INTR OD UC TION. xxv 



shall rejoice that one of the greatest of the world- 

 problems has at length received a solution. If, on 

 the other hand, it can be shown that the traditional 

 view of special creation is the one to which we must 

 give our adhesion, I shall rejoice equally, for the 

 sole desire of every student of nature, as well as the 

 sole desire of every son of the Church, should be 

 the truth, and the truth whole and undefiled. 



I have, then, no pet theory to exploit, nothing 

 sensational to defend, nothing to uphold that is in- 

 consistent with the strictest orthodoxy or the most 

 rigid Ultramontanism. My sole aim and purpose in 

 writing this work has been, I repeat it, to remove 

 misconceptions, to dispel confusion, to explain diffi- 

 culties, to expose error, to eliminate false interpre- 

 tation, to allay doubt, to quiet conscience, to benefit 

 souls. How far I have succeeded remains for others 

 to judge. That in the discussion of so many difficult 

 and delicate questions, I may have made statements 

 that could be improved, or should be somewhat 

 modified, is quite possible. But if, in anything, I 

 have been wanting in accuracy of expression ; if I 

 have misstated a fact of science, or misapprehended 

 a Dogma of faith ; I shall consider it a special favor 

 to have my attention directed to what, on my part, 

 is wholly an unintentional error. 



It will not do to say, as has been said, that the 

 discussion, whether from the platform or elsewhere, 

 of such topics as constitute the main feature of this 

 work, is inopportune or inexpedient. If the rea- 

 sons already assigned did not suffice to justify the 

 expediency and opportuneness of such discussions, 



