University of Oxford, his Alma 3later, honoured itself by conferring on him the title of D.C.L.