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CHARLES ROBERT DARWIN, LL.D., F.R.S., the celebrated English Scientist and Philosopher, died April 20, 1882, in the seventy-third year of age.

Mr. Darwin was grandson of the once celebrated Erasmus Darwin, author of the "Zoonomia." He appears to have inherited the talents, application and industry, by direct descent, of his illustrious ancestor. In early life he gave evidence of that genius and love of natural phenomena which subsequently was crystallized in the many works which he published.

Of his numerous publications, the works on the "Origin of Species by Natural Selection," and "The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex." commanded the most attention. In these he taught the doctrine that man had descended from an inferior animal, and that he attained his present position by reason of the "survival of the fittest." The immediate ancestor of man, according to him, was a hairy quadruped, with long ears and a tail, and probably arboreal in habit. For this enunciation of his views he was severely criticized by many scientific journals, as well as by the clergy.

Notwithstanding some defects in his writings, Mr. Darwin did more than any other man of his day to originate and mould the opinions of mankind. In fact, he may be regarded as one of the authors of modern thought. After living a life of active devotion to the interests of his race, he quietly passed to his reward.