Darwin's own grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, wrote an extensive book outlining a transmutation view, and it is known that Darwin had read this as a teenager.
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com. noun. 1. the group of spectators at a public event; listeners or viewers collectively, as in attendance at a theater or concert: The audience was respectful of the speaker's opinion.
grandstand-the audience at a stadium or racetrack. audience-a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance; the audience applauded; someone in the audience began to cough.