98 CRITICISMS ON “THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES” 
devoted to the subject, but to the perfect fairness — 
of luis argumentation, and the generous appreciatior 
of the worth of Mr. Darwin’s labours which 
always displays. It would be satisfactory to be 
able to say as much for M. Flourens. | 
But the Perpetual Secretary of the French — 
Academy of Sciences deals with Mr. Darwin as the — 
first Napoleon would have treated an “idéologue ;”_ 
and while displaying a painful weakness of logic 
and shallowness of information, assumes a tone of 
authority, which always touches upon the ludicrous 
and sometimes passes the limits of good naa 
For example (p. 56) :— 
‘‘M. Darwin continue : ‘ Aucune distinction absolue n’a été 
et ne peut étre établie entre les espéces et les variétés.” Je vous — 
ai déja dit que vous vous trompiez; une distinction absolue 
sépare les variétés d’avec les espéces.”’ 
“ Je vous at déja dit ; moi, M. le Seecrétaire per- 
pétuel de l Académie des Sciences : et vous 
** ¢ Qui n’étes rien, 
Pas méme Académicien ;’ 
what do you mean by asserting the contrary?” 
Being devoid of the blessings of an Academy in 
England, we are unaccustomed to see our ablest 
men treated in this fashion, even by a “ Perpetual 
Secretary.” =. 
Or again, considering that if there is any one 
quality of Mr. Darwin’s work to which friends and 
foes have alike borne witness, it is his candour and 
