appendix: elephant piPKs and inscrfhed tahi.ets. 299 



place among the great scientific organizations of the world — with the 

 Academy of France or the Royal Society of England. It is its noble 

 mission to encourage original research and give proper direction to 

 the scientific thought of our country. It will best subserve this great 

 pur[)ose by sternly observing in its discussions the dignity and decorum 

 of high scholarship, the serene and catholic spirit of true science. 



In submitting this refutation, we have sought to avoid scientific dis- 

 cussion, and have carefully abstained from taking part in the war of 

 rival theories. It has been our object to clear our unique relics from 

 all taint of suspicion, and so to present them to the scientific world for 

 careful study. Upon experienced archaeologists will devolve the duty 

 of tracing resemblances and deciphering inscriptions; and to them 

 will belong the privilege of determining their age and origin, and of 

 announcing their scientific significance and value. In themselves per- 

 haps insufficient to become the basis for positive deductions, these 

 relics must take their place with other discoveries until that "good 

 time coming," when the basis of fact shall be deep and broad enough 

 to allow the opening of another page in the "unwritten history" of our 

 earth and race. 



The purpose of this paper will have been accomplished, if we have 

 succeeded in vindicating a generous and worthy man from foul asper- 

 sions; our young and growing Academy from the stigma of participa- 

 tion in a disgraceful deception, and our unique and valuable relics 

 from all reasonable ground for suspicion. 



