1887 SCIENTIFIC CREEDS 17 



Sir J. Donnelly apropos of an article by Mr. Mallock 

 in the Nineteenth Century, which made use of the 

 "Bathybius myth," he says :— 



Bathybius is far too convenient a stick to beat this 

 dog with to be ever given up, however many lies may be 

 needful to make the weapon effectual 



I told the whole story in my reply to the Duke of 

 Argyll, but of course the pack give tongue just as loudly 

 as ever. Clerically -minded people cannot be accurate, 

 even the liberals. 



I give here the letter sent to the "unknown corre- 

 spondent " in question, who had called his attention 

 to the fourth of these sermons. 



4 Marlborough Place, 

 Sept. 30, 1887. 



I have but just returned to England after two months' 

 absence, and in the course of clearing off a vast accumula- 

 tion of letters, I have come upon yom-s. 



The Duke of Argyll has been making capital out of 

 the same circumstances as those referred to by the Bishop. 

 I believe that the interpretation put upon the facts by 

 both is wholly misleading and erroneous. 



It is quite preposterous to suppose that the men of 

 science of this or any other country have the slightest 

 disposition to support any view which may have been 

 enunciated by one of their colleagues, however distin- 

 guished, if good grounds are shown for believing it to 

 be erroneous. 



When Mr. Murray arrived at his conclusions I have 

 no doubt he was advised to make his ground sure before 

 he attacked a generalisation which appeared so well 

 founded as that of Mr. Darwin respecting coral reefs. 



If he had consulted me I should have given him that 



VOL. Ill C 



