NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 105 



proper to the natural sciences ; nor even by these, unless after greater accumu- 

 lation and more accurate generalization of facts than had been accomplished. 

 In the eagerness excited by these controversies, xve also noticed, especially in 

 respect to such as were of a kind to attract popular attention, that there was 

 caused a bias unfavorable to the ascertainment of fact ; and that tlie legitimate 

 uses of actual discovery were thwarted by irregular processes, wliich for the 

 most part were unconsciously adopted, but which were not for tliis reason the 

 less pernicious to the progress of natural knowledge. In these circumstances, 

 the rationale of the methods employed by writers upon natural history or the 

 physical sciences in general, became a peculiarly important subject for the 

 scrutiny of the Academy ; and in formally presenting that subject, I felt assured 

 that my propositions would serve only as the means of concentrating thoughts 

 alreadj" entertained by the members. To give a suitable illustration of the irre- 

 gularity iu question, there were several reasons for selecting the discourse of 

 Mr. Miller, entitled " The Two Records, the Mosaic and the Geological." It had 

 jast been republished in this country; its author was widely known in both 

 hemispheres by his interesting discoveries in the old red sandstone ; and, because 

 of his having written so as to be easily understood by persons not previously 

 skilled in geology, his publications bad been read by probably a larger number 

 of persons than had before undertaken the perusal of treatises on the sarac sub- 

 ject. Moreover, he had written with special reference to several leading con- 

 troversies which engaged the popular attention ; and his works were frequently 

 appealed to with more or less pertinency in relation to the Noachic deluge, the 

 origin of the varieties in the animal and vegetable kingdoms, and the geo- 

 graphical distribution of species. He thus served as a medium of communica- 

 tion between the studies of scientific men, and the speculations of the general 

 reader. Lastly, his character and motives were unimpeached ; and thus the 

 force of personal considerations was added to those of learning and judgment. 

 I was careful, Mr. President, to announce at the outset, that what was intended 

 in my criticism had reference to the " logic of the natural sciences ;" but under 

 the comity proper between this Academy and the cultivators of those sciences 

 throughout the world, it certainly did not appear to me necessary to disclaim 

 all design to charge upon any person a wilful misuse of reasoning. Neverthe- 

 less, as a manifestation of the feeding with which the essay of Jlr. Miller was 

 reviewed, I used these words, which were printed in our Proceedings : "The 

 high esteem in which the character of Mr. Miller is deservedly held by readers 

 in the United States, where his writings are widely circulated, and the respectful 

 manner in which his interesting researches have occasioned his name to be 

 mentioned by authors eminent in the department of geology, give to such of his 

 writings as bear upon the biblical question, peculiar importance with reference 

 to the community at large." There was, therefore, no question proposed upon 

 matter of fact, nor any imputation upon the motives of Mr. Miller. My remarks 

 obtained the general concurrence of the members who heard them ; at whose 

 instance, and not at my own, the minute of them made by the Secretary was 

 published with the other proceedings of the evening. 



Sharing with you, Mr. President, and our fellow members, the profound senti- 

 ment produced in this country by the melancholy scenes which closed the use- 

 ful life of Mr. Miller, I am sure of your participation with me in the surprise 

 and regret with which I have read the following paragraphs, at pages 171, 172 

 and 173* of "The Testimony of the Rocks." (Mr. Foulke here read the pas- 

 sages referred to.) 



That a member of this Academy could be permitted to make, against such a 

 man as the lamented deceased, a gratuitous charge of intentional misreprcsenta- 

 /«ow ; and that the charge could be deliberately sanctioned, and printed under 

 your authority and that of the other distinguished gentlemen who were present 

 at the meeting of May 9, 1854 — some of whom are now here — seems so far beyond 

 any license known to a respectable association, that I confess myself at a loss 



* Boston Edition, 1857. 

 1857.] 



