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Charles Robert Darwin.

BY A. WILFORD HALL, N. Y., Author of "The Problem of Human Life.";

No reader can fail to be interested in a correct likeness of this world-renowned author, whether he may agree with or disapprove his advanced theories concerning the origin of the human race. Men who posess the individuality, industry, and courage in scientific research, to make their influence felt through the civilized world, and their names as familiar as household words wherever newspapers are read, have certainly earned and justly deserve the respect of mankind, even if some things they have written as science may not bear the stamp of absolute truth. In a marked degree is this meed of praise due to the eminent name forming the subject of this notice.

Charles Robert Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England, in 1809, and is consequently, at the present time, 73 years old. His father was Dr. Robert W. Darwin, and his grandfather Dr. Erasmus Darwin, both celebrated physicians and authors of worth relating to their professions. The subject of H. M. S. "Beagle," offered to any naturalist who would accept it, a part of his cabin for a voyage of survey and observation around the world. This offer was gladly accepted by young Darwin, and from this circumstance dates the commencement of that wonderful career which has made its author one of the most noted characters in the history of science. The "Beagle" was four years and ten months in circumnavigating the globe, during which Mr. Darwin made the observations and took tho memoranda which have since resulted in that. remarkable book, "The Origin of Species," which has made his name so famous.

On his return to England he set himself about preparing the results of his voyage for publication, which appeared in different volumes; one, the "Zoölogy of the Voyage of the 'Beagle;'" another on "The Structure and Distribution of the Coral Reefs;" another, "Geological Observations on Volcanic Islands;" and the last, in 1846, "Geological Observations on South America." To aid him in these works the government granted the sum of $5,000 out of the treasury.

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Like most men who have become famous for scientific achievements, Mr. Darwin had to struggle with poverty, and from the start fought his way up through many adversities and discouragements, till the value of his scientific works became known and finally remunerated their persevering author.

In 1859, after twenty years' persistent labor, Mr. Darwin published his "Origin of Species," in which he took the bold stand, no doubt from honest conviction, that every form of animal life, including man, originally sprang from the lowest existing forms of mollusca, through numerous successive modifications, by a law which he calls Natural Selection, or Survival of the Fittest. This book at once made his name famous in every civilized land ; and whatever philosophers and the clergy generally may think as to the erroneous character of this theory, one thing is certain-that a vast majority of the scientific thinkers throughout the world have accepted his views as based on the immutable laws of Nature.

Since this work was published he has been constantly busy in developing his main hypothesis by the publication of other works on collateral subjects, among which are the "Descent of Man" and "The Variations of Animals and Plants Under Domestication," which have been extensively read in both Europe and America. Indeed, no educated man considers his library complete till it contains the works of this author, whatever he may think of their scientific correctness.

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CHARLES ROBERT DARWIN, born at Shrewsbury, England, February 12th, 1809, died after a brief illness, April 20th, 1882. He was a hard worker and few men have impressed the world of thought during their lives as has Mr. Darwin. Whatever may be said of the theories advanced by this renowned man, even his enemies must concede that his works prove him to have been a man of very remarkable attainments.