COMMENTS BY PROFESSOR HEXRY DRUMMOND. 803 



only unjust, but almost impertinent, to refuse the name of science to 

 the "Summa" of St. Thomas or to the "Institutes" of Calvin. 



In conclusion, I confess that my supposed "unjaded appetite" for 

 the sort of controversy in which it needed not Mr. Gladstone's ex- 

 press declaration to tell us he is far better practiced than I am (though 

 probably, without another express declaration, no one would have 

 suspected that his controversial fires are burning low) is already 

 satiated. 



In " Elysium " we conduct scientific discussions in a different me- 

 dium, and we are liable to threatenings of asphyxia in that " atmos- 

 phere of contention " in which Mr. Gladstone has been able to live, 

 alert and vigorous beyond the common race of men, as if it were 

 purest mountain air. I trust that he may long continue to seek truth, 

 under the difficult conditions he has chosen for the search, with un- 

 abated energy — I had almost said fire : 



"May age not wither him, nor custom stale 

 His infinite variety." 



But Elysium suits my less robust constitution better, and I beg leave 

 to retire thither, not sorry for my experience of the other region — no 

 one should regret experience — but determined not to repeat it, at any 

 rate, in reference to the " plea for Revelation." — Nineteenth Century. 



COMMENTS BY PROFESSOR HEXRY DRUMMOXD. 



SCIENCE, Religion, Philology, and History have now unsheathed 

 their most richly chased blades in this famous tournament. So 

 goodly a fight has not been seen for many a day ; and whether one 

 regards the dignity of the combatants, or the gravity and delicacy of 

 the cause, it is not possible to await the issue without the keenest in- 

 terest. Meanwhile, a voice may be permitted on behalf of a group 

 among the spectators who have not yet been heard in this controversy, 

 but whose modest reluctance to interfere seems only equaled by their 

 right. In arenas more obscure, but not less worthy, they too have 

 fought this fight ; and as a humble camp-follower, and from convic- 

 tion that the thing must now be done, rather than as one possessing 

 the right to do it, I would venture to state the case on their account. 



Mr. Huxley interposes in this question because he is moved by 

 the violence being done in high places to natural science. This third 

 party is constrained to speak because of a similar violence done to 

 theological science. Were the reconcilers of Geology and Genesis 

 equal in insight to their last and most distinguished champion, and 

 did Mr. Gladstone himself realize the full meaning of his own conces- 

 sions, little further contribution to this controversy might perhaps be 



