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. 

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

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

 marks; on tin- l?ird-T racks. Dr. Hitchcock on his Geological Critics; 

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

 I'.ook; on the Bird-Tracks. Letters to Dr. Spring on Geol- 

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

 to Knglaiid: on his Studies; on Mr. Redfield; on the " Journal of 

 : ..ii hU Work on (ilaciers; on his Proposed Visit to America: 

 Announces his Arrival in Boston. 



Tin-; subject of the relation of science to the 

 Bible was forced upon the attention of Professor 

 Silliman by the bearing of geological evidence upon 

 1lic 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 

 ix days. It was natural that students and be- 

 In v. is of ih<- Bible should be startled at hearing that 

 ilic work of creation began ages before that date, 

 and rximdrd through vast and well-nigh immeasu- 

 rable |>rrmds of time. How could such declarations 

 I" <'< .iirilrd with Genesis? It is remarkable that 

 theology at a former epoch had been puzzled with 



