[Enclosure]⁵

Darwin, Charles. M.A. Cantab. F.R.S an eminent naturalist, is distinguished both as an author and a man of Science. He accompanied Capt. FitzRoy in his voyage round the world in H.M.S Beagle during the years 1831 to 1836.—⁶ His Journal first appeared in 1839 as part of the general narrative of the voyage, and was subsequently republished in a modified form under the title of Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the countries visited by the Beagle. In 1842 his work on the Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs appeared, which was followed by two Volumes, namely, his Geological Observations on Volcanic Islands and in 1846 on South America. Since this period he has contributed several papers to the Geological Transactions and to other scientific periodicals.⁷ His chief contribution to Zoology is the “Monograph on the Family Cirripedia” in two large volumes in which he points out many curious and interesting particulars in relation to the history and economy of the barnacles and sea-acorns, and furnishes a minute description of every known species of the Family. He has recently (November 1859) published a work entitled “The Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life;” this volume, as stated in the introduction, gives only in a condensed form the result of more than twenty years study; and will hereafter be followed by more detailed treatise on the same subject.⁸ M^r Darwin’s writings exhibit close observation and untiring industry in collecting and arranging facts. As a geologist he stands in one of the highest ranks and was for some time Secretary to the Geological Society. As a Zoologist he is, though learned, very cautious in arriving at conclusions without possessing sufficient data;⁹ while his style is so clear that it at once affords pleasure to the student and information to the professor.¹⁰