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his article on Weismann in the Contemporary Review for May 1890； Mr。
Romanes writes： 〃Professor Weismann has shown that there is
throughout the metazoa a general correlation between the natural
lifetime of individuals composing any given species； and the age at
which they reach maturity or first become capable of procreation。〃
This； I believe； has been the conclusion generally arrived at by
biologists for some years past。
Lateness； then； in the average age of reproduction appears to be the
principle underlying longevity。 There does not appear at first
sight to be much connection between such distinct and apparently
disconnected phenomena as 1； the orderly normal progress of
development； 2； atavism and the resumption of feral characteristics；
3； the more ordinary resemblance inter se of nearer relatives； 4；
the benefit of an occasional cross； and the usual sterility of
hybrids； 5； the unconsciousness with which alike bodily development
and ordinary physiological functions proceed； so long as they are
normal； 6； the ordinary non…inheritance； but occasional inheritance
of mutilations； 7； the fact that puberty indicates the approach of
maturity； 8； the phenomena of middle life and old age； 9； the
principle underlying longevity。 These phenomena have no conceivable
bearing on one another until heredity and memory are regarded as
part of the same story。 Identify these two things； and I know no
phenomenon of heredity that does not immediately become infinitely
more intelligible。 Is it conceivable that a theory which harmonises
so many facts hitherto regarded as without either connection or
explanation should not deserve at any rate consideration from those
who profess to take an interest in biology？
It is not as though the theory were unknown； or had been condemned
by our leading men of science。 Professor Ray Lankester introduced
it to English readers in an appreciative notice of Professor
Hering's address； which appeared in Nature； July 18； 1876。 He wrote
to the Athenaeum； March 24； 1884； and claimed credit for having done
so； but I do not believe he has ever said more in public about it
than what I have here referred to。 Mr。 Romanes did indeed try to
crush it in Nature； January 27； 1881； but in 1883； in his 〃Mental
Evolution in Animals；〃 he adopted its main conclusion without
acknowledgment。 The Athenaeum； to my unbounded surprise； called him
to task for this （March 1； 1884）； and since that time he has given
the Heringian theory a sufficiently wide berth。 Mr。 Wallace showed
himself favourably enough disposed towards the view that heredity
and memory are part of the same story when he reviewed my book 〃Life
and Habit〃 in Nature； March 27； 1879； but he has never since
betrayed any sign of being aware that such a theory existed。 Mr。
Herbert Spencer wrote to the Athenaeum （April 5； 1884）； and claimed
the theory for himself； but； in spite of his doing this； he has
never； that I have seen； referred to the matter again。 I have dealt
sufficiently with his claim in my book； 〃Luck or Cunning。〃 ｛43｝
Lastly； Professor Hering himself has never that I know of touched
his own theory since the single short address read in 1870； and
translated by me in 1881。 Every one； even its originator； except
myself； seems afraid to open his mouth about it。 Of course the
inference suggests itself that other people have more sense than I
have。 I readily admit it； but why have so many of our leaders shown
such a strong hankering after the theory； if there is nothing in it？
The deadlock that I have pointed out as existing in Darwinism will；
I doubt not； lead ere long to a consideration of Professor Hering's
theory。 English biologists are little likely to find Weismann
satisfactory for long； and if he breaks down there is nothing left
for them but Lamarck； supplemented by the important and elucidatory
corollary on his theory proposed by Professor Hering。 When the time
arrives for this to obtain a hearing it will be confirmed；
doubtless； by arguments clearer and more forcible than any I have
been able to adduce； I shall then be delighted to resign the
championship which till then I shall continue； as for some years
past； to have much pleasure in sustaining。 Heretofore my
satisfaction has mainly lain in the fact that more of our prominent
men of science have seemed anxious to claim the theory than to
refute it； in the confidence thus engendered I leave it to any
fuller consideration which the outline I have above given may
incline the reader to bestow upon it。
Footnotes：
｛1｝ Published in the Universal Review； July 1888。
｛2｝ Published in the Universal Review； December 1890。
｛3｝ Published in the Universal Review； May 1889。 As I have several
times been asked if the letters here reprinted were not fabricated
by Butler himself； I take this opportunity of stating that they are
authentic in every particular； and that the originals are now in my
possession。R。 A。 S。
｛4｝ An address delivered at the Somerville Club； February 27； 1895。
｛5｝ 〃The Foundations of Belief；〃 by the Right Hon。 A。 J。 Balfour。
Longmans； 1895； p。 48。
｛6｝ Published in the Universal Review； November 1888。
｛7｝ Since this essay was written it has been ascertained by
Cavaliere Francesco Negri； of Casale Monferrato； that Tabachetti
died in 1615。 If； therefore； the Sanctuary of Montrigone was not
founded until 1631； it is plain that Tabachetti cannot have worked
there。 All the latest discoveries about Tabachetti's career will be
found in Cavaliere Negri's pamphlet 〃Il Santuario di Crea〃
（Alessandria； 1902）。 See also note on p。 154。R。 A。 S。
｛8｝ Published in the Universal Review； December 1889。
｛9｝ Longmans & Co。； 1890。
｛10｝ Longmans & Co。； 1890。
｛11｝ Published in the Universal Review； November 1890。
｛12｝ Longmans & Co。； 1890。
｛13｝ M。 Ruppen's words run： 〃1687 wurde die Kapelle zur hohen
Stiege gebaut； 1747 durch Zusatz vergrossert und 1755 mit Orgeln
ausgestattet。 Anton Ruppen； ein geschickter Steinhauer mid
Maurermeister leitete den Kapellebau； und machte darin das kleinere
Altarlein。 Bei der hohen Stiege war fruher kein Gebetshauslein； nur
ein wunderthatiges Bildlein der Mutter Gottes stand da in einer
Mauer vor dem fromme Hirten und viel andachtiges Volk unter freiem
Himmel beteten。
〃1709 wurden die kleinen Kapellelein die 15 Geheimnisse des Psalters
vorstelland auf dem Wege zur hohen Stiege gebaut。 Jeder Haushalter
des Viertels Fee ubernahm den Bau eines dieser Geheimnisskapellen；
und ein besonderer Gutthater dieser frommen Unternehmung war
Heinrich Andenmatten； nachher Bruder der Geselischaft Jesu。〃
｛14｝ The story of Tabachetti's incarceration is very doubtful。
Cavaliere F。 Negri； to whose book on Tabachetti and his work at Crea
I have already referred the reader； does not mention it。 Tabachetti
left his native Dinant in 1585； and from that date until his death
in 1615 he appears to have worked chiefly at Varallo and Crea。
There is a document in existence stating that in 1588 he executed a
statue for the hermitage of S。 Rocco； at Crea； which； if it is to be
relied on； disposes both of the incarceration and of the