CORRESPONDENCE WITH DR. HITCHCOCK. 141 



masterly manner, and with his characteristic acumen. The 

 drift of the argument is this : Professor Stuart has laid 

 down a canon of criticism which he has not in a single 

 instance applied through his entire voluminous dissertation ; 

 had he applied it in such a manner as he has propounded 

 it, it would have run him into the greatest absurdities, to 

 avoid which he has himself proceeded upon such principles 

 as, if followed out, would allow the geologists all they ask 



for There will still be time for you to say that you 



do not wish these criticisms published, provided you feel so ; 

 but if you feel as I do that it is something to have gained 

 to our cause such an ally as Professor Kingsley, I presume 

 that you will not object, especially as the geological ground 

 is all left open to you. 



FROM DR. EDWARD HITCHCOCK. 



AMHERST, August 16, 1836. 



I CERTAINLY feel deeply indebted to you for your 



open and generous defence of my ornithology. I hope you 

 have not thereby incurred the hostility of any whose friend- 

 ship is valuable. I expected that my article on that sub- 

 ject would be attacked ; and I can only say that my wish 



is that all assaults may be as futile as that of Mr. C 



appears to me to be. Dr. P I have always supposed 



regarded me rather contemptuously, and I doubt not but 

 that, apart from my real inferiority and inaccuracy, there is 

 a cause why he should not like me. I have endeavored 

 always to show that there is harmony between science and 

 revealed religion, and I have no doubt but he supposes 

 there is a discrepancy. In spite of all his sneers about the 



bird-tracks, however, and in spite of Mr. C 's arguments, 



I am more and more convinced that they will hold their 

 place. My strongest wish is that all the gentlemen who 

 are sceptical would come to Amherst and look at my speci- 

 mens. Even the casts which I have sent abroad do but 



