XIIL] Criticisms an " C^ <3)rigm 0f Spmw." 313 



with Professor Kolliker, we have always done so with 

 regret, and we trust without violating that respect which 

 is due, not only to his scientific eminence and to the 

 careful study which he has devoted to the subject, but 

 to the perfect fairness of his argumentation, and the 

 generous appreciation of the worth of Mr. Darwin's 

 labours which he always displays. It would be satisfac- 

 tory 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 "ideologue;" and while dis- 

 playing 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 breeding. 



For example (p. 56) : 



M. Darwin continue : ' Aucune distinction absolue n'a ete et ne 

 pent etre Stabile entre les especes et les varie"teV Je vous ai deja dit 

 que vous vous trompiez ; une distinction absolue separe les variet&s 

 d'avec les especes." 



" Je vous ai dejd dit ; moi, M. le Secretaire pcrpe'tuel 

 de TAcademie des Sciences : et vous 



4 Qui n'etes rien, 

 Pas meme Academicien; * 



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 fairness in 

 admitting and discussing objections, what is to be 

 thought of M. Flourens' assertion, that 



