Two Essays (Wells, 1818)

Two Essays (Wells, 1818)

One Upon Single Vision With Two Eyes; the Other On Dew

William Charles Wells

This book by William Charles Wells contains, in an Appendix, the first published reference to the concept of evolution, at least as determined by Charles Darwin himself. What exactly was the idea proposed by Wells?

In a concluding essay that has nothing to do with either of the "Two Essays" (the concepts of binocular vision and the cause of dew), Wells discusses the rare medical case of a woman found to have, apparently, the skin color and characteristics common to another race on one of her arms, while otherwise appearing normal. After discussing this rare medical case, Wells casually notes in passing that the races of mankind appear to have adapted to the conditions of the region of the world in which they are found.

"In this paper," Darwin wrote, "he [Wells] distinctly recognizes the principles of natural selection, and this is the first recognition which has been indicated." Darwin tempered his praise for Wells with the remark that "he applies it [natural selection] only to the races of man, and to certain characters alone."

Despite Darwin's statement of the importance of Wells' ideas, relatively little attention has been given to Wells' place in the history of science.

http://www.jstor.org/pss/229598

p.432 On considering the difference of colour between Europeans and Africans, a view has occurred to me of this subject, which has not been given by any author, whose works have fallen into my hands. I shall, therefore, venture to mention it here, though at the hazard of its being thought rather fanciful than just.

p.435 In districts, however, of very small extent, and having little intercourse with other countries, an accidental difference in the appearance of the inhabitants will often descend to their late posterity.

p.435 those who attend to the improvement of domestic animals, when they find individuals possessing, in a greater degree than common, the qualities they desire, couple a male and female of these together, then take the best of their offspring as a new stock, and in this way proceed, till they approach as near the point in view, as the nature of things will permit. But, what is here done by art, seems to be done, with equal efficacy, though more slowly, by nature, in the formation of varieties of mankind, fitted for the country which they inhabit.

p.439 I forbear trespassing any longer upon the time of the reader, in discussing a subject which admits only of conjectural reasoning.

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