CHAPTER XXII. 



CORRESPONDENCE WITH DR. HITCHCOCK: LETTERS OF 

 AGASSIZ. 



Geology and Genesis. Views of Professor Silliman. Dr. Hitchcock 

 proposes to Study in New Haven; on the First Chapter of Genesis. 

 Professor Silliman to Dr. Hitchcock on the Death of his Child ; on the 

 Method of Studying Chemistry; on Professor Stuart's Geological Re 

 marks; on the Bird-Tracks. Dr. Hitchcock on his Geological Critics; 

 on the Spirit of his Writings. Professor Silliman on the Clergy; on 

 Wiseman's Book; on the Bird-Tracks.' Letters to Dr. Spring on Geol 

 ogy and Scripture. Letters from Agassiz. Agassiz on his own Visit 

 to England ; on his Studies ; on Mr. Redh'eld ; on the " Journal of 

 Science" ; on his Work on Glaciers; on his Proposed Visit to America: 

 Announces his Arrival in Boston. 



THE subject of the relation of science to the 

 Bible was forced upon the attention of Professor 

 Silliman by the bearing of geological evidence upon 

 the question of the age of the globe, and especially 

 by the opposition to geology on the part of a nu 

 merous class of theologians. The Bible had been 

 understood to teach that the earth and all things 

 upon it were made about six thousand years ago 

 in six days. It was natural that students and be 

 lievers of the Bible should be startled at hearing that 

 the work of creation began ages before that date, 

 and extended through vast and well-nigh immeasu 

 rable periods of time. How could such declarations 

 be reconciled with Genesis ? It is remarkable that 

 theology at a former epoch had been puzzled with 



